Cairo stay

My wife, Paula, and I stayed at the Mövenpick Resort Cairo - Pyramids (Alexandria Road, Pyramids, P.O. Box 1, Giza, Egypt; phone +202 3377 2555, fax 3377 5006, www.moevenpick-hotels.com) for five days in April ’10 (Aug. ’10, pg. 12).

This is an excellent choice if your priorities are relaxation versus readily exploring Cairo on your own. This sprawling resort hotel is an oasis of calm among the noise and tumult of Cairo and Giza, and the hotel’s Rooftop Café provides good views of the Giza pyramids. Unfortunately, there’s nothing of interest within walking distance of the hotel.

It’s located by a highway that could be a source of noise for some of the “standard” rooms ($135, with breakfast), but our “superior” room ($145) was always quiet. Each with an inviting patio, the rooms are spacious, and the mattresses were among the most comfortable we’ve ever experienced.

The worst aspect — the air-conditioning shuts down shortly after you leave your room, making for a hot room upon your return. Also, the A/C in one of the two rooms we occupied struggled; the A/C in the other worked fine.

The large, elegant lobby adjoins the hotel’s primary restaurant. A bar, ice cream parlor, bank, ATM and shops are on nearby passageways. There’s a large swimming pool with an adjacent casual restaurant/bar.

Hotel staff members all spoke English and were helpful.

STEPHEN O. ADDISON, JR.

Charlotte, NC