Hotel.
Lotus is a perfectly good three star hotel - many elements of it are worth a 4 star but the food lets it down. Breakfast is fairly mundane. You get the same selection every day. Only freshly cooked item is your choice of egg. Everything else will be pre-cooked and kept in warmers. Same goes for the lunch and dinner buffet. Most other aspects of the hotel are a lot better. We stayed in a suite that was very comfortable and had masses of room including two balconies. There were no coffee making facilities though. All rooms have a mini fridge and are cleaned daily by staff who seem to specialise in towel art. Beds were perfectly comfortable. Common areas were very clean. Pool has an adjoining bar/kitchen. There is plenty of seating around. Staff throughout the hotel were courteous and helpful. If you are after a bit of entertainment for adults or children then forget it; because there is none. Overall, Lotus Hotel is good if you are looking for a good, comfortable and clean base to explore Luxor or to spend the day by the pool. If you expect to spend most of your days there then it is best avoided as the food is poor and nothing by the way of entertainment is available - even the TV has just terrestrial channels plus BBC world and Al Jazeera.
Luxor
If you think England, France or India have old buildings to look at then think again. Nothing compares to Luxor. Temples and tombs built 4 or 5 thousand years ago just litter the place. Some of it is jaw droppingly amazing. The people are very courteous....if you manage to get past the traders, taxi drivers and calleshe drivers who ambush you the minute you step out of your hotel. Having said that, they are not threatening at all and the thought that I might be pick-pocketed or robbed never crossed the mind. They are out to earn money that's all. If you are out with a child then you get royal treatment wherever you go. We had a 5 year-old daughter and there was not one shop that we went into that didn't give her a small present - even if we didn't buy anything. Everyone in Luxor seems to adore children and welcome them with open arms.
Taxis/Calleshes
Both are cheap but you have to bargain. Tell them a price and stick to it (be reasonable). I always looked out for a healthy looking horse if hiring a calleshe. Make sure you agree a price for the whole party in Egyptian Pounds; and don't let them take you to a 'special market', 'good shop' etc etc which you didn't ask for. They get huge commissions from these premises for every customer they bring in - you just end up paying a lot more for the goods.
Trips
Travel agents who arrange package holidays are the most expensive as we found to our cost after the first outing. Shop around at the numerous agents dotted around Luxor. We eventually used Larose tours (it's a 100 metres or so on the left on street opposite Sonesta St George Hotel). It goes without saying you need to bargain as anywhere else in Egypt. The service was excellent and they always turned up on time and gave you what you wanted. Even had the courtesy to come and say goodbye and thank you to us in the reception of the hotel when we left Luxor.
Food
Good Indian - Taste of India
Good Italian - A Roma
Good English/Egyptian King Htut
- Lotus Hotel Luxor
