This is my review based on my three nights staying at the Luxor Winter Palace. People have complained that the hotel is getting old and decrepit. Find out if it is true, and if the Luxor Winter palace still is the best place to stay in Luxor?
Content of this article:
How to Get to the Sofitel Winter Palace
The airport is Luxor airport which is located 15 minutes away from the hotel. Taxis wait outside the airport and the taxi price from Luxor airport should be around ninety Egyptian pounds.
The winter palace hotel is located on the banks of the River Nile in Luxor, Egypt. It is a very convenient location as it is in the middle of Luxor town with access to local shops and restaurants.
It is also a 5-minutes walk from the Luxor temple and a pleasant 15-minute walk to the Luxor museum on the newly renovated corniche
History of the Winter Palace Luxor
The Sofitel Winter Palace is also known as Old Winter Hotel Palace. British explorers built this magnificent hotel with superb colonial design and the halo of ancient Egypt. It was established by Upper Egypt Hotel Corporation and opened its door in 1905.
The hotel contains a luxury charm embalmed in a historic building. The lobby is like being back in time.
The princely red carpets, tarboosh hanging near the drawing-room, gleaming chandeliers, and typical furniture are still present in the hotel. None has changed a bit in years!
The hotel lobby has many pictures and portraits of the inauguration ceremony and the famous residents who stayed there. You will be in good company! The luxury hotel Luxor gives a royal feeling when you walk around! The Winter Palace at night is effulged with bright, mesmerizing lights.
Review of the Room at the Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor
I stayed in the luxury Nile view room number 238.
The Nile view room allowed a fantastic view of the Nile and across the ancient hills of the Nile Valley. It has a nice terrace, with two chairs and a table, where I enjoyed spending time, especially around during sunset. It gives an unforgettable experience. The brilliantly red and orange, tranquil and gorgeous sunset over the Nile each evening from my balcony always perfected my mood.
The room is large with a high ceiling and panoramic windows over the Nile. The main colors were orange and red. The center of the room is occupied by a comfortable king-size bed where I slept very well.
A large TV is present in the room but most of the TV channels are in Arabic. I tried to watch the Euro 2021 soccer matches but couldn’t find a channel showing the match.
The main drawback of the Nile-facing room is the noise coming from the street. It seems that young Luxor inhabitants have taken a habit of hanging outside, with loud music and horns, blaring. The noise would often continue until quite late into the night.
TIP: If you are a light sleeper and need a quiet room to sleep in, don’t choose a Nile view room. Rooms at the back of the hotel facing the gardens are quieter.
The bathroom has been recently renovated with a comfortable bathtub, shampoo, conditioner, and even body lotions are provided. Plenty of oversized hang off the rack.
Review of the Winter Palace Pool Area and garden
The garden at the Sofitel Winter Palace is spectacular and worth the wander. It is encumbered with palm trees, flowers, and fountains all around, capturing one’s mind and heart.
TIP: lookout for birds. I saw a few beautiful exotic birds that I hadn’t seen before.
After spending a long hot day exploring the top sights of Luxor, the Winter Palace pool appears like an oasis in the desert
The swimming pool area at Winter Palace Luxor is huge and inviting. It looks a bit old but is a great and quiet place to hang out. You will never guess that you are right in the middle of the city. The winter palace pool has enough space for sunbathing. Annoyingly, the umbrellas are made of wood that doesn’t totally overlap and it was, therefore, impossible to get full shade while at the pool. I enjoyed a few drinks from the poolside while reading my favorite books on a lounge chair.
The pool area is surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers.
Is it worth staying at the Winter palace Luxor?
The Sofitel Winter Palace is the perfect hotel for visitors who are fond of history. One can’t avoid being impressed by the majestic staircase, the high ceilings, or the grand bar area.
The hotel is an absolute gem, with a great location right in the center of Luxor.
Yes, it is true that in some areas, the painting is chirped, especially in the shops near the entrance. The pool looks old and you can see that the windows frames and doors have been repainted many times or the glasses are single glass and not soundproof. However, it gives the hotel charm and characters. The people complaining about it probably also complain about some of Luxor’s temples being broken.
I had a very comfortable stay in this historical estate. Everything was functioning as it should be. Even the internet in my room was relatively fast for Egypt.
The management and staff working there are worth praising. The price of the Winter Palace is currently in the range of 100 – 150 euros per night and represents superb value for money.
With its perfect Nile view and grand interior, the Winter Palace Luxor has a lot to offer. Yes, a few things could be improved but Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor is a unique place to stay during your holiday, and I would definitely stay there again.
For more information about traveling to Egypt, see my article about visiting the pyramids, visiting Luxor, the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh, and diving in the Red Sea on liveaboards Blueforce 3 and the Aggressor Red Sea 3.