I stayed at Novotel Cairo Airport for one night before travelling north for a wedding in Marsa Matouh, and overall I found the experience was a bit disappointing. First, it was very difficult to find the hotel shuttle on arrival at the airport; there were no clear signs or instructions. I ended up getting on a different hotel’s shuttle, and while the driver kindly dropped me at the Novotel hotel gates, I had to drag my heavy suitcase uphill to reception while staff looked on without offering any help. Check-in was also not welcoming. The reception staff came across as quite rude and unhelpful, which I initially assumed might be cultural but this impression changed once I interacted with the restaurant and bar staff, who were warm, friendly and professional.
The room was a good size and the bed was comfortable, but the cleanliness wasn’t up to standard. I found hairs in the shower, the room smelled of old cigarette smoke and it would probably benefit from some refurbishment. Also the lack of blackout curtains and a bright purple light from the courtyard shining in all night made it difficult to sleep. Security was tight (bags scanned on entry), which felt reassuring. We had the buffet lunch, which offered a good range of options at a reasonable price. The small shops in reception were convenient, though limited in variety.
Overall, the location is convenient for the airport, but the poor welcome, dated facilities, and cleanliness issues mean I probably wouldn’t stay again.