Hotel.
Lotus is a perfectly good three star hotel - many elements of it are worth a 4 star but the food lets it down. Breakfast is fairly mundane. You get the same selection every day. Only freshly cooked item is your choice of egg. Everything else will be pre-cooked and kept in warmers. Same goes for the lunch and dinner buffet. Most other aspects of the hotel are a lot better. We stayed in a suite that was very comfortable and had masses of room including two balconies. There were no coffee making facilities though. All rooms have a mini fridge and are cleaned daily by staff who seem to specialise in towel art. Beds were perfectly comfortable. Common areas were very clean. Pool has an adjoining bar/kitchen. There is plenty of seating around. Staff throughout the hotel were courteous and helpful. If you are after a bit of entertainment for adults or children then forget it; because there is none. Overall, Lotus Hotel is good if you are looking for a good, comfortable and clean base to explore Luxor or to spend the day by the pool. If you expect to spend most of your days there then it is best avoided as the food is poor and nothing by the way of entertainment is available - even the TV has just terrestrial channels plus BBC world and Al Jazeera.

Luxor
If you think England, France or India have old buildings to look at then think again. Nothing compares to Luxor. Temples and tombs built 4 or 5 thousand years ago just litter the place. Some of it is jaw droppingly amazing. The people are very courteous....if you manage to get past the traders, taxi drivers and calleshe drivers who ambush you the minute you step out of your hotel. Having said that, they are not threatening at all and the thought that I might be pick-pocketed or robbed never crossed the mind. They are out to earn money that's all. If you are out with a child then you get royal treatment wherever you go. We had a 5 year-old daughter and there was not one shop that we went into that didn't give her a small present - even if we didn't buy anything. Everyone in Luxor seems to adore children and welcome them with open arms.

Taxis/Calleshes
Both are cheap but you have to bargain. Tell them a price and stick to it (be reasonable). I always looked out for a healthy looking horse if hiring a calleshe. Make sure you agree a price for the whole party in Egyptian Pounds; and don't let them take you to a 'special market', 'good shop' etc etc which you didn't ask for. They get huge commissions from these premises for every customer they bring in - you just end up paying a lot more for the goods.

Trips
Travel agents who arrange package holidays are the most expensive as we found to our cost after the first outing. Shop around at the numerous agents dotted around Luxor. We eventually used Larose tours (it's a 100 metres or so on the left on street opposite Sonesta St George Hotel). It goes without saying you need to bargain as anywhere else in Egypt. The service was excellent and they always turned up on time and gave you what you wanted. Even had the courtesy to come and say goodbye and thank you to us in the reception of the hotel when we left Luxor.

Food
Good Indian - Taste of India
Good Italian - A Roma
Good English/Egyptian King Htut

Agreed this hotel is cheap. You cant argue with that. Maybe my experience was a one off, and some would say I cant complain at that price. However, there is no way this could be a 4 star hotel. My wife and I stayed one night and then promptly switched to the Nile Palace next door (5 star). The main problem - noise. Firstly the ongoing unneccesarily lound 'ping' of the lifts - sounds pedantic but after the 50th time that night it was driving us crazy. Next - the hotel is open plan meaning theres only vertical distance but no floors between the lobby and any floor. Result = sound from the lobby carried everywhere. We could hear ALL guests coming in, rowdy or not at any time, the doors slamming etc. To top it off, they decided to start cleaning the floors at 2 am. The staff acknowledged that noise was an ongoing problem but obviously couldnt really do anything about it. So we switched. The Nile Palace is great btw. Finally the hotel purports to offer 24 hour medical cover. On my arrival, there was a frantic english lady telling the staff that her husband was really ill and couldnt walk. The staff tried calling the doctor who wasnt answering and said they couldnt do anything else and suggested taking him to hospital. All this was done in a completely unempathetic way. Being a doctor I felt obliged to help, and eventually although the man was OK, I wonder how the hotel would have helped in my absence. I was surprised due to all the good reviews, and maybe my expectations were too high, but trust me this is not 4 star, and the pictures are deceiving. The staff may be friendly and helpful - but clearly not all the time, and if youre a light sleeper - think twice. On the plus side, breakfast was OK, and the pool was OK too. Location is good, and the doormen are helpful.

Decided to treat my friend to a Junior suite as it was her birthday and asked for a suite overlooking the Nile. This would have been the same price as a 5 star for B & B so thought it would be a treat for us. Room was huge and had a fridge and TV in lounge and bedroom and a wardrobe in each room but these were a bit small if 4 people stayed in the Suite. It was a bit chilly at night but there were no extra pillows or blankets but I'm sure a phone call to reception would provide any additional items needed. My main dissapointment was the breakfast, there was little choice and most of the hot food was likewarm or cold. If you commented on this, the container was taken away and reheated but it did mean a wait. You have to walk a long way from the food area to your table and I felt this was dangerous as its easy to spill any drinks. Loads of waiters hoovering around so couldnt understand why they didnt provide table service for drinks as they had plenty of time and your drinks wouldnt get so cold. Had room service one night, grilled chicken and it was very tasty and good price, 96 for two people and a large portion.
Lounge bar is very quiet as not many guest there, so best to go out to eat and drink, plenty of restaurants right opposite the hotel and good prices but beware the hustlers. As soon as you step outside, they converge from all corners and this happened every time we left the hotel and it spoilt out stay. This is the same outside every hotel but i believe the hotels should do more to control them. I realise it's a difficult time for Egyptians and they are desperate for business as tourist figures are low but this hassling is not the way to go about it. My friend burst into tears one night when we got into the hotel lift, she found it overwhelming and it frightened her that you are constantly surrounded by men and she felt intimidated..........not the hotel's fault but they could do more to stop it.
Overall the hotel is good but not 4 star, more 3 star but the staff are so pleasant and helpfull but the Suite didnt have the slightly luxurious feel that I hoped it would have. I would go again as apart from the boring breakfast, I had no complaints but would try a five star first and see which feels the best value.

Great shower in the room. Great swimming pool. Average room decore. Strict times for breakfast. Could not get a second cup of tea at 10.05 as breakfast finishes at 10! Cheap and tasty food by the pool.
If you want a reliable and honest taxi driver ask for Mohamed on 00 201003038649.
Good food at Deans, Jewel of the Nile, Taste of India and Italian restaurant called Roma in St Joseph St.
Great deals on leather handbags at bag shop in the Isis hotel.
Interesting jewellery shop down Murphy St(by passport office) on the other side of the road from Murphy's and further down.