Just to provide some context from the start, Pharaoh’s hotel is a 3 Star hotel and it will be rated as to how well it fares as such. The hotel is located on a small side street opposite the Sheraton in the Dokki area (in case your taxi driver from the airport has never heard of it). It is generally well-maintained and a relatively inexpensive place to stay. We stayed there for 9 nights in January 2012.

The room was of basic design, but also included a small fridge, a ventilation (warm and cold) unit and a flat screen TV (with two stations showing English language films/series). The bed was quite firm, but the bedding was clean and changed daily (towels, too). The bathroom was generally clean, in spite of some minor imperfections, stemming from “time in use“. There were dirt patches in the some corners of the bathroom and the odd water stain, but no major faults. The main surfaces of tables/floor were wiped/mopped daily. There was no safe in the room, but valuables can be left at reception. Traffic noise was of course omnipresent, but bearable from inside the hotel. Breakfast was included with our booking, but we only went once to try it out...and thereafter only to get a cup of tea in the morning. The hotel also houses a restaurant, but it is quite expensive.

Internet is available for free in the lounge (you will need your own laptop), but the connection is not the best. One of the receptionists insisted that internet required a fee, but this was an attempt to make some extra money and our booking summary clearly stated that it is free of charge - his colleague provided us with the password later.

Near the hotel itself are several small corner shops (turning right from the hotel). In the vicinity (Al Sad Al Aali street) there is also a supermarket, an HSBC bank, Domino’s pizza and a pharmacy. For vegetarians, there are several kebab places (think falafel) on El Tahrir Street, and also an outlet of “El Tahrir” chain restaurant that serves koshari. Dokki Metro station is also relatively close-by (15 min walk from hotel).

Based on our stay, I’d give Pharaohs hotel between 3.5 and 4 stars on the three-star-hotel scale. It’s generally clean, relatively inexpensive and one has easy access to shops and public transport. On the downside, the breakfast needs some getting used to and some of the staff may be interested in making some extra money.

We stayed there 4 nights in November. The rooms in the fifth floor were good and clean, good breakfast and the hotel had a local feel. Many Egyptean's in it. The streets outside are quite unattrative and dirty but local restaurants and shops are available .

I stayed here for 3 nights at the end of October 2011 at the end of my Intrepid tour, and loved every moment!
The room was very clean, quiet and comfortable, with a flat screen tv and fridge. The cleanliness and quality of the towels and sheets was very good.
Breakfast was included, and had the usual range of items in addition to fruit, omelettes, and salads.
The restaurant has a great view, and the food was tasty and reasonably priced. Alcohol is available.
The hotel is in a good location being very close to a great supermarket, cafes, restaurants, take away and a 15 minute walk to some floating restaurants on the Nile. It’s also close to the Metro.
The staff were friendly and helpful (in particular George and Sherif) which made the stay very pleasant.
There are quite a few touts in the area, who offer transport, tours and souvenirs in addition to providing useful advice of services and facilities in the area. With the right attitude, you can have some fun!
This was the best hotel I stayed in during my 19 days in Egypt.

The staff were very friendly and helpful with information on local hot spots and resources. Very clean, good location and good security. Special thanks to George for making my stay so easy and comfortable.