When you first step into the Sara you are greeted with a white washed lobby full of sun and opulent de-core, there is a large outdoor pool with a great view over the Nile valley all in all very picturesque.

However if you plan on locking your door I would advise not staying at this hotel. The room doors are fitted with ridiculous locks that don't work and easily fall apart in your hand. The restaurant is for lack of a better description disgusting - I understand that it may have been roughly an hour or so after the main dinner service but I know brooms and mops are very effective and easy to use.

The service was shocking, the staff didn't know their left hand from their right foot, with prices jumping all over the show - water ranging from 7 L.E and jumping to 20 L.E when your not paying attention.

I would happily discourage anyone planning on staying at the Sara.

Many other reviews of the Sara Hotel here are difficult to believe. "friendly staff," "lovely," "hidden gem" ... just who wrote them? My partner and I stayed here and, as seasoned travelers, this was one of the worst hotels we have ever stayed at.

The staff were, to put it bluntly, like zombies: lifeless, couldn't-care-less in attitude, even sullen. My first experience was with the guy who took the bags up, grumpily said "baksheesh" when I didn't tip him (I happened to be out of small change) and patently didn't believe me when I said I'd pay later (which I did, getting a lame, belated smile from him.)

The same guy later gave me wrong instructions for getting to the nearby Nubian Museum, wasting half an hour of my time. Then, instead of trying to give me accurate instructions, he just shrugged and called me a hotel shuttle bus - which was OK I guess, but I was just as happy to walk and check out the neighborhood on the way.

The room was dirty, and ridden with mosquitoes. And if we weren't slapping mosquitoes all night, we were trying to sleep through the noise of the nightclub downstairs. Yes, a tourist hotel that also runs an awful-sounding Arab music disco - way past midnight!

Our room was right outside the old elevator, which loudly clanked, banged and clunked with every use.

The place had a small pool, but based on the overall state of cleanliness, I wasn't game to try it. There is a view of the Nile from the poolside, but so what? - the hotel sucks. We felt thoroughly ripped off.

We recently stayed at the Sara Hotel in Aswan, while seeing the sights and waiting for space on the ferry to Sudan.

The Sara is about 2 km south of the centre of Aswan, so nicely out of the hustle and bustle but they do operate a regular free shuttle bus. The hotel is spacious and the rooms very clean. The pool overlooks the 1st cataract and the western desert, so a stunning position. The staff are all very friendly and helpful and made us all feel exceptionally at home.

Above all the general manager Mr Helmy Mourad is very well connected in Aswan and helped us significantly with his local advise. We would thoroughly recommend the Sara be it for a couple of nights or a more extended stay.

I stayed here on my own, being a lone mid 20s girl travelling can be difficult at times but the Sara Hotel was lovely!

The staff were so friendly and went out of their way to be helpful!

I started in a very small twin room but the manager upgraded me to a very large room over looking the nile and pool as there were not many guests staying in the hotel, it was such a nice gesture and I did not have to pay any extra money!

The pool was well kept, the food was nice and the shuttle bus to the town was very helpful!

There was also a computer with internet access and the breakfast included in the price was very nice!

Although The Sara is a small journey from the toen centre its a hidden treasure and I would recommend this to my friends and family! Great value for money.