By Lakshmi:

As soon as we knew that we could redeem frequent flier miles to fly to Cairo on Egypt Air, we started looking for hotels that would be safe and offer a great value for the money.  Since I have worked for Marriott, have such fond memories of my time there and know some awesome people working behind the brands, I always look to see what is available locally. In this particular instance the cost prohibitive rate of $450 a night for an executive junior suite with lounge access seemed like a pipe dream.  That was until I saw an email stating that the company was having a sale and one could stay in a suite in the Middle East/Africa for as low as $100 a night.

Scanning the Marriott website, we were able to find the same junior suite for under a hundred dollars.  With lounge access providing free breakfast, snacks and drinks, we decided to snag the deal.

First, for those desiring a downtown Cairo experience (which is usually our preference), the property is situated close to the airport.  And there is nothing that is within walking distance of the hotel.  However, if you want a refuge from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cairo, the property is a haven.

Our room was lovely and spacious (see picture above).  Our breakfast in the lounge was very good each morning.  Plus, once we were done with breakfast, we could take some water and fruit along for our day trips.  In the evenings, we could have a cup of coffee, snacks or drinks, making us feel like we had hit the jackpot in terms of value.  The value added services also included a free shuttle to downtown Cairo and to the nearby Star of Africa mall, a service we used multiple times.

Unlike other trips, we tapped into the concierge quite a bit to help us find locations and particularly to write down addresses in Arabic.  The service provided was responsive and efficient.

On a couple of instances, coming back dead tired from a day trip, we did eat our meals at the hotel and the food did not disappoint.

When a hotel can be an enabler, it leaves you feeling so much more satiated about your overall experience.  And for us, the JW Marriott in Cairo did exactly that.

To learn more about this hotel, click here:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/caijw-jw-marriott-hotel-cairo/