Life’s a Journey

After exiting the taxi and being led down a dark alleyway and into what looked like a deserted building we couldn’t stop laughing. Mai thought “where in the hell are we staying?”.

However, after entering the ancient lift and going up 5 flights

all she could say was “oh my God”. This is a true hidden treasure. Once inside the door you think you’ve stepped back in time 100 years. 

The colors  were so vibrant and the decor was stunning.

The hotel is small and very well run, but incredibly difficult to find when you arrive in Cairo. At 5:30PM it took our taxi driver nearly an hour to find it…. Best advice is to get it’s name/ address in Arabic to show a taxi and then look out for the Americano Cafe.  Visitors really need to know that it is down an alley near the corner of 26 July Street and opposite the Americaine takeaway. Even the taxis do not know it. First impressions are not good.  At first, we were totally scared as the building entrance leaves a lot to be desired. However, as many reviewers have noted, once you get to the 5th Floor, it’s a different story altogether. The hotel is exquisitely decorated, and you want to take every piece of furniture home, because the hotel is so well put together. The bathroom is clean, dining area is clean, and there is an Internet room. You can use the Internet for free. Breakfast is continental, some croissants and coffee,  but what else do you really  need? They do give you freshly squeezed OJ.    The hotel is centrally located. We just about walked everywhere, i.e. Egyptian Museum,

and Khan el khalili Bazaar.

The only place that we took a cab to was to the Citadel.  And of course our tour to the pyramids  

via the van. There is also a beer shop across from the Americaine Coffee Shop, so you can pick up some beer. And the owner’s friendly, too. Note, they do not sell beer in most of the places.  Mai and I found this hotel to be really charming and a very pleasant place to come back to after walking and taking in the sights each day.

It was worth $100 a night. Sure, you can find something cheaper in Cairo, but I found that this place to be worth the money and then some.

  Lonely Planet Review: “This exquisite boutique hotel is straight out of the pages of The 1001 Nights. Rooms are individually decorated and sumptuously equipped; common areas are equally impressive, featuring antique furniture, objets d’art and rugs.

The suites are quite simply works of art. It’s not often that we give hotels a 10 out of 10 score, but for value, style and comfort that’s what the Talisman deserves.”  

Reservations are essential.  You can contact the hotel by phone at (+20-2) 393 9431 or by email at
talisman_hoteldecharme@yahoo.fr.  Should you decide to stay here, the hotel staff will give you directions because, being very discreet,
nobody knows where it is.

Activities & points of interest