First of all the location is excellent. Around the corner from the Egyptian Museum and short taxi ride from all other attractions of central Cairo.

Rooms have satellite with hundreds of channels. Air-con. Where else can you get this for the price? Bathroom is small but clean. Rooms were very clean too. Views are not brilliant but you get what you pay for.

Staff were very friendly. Food was basic but nice. Breakfast was included in the price. And when I ordered something it was ready pretty quick

Best bit was when they didnt charge me an extra night when I was over four hours late checking out!! They were very entitled to.

It can be a bit difficult to find if you dont know where it is. I arranged the hotel to pick me up from the airport but unfortunately missed the pick-up as our flight got cancelled and we were shoved on to another one. Got a taxi to the museum and got myself onto Ramses Road, vaguely remembering the address. I still struggled to find the hostel/hotel, walking past it about 3 times not knowing it was there!!

Would I stay there again? Well I've stayed in many hostels and hostels worl-wide and this place is well above average. So the answer is most definitely.

Word of warning: Don't trust the dodgy taxi driver parked outside the place!! We felt sorry for him because he had a rickety old taxi but he ended up trying to take us for a ride!!

The invitation hotel could be best described as a very good hostel. It is very good value for the money. It has nice bright colours on the walls, it is clean, it has friendly staff, free internet, TV in room, nice fixtures in the rooms and bathrooms. but...
We were given only one towel not much bigger than a hand towel. I asked for another one but it never arrived. The hot water on the first morning ran out after 5 minutes but was fine on the second morning. The beds have rather thin foam mattresses and slat supports which on the second night had some slip right thru to the floor. The "safe" was a valuables in a stapled paper envelope in the office top draw behind reception which seemed to be often unlocked. Breakfast was an egg, orange cordial, cup of tea, small bread roll jam and butter.
Our taxi driver had a lot of trouble finding the hotel, it is not simple to access by car. Look for the man standing outside who acts as security for the building.
The reception can provide good value car and driver to look round Cairo. Oh, they can also get you some beer which is not that easy in Cairo.

The Pro's.
great value.
clean rooms.
staff are extremely friendly and honest
centrally located

The Con's.
the room we stay in faces a main road and the noise is loud 24/7
the rooms are tired and old.

Overall.
If you are on a low budget then I would most definitely recommend the hotel.

With my son, I stayed at the Invitation Hotel for 5 nights recently in two trips. It is worth every cent. The staff are extremely friendly, honest, good-humoured. Nothing is ever a problem. They picked us up at the airport twice as arranged. Arranged a full day-trip to three pyramids areas well worth the money.
The sheets are clean. Bring your own towel. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper because the outside noise (especially the front rooms) is, well, something else but you get that everywhere in Cairo. Both the shared and private bathrooms have good and hot showers (although sometimes a shower curtain would be helpful).
The staff (and us) remained as cool and good-humoured as a cucumber, even when they had to hammer down the doorlock which got stuck with us inside the room.
Best of all, the location is ideal and just a couple of blocks away, you find all the popular restaurants of the guidebooks.
These guys are a tribute to the welcoming and relaxed people of Egypt.

Johan Schölvinck, The Netherlands