The Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino is built around a 19th century palace, erected in honour of the French Empress Eugénie's visit to open the Suez Canal in 1869.

Right in the heart of Cairo, the hotel is like a grand oasis set in six acres of exotic gardens overlooking the Nile.  Just fifteen minutes away from the Pyramids, and with the Egyptian museum five minutes away, all Cairo's popular attractions are nearby.

The hotel is currently (2007) undergoing refurbishment, with guest rooms being completely overhauled and modernised.  Rooms in the Zamalek Tower will be completed first before work starts on the Gezira Tower rooms.

Rooms and Suites

All the hotel's accommodation is in two towers, built either side of the original ornate palace.   There are twenty floors, and a total of 1250 rooms and suites, including 11 Presidential suites. 

At the moment, rooms vary depending on whether they've been renovated or not.  Those that haven't are perhaps a little below par in this day and age, although rooms should still have all the ameneties one would expect and each has its own balcony, high-speed internet connection and in-room safe.

The newly remodelled rooms are thoroughly modern and feature 21st century technology.  Beds are Marriott's legendary Revive beds, luxury duvets and fluffy down pillows (foam available on request).

Rooms have minibar, and bottled water is provided, although a five-star hotel in a country where it's not recommended to drink the tap water could provide a couple of complimentary bottles.