A huge wonderful step back in time yet with everything the modern traveler needs. Late 19th century… Victoria’s empire was dominating the global scene when Thomas Cook built the first concrete hotel to house rich brits exploring the wonders of Egypt. It officially opened in 1899 with 60 rooms noted for their luxurious interiors and state of the art conveniences. The hotel proved so popular that overflow guests were housed in tents until a 1900 enlargement doubled the number of rooms. Rich and royalty flocked to its colonial British style enhanced with oriental Moorish interiors. King Farouk (Egypt’s last royal) held opulent dinners on a regular basis, printing the menus on papyrus for guests to take as souvenir. Agatha Christie sat on the terrace drinking Gin & Tonics writing mysteries. Characters from Death on the Nile enjoyed the luxury of the Old Cataract Hotel before they set off on an ill-fated Nile cruise. Winston Churchill painted from his suite and Yvette Labrousse & the Aga Khan carried on a notorious very romantic love affair while enjoying the health benefits of the surrounding desert. Tsar Nicholas II, Princess Di and Howard Carter (the discover of King Tut) are but a few of a huge list of guests wowed by the charm of this Sofitel Legend Hotel. However, by 2008 the glamour had started to fade. The hotel closed for two years for a head to toe renovation. The number of rooms were reduced, electricals were upgrade and bathrooms were modernized. Yet all the original elegance, history and style was preserved. Stay in the old building.