“A Beautiful Stay”
I really enjoyed the Talisman. I loved the architectural features, the marble showers, the salon, library and decoration. At checkin, the receptionist seemed a little unprepared for my arrival, but it caused no problems at all. She was helpful but did give incorrect information regarding Khal al Khalili which put me in a bad situation. Nevertheless, I looved the hotel. It was convenient for what I wanted to do. I was able to walk to the Egyptian Museum and the Nile. There were plenty of shops and busy-ness near the hotel. I was across the street from McDonalds which I appreciated because I did not feel like trying to guess at a decent place to eat. I just went with what was familiar as I only had two days in Cairo and I arrived later than I expected! The hotel has a menu with decent prices as well. I ordered from them my second night and was satisfied. The breakfast at the Talisman is fair. There's juice, toast, cereal, fruit, yogurt and a few other selections I probably do not remember. It is what I needed to start my days in Cairo. There was not anything hot as I recall. The antique elevator was charming to me, although before I went I read others' reviews that spoke against the look of the hotel from the outside. I don't know what these people would expect in as large and busy a city as Cairo, but the entrance was no bother to me, as the Cairene people are very nice and I did not feel a sense of danger at all. In summary, I loved the Talisman. I am glad that I stayed there
Area recommendations
Of course, I highly recommend the Pyramids at Giza. That was pretty much my sole reason for going. I used a horse stable that allowed me to ride through not only the Giza Pyramids but the Saqqara, Abu-?, can't recall the name, but there are at about 9 others. They were much nicer, there was a serene quality riding through the desert, being surrounded by pyramids.
If you are a shopper like me, then I also recommend Khal al Khalili. As I mentioned earlier, I did not have much time in Cairo and missed many stores because they were closing when I went, but Egyptian prices are great! Unfortunately, many of the stores sell what to me is just junk, things I would not want to lug home, but still great prices. I bought t-shirts for about $3 a piece and they were embroidered, quality tees. I am a fussy buyer and like good quality.
These were the only tourist attractions I visited so it is all I could and do recommend.
Getting around
Cairene drivers will definitely deceive you regarding their prices. They will push you for what they think they can get out of you. Be prepared for this and ready to hold your ground. An example is that on my last day, I caught a white cab because I knew they had meters. The cabdriver was extremely nice and I had to ask him to stop at Khal al Khalili on my way to the airport to pick up a purchase (The seller was waiting on the street with it). Still the meter read maybe $8 pounds when I got to the airport and he tried to get me to pay much more! I refused to pay him more than 50, i think and after I told him no several times, while pointing to the meter, he accepted my payment with no fuss. Still, I can't be sure, but I think he was trying to charge me $120!
Be prepared for the drivers to push you for a price or a tip. Just tell them no nicely but firmly. Only get in metered cabs and make sure they are running and you are watching them. OR decide upon a price before leaving and stick with it.
