Cairo - Gwen Books

Egypt is a dream destination, my last pre-Covid Journey was to Egypt and Jordan, and I would return a heartbeat for another visit. Once is not enough! The country is safe, open to travelers and is amid a hotel renaissance, and the new Egyptian Museum is scheduled for a fall opening.

While Egypt has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, enjoying a classic felucca boat down the Nile, marveling at the Pyramids, exploring the spectacles of Luxor, one can now add on a dazzling visit to the renovated Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

There are two stylish Four Seasons in Cairo and I would suggest you stay at both – you will arrive and most likely depart from Cairo with a Nile River tour decadently sandwiched between your Nile sojourn. Four Seasons at The First Residence is located in Giza, between the Nile River and the Giza Zoo and enjoys impressive views of Cairo’s skyline and the Pyramids. Giza is a great location in terms of being near the Pyramids and zoo, but the remainder of the tourist sites (Tahrir Square, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Khan al-Khalili market, Zamalek) are closer to the Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza and are on the far side of the Nile. That said, the location of the Four Seasons at The First Residence has a local authenticity in the surroundings which you don’t experience in the surrounds of the Nile Plaza. Choices, as individual as our fingerprint, there is the perfect hotel for every Journey!

Cairo is the capital of Egypt. The city’s metropolitan area is one of the largest in Africa, the largest in the Middle East and the Arab world, and the 15th-largest in the world, and is associated with ancient Egypt, as the famous Giza pyramid complex and the ancient city of Memphis are located in its geographical area. Located near the Nile Delta, modern Cairo was founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid dynasty, but the land composing the present-day city was the site of ancient national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo. Cairo has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life, and is titled “the city of a thousand minarets” for its preponderance of Islamic architecture. Cairo is considered a World City with a “Beta +” classification according to GaWC. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world, as well as the world’s second-oldest institution of higher learning, Al-Azhar University

The Four Seasons First Residence is located on the western bank of the Nile in the historic suburb of Giza, the hotel is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring Cairo. From the zoological gardens that lie just outside our doors to the shopping and entertainment within our very own First Place complex, you won’t have to go far to find plenty to see and do. Observe unique works of art at the nearby Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, or we can arrange an unforgettable horseback-riding adventure by the pyramids, multiple exclusive options can be arranged. A palatial sanctuary that boasts stunning views, flanked by zoological gardens and the western bank of the Nile, the address in Giza’s prestigious First Place complex puts you in the center of it all. Catch a glimpse of the river or the Great Pyramids from your suite as you head out to explore the ancient wonders, or spend the day by the surprisingly quiet pool, indulging in an aromatic massage once reserved for Egyptian royalty. Or opt for shopping in the high-end boutiques at the First Mall or experience the best of gastronomy aboard the First Nile Boat, offering panoramic Nile views and brilliant international cuisine. Busy mornings exploring buzzy Cairo are best rewarded by a late afternoon poolside and with a visit to the decadent spa.

Exclusive Experiences: Behold the illuminated Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza under a starry sky. Then relax in your private tent, where the view of the enigmatic pyramids and live music flavor the dinner of your choice.

The First Residence offers 262 luxury rooms and 50 suites, the décor is a soothing palate of light hues and pay homage to the French Empire in their elegant décor. Exquisite views of the Nile and pyramids are the hotel’s blockbuster element. I spent my last 10 hours in Cairo here, the hotel deserves a few days- but I ran out of time! Enjoy a suite which guarantees stunning panoramic views of the ancient city, my Ambassador suite included a wraparound corner terrace. It can extend to three bedrooms, with eye-catching views of the Nile, pyramids and Botanical Gardens, these three-bedroom suites easily adapt to your travel style, with plenty of room for the kiddos and family members.

Located on the highest floor, the Royal Suite is a state-of-the-art living area that redefines luxury. The penthouse suite boasts a private dining area that can host up to 10 guests, as well a master bedroom that showcases a bespoke walk-in closet. It also comes with a 52-inch LCD satellite television, iMac computer, DVD player, and Bose music system, ensuring you can leave all your tech equipment at home.

Exclusive Options: Royal Feast. The glistening gilded walls and lavish décor of Manial Palace create a one-of-a-kind setting for a private, Four Seasons-catered dinner you won’t soon forget. This palace complex, built by the uncle of King Farouk, Prince Mohammed Ali, in the early 20th century. Its interiors and architecture are a fascinating merging of Ottoman, Moorish, Persian and European rococo styles, while the gardens planted with rare tropical plants collected by the prince.

An intimate oasis at the pool in an elevated setting, the chaos of Cairo is left behind on the wide sunny terraces surrounding the pool. Snack on charcoal grilled specialties and Middle Eastern mezze at the Aura poolside restaurant or plop in the afternoon sun or under a dappled umbrella, the mezze is scrumptious!

Discover the First Nile Boat, a Four Seasons culinary destination with a Brazilian grill, a pan-Asian restaurant and a Greek taverna, all with panoramic Nile views. Welcome to a world of taste, comfort and luxury on First Nile Boat, a trendy lifestyle spot in the Egyptian capital. Docked opposite Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, the boat combines energetic restaurants, a lounge and event spaces perfect for your next gathering.

Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh. Cascading down the hillside from the desert to the Red Sea, Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh welcomes you to an Arabian fairytale with year-round sun; sleek, modern accommodations; over 3,000 palm trees and panoramic sea views. Limestone cliffs embrace an almost a mile long private beachfront with crystal-clear waters and access to a protected marine reserve. Now transformed after a major expansion, the Resort rises to new levels of world-class luxury. Spacious new guest rooms and oversized suites – with a choice of modern design or traditional Arabian décor. Delight in a multitude of al fresco dining options, new playgrounds for leisure or business, and authentic desert and sea adventures where every detail is elevated with thoughtful Four Seasons care.

Forget the mirage of a dusty desert location, this property is an oasis facing the Red Sea. Considered Egypt’s diving capital, the Red Sea is home to 76 recognized dive sites – many only a few minutes from the Resort. The pinnacle of Arabian sophistication, the amazing signature suites host leading politicians, royalty, and our VIP Clients! Each suite is a stand-alone residence, steps from the beach, lavished with luxurious furnishings and the latest technology. Remarkable features include 24-hour butler service, expansive gardens, private pools and even a private beach.Fantasy interiors matched with modern interpretation of Arabian designs and Arabesque details, views from arched windows.

Travel outside the Four Seasons oasis and head into the wilderness of the desert. Feel the wind in your hair during a quad biking adventure, exploring the spectacular hills and mountains of Sharm El Sheikh. Or journey across the desert on a camel tour, catching the sun as it sets below the horizon.

A look at Cairo

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller,” Ibn Battuta.

Will you ever forget grade school geography books with glossy vivid color photos of the pyramids? Stimulating dreams of exotic societies, pondering feats of impressive engineering and the mysteries surrounding the ancient people who built them for the Egyptian pharaohs who expected to become gods in the afterlife.

I sat transfixed one chilly morning on the bow of our boat motoring from Aswan to Luxor – the photos appear to be from Biblical times. At this point in my travel life, I am besotted by raw culture, ancient civilizations which haven’t seemed to have changed in hundreds of years. And of course, the entrée – the history, the pyramids and the sphinx, and the ancient burial tombs in the midst of twenty first century life.

Elderly man with a sheet full of alfalfa climbed down to the edge of the Nile with breakfast for his donkeys. Assume it is a daily ritual.

A home owner who appears to have seen Roman columns of a temple and using same technology on river home on the Nile.

Egypt is safe for Americans, I was welcomed by everyone and invited to pose in photos with locals – tall blondes are infrequent! The food is delectable and very healthy; I will never again eat pita bread in the U.S., equivalent to cardboard after snacking on hot from an oven pita bread used to scoop up an abundant assortment of garden-fresh mezzes.

Charter boat on the Nile- it comes with a tugboat in the event the wind doesn’t provide enough energy.

Men on the Nile building a dock from palm or date trees.

Morning sail along the Nile- Very low boat, assume they stay close to shore to avoid the wake of larger boats.

Farmers piloting donkey carts overloaded with the most beautiful enormous vegetables and fruit come to the cities at dawn, in the mix of traffic, it’s a stunning fusion of moving vehicles, flowing and weaving.