Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, Luxor, Egypt
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Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor Reviews
" building site luxor "
Submitted By: diandterryAdvice: Would go Luxor again but not to this hotel
Activities: John and John resturant was great a must
Good for: City Breaks
" don,t go at the moment "
Submitted By: agmbeAdvice: great place for sun
Activities: if you need to eat out try the ritz
Good for: City Breaks
" Great Hotel and Great Place "
Submitted By: bluesky200812The only thing that let the hotel down a little was that there was some construction work going on. However the disruption was very minimal and I would go back whilst the work is going on.
We were staying on a bed and breakfast board basis and have to say that the selection of food for breakfast was amazing, it was fresh, tasty and there was so much on offer that you could try something new each day.
Luxor itself is a great place and on the whole the people are lovely. As two women travelling alone we felt completely safe. However be preared for hassle from the carriage drivers, taxi drivers and some shop owners. With tourism being the main source of income they are eager for you to use their services or buy from them and so can be pushy, but if your assertive they will leave you alone. Phrases to remember are 'La Shukran' which means 'no thank you' or 'Mafish Fallus' which means 'i have no money'.
The carriage drivers work on commission basis and so will entice you into going for a ride around town but will then take you to a shopping centre. The shop owners will be pushy and will try to get you to pay over the odds. Don't let this put you off shopping just remember to haggle, haggle and then haggle some more. Other than this one 3 storey shopping centre we found most other shop / market owners to be friendly and easier to haggle with.
We would advise you to stay away from Carriage No.39 the drivers name is Ahmed Sapry and a taxi driver who calls himself Mr Fish.
We did eat out and sampled traditional egyptian food and would recommend Sofra and Om mahashim, both in down town luxor. We only ate vegetarian food which was very tasty.
We also went out to the local cafe's and found this quaint little place that has great art work on the wall and you can sit and enjoy a coffee or shisha whilst reading or watching the TV. The cafe is called NAGIB MAHFOUZ on Nadi Madina (the name of the road). The owner - Moustafa is a lovely guy.
We went to Jolley's (next to winter palace hotel) to book our tours, given the current exchange rate the tours were a little more pricey than expected but their prices were still amongst the most reasonable that we found.
We had a great time in Luxor and would stay at this hotel again.
Advice: Luxor is great place and is well situated to use as a base whilst seeing the rest of egypt
Activities: Don't miss the opportunity to go for the balloon ride
" Sonesta St George Nile Cruise "
Submitted By: wmadillThe food was amazing. Buffet breakfast (I dare you to try the white sausages), buffet lunch (more choice than any sane person could require), A la carte dinner (good choice and absolutely A1 quality).
The staff really could not have been more friendly and attentive.
We were split up into same language groups of about 10 or 12 people and assigned our own Egyptologist who conducts you around the various tombs and temples. Our guide (Ehab)was very informative, entertaining and never lost sight of the fact that we were on holiday and not studying for a degree in Egyptology. If you want a lot of detail, you can have it, if you want an entertaining overview of Egyptian culture, you can have it.
Advice: I could not recommend this holiday more highly
Activities: An awesome sense of history
" Fantastic hotel "
Submitted By: litt7ebu9There is still building work going on, but it did not affect us in any way.
Highly recommended!!!!!!! Will most definately be going back.
" GD HOTEL UNDERGOING WORK "
Submitted By: mickelwinwoodif they have placed their winch outside your room then you will probably be annoyed!due to some of the work there was alot of dust, some wet surplus plaster dropping and grit falling. one day we could not eat outside close to the building... i would imagine that the building work will soon be completed
i would not say it is 5 star at the moment but when refurbishment is complete will be there or there abouts...
watch out for black sooty deposits which was covering all the tables and rails down the bottom end of hotel which includes the pontoon. this is the result of the sugar cane being burnt, four of us ended up with this on our clothes, the thomson rep just stated well thats what they do here , its too be expected!!!!! well she should let us all know before then! hotel manager was brilliant and offered to have our clothes washed free of charge.
due to overbooking the hotel moored a cruise boat at the end of the pontoon, but as it ran its diesel engines all the time the fumes made it impossible to sit in its vacinity, again tomson rep just said well its not happend before..
thomson arranged trips are expensive and rushed, we had an excellent guide for the valley of the kings trip on the west bank and he told us to take our time... only 3 tombs are open each day out of 62, tuts tomb has an extra charge, but worth it to see his mummified body
we took a balloon trip with cattarct travel (turn right outside hotel second tour operator other side of road) £75 for both of us (£135 per couple thomson) a brilliant experience
luxor museum small with some amazing artifacts
karnack temple awsome
the fellahs tent is also a very good experience
be aware if you have mobility probs or breathing probs access to most things can be difficult but achievable so long as you are allowed to pace yourself.
Take bottles of water everywhere as sight seeing places will rip you off with their prices, and wear a hat
taxis....they will rip you off....pay upto 10 egyptian pounds anywhere in luxor, karnack £15 .. if you haggle and they wont drop thier price walk away as there are stacks of people after your money, papyrus pics are very common as there not original get 2 or three prints for one english pound...
buy water from small local shops we used one , left outside hotel first right to the bottom and cross the road little shop on corner,,, paid 13 egyptian for 2 times large bottles water, 4 small bottles and 4 double chocolate wafers instead of 13 egyptian for one big bottle? some of the roads and buildings are somewhat lacking so be careful on your feet
food at hotel was good,,,, japanese was pretty good and enjoyable, italian was good, main restaurant was gd, lots of selection... we also ate at snobs and deans (right out of hotel first left over the road... ok food
everyone expects a tip!!!!! so tip at end of week , locals try all sorts to get some money outta yer
NOW I HAVE PROBABLY MADE IT SEEM LIKE A NOT SO GOOD PLACE, BUT TOO BE HONEST WE REALY ENJOYED THE STAY, STAFF WERE FRIENDLY AND HELPFULL ESPECIALLY MAHMOOD WHO TOOK US OUT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE BOAT, WHEN THE WORK IS COMPLETE THE HOTEL WILL BE EXCELLENT, WE WERE UNLUCKY WITH SOMETHINGS THERE AT THE TIME MANY OF THE GUESTS AV BEEN RETURNING TO THE HOTEL YEAR AFTER YEAR, A GREAT BASE TO GO AND EXPLORE FROM.
GREAT SUN SETS, WARM POOL (NOW THEY HAVE IT TURNED UP) GREAT HOLIDAY MAKERS,
" Sonesta St George, 5*plus!!!! Would definatly recommend!! "
Submitted By: cheekaboo65" My wife and I stayed in the Sonesta... "
Submitted By: Mr B MitchellThere is a good variety of shops in the hotel where you can buy things like your morning papers & sweets, you can buy your knick-knacks here also and there is even a jewellery shop. The shops in the hotel have fixed prices, except for the jewellery shop where you can haggle, as you do everywhere else in Egypt. Haggling is essential, and expected. In most cases if you pay about 50% of the original asking price, you are doing ok.
At the rear of the hotel, on the Nile, they have their own motor boats and felluca's. You can probably get boat trips cheaper if you want to, but you have the comfort of knowing that you arent going to be ripped off at the end, and the comfort of leaving from and returning to your own hotel.
One thing to watch out for is the price of bottled water. In the local shops, with a bit of haggling you can buy a standard 1.5Ltr bottle for about 2 Egyptian pounds, whereas in the hotel, the same bottle of water is 13 Egyptian pounds.
There are dozens of shops along the road down from the hotel, all of whom will try to tempt you in to buy their goods, take your time and dont be "hassled" by them. If you see something you want, be prepared for haggling. One of the shops is run by the self professed "Famous Harry". Anything you want, if he dosent have it in stock, he will have it for you tomorrow.
Overall, a wonderful hotel, excellent staff and a holiday to remember.
" Just got back from the Sonesta St... "
Submitted By: Mr B D WorthingtonThe staff are fanastic esp the pool staff ie the only female there,she would find us a bucket off iced water and two glass for our bottle water without us asking
Also the pool attemdents towels ready as soon as you get there.It was hot when we were there so i kept in the shade.Before i had time to get up to turn the prinsome there were there doing it for you
Three things agianst the hotel
1 the rec staff i found them a bit off putting
2 the work being done on the hotel a bit noisey at times esp when we where told the work was beem 9am and 9 pm,sorry to say one day the work started at 6am and went on till 11 30 that night.this is the outside,ie concetre, steel bars and guiders going past within 10 ft off our bedroom
The work on the top comes on 24 hrs a day
3 The prices are higher maked up ie bottle water hotel £1 30 across the road at the jewel in nile 30p
To eat out i sugest Maximes
We also found for trips moon travel very very good a ballon ride £25 each,we also booked with them for the valley of the kings etc for £25 each but this was in a taxi plus our own guilde excellent
So shop around and enjoy
" Stayed at the Sonesta after reading... "
Submitted By: Mrs D BowmanThe Hotel was excellent, the service couldn’t be better. We ate out most evenings, the Lantern being by far the best, they even do a Sunday Roast for about £4.50 with a sweet. The Bombay Indian was also good. The Chinese and maximes was rubbish, would not recommend eating there.
During our visit there was some hotel work taking place, but don’t be put off, you didn’t even notice it. As regards the hustle in the Street after a few days you ignored it
We booked all our trips through Jolleys which was a lot cheaper than the tour operators trips.
I would definitely go back, the food is cheap, the trips good quality, even did the balloon trip £25 each through Jolleys.
" Spent a week in Luxor, staying at the... "
Submitted By: carolabMy overriding memory is of the wonderful Egyptian people who couldn't be friendlier or more welcoming if they tried. I also felt 100% safe and secure at all times.
Don't book your trips in your hotel or with your rep - go to the front and use one of the small offices.
There is so much to do and see and a week left us completely exhausted but equally exhilarated.
Amongst other activities we managed to cram in trips to - day at Luxor & Karnak Temples, Cruise up the Nile to Dendara, Day in the Valleys of Kings / Queens etc / Flew to Cairo for a day at the Pyramids and at the Cairo Museum, Balloon flight, camel riding, son et lumiere at Karnak and more.
The Feluccas and the Caleches are the only way to travel and unbelievably cheap. Picking your driver / sailor with care and you will have a fantastic time.
The weather was perfect warm days & chilly early mornings and evenings.
Out of season meant the crowds were perfectly manageable.
The hotel was great - friendly, clean and exactly what you need. The half-board arrangement was perfect and the food and service was fantastic - catering for a carnivore and vegetarian equally well.
We generally try to always go somewhere different but for Luxor and the Sonesta St George I think we are willing to make an exception.
" This hotel is truly wonderful.
The staff were friendly & helpful, the quality of food both in the restaurants & at the breakfast buffet was fantastic, and the hotel & rooms were cleaned beautifully.
A true pleasure to stay here.
Med Hotels were an average operator, I would travel with them again but I am now wiser to the fact that the resort reps. do not always provide you with complete information & didn't seem awfully bothered with our complaints, however the holiday was very good value!
Luxor is a stunning place & will keep me coming back for years!
" This is the 3rd time we have stayed... "
Submitted By: Mr R CookeWith the extra space that has been added to the pool area, this has made a big plus.
The staff are outstanding, the food in the restaurant has a wide choice.
We will be going back ASAP. I know the friends we have told about the hotel have come back and said they will go again.
" This was our third visit to Luxor but... "
Submitted By: Janeg88The Sonesta is well located in Luxor and it is possible to walk to some of the attractions in the town itself although taxis are cheap and plentiful and would be recommended. Agree a price before setting off though.
The sights on the West Bank are excellent and musts sees include the tomb of Tutankhamen (although not the most interesting of tombs the most famous) and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The Valley of the Kings is huge and it is not possible to visit all the tombs.
Luxor temple and the temple of Karnak are must sees too. The sound and light adds a new dimension and is also a great experience.
The Sonesta is a five star hotel and the rooms are spacious and very comfortable. The restaurant is excellent although we often ate out in the growing number of restaurants in the town.
Don't be put off wandering by the hassle you initially receive, the locals will soon recognise you and a firm no (if you are not interested in their shop, taxi, boat etc ) is all that is needed.









The staff in Reception were very efficent and the staff in the Restaurants and room service very helpful and friendly.
The food was buffet style and had so much choice it was difficult to decide what to have at each meal but whatever we chose was always excellent.
The room was thoroughly cleaned each day and our towels were changed twice a day. The bed made in the morning and turned down for us each night. What service !!!
Our room was on the side of the Hotel but still had a magnificent view of the Nile and the mountains of the Valley of the Kings/Queens and of course the fabulous sunsets.
There were some sort of building work going on next to the Hotel but after a while it didn't bother us espesially as the work didn't seem to last very long. We only had to turn our chairs round on the balcony and we couldn't see it anyway.
Our tour guide from African Safari Club made sure we were looked after so we went on many trips with a lovely meal to look forward to once back in the Hotel
Advice: Plenty of culure and the Temple and museums are well worth a visit
Activities: Luxor Temple, Mummification Museum, Luxor Museum, Calesh ride and Falluca trip to Banana Island