I stayed here for three nights with my two kids age 11 and 13. I picked this guesthouse from the website with the idea that I wanted to be in the country, away from the city, where the kids could run around. First, the pros: The guesthouse is lovely on a big piece of property with lawns and outdoor seating. The rooms are very simple with shared bath but cozy. We paid for a regular room but were given a small apartment with private bath. The owner, Bakr Fahmy is a very kind, erudite and charming man who speaks excellent English because he is half Egyptian, half Austrian and lived for many years in Austria. He recently wrote a novel and also has done some artwork for the guesthouse. The guesthouse has the feeling almost of an eco-resort with the woven palm furniture and rustic artworks. The ponds where he grows the sacred blue lotus are lovely. The property was very clean and well-cared-for. My kids had fun playing soccer with his sons. The food, prepared by Bakr's wife, was outstanding simple Egyptian fare, the best food I ate in Egypt. You are in the middle of farmland, yet across from some famous rug factories. Bakr took us on a walk and showed us around the farms. You can see the famous Step Pyramid of Sakkara from near his property. The entire property is gated so it's a great place for kids to run around.

The cons: You are 45 minutes from downtown Cairo in a semi-rural area, though that could also be a plus, because you're out of the pollution. You need to make your own arrangements and your own transport, because Bakr does not have a tour desk or any sort of way to help you make arrangements for touring around. He did arrange a taxi for us, but the driver spoke only the most rudimentary English and was pretty dour to boot. There's no computer for public use and I don't think there's wi-fi, though you could inquire, so really you are pretty much on your own as to figuring out how to get around. You are on a main road to Sakkara so I suppose buses go by. I hired a guide to come every day and take us around, who I arranged on my own before we arrived. Probably due to the irrigation canal behind the property, the mosquitoes were particularly vicious. My kids got bitten to bits even though we put on repellent. every morning The beds really need mosquito nets but didn't have them. Since Bakr's charming wife is pleasant but does not speak any English, and there is no other staff, at least there wasn't when we were there, you are pretty reliant on Bakr if you need anything, and if he's not there you're pretty out of luck unless you speak Arabic. The shower water seemed like it came either from a well or straight from the Nile because it was sandy and smelled of sulphur, my kids flat out refused to shower while we were there though it didn't bother me terribly. Plus we were only given one small towel for the three of us. I can't say I'm sorry I stayed there, but really it's more suited to independent travelers or longer term residents than transient tourists, maybe small tour groups, preferably ones with mosquito nets or who are immune to bites.