We stayed for three nights and really loved it. The rooms are plain and unexciting but clean - and ours had twin beds - if that matters to you. But the hotel is utterly charming with a really strong 19th Century vibe. The elevator looks like it has walked straight out of an Agatha Christie Novel - with an attendant to match. It also has a great lobby/dining room with WiFi and a wonderful bar - where you can comfortably hang out read a book.

The hotel staff were also super friendly and organised any trips we wanted easily, cheaply and with little fuss. The day we had visiting the sites was great fun and very good value for money and the guide - Mina - was very friendly and informative without being obtrusive.

This hotel is resting on its laurels and sorely lacks upkeep and investment. Although the Barrel Bar is well-kept and charming, the rest of the hotel is quite shabby and grubby. We were given the hard-sell on tours as soon as we checked in by the reception staff and told we had to make our minds up within half an hour about them. I felt the staff became markedly less friendly when we didn't sign on to their tours. Of the two rooms we were shown, neither had a proper ensuite bathroom, but rather enclosures - one with a folding screen instead of a door and the other ("deluxe") with walls not reaching the ceiling. The breakfast was adequate (bread, sweetened orange drink and Nescafe) but not particularly fresh, and it seemed cheap to charge extra for eggs. Overall this would be okay for a low-budget option but not remotely worth the money for a mid-range hotel. It's a shame because with some care and upkeep it has the potential to be a really lovely old-fashioned hotel.

I can see the potential in an old ornate building that the Windsor occupies, but the existing conditions are fairly decrepit. We upgraded to a large room but the conditions were pretty vintage. Our two windows overlooked lots full of trash and the call to prayer speaker seemed to be directly across from our less than soundproof window. Our bed (actually two separate small twins) was tiny and one of the most uncomfortable I remember at a hotel. The antique furniture would have appeal (other than the bed) if restored. The bathroom was large but in need of renovation with paint peeling off the wall next to the shower.

The service was very attentive and helpful. A staff member walked us to a local restaurant and even ironed a shirt of mine. I can't say the same about the service at the bar where the entire staff seemed more concerned with watching a television show than taking our order. The breakfast was pretty bad as well - in fact I took a pass on most items after noticing the tablecloth full of old food and hair.

The location is near the busy downtown shopping district but at first sight the immediate location may appear somewhat intimidating. It appears that reviewers either love or hate this hotel but next time we would opt for a more modern option in Cairo.