There's nothing but perfection at this hotel. I di...

There's nothing but perfection at this hotel. I didn't know how historic it was until we arrived. It closed for a few years and reopened again in 2011 with a complete refurbishment. It was originally built in 1899. It's a mix of classical, modern, and Arabian vibe. The hotel is secluded in its own compound.

We had a garden view room which means, you're facing the hotels inner front courtyard. It's a very quiet setting. The room had a balcony facing palm trees and a fountain in the middle of the plaza. I can't tell you how much time was spent on the balcony. We had a standard size room that was spacious and it also had a high ceiling. French doors open to the balcony and there are French style windows in the bathroom that open as well. The room had a lot of storage space.

If you have any interest, the hotel offers a free 30 minute tour each day that includes historic pictures and furnishings, the 1902 restaurant, and Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill suites. A highlight of the tour was standing on the balconies of both of these suites that have panoramic views of the West Bank, Nile, and Elephantine Island. This tour is free and meets in the lobby at 4:30 p.m.

The pool area is luxurious and feels like paradise. Again, you have wonderful views of Elephantine Island across the way. One of our favorite places to eat was the Terrace restaurant. If you're staying in the main building, this is where the buffet breakfast is located. We had lunch and dinner there as well. We also had dinner one evening at the Oriental restaurant. The food and service at all these restaurants are absolutely fantastic! I also used the fitness center which is across from the pool. It has mostly cardiovascular machines and free weights. There's also two multi-use strength training machines, swiss ball, and stretch mats.

Last and certainly not least, all staff were welcoming and very friendly. I'd like to mention a few people by name. Every morning we had the pleasure of seeing Abraham Dyeab's smile. He always remembered to bring me my green tea after my coffee! During lunch and dinner, Hussein welcomed us with a smile that stretched across his face and always made it a point to personalize our meals and know our names. Even when we weren't dining and just walking by, he'd make it a point to say hello and see how our day was. He truly made us feel special. I'd also like to mention our housekeeper. Unfortunately, I don't remember his name but if management is reading this, please make sure to find out who he is and recognize him because he wanted to make sure we felt at home and comfortable in our room. Our room was located on the first floor. We really appreciated his artistic side with the towels in our room.

This was truly a unique experience that I will always remember. If we were to ever return to Aswan, this would be our home!