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

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