Myth and Magic at Egypt’s Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino

As the sizzling summer sun hangs in the sky for just a few extra hours, and the laziness of July turns into the excitement of August, travellers across the region embark on their seasonal scouring of the neighbouring lands in search of water-adjacent activities to help make the summer heat more bearable, enjoyable even. And, more often than not, they find themselves flocking to the one land with all the bodies of glittering water a summer sojourner may want, need or wistfully fantasise about. 

From Sinai’s coral-reef-dotted Red Sea, and the turquoise waters of the North Coast to the world-class diving site that is Dahab’s Blue Hole, and Siwa’s famed natural hot spring that – legend has it – Cleopatra once bathed in, Egypt has no shortage of waterside havens that have been welcoming voyagers for centuries. Yet, none are quite as ethereal as the very lifeblood of the ancient ancestors whose spirits linger on across its illustrious banks and far beyond – the Nile River. 

Initially a visitor’s palace that played host to royals, presidents, ambassadors and socialites, Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino now houses over 1,000 contemporary rooms and suites, overlooking the eternally entrancing Nile or the very gardens across which history’s most famed and fortunate once promenaded. For an extra dose of whimsy, the Palace Gardens should be experienced under the night sky, while the shimmering lights of leisurely passing feluccas dance on the surface of the Nile and the hotel’s dedicated staff of locals put on a culinary, cultural and celebratory ‘Egyptian Nights’ show about anything and everything authentically, well, Egyptian. 

Naturally, Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino’s classic refinement extends far beyond Egyptian-cotton bedding and bathrobes – the hotel’s dedicated health club, picturesque garden-enveloped pool and globally renowned Saray Spa manage to coat the buzzing anticipation of rejuvenation and relaxation with some authentic Egyptian grandeur. 

And, of course, no royal retreat would be complete without a quick tasting tour around the world – delectable French, Italian, Egyptian and Japanese courses across 14 eateries await all those lucky enough to take up temporary residence within Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino. Though it might prove difficult to settle on one favoured culinary establishment, those partial towards nostalgic atmospheres tend to fall in love with the Garden Promenade Café, embellished with intertwining trees and special species of flora, imported and planted during the time of the Palace’s inception. 

All this magic and myth is contained within the hotel’s wrought-iron gates, yet, what lies right outside proves to be equally as thrilling. With an enviable address right in the epicentre of Egypt’s capital city of Cairo, the hotel acts as a sensational starting point for your Cairo escapades. Be it Khan El-Khalili’s vibrant market, the Great Pyramids of Giza, the iconic Tahrir Square, the Citadel, the Egyptian Museum or the Cairo Opera House – all of the city’s landmarks are within sauntering distance of the magical Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino, which you can easily experience first-hand by visiting https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/caieg-cairo-marriott-hotel-and-omar-khayyam-casino/overview/ and securing your spot right by the Nile.