Marriott Hotel & Casino

This is a different view of the Marriott. Sure, the rooms are comfortable, as you would expect when paying top dollar, but as for the rest our impression were negative. We spent a total of 5 nights there and frankly were not impressed –especially with staff refusing to help when we were stuck in a lift!

This happened when we were hurrying to finish packing before checking out and room staff knocked on the door. Maybe they were just looking for a tip (we did leave one in the room) or maybe I was a little abrupt as we were in a rush.
Anyway, when we got into the lift with our bags the same staff were filling a trolley with towels right next to the lift. The doors closed –then the lights went off and we were left in total darkness for almost 10 minutes!
We had a ‘plane to catch so you can imagine our panic…frantic banging on the door & shouting brought no response.
Eventually the lights came on, the lift door opened …and there were the guys, still busy on their trolley right next to the lift. They didn’t look up. Did they switch off the power as a sort of sick joke? The manager said it couldn’t be done, but for sure they must have heard our loud shouting & banging – and totally ignored our plight!
The duty manager said there would be an enquiry but hasn’t even had the courtesy to respond to my follow-up email. I think this sums up Marriott’s attitude to guests.

Other points to be aware of are that check in-out can be Very Slow. It took us 40 minutes to check in, almost half an hour to check out. The staff seemed to take forever but maybe it’s just their slow computer system. Allow plenty of time if you are catching a flight etc.

Make sure you have plenty of water because a small bottle of Evian water from the room’s mini bar costs 24 Egyptian pounds PLUS 10% service PLUS 12% tax.! A rip-off even by 5 star hotel standards!

Should we visit Cairo in future, we won’t stay at the Marriott.