Where to stay in Egypt

Egypt boasts some beautiful resorts set in landscaped gardens across the country. All the top resorts, at Sharm el-Sheik, Hurghada and Luxor, offer lavish accommodation for less than top-dollar prices. Many include international restaurants, spas and infinity pools, and they are a good place to watch belly dancing or other cultural entertainment which cater especially for tourists. Most can arrange diving and snorkelling, horse- and camel-riding trips, and tours of the desert or to archaeological sites.

Top-end hotel accommodation in Egypt surprisingly represents the best value for money. In Cairo, there are some spectacular five-star hotels run by international chains, many of them on the banks of the Nile. In Alexandria, old colonial hotels on the corniche are convenient and charming.

All cities and resorts offer a choice of mid-range hotels that offer business facilities and help with onward connections. Most require reservations several months in advance, particularly in the winter months and during major Islamic holidays.

Hotels are graded 1-5 stars, although visitors will find that the standards of the lower range are somewhat inferior to their counterparts in Europe and the USA.