GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 12

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

The balcony in Golden’s kitchen overlooks all the street theater on Talaat Harb. 

Nabil loves to light up a cigarette.

By the way, it seems that everyone smokes in Cairo. 

The nonsmoking section often is one or two little tables – in the center of a full-smoking dining room.

Then Nabil has some coffee or tea.

Egyptians must be second only to Turks in tea consumption.

Then Nabil watches the world go by.

Sometimes he has a friend with him and they will be animatedly chatting in French, then Arabic, a tiny bit of English, then back to Arabic.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SOULMATE HEIDI

 WE HAVE CELEBRATED OUR BIRTHDAYS

 FOR MORE THAN A THIRD OF A CENTURY TOGETHER

I love Heidi for thousands of reasons.

She always has my back.

She has helped me grow as a person in countless ways.

Right now, during the pandemic, I especially love Heidi for the way she takes care of our Siamese rescue cat HoneyBear.

She manages all vet appointments, vaccinations, check-ups, medicines, prescription food, etc.

She plays with HB at least twice a day.

Happy 56th birthday, from your loving husband and cat.

GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 11

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

Golden Hotel owner Nabil is French-Arab and has managed many hotels. 

He grew up in Alexandria and has many suggestions for places to see in the grand old city on the Mediterranean.

Each afternoon, as I would come back a little sunburned, windburned and eyes hurting from the dust and car exhaust, gray-haired, 60-something Nabil, the owner, would greet me.

My room was on the fourth (fifth, the way U.S. does floor numbering) floor and the reception is on the third. 

There’s a little kitchen with a couple tables off the front desk. It’s largely for staff – some live on premises – to cook a meal and store their lunches in the full-size fridge.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/

GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 10

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

There is one quirk that might put some people off, but it is not uncommon for small, family-operated hotels in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. 

You have to leave your room key at the desk when leaving…whether it’s for the day, a few hours or to run next door for some shawarma.

It does prevent one from carrying around a big key fob, or losing one’s key on the never-ending streets of Cairo.

I don’t remember a room safe, but I felt 100% secure leaving spare camera lenses, cash and valuables (tucked in a slot in my suitcase) in the room while staff had access to make the bed, empty the baskets and leave everything super clean.

I simply cannot imagine Nabil, the owner, hiring or tolerating a person who would mess with belongings in a guestroom.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/

GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 9

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

A very interesting contraption of wooden forms – almost like the old LP crates, for those of you old enough to have collected vinyl in college – made for an efficient way of story my clothes on hangers, suitcase up top, daily finds, medicines and much more.

There was a nice flat screen TV, but I really didn’t use it much. 

Better still was a remote-controlled AC unit…which also had heat, which I used more because I was there in the last month of winter and after midnight in the desert is chilly.

Breakfasts offered toast, butter, jam, yogurt, eggs, cheese, fruit and more – though I usually went for just a simple toast and coffee combo.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/

GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 8

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

The bed was super comfortable.

It was just semi firm enough to rival the best beds I’ve slept on in major cities where the going rate was more than 10 times Golden’s.

There were plenty of outlets for recharging phone, camera, etc. – and super convenient night stands on each side.

A dorm-sized fridge ran whisper quiet and was perfect for stocking up at the corner store and chilling bottled water, soda, milk, leftovers, desserts. 

And you will want to drink from a bottle – one that you can tell has a seal that is not broken – Cairo tap water will give you the runs…even if you use it to rinse your toothbrush.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/

GOLDEN HOTEL CAIRO, EGYPT -- 7

3-Star Hotel that Offers 10-Star Service at Backpacker Prices

Warm water?

Oh, the times I have stayed in North Africa when promised hot water was rumored but never experienced.

Golden Hotel has a hot water tank in each room. It didn’t run forever, but it was plenty for a long, steamy shower. 

Plus, it quickly replenished more hot water in less than an hour.

The bathroom was clean and efficient. 

My room was not large, but very high ceilings, old world elegance and a lovely balcony looking out over famous Talaat Harb street kept me from ever even remotely feeling claustrophobic.

http://goldenhotelegypt.com/