Marriott Mena House, Cairo

Marriott Mena House is one of Egypt’s most storied hotels, set in about 40 acres of gardens right beside the Giza Pyramids. It began life in the 19th century as a royal hunting lodge and has since hosted kings, presidents and film stars, and the original palace wing still carries much of that history in its carved woodwork and mashrabiya details. Today the hotel offers a little over 300 rooms and suites spread across low-rise garden buildings, and many of them have balconies that look directly onto the Great Pyramid. The pool sits in the gardens with the pyramids as a backdrop, and there is a full-service spa, a 24-hour gym and a children’s pool. Dining is a highlight: 139 Pavilion serves international buffets on a terrace facing the pyramids, Alfredo covers Italian, and The Moghul Room is a long-running favourite for Indian cuisine, with two bars and a poolside bar for the evening. A large conference centre and seven meeting rooms make it a popular choice for events and weddings. The Giza Pyramid Complex is a short walk from the lobby and the Grand Egyptian Museum is about five minutes by car, so it is ideal for travellers who want history on their doorstep.

Location: About 38 min from Sphinx International Airport (SPX) — about 50 km / 60 min from Cairo International Airport (CAI). Nearby: Giza Pyramid Complex (0.6 km, 7 min walk), Pyramid of Khufu (1.1 km, 12 min walk), Grand Egyptian Museum (1.6 km, 5 min by car), Great Sphinx of Giza (2.7 km, 6 min by car), Pyramid of Menkaure (2.7 km, 11 min by car).