Lake Malawi

Al Farida Boutique Hotel offers a decent stay near the pyramids in a historic, rundown part of Cairo. The hotel is small but well maintained, with kind staff and a rooftop restaurant offering great pyramid views. Our city view room was spacious and had comfortable beds, but the noise level was unbearable—despite assurances from staff, it felt like sleeping on the street. Cheaper rooms were quieter, making the upsell misleading. Room service was lacking, even after multiple requests, and basic amenities like toothpaste weren’t provided. While the hotel is close to the pyramids, walking isn’t allowed due to government restrictions, so a car is needed. Cairo is full of scams, making trustworthy guides essential. We highly recommend Muhammad El Khawaga, arranged by the hotel—he was honest, knowledgeable, and protected us from scams. Other tours booked through the hotel were disappointing or unsafe. The quad bike tour was mostly on chaotic streets, not the desert, with poor equipment and no helmets. Another guide even helped scammers at the pyramids. Be cautious with hotel-arranged tours and taxis—only book with Muhammad El Khawaga. Also note: the hotel adds a 3% surcharge for card payments.

Great location with a beautiful, unobstructed view of the pyramids—it’s honestly hard to beat waking up to that. The room itself was nice, and the stand-up shower was a good touch. The only downside was the mattress, which wasn’t the most comfortable. Overall though, a really memorable stay thanks to the view and location.