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Location, Location, Location – Where to Stay while You are in
Cairo
The Dahab Hotel is not the Intercontinental by any
stretch of the imagination. The rooms are spartan and the accommodations
sparse. But when it comes to the budget prices, friendly staff, ambient
atmosphere and central location, it is unmatched. This tiny hostel,
located on the 7th
floor of a building, offers a comfortable rooftop retreat from the summer
heat of Cairo. Unlike the ritzier alternatives where one's social options
are limited to the posh and glamorous, this hostel comes freshly stocked
with a host of interesting travelers from around the world. Utilizing the
numerous shaded areas as a meeting place, one can forge lasting
friendships with a diverse array of students, backpackers and global
wanderers. Adding to the relaxed atmosphere, eclectic ensembles of
instruments and musicians occasionally gather to form a soothing backdrop
to the many late night conversations.
The hostel caters to the easy-going traveler. For
those who expect fresh towels every afternoon, wake-up calls and
chocolate under their pillows, they will be sorely disappointed. The
prices vary from 25 to 45 Egyptian
Pounds (EGP) a night. And for such
prices you get what you paid for – a bed, a window, and if you are lucky,
a fan. Showers and toilets are shared among the guests though there are
rooms available with a private bathroom for an additional cost. But
beware, while the private bathrooms do boast of a toilet, sink and
shower-head, these amenities are in such proximity to one another that
only the flexible and genuine multi-taskers can truly appreciate the
benefits.
The front desk will arrange excursions for a small
fee. But the best way to explore downtown Cairo is to do so on foot. The
hostel provides an excellent opportunity to do so as it is located right
in the heart of Cairo. It is just a five minute walk from some of the
best budget dining the city has too offer as well as the pricier four and
five-star cuisines hosted by the many hotels which dot the Nile. And for
those with an appetite for Western-style nightlife, a short taxi ride
will take you to any of the numerous bars, discos and casinos that are
situated in Zamalek and Mohandeseen. Overall, it is an excellent hostel
with a laid-back atmosphere that comes highly recommended to the budget
traveler, not to mention… it has free Wi-Fi for those with their own
laptops or mobile devices.
The main drawback to the hostel is the long commute to
the school which students will have to make on a daily basis. Although
the hostel is located within five minutes from the Sadat metro station in
Tahrir Square, the trip itself will take approximately 20 minutes. Once
students have arrived at Sarray al-Qobba station, the school is another
20 minutes by foot, or 3 minutes by taxi. Total costs for this trip can
range anywhere between 1 EGP (by metro alone) to 20 EGP (if one elects to
take a taxi).
To avert such drawbacks, the school has provided
students with another alternative. Apartments are available for rent on a
short-term basis. These apartments are spacious, fully furnished, and
come equipped with all the necessary amenities and appliances to live
comfortably during one's time here in Cairo. Unlike Dahab Hotel,
apartments are well within walking range – anywhere between one to four
minutes away from the Arabic Langauge Center. Students electing this
option should expect to pay significantly more than the hostel, but the
trade-off in terms of upgraded living standards are well worth it.
Apartments come with a full kitchen, full bathroom, washing machine,
telephone line, satellite television, and a large living area to make
student feel as if they were at home. Unfortunately, aside from the
apartments' proximity to the school, the location has little else to offer
students who desire to frequent Cairo's main nightlife attractions as the
grand majority are located in Mohandeseen, Zamalek and Downtown. This can
leave students with little to do upon completion of their homework.
One other alternative is to reside with a family. At
this time, however, the school is not providing this service. Inshallah,
it will be available in the near future.
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