The hotel could be a real Jewel of the Nile if they just got the basics right. The buffet food was some of the worst I have had, poor selection, not well presented and tasteless. I always eat salads on holiday if the hot food is not to my liking but there was so little salad I struggled. We went to the a la carte O,Nile [one visit per stay], Cesar Salad, with bones. Steak with AlphaBites, we declined Desert. The Catering Manager could not understand our laughter. The staff try but even when they are trying to help the Managers are constantly on their backs. A big thanks to Terry and Hesham, waiters in the Snack Bar. Nubly also provided us with a Menu for All Inclusive guests in the Pool Bar on the day we checked out. The Chefs insisted we try the buffet every day, even though we prefer not to eat Fish soup and Calamarie at lunch times. The people we met on this holiday made it so a big HELLO to Bob, Adam, Louie and Pam. Luxor town itself was hassle from the moment we left our boat, I love browsing but we ended up getting a taxi back to hotel as Calesh driver stalked us for over a mile.We went to Luxor to see the Temples and Valley of Kings, sadly unless they find something spectacular we will not be back.

We picked the hotel based on so many great reviews and really are an easy going 20&30 something couple well experienced travellers on any budget. Sadly found this one of the most frustrating holidays. Perhaps we were unlucky and laughed for most of the holiday but at the end I just wanted to fly home early. With so many points we feel drained and very cheated that management has failed to action past problems after all the business is a hotel for guests to relax!! In low season they struggled with so few guests to offer basic service or help guests relax.

Very simply here is the GOOD, BAD and our TIPS....

The Good
Location -
SImply lovely pool area and sun set over the nile.

Squash & Gym -
Very nice facilities (court 2 is waxed and needs sanding)

Showers -
Very very hot water and great pressure

Themed Buffet -
Deserts and breads presentation excellent, local themed night is great.

Staff -
The low key staff such as cleaners, gym and a few waiters were great and good tips left for being so helpful.


THE BAD
Reception -
Oh my god every request was NO,NO,NO. Can we change money into smaller notes NO! Can we have a double bed NO! Can we have some extra Milk NO! Can we remove our all inclusive bands on check out NO! Can you smile NO! Is your Steak Restaurant open....Not Sure....NO!

Noise Pollution -
After our first night on the first floor was very comfortable, we moved to a double room on the ground floor. You can hear every footstep above and conversations or key tapping in the adjoining rooms. For some unknown reason phones went off in various rooms until midnight. In the end we pulled our phone out of the wall. If your a heavy sleeper no problem but take ear plugs.

Food
In a couple of words BAD SCHOOL DINNERS, We went all inclusive, breakfast tea is mostly luke warm and not brewed, pool food for lunch is tasteless and very seasoned with pepper. I had sickness twice in the visit perhaps just unlucky. The evening buffet foods is mostly luke warm and absolutely nil service on drinks. At lunch you would see bread and other food items sitting in the open with birds pecking or flies. We suggested to the supervisor to cover the food stuffs and they simply laughed off the suggestion....I lived on a truck in Africa with better food care.

Drink Service
The staff have no interest to bring you drinks unless you tip them and serve drinks in anything that is available. Mostly small beakers for a beer after complaining we received an ice cream sunday glass. You also have to sign a docket for everything even to get more tea bags you have to sign for it! Take a pen to dinner.

Flies
The grounds are great but sadly many flies, more than my time in Africa or Asia slums, they do spray some smoke twice a day but you can't relax due to so many constantly landing on you.

Tips

All the staff are extremely helpful and attentive. There are lots of lovely areas around the hotel where you can sit and relax, and we were surprised how quiet it was, despite the size of the hotel.

The bar area and rooms could do with a refurbishment/update, but everywhere was very clean and comfortable, so this wasn't a huge problem.

I would also recommend going all inclusive (as we did). The food is so-so, but there is no where near the hotel to eat at, and our one attempt to eat out was a disappointment.

We had a really lovely stay at this hotel.

My wife and I stayed for on week at the Sofitel initially on a bed and breakfast basis thinking we would find places nearby to eat out in the evening. On wandering around Luxor however we couldn't imagine eating in any of the restaurants and the realisation that we were in a third world country really hit us. We have previously had seven Egyptian holidays but always in dive resorts where the surroundings are purpose built for tourists. Seeing the real Egypt was extremely interesting but not to the extent we would venture out at night. An upgrade to all inclusive at about $30 a day became good value.

The hotel is clean with extermely friendly and helpful staff. Other contributors who have complained about the tipping culture had a completely different experience to us. We found the service to be reasonably quick and always delivered with a smile. After viewing our standard room we were pleasantly surprised to find how cheap an upgrade to a suite was. The only problem with the standard room was the condition of the bathroom but to be fair to the hotel they are in the process of decorating and updating rooms.

Food in the buffet restaurant was okay with a reasonable variety of dishes but at the end of the day it is a buffet and so detracts from the dining experience we normally liked. The restaurant is situated on the first floor of the hotel and there is no lift available if you are at all inform. The al a carte restaurant was overpriced for the quality of food served.

The grounds are well kept and spotless and an oasis from the madness happening in the surrounding streets. There were plenty of sunbeds with fresh towles available whenever wanted.

The hotel is well situated as a base for visiting temples etc. but my advice would be to get to the ressort before booking any trips. We paid for a taxi for 5 hours, negotiated locally ourselves for the equivalent of £10, who took us exactly where we wanted to go, assisted with entrance tickets (also cheap) and gave us an insight on life in the area.

Would I recommend the hotel, yes as a base for sight seeing, but, if it is just winter sun that you are looking for then I would look to the Red Sea resorts.