The Conrad Cairo, well situated in the city center on the Nile, is one of those all around good hotels that usually receives good marks from its guests. Though a large hotel with 617 rooms, its seems to offer a good sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Cairo, while at the same time giving easy access to that part of the city that is alive with hustle and bustle.

Conrad is the luxury brand of the Hilton hotel chain, and in a city with very many fine, luxurious hotels, it holds its own, though it seems to perhaps cater most to business travelers. And though popular with large tour groups, it seems to fair less well with families, particularly with teenagers, probably because of its quite sophistication. There are perhaps some good reasons for this.

Indeed, the hotel caters to business travelers with a host of meeting rooms and special meeting packages and events, while also offering an extensive business center that includes secretarial and translation services. Clearly, the staff of the hotel has extensive experience in smoothly handling large conventions, meetings and other business groups. For the business traveler, it offers large, well appointed and comfortable rooms with all the amenities, including nice, peaceful balconies that overlook the Nile. The rooms are each equipped with desks, multiple telephones, data ports, mini-bars, in-room safes and even pay-per-view movies. They also feature marble bathrooms with separate shower and bath. There are also several executive floors.

The trend in Cairo, as is common elsewhere, is for large hotels to offer a relatively large number of eating establishments. Perhaps surprisingly, those in this hotel are somewhat limited in comparison, though several are very nice. The Villa D'Este is one of the most formal, serving Italian cuisine, and there is a Sea Market that serves a good variety of fish. Otherwise, the Felucca Cafe is an indoor/outdoor main restaurant serving a la carte and buffets, while the BBQ Terrace overlooks the Nile. There are also two main bars, consisting of the Atrium Lounge with a relaxed atmosphere, and La Bar, which serves cocktails in colonial style.

For large groups, it is very conveniently located, providing quick access to many of Cairo's most popular sightseeing destinations, such as Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo, including the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, the Citadel and the many historic, medieval mosques. Of course, the Egyptian Museum, for the time being, is very close, though it will in the future be moved to the Giza area.

At the same time, the room rates are very reasonable, particularly compared to some of the newer luxury hotels in Cairo. The hotel really does offer considerable bang for the buck.

It also offers sophisticated entertainment, in the form of very upscale restaurants, bars and a casino, as well as a fully equipped health club. It is, indeed, perfectly matched to the business traveler, which the hotel specifically targets.

On the other hand, its swimming pool is relatively small, and there are scarcely any other entertainment venues for older children. Families can have a good time here, as its location provides access to other venues, and there is even a children's pool and a babysitting service. However, there are simply many other hotels in Cairo that are more suitable for those with children. For some, that is a plus, and those are the ones who one will enjoy this hotel the most.

Yet, one must remember that this hotel is a well rounded one that is well liked by most everyone. Whether it be the rooms, the service, the cleanliness or the value for the money, all aspects of this hotel are well balanced towards the very high end. To say that families do not enjoy it would be erroneous. It simply does not get as high of marks from them as some other tourist segments.