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The
Sonesta St. George, Luxor, Egypt By Jimmy Dunn
I must admit that I greatly enjoyed my stay in the Sonesta St.
George in Luxor. This five star hotel, part of a chain which
Americans will know from their facilities in New Orleans, is
indeed luxurious. But where international chains often fail
to portray a regional flavor, the Sonestas in Egypt embrace the
atmosphere of Egypt with columns and other architectural styles
which makes one very aware that he or she is in Egypt.
 Often, while
traveling in Egypt, I stay in a variety of hotels, usually ranging
from three star to five star. Admittedly, my stay at the
Sonesta was on the luxury side. While not a suite, the room
did have a whirlpool bath, and after traipsing around in hot tombs
all day, nothing could have been more welcome. That and the view
over the Nile to Thebes, the West Bank and the mountains, as well
as a good central location in Luxor.
In fact, I might mention that I have stayed in several Sonestas
in Egypt, and all were dependably luxurious; stylish in their
modern pharaonic recreation. Visitors should note the attention to
detail in this respect.
Rooms
 The St.
George in Luxor has 224 rooms and suites. All rooms have
remote control televisions, individual climate control, electronic
door locks, radios, in house videos, hair dryers, well stocked
mini bars, direct dial telephones with modem ports, and safety
deposit boxes. There are also corporate rooms with fax
machines. As noted, some of the rooms also have advanced amenities
such as whirlpool bath tubs and other luxury facilities.
Other Facilities
Other hotel facilities inlcude 24 hour room service, laundry
and valet, a message service.
Sports and fitness facilities include a heated outdoor swimming
pool and a fully equipped health and fitness center. Children are
accommodated with a "Just Us Kids" program with
counselors who organize fun activities, a baby-sitting service,
and a children's video and game room.
Restaurants and Bars
The main dinning room is Serapis, with a buffet featuring
Japanese and international cuisine, but along these lines, there
is also Miyako, Luxor's first Japanese restaurant featuring a Sushi
bar and Teppan Yaki tables. Isadora, another elegant hotel
restaurant serves European selections, or one may also visit the
Beban Coffee Shop which features light Italian food and fresh
pastries. Jebs is a poolside, recreated Nubian village which
serves light fare and overlooks the Nile.
For entertainment and drinks, the Hotel offers Nobles, an
authentic English Pub, and Luxor, a Night Club and discotheque.
Luxor is a city that requires a certain amount of exertion.
Few people traveling there spend enough time to leisurely explore
the area, and so the rush begins, usually early in the morning, to
visit the temples, tombs and museums. I can think of few
other places where one visits in Egypt that is more demanding, and
where a nice, modern hotel with all the amenities is more welcome
at the end of a long, hot day of exploration. The St. George
meets these expectations and more.
The
Sonesta St. George, Luxor, Egypt
Middle East Regional Sales Office
120 Al Thawra Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Telephone: 20-2-4183539 Fax: 20-2-4183548
Reservations
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