Category — Cairo

While Eric takes credit for the majority of the planning of this trip, a few segments were my responsibility, including the choice of hotels in Paris, Provence and Cairo.

Normally drawn to the more personal, stylish boutique hotel, when it came to Egypt, we instead took my friend’s advice to stay in a large chain hotel in the center of town, both for the sake of convenience and security.  Spoiled rotten in my youth by the privileges that come with being the child of an Exxon executive overseas (including the benefit of “˜living’ in luxury hotels with each of our moves), when it came to choosing our hotel here in Cairo, my honing instincts for luxury were spot on.

We arrived this afternoon at the Hotel Intercontinental Semiramis, situated near the American University of Cairo and two doors down from the British and American embassies.  Needless to say, security to get into our hotel is tight.   Our limo/taxi was first sniffed by a police dog for any undesirable items, followed the request for us (and our luggage) to pass through an x-ray and body scanner, not unlike passing through airport security.      

Once safely inside our hotel, our children quickly discovered the delights of their first truly luxury stay:  seven restaurants, shopping boutiques, a casino, gym, spa, sauna, pool, comfy beds and luxury linens in our very large and stylish room, and, most important of all (to our children), a private lounge on the 18th floor where they can eat breakfast in the morning, be served tea and cakes/cookies in the afternoon, and have a light snack in the evening…the state of their happiness often defined by the quantity and type of food available to them at any given moment.  Make no mistake, the Arab community appreciates (and knows how to provide) luxury as much, if not more than any Westerner. 

In this bustling city of 22 million people, our hotel oasis, shared with other tourists, businessmen, and at least two Saudi princes, will truly be a welcome respite after mornings and/or afternoons spent touring Cairo.  First stop tomorrow:  the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the most anticipated attraction of this entire trip for Michael and Allison.

Eight countries (incl. the US/NY stop) and fourteen destinations later, I can’t think of a better way to wrap up our wonderful mini-world tour!