MikeCunliffe
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Sonesta St. George, Luxor, EgyptMy wife and I visited Egypt at the back end of Feb 2006, spending the first week on a Nile cruise boat and the final second week at the Sonesta St. George hotel in Luxor.
The hotel is billed as a 5 star and it genuinely merits each of those stars in my opinion. The reception area is large, well lit with a stunning chandolier and staffed by polite, helpful, english speaking staff - and always sufficient to avoid queues.
Rooms are located on the floor above the reception area and 5 or six floors above that. Our room was spacious, tastefully furnished with two large single beds, ample wardrobe space with enough hangers, an electronic combination safe, a three drawer unit, small fridge, colour tv with some english channels (no World BBC) and a table plus two chairs.
The balcony overlooked the Nile, had two sun loungers another table and two chairs and views of the Valley of the Kings/Queens.
This balcony also overlooked the large, generally circular pool with the swim-up bar on the side opposite the children's section (appropriate). A table tennis table for the more energetic, ample sunloungers with umberallas for the less active.
Staff were always on hand to arrange your pool towel (provided at the pool) on the lounger of your choice and if desired, move umberallas to suite your sun/shade preference. With temps in the high 30's for the middle 2-3 hours every day even in Feb. this was a most useful service.
Several waiters/waitresses provided a constant service for drinks and food. Each morning, our waitress would acknowledge our arrival and within 30-45 minutes would check that a large bottle of water, two chilled glasses, with ice, and an Egyptian fridge were required, again.
The Egyptian Fridge was her description of the earthenware, water and ice filled container used to keep the water cool - it worked.
Lunchtime food was provided either at your lounger or at tables, some in the full shade, some in partial shade - and all within sight of the Nile - often only a matter of yards away. If you chose to eat on the floating pontoon area you were ON the Nile. This large 60 ft by 40 ft, stable seating and dining area provide the venue for the nightly film show. A large projector and a decent sound system offered such obvious clasics as Death on the Nile, The Mummy and some unexpected gems such as the Last Samurai.
Dining in the hotel was varied and invariably excellent. We stayed half-board and each morning breakfast was taken in the buffet restaurant one floor below reception. This area was on a level with the pool and had several outside tables, directly underneath the balconied rooms above, and hence with a Nile View across the pool and pontoon area.
The choice at breakfast was impressive. The first couple of days they provided a comprehensive Japanese Breakfast Buffet - there were many Japanese guests staying at that time. A wide selection of freshly baked breads, real butter, jams and preserves finished-off the meal a treat. Fruit, and cereals, cold meats and cheeses, yoghurts and pastries all complimented the hot selections which included freshly cooked eggs - cooked in front of you and to your specification. A range of traditional Egyptian breakfast fare tempted me one morning - and was most enjoyable.
Lunch, as I said earlier, was taken outside to avoid any excessive effort
Dinner. The choice of venue was often the hardest decision of the day. As I said, we'd booked half-board and at the reception when checking-in we were informed that a money allowance could be used in any hotel restaurant should we choose not to eat in the buffet restaurant in the evening.
We therefore ate three times in the Japanese Restaurant - the only one in Luxor. Once we ate in the Italian style and the remaining three times in the buffet. I'd figured that having cultivated a good relationship with the lady serving food and drinks at the pool I could probably arrange to reserve a table outside of the buffet restaurant and overlooking the pool. This proved successful and we ate al fresco on those three evenings.
The choice of food at the dinner buffet defines full description. There were always two choices of soup, a carvery, several other hot dishes, a wide selection of cold starters, savouries, salads and rounded off with no less than 10 dessert choices which frequently changed.
The carvery featured duck, lamb, beef and turkey - but never any pork products. This was true at breakfast (no sausages) as well but the venison sausages were equally good.
The Japanese restaurant was first class. The first night we enjoyed tepanyaki. The chef "performs" whilst cooking the selection of seafood and meats, vegatables, rice and beansprouts. Sushi, when a few friends joined us one evening, was perfect - and that was the opinion of a seasoned sushi eater in our group.
The Italian restaurant offered chateaubriand for two - we couldn't resist. It was very good, very tasty. Perhaps not cooked as rare as I'd prefer but still most enjoyable.
Wines were fine if you drink red (as I do, often) but perhaps poor to disastrous if you're a white drinker. My wife could not find an Egyptian wine that was acceptable to her and refused to let me pay £35 for a relatively cheap bottle of imported white wine (thank God )
We've since found out that the hotel offers a corkage service and we'd take a couple of bottles of decent white next visit.
There will be a next visit; this is one of the best hotels we've stayed in. Service, efficiency, friendliness - all 100%. The decor and appointments within the hotel couldn't be faulted - they have spent considerable sums building this hotel and it shows. Position is ideal with the new Meridien Hotel just 100mt south and the Old Winter Palace a 10 minute walk northwards and all on the East bank of the Nile. Luxor Temple 15 minutes walk north; Karnak temple a £2.50 taxi ride away, Luxor Museum £1.50 taxi or 20 minute walk.
Should you elect to stay here on B&B basis there are several restaurants in the area all reported by fellow guests at the hotel to be clean, serve good food and drinks (white wine still poor though) and at charges that are somewhat unbelievable. Other hotels have restaurants for a little variety and, as stated already, 4 dining options in the Sonesta itself.
The chateaubriand, for two, if paid for rather than being included in the meal plan would cost just £13.60 - for both of you - and that included vegatables and potatoes. Red wines varied between £14 and upwards of £20 for a bottle. The lower end (£14-16) provided a very palatable wine and at a cost no different than the UK.
Sights and excursions abound in Luxor - so do street sellers and touts. However, everyone has a smile on their face and will, if you are polite but firm, desist from hassle after a few attempts. We never fealt anything other than safe and welcomed - they are a great people.
Hope anyone thinking of visiting Luxor finds this post useful. We were lucky selecting this hotel - partly resulting from favourable posts on other sites. We visited several other hotels in Luxor including the Meridien, the Pyramisa Isis, The Sheraton and the Old Winter Palace and I'd stay at the Sonesta in preference to all - the Meridien if the Sonesta was full.
Cheers, Mike
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