We had nine nights of great comfort at the Pavilion Winter, a modern hotel which shares the gardens, pool and some facilities and staff with the Old Winter Palace. The Pavilion staff are tremendous - they could not do enough for us, even agreeing to put a sofa in our room, when I said we would like additional furniture - and the double room itself was newly decorated, tastefully furnished and very comfortable. We felt our bed and breakfast stay was excellent value, and we liked the location: it's 5 minutes from the Luxor Temple, and close to many shops, restaurants and to the Nile.

The hotel gardens merit particular mention: they are very large, quiet and beautifully maintained, which is a real treat given the location which is effectively in the town centre. But they do contain mosquitoes, which despite a daily fumigation seem to still find their way into your room in the evening. Buy some insecticide to enjoy a bite-free night.

Given the mosquito problem you probably won't keep your balcony doors open at night, but if you do you will also have no problem hearing the call to prayer at around 5:15 a.m. from the nearby mosques. Actually we enjoy the sound, but depending on where you are it can be loud.

One other word of caution: because of the shared arrangements with the Old Winter Palace, be careful which hotel you are booking. The Pavilion Winter is pretty new, while the Old Winter Palace is Old - it's a classically fronted building from the late 19th Century. The entrance to both is currently shared (via the Old Winter Palace steps and lobby), and you may think you are booking one when you are booking the other. We made this mistake, and the travel agency website we used confused the two hotels by using similar pictures.

The highlight of this hotel is its magnificient garden and wonderful heated swimming pool, that my daughter enjoyed immensely. Its truly an oasis of calm and peace. The room with garden view was spacious and comfortable. I enjoyed looking out at the garden from our balcony while listening to the numerous overlapping calls to prayer. The hotels location is also prime, as its walking distance to the temple and Nile. The breakfast included was adequate, and one can enjoy it outside on the terrace. Very civilized and all:), especially when next door to the Winter Palace. The food ordered by the pool and room service was pretty good, but we ordered only burgers and club sandwiches. We did order in a chocolate mousse which made us briefly ill. Thankfully, our daughter did not eat and did not get sick. Mostly we ate out where it was cheaper. Wifi access was free by the pool and in the the lobby of the Winter Palace. The common rooms of the Palace and the bar was quite lovely and have maintained its charm.
Now the bad news. If it would not be for the voice of reason of my spouse I would give this hotel one star. Namely, for the fact that the rooms were a hot box, infested with mosquitos that almost ate my daughter alive. I am surprised that none of the previous reviewers have mentioned this problem. I remember reading a review from last year, same time as we went that said the same thing, only to be negated by another reviewer who said there were no such problem. I am confused and do not understand, how this could be, unless it effects only certain areas of the hotel. The hotel's solution for the heat was to provide an electric fan. This is something you would expect from a hostel, not a so called jewel of Luxor. A simple screen door would solve this problem as it was cool at night and it would also keep the mosquitos away. The fumigation the hotel does is not enough.

The good:stunning,meticulously maintained gardens which I dont think any other hotel in Luxor has. Carpeted rooms which are as good as most 5 stars I've been to with a warm homely feel.Free wifi access around pool and Lobby of Winter palace hotel.Also access to free internet on computer in Lobby of winter pavillion and there is an additional complimentary use computer terminal in the winter pavillion itself on the basement/ground floor of the winter palace hotel.Large heated swimming pools set in lush gardens.The service from staff was impeccably professional and natural.You will have full access to all facilities of the Winter Palace which is the hotel dignitaries and royalty stay at when in Luxor.Excellent breakfast but if you were staying for more than a week--I would want more choices.
The Bad:Extortionate prices for wifi access in your room.This is unacceptable.It should be complimentary without question in this day and age.Food both from room service and by the pool was lousy.I cant comment on the winter palace since I had brought no smart clothes and the costs seemed prohibitive especially since the menu didnt bowl me over.Food in Luxor in general to me was very poor...so poor that I dont think I would ever return.If I did I would return to this hotel.
The Ugly:Hassle in the streets and souks is just outrageous.I am well travelled and I have to say I had more hassle here than in Marrakech;which is saying something.
Tips:take a compass..its very easy to walk all around Luxor on foot;go shopping and walking in the areas where the locals go.Please be generous when tipping as Luxor has enormous poverty.Locals only earn $40 per month.....trips i really enjoyed here 1.Space Observers with Kris where you will go out into the dessert and see the sky at night with the help of very powerful telescopes. and 2.the air balloon rides.3 go to a local perfume shop where only Egyptians go so you dont get ripped off and make your own perfume/aftershave--for this take an interpreter.. also if you take a guide for the trips to the archelogical sites I recommend meeting them first as their English might be difficult for you to understand and enthusiasm and knowledege vary which can therefore spoil your experience of the place as it did for me.

Chose a two-hotel break to Luxor this year, stopping first at the Winter Palace Pavillon first three nights then back to our favourite, Maritim Jolie Ville.

Our room was lovely, and best of all the balcony overlooked the beautiful hotel gardens. We dined in the restaurant the first night (dining options in the hotel with limited and quite expensive). The meal was lovely though the restaurant was incredibly quiet.

Breakfasts were ok - sitting on the terrace was lovely, but there wasn't as much choice as in some other hotels.

The pool was really stunning - the water a good temperature and the poolside service very good. I was really disappointed the swim-up bar was not open - it was one of the reasons we booked.

All in all, if we had not been to other hotels in Luxor we would have been very happy staying here, and would recommend it on.