Sayed Effendi - Boutique Hotel

Hygiene: Very clean. This is the cleanest place I stayed in Egypt, along with the Winter Palace in Luxor. You can tell they pay attention to details regarding cleanliness, which made me feel quite at ease. Service: Excellent. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. The only exception was a man who always wore sunglasses in the rooftop breakfast area; he seemed a bit cold. He might be the owner. On our first day, when we arrived early, he said we'd have to pay extra for breakfast, which is technically correct, but it felt a bit insensitive given the situation. More importantly, their breakfast selection wasn't very diverse and didn't look appealing. We'd rather order takeout. Facilities: The suite was very spacious, which was great. If the price difference isn't too much, I recommend choosing a suite. The bedding was comfortable, and the decor was new and beautiful. The only issue was the water pressure – while there was enough hot water, the pressure wasn't strong enough. Sometimes it was too hot, other times just lukewarm, making showering not very comfortable. Environment: The location is decent, in the Old City, but you pretty much need to take a taxi to go anywhere, as Cairo's traffic isn't pedestrian-friendly. There isn't much to explore right outside the hotel. You can order takeout from Ma Jia Noodle House and many other downtown restaurants. The soundproofing in the suites is just okay; you can hear people talking in the hallway, though this doesn't happen often. Suites and a few other rooms face the street, so you'll faintly hear various car horns from Cairo's roads. For those who sleep soundly, this isn't a problem, and it's relatively better than staying near a riverside elevated highway.