Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

A bit of delayed review, having been home for almost 3 weeks, but I've just not had chance to write it before now. Another, longer, stay in what is rapidly becoming my home from home and the longer stay actually has the advantage of helping you to contemplate what it is about this hotel that makes it so special and makes you want to return there as often as possible. Yes, as others have mentioned, it has a superb location, is dripping with history, as soon as you walk in the door to check-in you find yourself starting to relax amid an atmosphere of absolute calm and tranquility; even at 01:30, after a journey that spanned 2 days. Again, there are the magnificent gardens, and rooms with fine, but tasteful furnishings, and restaurants and bars that provide an opportunity for fine dining and a relaxing drink; th fact that you can pop out the staff entrance and find yourself immersed in the everyday life of non-tourist Luxor is an added bonus. However, many of Luxor's hotels (in fact many hotels around the world) feature a permutations of these features; although I've only found them combined into a glorious whole at one hotel, and it struck me that the absolutely outstanding feature of the Winter Palace is the staff, and the customer service ethos that has been developed over the course of more than 100 years. Everyone seems to make that extra effort to ensure that your stay is as near perfect as is humanly possible. It is almost as if no request is too much for them to, at least, do their utmost to facilitate; try having someone take a hire car and have it washed and filled on a day that appears to have marked the start of a heatwave at most hotels and it might be seen as unreasonable, but not here. Everyone tries their hardest to ensure that each and every guest is made to feel like the most important VIP to have visited the hotel in years; and I freely admit to being amongst the most ordinary of people. I know I've stayed in the hotel every time I've visited Luxor over the course of the last 10 years (not as often as I'd have liked, but as often as possible), so staff have come to recognise me and know my preferences (Come in hot and disgusting after trogging around the temples and tombs, and the bar staff, literally, have the fresh lemon juice ready to pour from its jug. Walk in to the restaurant for breakfast and the omelette chef is already beating the eggs), but I've noticed that similar attention is paid to first time visitors. Such attention to detail is something that can't be acquired overnight and is what makes the staff the core of the great experience of staying at this hotel. Now all I've got to do is figure out how to get back there as soon as possible.

We spent 3 nights in the Winter Palace while touring the Luxor area sights following our daughter's wedding in Hurghada. We booked in advance, and prepaid for significant savings. We were treated to the King Farouk room ... very elegant! All staff members from Reception to the restaurants to room service and evening turn-down were very professional and polite. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience.

We stayed in the winter palace hotel for 13 nights, and it was wonderful. Everywhere was clean and polished, the food was excellent, and the staff were very helpful and professional. We ate in three of the restaurants; the food and service in all three was superb. The pool was fantastic, and nothing was too much for the staff as they made our holiday perfect. Our rooms overlooked the Nile, and it was lovely to sit and watch all the activity! We experienced very little hassle while out and about, and enjoyed our holiday very much. It was a real pleasure to stay in the winter palace hotel, and look forward to returning next year, for our 12th visit.

Our stay at the winter palace was excellent. The history and character to the building is unparalleled and for that alone it is worth a stay. Other strong points were the excellent service and staff who could not have done more to make us feel at home. The place has a relaxed and welcoming environment so for that I commend the staff. A point of improvement is money needs spent on the hotel as some of the furnishings are tired, but I get the impression this is a problem across Egypt due to the slow down in tourism. Other than that, the pool and other facilities are excellent, gardens are well maintained and the staff are competent and helpful. Would stay again.

I had booked the Pavilion. On arrival I found I was upgraded to the Winter Palace. I was given a large room on the 3rd floor, overlooking the Nile. Had breakfast in the Corniche. Many choices in the buffet, with the chef making eggs to order. Every staff member goes out of their way to make your stay special I will be back

Just spent a couple of weeks here chilling and seeing the sight and whilst the hotel is impressive in terms of its "grandeur" it's the people that make it...cannot single out anyone in particular...but down by the pool has been great! Yes, you get loads of hassle outside...taxi, kalesh, boat...market etc... a polite no thank you normally suffices!! Some are more consistent than others but be patient! There are few tourists here at the moment...they are only trying to make a living!! Don't think Luxor is just about the history and the sights...which are amazing...if you want to chill by a pool and enjoy guaranteed sun...it's a place to consider....and it's no more risky that Europe....Paris! London! Barcelona! Support these guys!! I will be back!!

This was one of the nicest hotels we have ever stayed at. Pool was fabulous! The breakfast buffet puts any other breakfast buffet I've seen to shame. The room was large and clean. The staff was super helpful. I had hurt my ankle on an excursion And they were coming by to check on me. Only thing that was disappointing was the high tea. Other than that it was a totally amazing experience.

We just had a wonderful ten day holiday in Luxor in Hotel Winter Palace. The people of Luxor are very hospitable and they do need tourists to visit their fantastic city and sights. Just like last year, we had an upgrade of our room. In summer, when there are less tourists, the Winter Palace Pavilions-building is closed and now we had a room with Nile view-balcony in the characteristic and luxurious main building. We’ve been in many hotels, all over the world, but this truly is a wonderful hotel! The service is excellent and the staff is most friendly. All together they provide an incredibly welcoming experience. Special thanks to Mrs. Randa, the Reception-Manager, who invited us for a drink and with whom we had a nice conversation for over an hour, to exchange our thoughts about our different (but also very the same) worlds. We will surely be back! A 10 out of ten!

The first time I stayed in Luxor I stayed at the Joseph Hotel which is a decent, affordable place in town. This time, I wanted to be sure to stay somewhere where we could relax in total peace & quiet and comfort during the HOT days. This place is the absolute perfect home away from home in Luxor. Friendly staff, spacious, comfortable rooms and bed, good food, beautiful garden and pool... and excellent masseuses.