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The Victoria Hotel
By Jimmy Dunn
A traditional favorite of budget travelers to Egypt is the
Victoria Hotel, ideally located in the downtown area of Cairo. The
primary reason it is so popular with budget tours is the size of
the hotel. Many of the less expensive hotels in Egypt are too
small to accept large tour groups.
 The Victoria definitely has a number of favorable features for
travelers to Cairo. As mentioned above, the location is great,
within walking distance of many of Cairo's attractions. In
addition, the hotel is somewhat historic and presents a certain
Victorian charm, although it is due for some updating along with a
fresh coat of paint. The furniture is classic, almost antique,
exuding that British Colonial ambiance. Another plus is the
hotel's internet cafe, which has reasonable rates and is located
just off of the lobby. Finally, I loved the garden terrace, which
is unusual for a budget hotel, located on the ground floor and is
a very lovely area.
Drawbacks include the noise in this area of Cairo, though the
Victoria is no more noisy then other hotels nearby. The hotel can
seem a little drab, not being as bright and cheerful as we might
like. Another small concern is the air conditioning that is not
individually controlled, and with the high ceilings, can make for
considerable variance in room temperatures. Finally, the bathrooms
are small and shower stalls smaller still, making morning rituals
somewhat challenging.
But overall, the Victoria is in fact one of the better budget
hotels in Cairo. It has a nice restaurant, which is surprisingly
simple but elegant with fine white tablecloths. There is a bar,
which appears to be well known among locals. The hotel is a family
operated business and the personnel are friendly.
The hotel lacks many of the facilities of a five star hotel,
such as a lot of shops, but this is no problem. Better shops are
to be found in the general area then can be found at the upscale
hotels, with much better prices. There is a small shop located in
the hotel for necessities, as well as a currency exchange. There
is also a doctor on call.
 The Hotel's one hundred and five rooms are generally
comfortable and are air-conditioned, have a satellite color TV,
private baths and direct dial telephones. Some rooms also have a
mini-bar.
The Victoria Hotel is certainly worth a look if one is
contemplating independent travel to Egypt, and is where more than
a few people will end up if they book a budget tour. That said,
there are usually a lot of tourists and westerners at the
facility, and most seem to enjoy their stay and have a good time
doing so.
The Victoria Hotel
66 Al-Gomhuriyya, Cairo, Egypt Reservations
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