Cairo: Marriott Cairo (February 2010)

I expected to like this hotel more than I actually did. Traffic was unbelievable on the way to the hotel from the airport. It was about 10 pm, but it took us well over an hour to reach the hotel. It was Valentine’s Day, so there were lots of locals out walking, driving, and celebrating, which definitely added to the traffic. (While the traffic is bad in Cairo, it’s not insane like it is in Delhi.) There is extensive security at the Marriott, including bomb-sniffing dogs when you first arrive at the property and then a metal detector later. This hotel is a self-contained oasis, with many shops, restaurants, banks (24-hours, three ATM machines), etc. We upgraded to an executive suite, which wasn’t really up to 5 star standards. There was a separate bedroom, but only one bathroom, and that didn’t even have a separate tub and shower set up as I expected. There was no wet bar, either. The room description said it included a dining table, which it did not, and also a large balcony. It actually had two small balconies, neither of which was viewable or connected to the other; just an odd setup. I expected lounge chairs out there, and each one just had a tiny table and two chairs. Neither of the balcony lights worked on our first night, although maintenance fixed them the next day. The toiletries were below 5-star standards; just ordinary products you would find in a Fairfield Inn in the US. The lounge was worthwhile, though. Internet access is NOT free. We stayed at the Marriott for three nights.