Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

, Luxor, Egypt
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Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

, Luxor
5 star
Cornish El Nile - Luxor - Egypt Hotel Website | | 20-95-380422+20-95-380422
328 Traveller

Reviews - Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

10/10
Like stepping back into HOWARD CARTERS time
Submitted by: Michelle in 21/06/06
  • Age Group: 31 - 40
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Young & Single
wE STAYED AT THE Sofitel Winter Palace in the Old Wing our room overlooking the gardens, it was a superb hotel could not fault it, though we only stayed there for 3 nights. The rooms were so luxurious and comfortable and beautifully decorated. The food was first class at La Corniche Restaurant, silver service. It was a pity that that hotel seemed to be so empty.
I will definitely stay there again, it was some experience I will never forget! Everyone at the hotel were very friendly and very helpful.
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

nice hotel but not 5*

from pilchard
Just arrived back from a 1 week cruise on the Nile (see my review on the Nile Saray boat) and 1 week in the Winter Palace. The hotel is a good hotel, but it is not 5*. We had read some reviews about the rooms so put a request in to our travel agent to be put in a pavillion room if possible. When we arrived we were pleased that this had been passed on and we stayed in the new wing. I was suprised to hear that some people had to pay extra as we were told by our travel agent that you do not have to pay extra! The rooms were great and the pool area is calm, clean and relaxing. The disappointments with this hotel were that we were not told that 2 of it's main restaurants are closed so that only really leaves the main half board buffet restaurant ( and the service was terrible). There are two restaurants in the old winter palace, however, you have to dress accordingly with shirt, tie, closed shoes etc (all of the usual things you would take to 49 degree heat). We were also disappointed with the expectation and sometimes hassle from the door staff and bell men staff for tips. We are happy to tip but not when it is expected with hand held out.
The gardens are fantastic and i would highly recommend the food around the pool (service again though is slow).
The location of the hotel is good. There is a very good restaurant direclty opposite on the new lower corniche called El Kababy. HOwever, apart from this restaurant you have to walk a good 15 min to get to another decent one.
Overall a good week with a nice room and good pool facilities. I would recommend it, but be aware of the lack of restaurants and the expectations to tip.

Great View, Great staff!

from working4vacations
We booked a garden-view room that is cheaper than the nile view rooms. We arrived at the hotel at 6am. Though the check-in time is 2pm, we asked if there were rooms available. We were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a nile view room and were able to check in 20mins later at 6.30am at no extra charge. Not everything in the room was new but it was clean. The carpet in the corridor looked old.

Very beautiful landscaping on the hotel grounds. Like an English country garden. There is a large garden with a pond. Old winter palace, new winter palace and pavillon are connected by this shared garden.

The breakfast area was beautiful. Many birds sit in the bushes to sing and wait for opportunities to eat the scraps.

A house-keeping guy saw that we were a couple. He used rose petals to create a heart-shaped decoration on the bed.

Located walking distance to Luxor temple (5mins), the railway station (1omins). The Nile river is just across the road. Many eateries nearby including MacDonalds.

pavillion wing is the real 5 star wing not the main hotel rooms

from sandgropper
well when we arrived at the new winter palace every thing looked great until we went to our room in the main hotel, it was not very good at all even the upgrade to a nile view was not enough to make me stay in that part of the hotel. so i complained and stood my ground i was going to sleep in the lobby if necessary.
i had heard that the pavillion wing was the wing to go for and yes we did get upgraded to it at no extra charge and yes it was lovely a completly different hotel. the rooms the views every thing about it was great. so much we are going back later this year(to the pavillion wing of course). we english tend to just put up with what ever we are given, be polite and stand your ground after all you have paid the same as every one else. in all fairness to the hotel staff they were very helpful and understanding, the gardens and pool area are magnificent, if you stay in the pavillion wing i do not think there is a hotel in luxor to beat it, its location is spot on cant wait to get back there.

adrian

some good some bad

from pineridge
Stayed at the NEW WINTER in March 2006.

The Bad - the rooms are "tired" and need refurb. Also the traffic noise at the front is deafening for those wanting the windows open - but read on

The Good - you choose this hotel because it is right in the middle of the front street to the Nile, and you therefore choose a front view. The balconies are big and the views are excellent, but the higher the less the traffic noise is (and the more expensive the room).

The hotel is a 3rd of the price of its sister OLD WINTER next door (but it is joined by a big corrider). Both hotels (and the Pavilions) sit in one site and share ALL facilities. The gardens are outstanding as is the pool complex set at the back of the gardens. There are 6/7 restaurants and the food is very good. I would stay here if you want the Nile views or in the Pavilions for a bit of quiet, but you get all the added advantages of being part of the upmarket OLD WINTER complex

Beautiful Luxor

from A TripAdvisor Member
We were a couple of 50 something ladies travelling as friends. Whilst the New Winter Palace did not live up to its four stars Luxor was a dream. We had both been there before. If you can get past the haggling and speak to the locals they are very friendly. We did not feel threatened at all. We spoke to one English lady who has lived there for five years - her response was that you are more likely to be a victim of crime from another tourist than a local - they value tourism too much and know the consequences. Plenty to do and see, quite a few cafes to sit and wile the time away, the glorious Valley of the Kings, Dendera and Abydos, felucca sailing on the nile, to name a few. Tip: do not book trips with a travel rep - there are plenty of travel agents who will provide trips for much less and they are very reliable

An escapre from the madness of Luxor

from FrequentFlyer123
We stayed in the Pavillon wing of the Winter Palace - looked nicer than the New Winter Palace but not as nice as the Old Winter Palace (which was much more expensive). All 3 share the same wonderful garden which you almost have to have to be able to revive and survive the relentless onslaught to the touts in Luxor.

The staff here are really nice.

Only downside is the breakfast buffet which became very messy and looked and felt institutional - not up to usual Sofitel standard by any means. (Food was ok but ambience and service were sorely lackning).

Beautiful Gardens

from iseededpple
Were I to return to Luxor, and depending on the deal available I would probably stay here again. The food is fine, the room I stayed in was a little dated, a little frayed around the edges, location was good, but its the pool and gardens that make it, so peaceful and dreamy to sit in after a days trekking around the valleys and temples.

Sheer bliss

from Deborah_Lincoln
I can't begin to tell you how wonderful we found the New Winter Palace and Luxor in general ... We have just got back and I'm looking at booking again - We were in the Pavillon, very happy with everything. I suppose if I were to be critical, as a non-smoker I would prefer non-smoking sections round the pool ... here's a couple of tips: there are midges even at this time of this year so take insect repellant - fly spray on the sun beds keeps irritating flies away. Make sure you have lots of low currency notes for tips - and if you have issues with their persistence for 'hassle' when you're shopping - learn the arabic for 'no thankyou' (lah shukran) and keep repeating it till they leave you - do it firmly but with a smile - it worked for me!

Two weeks of pure unadulterated bliss in Luxor

from CarolineTittaSue
We have stayed in several other hotels in Luxor and have found the New Winter Palace the top one to stay in. Firstly the location. Opposite is the Valley of the Kings where you can see Hatshepsuts Mortuary Temple from a high floor balcony (lit up at night). This is on the West Bank of the Nile so a view of the river is obvious. Next door to the hotel (on the East Bank) is the Temple of Luxor, a 3000 year old monument to various Pharoahs in it's history. The hotel is built as an extension to the Winter Palace, a beautiful old building with a lovely restaurant (you need to bring your posh clothes to eat in there though). The grounds are immaculate and the pool is wonderful, clean, large with a swim up bar in the middle. The bar in the hotel is very welcoming, the staff cannot be more helpful, pleasant and attentive. The rooms are very spacious, large beds and wardrobes. They have a fridge and tv in each room. The bathrooms all have bath and shower, toilet and bidet and sink. Towels are changed twice a day and beds are made in the morning and turned down at night with flower petals and a chocolate placed on the bed. The New Winter Palace is a wonderful hotel and I would recommend anyone to stay there. We have been there on our own as a couple, and taken daughters and grandchildren there on other occassions. I have also been there on girlie holidays and each time have had wonderful service with no problems at all.

Just like a palace

from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed in this hotel for 3 nights, and it was worth every penny!

We stayed in the Old Wing overlooking the gardens at the back of the hotel.

The hotel itself is on the main road of luxor and is in walking distance of some shops and some restaurants.

Great food and a great ambience to it, a character of its own. If you want to change money you can do so at the sister hotel the new one next door. Also it has some gift shops.

You can imagine Howard Carter staying here!

A great place to stay in Luxor the best!

Top Local Tips for Luxor

backsheesh although egyption are friendly be wary especially on markets thats the one place things were dodgy and we felt unsafe my we were almost robbed when buying items always have small change handy for backsheesh [tips]they expect tips flor everything even running the water for washing your hands after using the loo. seems just the culture look for joseph calesh 339 he really looks after you as a good friend

do your own thing and dont be afraid of the hassle Organised tours are fine for orientating yourself to the sight of Luxor and the west bank but are often expensive and geared to retail commission opportunities for the guides. Crossing the Nile under your own steam is easy - the public ferry from opposite Luxor temple is only 1 Egyptian pound (9p in UK currency!) or by private motor boat at 5 Egyptian pounds plus 1 or two pounds tip. On arrival on the west bank, taxis are plentiful. Bargain hard and a morning visiting the sights should cost no more than 40 Egyptian. Get the driver to take you to the ticket office and buy your tickets there - usually 25 Egyptian for each temple. Another idea is to hire a bicycle at the west bank ferry area and do it yourself. Except in high summer this is a great way to get around. Much is made of the hassle from Egyptian taxi drivers, carriage drivers, shop owners etc - yes it can be tiresome but we just smile, say no thank you and move on. In 10 years visiting Egfypt we have never had problems.

Bargain ! .Treat bargaining as a game. Offer 20 per cent of what is asked and settle for 40-50 per cent.

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Other names for Sofitel Winter Palace Hotel

  • winter palace hotel luxor
  • pavillon winter hotel luxor
  • new winter palace luxor
  • luxor sofitel
  • luxor pavillon winter hotel
  • Address: Cornish El Nile - Luxor - Egypt
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