The Old Cataract Hotel

The 1902 (and indeed, the entire Old Cataract Hotel & grounds) evokes images of old-time elegance. It was hard to escape the fact that Howard Carter himself enjoyed the luxuries of this facility.

This concept of Howard Carter-ness led to countless numbers of quips, similar to the following:

“To think that Howard Carter himself also once sat in this very chair!”

“To think that Howard Carter himself also once roamed these very hallways!”

“To think that Howard Carter himself also once used this very vending machine!”

Well, you get the idea.

And the food? Let’s just say we set the high bar for dining here, right at the beginning of the trip.

Worth staying at for a couple of nights at least. Porters and/or cleaners will show you round some of the larger suites for a little baksheesh. The terrace, overlooking the Nile and Elephantine Island, is a pleasant place for afternoon tea and the restaurant, the ceiling in particular, is quite impressive.