Windsor Hotel Cairo

The Windsor is a study in contrasts - the worst beds I have ever slept in, but a wonderful location. Great elevator, fabulous building. Yes, old, creaky, dingy in parts, but a slice of real Cairo. Staff wonderful. Bar very neat, and you can't beat the history.

So...it all depends on what you are actually looking for. I just spent the last two nights there and I thought it was great. In fact, the old bar on the second floor is so cool and pleasant, and reasonable in price...and has INTERNET....that you find yourself wanting to stay ensconced in the place. It is like staying at a movie set. (Or maybe a stage set for a decent junior college.) If you are looking for the same "experience" that you get at a Ramada Inn in Ceder Rapids, Iowa....then you probably are not prepared to even be in this... more

This charming 19th century hotel combines a charming historical air and the comforts of modernity. From the manually-operated lift to the wireless internet access in the bar, the Windsor is a distinct, centrally-located and extremely welcoming place to stay. The Doss family has owned and run the hotel for over 40 years. They are on site around the clock, making sure their guests feel as comfortable as possible. The staff is extremely warm and welcoming. The complementary breakfast leaves a bit meagre, but the restaurant has an array of... more

The location was so obscure that each and every cab got lost and ended up circling around it. This was especially awful because of the heat and humidity in the cabs. The hotel was recommended by the nytimes.com as 'old world charm,' but in reality it was dingy, and the rooms are in urgent need of renovation. The bathrooms are tiny and their plumbing needs attention. Rooms are filled with mosquitos at night. There are a few creepy cafes outside where local men drink tea and smoke sheesha and make inappropriate comments as you pass... more

There are decades of layers of dirt on virtually every surface of the Windsor in Cairo. The main light fixture in the lobby is broken. The place as a whole is cloaked in darkness on virtually every floor. I stayed in a total of three different rooms, over the course of two weeks, each of which was in varying states of advanced decrepitude, with peeling paint and wallpaper, uncleaned carpet, dust-caked furniture and toilets that kept breaking. There were no useable electrical outlets in the rooms and the beds varied widely in comfort. I did,... more

I booked this hotel after reading reviews which varied from excellent to lousy, so my expectations were not to high. However the hotel was a dissapointment, especially compared to where I stayed (in Luxor) before I came to Cairo. Windsor is living up to its own description of faded grandeur. It certainly is faded and but the grandeur is not so obvious. My room was looked like a snapshot from an Agatha Christie movie, which would not be so bad if the items in the room would have been updated since the beginning of last century. The bed was... more

The Windsor is a former British officers club in central Cairo, located in a leafy enclave behind the busy 26th July street. It's not just an architectural jewel in the dusty crown of colonialism, though the forties decoration and ambience are utterly charming - a nostalgic blend of lovely iron bedsteads, dark polished furniture and deep armchairs reminiscent of the professor's house if you've seen the film of the chronicles of Narnia. There are huge double bedrooms and a plentiful supply of hot water in the showers at all times (something... more

I booked with the hotel directly, and my husband and I stayed in a "deluxe" room. When you go to their website to check the room rates, please note that at the bottom it says they are only valid until September 2007. We paid $78 and change for a deluxe room that they have listed at $56. Beware! I heard other guests arguing about this, and the reception person said it was a "mistake" but I just checked, and this certainly hasn't been updated on their site. The location is decent--downtown and a couple of subway stops from the Egyptian... more

This is an amusing hotel. Do not have high expectations about the rooms, the location or the service and you will not be disappointed. The rooms vary enormously - some are old, some are new, most are a bit of a disappointment, but then this is a relatively cheap hotel. The 'best' rooms that you pay a premium for have a proper modern bathroom and are situated on the top floors but are very small and soulless. The cheaper rooms are the older ones. These are noisier, with showers rather than baths but are older and more traditional. Noise... more

If you want to directly experience Cairo, the Windsor is the perfect spot. It is right in the heart of the city but not on a busy street, just blocks from both subway lines. Chock full of charm, not big chain amenities. The hotel bar is the perfect spot for breaks. Make sure to ask for a deluxe room and you'll be very comfortable. The other rooms are great for young couples or singles. All the rooms are good value. Most of all, the entire staff, from the owners down, gives personal and personable service. You'll leave feeling like... more