This hotel, like The Winter Palace in Luxor, is government owned and run by Sofitel (not a great chain). It will close for a 2 year renovation in April or May 2008. It should have been closed for renovation probably 20 years ago. Rooms and corridors on the ground floor smell of humidity and on the walls one can see the plaster and paint lifting. Damp patches on the carpets in the rooms. Serious health risk hotel but the best place in town! We tried for 4 months to book suites, to no avail - heaven only knows why this hotel is a sell out. In fact I learnt they had an overbooking of 30 rooms! How can a hotel be so badly run to end up with so many overbookings?! We (10 family members) finally managed to get 4 deluxe rooms (Nile view) and 1 standard. Service is not good (government employees?). We fortunately met the Food & Beverage Manager (a Frenchman) early on and being a big group had most meals arranged on King Farouk's terrace, far away from the other dining options (limited & nothing to impress). Our food was good and the Egyptian & Nubian buffet was impressive. The views are impressive as is the building but to let any so called 5 star establishment fall into such a state of disrepair is shameful. The hotel had no internet, no business centre ...not even a fax. All of which could be found in the 'new' Cataract hotel, which is a very ugly 70's build in the garden, overlooking (and sharing) the main hotels pool!? Who's idea was that? At check out, receptions printer had a problem and so our bill was printed at the other hotel and brought across to us! For thousands of years this was the most advanced place on earth ...heaven only knows what happened thereafter!

Well, I totally agreed wiz most of the reviews the carpet is stained and rumpled. There's no room safes. The room keys are v. big. The fridges make noise. The TV is v. old. The hotel has the best reputation in Aswan but I think it got that from its oldeness. It's a great experience but not for too long . 2 or 3 night is more than enough. The breakfsat is fantastice, I didn't ve dinner there! You must drink the beautiful tea watching the sunset from the terrace ( Main one or Elephantine). Pool was good & heated. Don't take a Taxi infront of the Hotel!!

I stayed at the Old Cataract for one night and that was enough. The draw of the hotel is its iconic status, not the actual accomodation. The lobby and other common areas look worn out. The bathrooms are old and the showers do not work well. The rooms are fairly small, with not much space outside the bed. I would recommend this hotel for 1 or 2 nights while passing through but not much longer - it's historic charm will wear off by then.

Well, the carpet is stained and rumpled. Some wallpaper needs replacing. There's no room safes. The room keys are bigger than a taxi. The fridges make noise. The A/C isn't very good. It's an old hotel. Soon, it will close for rennovations. What a shame if they remove the dank. Part of this experience is the old world hotel rooms. The pool is swell, and the view from the tea deck is unsurpassed. The hotel is is Aswan, but just outside of the tourist tout racket. You can get a taxi right outside, but leave the taxi's and felluca touts behind when entering the hotel gates. The help desk was helpful, and tea was fabulous. Pool staff was quick and polite. Breakfast was fantastic. We loved out Christmas stay. Too many British -- just kidding.