Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis

For our stay in Cairo, which served as a starting point for exploring the pyramids of Giza and the historic centre of Cairo, we chose the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis, a luxury hotel that impressed us with its quiet location and proximity to the airport. But what does the hotel have to offer in detail and how does it score in terms of luxury and service? In our hotel review, you can find out everything about the rooms, the service, the culinary offerings and our personal highlights during our stay.

Booking, arrival and check-in

Unsere Buchung für das Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis erfolgte, wie gewohnt, über die Hilton-Webseite. Dank der “Stay Longer & Save”-Rate konnten wir bei unserem Aufenthalt über 20% gegenüber dem regulären Preis sparen. Diese Sonderrate ist in ausgewählten Hilton Hotels in Europa, dem Mittleren Osten und Afrika verfügbar und gilt bei einer Buchung von mindestens drei Übernachtungen.

The journey from the airport turned out to be a bit of an adventure with our hire car. The heavy traffic and an inadequately lit car with over 70,000 kilometres on the clock - thanks to Sixt - made the journey a little exciting. After a few detours, we finally arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis. The security precautions here are particularly high: before entering the hotel grounds, every vehicle is checked for explosives. There is also another baggage check in the lobby, similar to that at the airport.

The first impression of the hotel is impressive - a kind of huge winter garden with lush palm trees and flowers welcomes guests. Instead of a traditional reception desk, check-in takes place at one of three elegant tables. Here we were greeted warmly and our Hilton Diamond status was recognised accordingly. Unfortunately, despite asking, there was no room upgrade - supposedly due to a large delegation expected from the next day. Interestingly, I was still able to view and book the suites online. But anyway, we had already booked the King Rosetta Club Room with Pool View, and this met all our expectations.

A personal concierge then accompanied us to our room and showed us around the most important areas of the hotel. He explained the amenities of the Rosetta Club and showed us where we could enjoy breakfast.

Where is the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis located?

The Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis is located in the upscale Heliopolis district, approximately 10 km north-east of Cairo city centre and just minutes from Cairo International Airport. This location is ideal for travellers seeking both the convenience of quick access to the airport and proximity to the city's main attractions. In just 45 minutes you can reach the world-famous pyramids of Giza or the historic centre of Cairo, where the Cairo Citadel and the impressive Khan el-Khalili Bazaar are located. The new Egyptian Museum and Cairo Festival City are also within easy reach, making the Waldorf Astoria the perfect base for cultural exploration and luxurious relaxation.

What are the rooms like at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis?

Our stay in the King Rosetta Club Room at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis provided us with a luxurious and comfortable experience. The room was located on the top floor of the hotel, on the fifth floor, with a marvellous view of the pool area. On the other side of the corridor, there are rooms overlooking the covered courtyard with lush palm trees and plants - a green oasis in the middle of the hotel.

Our room was generously sized at 44 square metres. Right in the entrance area, we found a large wardrobe with plenty of storage space and a safe. There was also space for two suitcases, which made it easier for us to unpack. We were particularly impressed by the bathroom, which was accessible through a double door. A bathtub, a floor-level rain shower and a separate area for the toilet and bidet awaited us here. The spacious washbasin offered plenty of room and the high-quality care products from Sodashi Skincare from Australia in large pump bottles rounded off the spa feeling.

The living and sleeping area had everything you could wish for: a well-stocked minibar, free tea and coffee capsules for the coffee machine and a cosy king-size bed with gorgeous pillows and a luxurious duvet. We found the large desk with plenty of storage space and the numerous sockets and USB-A ports both at the desk and on the bedside tables particularly practical - ideal for the modern traveller. The indirect lighting created a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. There were also two light-coloured leather armchairs and a comfortable fabric armchair with an ottoman, as well as a small marble side table on which our welcome snacks were placed.

The only minor criticism was the air conditioning, which was a little noisy and sometimes caused a slight draught. Otherwise, the room offered maximum comfort, a pleasant ambience thanks to the indirect lighting and made our stay at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis an all-round successful experience.

How is the breakfast at Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis?

Breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis was a real highlight and included for us as Hilton Diamond Status guests. It was served from 6.30 am to 10.30 am in the Ayda restaurant, which is located directly in the hotel's impressive lobby. The restaurant is nestled in a lush green, man-made garden, which creates a relaxed atmosphere. Guests have the option of sitting in the greenery or alternatively taking a seat at the back of the restaurant or on the outdoor terrace.

The buffet extends along an open kitchen, where hot dishes and a selection of breads and cakes are offered. At the back of the restaurant is a separate, air-conditioned room offering fresh delicacies such as salmon, various types of sausage, sandwiches, sliced fruit, cereals and yoghurt. There are also two cooking stations with freshly prepared pancakes and a choice of egg dishes.

In addition to the buffet, there is also a breakfast menu with à la carte dishes. We particularly recommend the Eggs Benedict with salmon or ham and the avocado toast with burrata. These dishes are freshly prepared in the kitchen and brought directly to the table, as are the coffee specialities and smoothies. The service was always friendly and quick, making breakfast an all-round pleasant experience.

All in all, the breakfast at Ayda offered both a wide selection and excellent quality for a perfect start to the day.

What is the Executive Lounge at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis like?

Unlike many other hotels in the Hilton Group, the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis does not have a classic executive lounge. Instead, guests can enjoy the exclusive Rosetta Club, which does not require Hilton status such as our Hilton Diamond status. Access is only granted to those who book a room in the corresponding category.

Behind a rather inconspicuous door in the lobby or with a special lift from the respective room floors, we reached the Rosetta Club. It was pleasantly quiet here and we always found plenty of comfortable seating, whether in cosy armchairs or on soft sofas. An attractive buffet was set up along one wall, which was regularly stocked with delicious tarts, chocolates, macarons and dried fruit from 11am to 8pm. There was also a selection of coffee specialities, various teas and soft drinks as well as water. Beer and wine were also served from 12 noon, and during the daily happy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. there was also a selection of spirits, mostly from the region. The service was excellent - the drinks were always brought directly to the table.

Instead of a hot buffet, the Rosetta Club had an extensive menu with starters and main courses that we could help ourselves to to our heart's content during our five-day stay - free of charge. From Caesar salad and minestrone to main courses such as WA beef burgers, lamb köfte or simply chips for our son - the selection left nothing to be desired. Hot food was available from 12 noon to 4 pm, and the menu was also brought to us at 7 pm on request.

The attentive service of the staff, especially Mohamed Elbissy, at the Rosetta Club was particularly noteworthy. We were regularly asked about our wishes and special requests were also fulfilled without hesitation. One example of the excellent service was when my wife came to her room early one evening and the staff realised that she had caught a cold. On his own initiative, he suggested making a special tea with fresh ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks and oranges, which I could then take back to my room - it's this personalised service that makes all the difference!

To be fair, it must be added that we were usually the only guests at the Rosetta Club during our entire stay, which naturally led to a particularly good service ratio. However, I think that even with a higher occupancy rate, the service will always be attentive and of the highest quality.

What does the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis offer for relaxation?

The Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis offers various opportunities for relaxation and recreation to make your stay even more enjoyable. The hotel's spa area can be reached via a separate lift.

The fitness centre is open around the clock for sports enthusiasts. It has modern equipment and offers a variety of machines, dumbbells and weights. I found it particularly pleasant that service is a top priority here: For example, a bottle of water was already waiting at each treadmill, which made it particularly convenient to start training.

The spa area leads directly to the pool area, which is not very large but offers an idyllic retreat thanks to its quiet location. Surrounded by palm trees and a small garden, the pool area looks like something from another era. Several loungers with comfortable cushions invite you to relax and the red and white striped parasols provide additional charm and shade.

When we arrived at the pool, we were greeted by attentive staff and our loungers were prepared straight away with fresh towels. There was iced water at the pool bar and we were served fresh fruit skewers at irregular intervals - a welcome refreshment on the hot days. The loving attention to detail and the excellent service around the pool area contribute significantly to relaxation and make you quickly forget the daily grind.

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