Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

The Steigenberger Nile Palace is arguably the best hotel in Luxor, and second best in all of Egypt (after the Old Cataract). Its location is simply fantastic, right next to Luxor Temple. You can enjoy stunning views of the Nile River from balconies facing it, and from higher floors, you can even see Luxor Temple itself. The hotel's gardens are beautiful, and the breakfast spread is generous. A special shout-out to a lovely female staff member who kindly packed some desserts for our little one – thank you! Breakfast hours are great, from 5:30 AM to 10:30 AM. This is perfect for those with early flights, as you can grab breakfast before 6 AM and even catch a glimpse of hot air balloons from the window. The laundry service was also excellent. We had about 7-8 items washed for roughly $10-something, and they were delivered back to our room within a few hours. The large garden and pool area are lovely, and the adjacent restaurant serves up some tasty dishes. Luxor is packed with ancient sites, and after a tiring day of exploring, the Steigenberger Nile Palace is the perfect place to recuperate. I highly recommend staying for at least two nights; one night is simply too short. There's a local restaurant right across from the hotel that I highly recommend – their grilled fish and fish tagine are absolutely delicious.

The hotel boasts elegant and luxurious decor, situated right on the Nile River. The rooms are clean and hygienic, and the elevator doors are old-fashioned, pull-style gates – a first-time experience for me! The hotel also has its own beautiful garden, which is lovely.

It was okay, but the bedding was really old. The garden view was decent, though.