Marriott Mena House, Cairo

*What worked well* About 50 mins–1 hour from Cairo Airport. The drive is mainly motorway so it was an easy journey, even with kids. The hotel has real old-style charm. Our main reason for booking was the pyramids views and easy access to the Giza Plateau, and the buggy access part was excellent. It’s so convenient with kids. Nobody uses that entrance, so we had our guide meet us there with no crowds or hassle. When we finished, the buggy picked us up from the same drop-off point. Just remember to book your tickets online before and make sure you select the correct date for your visit (I managed to accidentally select the day before but thankfully the attendant at the pyramids gate sorted it for us). The new Grand Egyptian Museum is less than 10 minutes away. We used Uber and it only cost £1.50 each way. Tickets to the GEM also need to be booked online, we were not able to buy them at the gate. Our room was a bit small for a family of 4, but the staff pushed the beds together which was lovely for us to sleep as a family. It wasn’t clear when we first were trying to book that kids stay free with parents, but after calling/emailing, the hotel confirmed we can share one room. We had a partial view of the pyramids from our balcony. The pool area was nice, with a small heated pool for kids and the restaurant food was good quality. Staff were generally helpful. *The major issue: event disruption* A few days after booking, we got an email saying a large event was taking place and the preparation for that event would happen during our stay (we heard a wedding was due to take place two days after our stay). We were first told we could still access the gardens and eat at 139 Restaurant, which has the main pyramids view. On day one we only managed one meal at 139, and even then the view was blocked by event structures with constant, loud banging from workmen building the set-up. After that, 139 was completely closed to guests, and the garden view was only partially available from a side angle. This was hugely disappointing when paying full price. We booked this hotel specifically for the pyramids views at the restaurants and gardens. Management did make some attempts to rectify it following our complaints but it’s unacceptable to charge full price while knowing guests won’t get access to the very features they’re paying for. The hotel only took our booking a few weeks prior, so they absolutely knew about this massive event. I’ve seen many other guests complain about the same thing. If events are going to disrupt stays, this needs to be made clear on the Hotel website and customers should be given reduced rates given the disturbance to their stay is significant. As we couldn’t use 139, we relied on room service to at least enjoy the pyramids view from our balcony. *Other notes* The pool area was very clean and immaculate. The staff member skimming the water was very prompt, just perhaps a bit eager at times. I appreciate he wants to keep everything clean/safe but he made us feel like we were making a mess as he seemed in a hurry to clean up when we had only just got out the pool. *Verdict* This is still a good hotel if you want easy, convenient access to the pyramids and GEM. But the hotel must inform customers at the time of booking if the property is hosting a wedding or large event that restricts restaurant and garden access. Guests book and pay a premium for those views. If this isn’t fixed, the hotel will lose customers. 7/10.

We sadly only had one night at the hotel, but it was such a special way to start our trip to Cairo. We were upgraded to the pyramid view room, and for anyone considering…well it’s worth the cost to wake up to the only remaining wonder of the world. The breakfast with the view is a must have, and the staff is very helpful. It is close to the GEM and an Uber is easy to access to get there from the hotel. I wish I had more time to enjoy the rest of the facilities, but they are remodeling their historic part of the hotel which seems like it’ll be a grand stay once completed.

We stayed at the Mena House for a short 3-day visit to see the Pyramids and GEM. We were super impressed with the property, its location, its history and most importantly the very friendly and helpful staff. We arrived at Cairo airport around 3am. We’d pre-arranged the “meet and assist” arrival option through the hotel “guest relations” team. A guy met us with a name sign as we got off the plane and literally breezed us through the immigration/customs process. It was definitely worth the extra cost (~$30 pp + the $30 pp Visa) as he handled our Visas and all interactions and then walked us out to meet our van transfer. We set up a private van transfer through the hotel — although that missed the mark a bit as far as the vehicle condition. When I pointed that out at check-in, the manager on-duty immediately offered to make it right by offering to comp our return airport transfer with his apologies. We were impressed and appreciative to say the least! What a great way to set the tone! We booked a “premium Pyramid view room” and that did not disappoint. The view was as promised which made for an amazing backdrop each day and night. We were traveling with our son and requested that a rollaway bed be already set-up in our room before arrival and they did just that. We had lounge access and the breakfast buffet included for our stay and both were a great plus! The lounge: was great for an evening glass of wine or fruit, snacks or cold soft drinks 24/7. The breakfast buffet: was perfect each morning for made-to-order omelettes, bread, pastries, meats, etc. We mostly played it safe with fully cooked eggs, meats, bottled drinks, and no ice and had no problems with the food. The service at the restaurant was excellent especially one of the main breakfast hosts Mohammed. The hotel’s proximity to the Giza plateau and new GEM made this the perfect (really only) spot for a couple of days of tours. The grounds were nice, very well kept and perfect for photo opps. Sadly the Pyramids light show is not functional right now but hopefully will return soon. There was a wedding on-property on the Friday night of our stay and honestly although there was loud music blasting until 11pm it wasn’t really a disruption and added to the vibe. The pool was nice and not too overcrowded (although the small kiddie pool did fill up from time to time). The pool chairs on the other hand were pretty full with guests roasting in the sun. There was poolside service for towels, bar food, cold drinks and umbrella set-up. The dinner at 139 Pavilion was great albeit a little slow! I got the shish kebab and they brought a whole grill to the table. Same for my wife’s entree. The rigatoni was a “safe” dish our kid enjoyed. We also ordered room service dinner one night including the hot mezeh and that was really good too. We had a 3:30pm flight from Cairo so we placed one last room service order on the way out and had them box/bag up the food for us to take to the airport. I just can’t say enough about the level of service from the staff. Almost everyone we encountered was pleasant and helpful. At the pool there was a manager in a suit walking around in 80 degree heat asking guests if we needed anything. Same at the restaurant. It was a pleasure to tip for such good service. Plan to bring a bunch of $1’s and $5’s for tips. For our departure, the hotel arranged a ride to the airport for us in a new 2026 “Uber Black” style ride.

We traveled with our son and daughter-in-law. We had the rooms that faced the pyramids and it was simply wonderful. Both families are elite members and would definitely rate this hotel as one of the best. Service was excellent. Grounds were gorgeous and tranquil. After hectic days sightseeing in Cairo, coming back to this hotel was a relaxing respite. As families that love to explore local dining, we actually never left the grounds at night. The hotel has three restaurants and we enjoyed all of them. A very relaxing stay with a wonderful staff.

Once you step out of the hotel, the Giza/Cairo experience can be noisy and chaotic at times. However, the hotel provides an insulated experience complete with calming and well manicured gardens, pools, and an all day restaurant with direct views of the pyramids. It almost does not look real when sitting at breakfast looking over the water and seeing the pyramids. The original site of the hotel is old and the furniture and rooms themselves show some wear and tear but we spent very little time in the room itself. The rooms are spacious with a large balcony. We were upgraded to a partial pyramid view (just looked to the right and the pyramid is visible). Breakfast featured a large selection at the buffet, including western, asian and Egyptian items. The views at breakfast were the highlight of the stay. The hotel itself is spread out and at times was a little disoriented when trying to walk the halls or find the other restaurants. The Indian restaurant had a nice atmosphere but a little disappointed with some of the dishes and very slow service especially when waiting for the check. Otherwise, this was an excellent stay and would definitely recommend it as a base for exploring the area (and not having to deal with Cairo traffic).