Airport hotels are meant to be a refuge between flights—a place to recharge, reset, and, ideally, sleep. With an overnight layover in Cairo before my early morning flight to Abu Dhabi, I needed a hotel that was close, comfortable, and hassle-free. Le Meridien Cairo Airport seemed to tick all the boxes: a five-star Marriott property, directly connected to Terminal 3, and reasonably priced at £120 for the night.
What I didn’t expect? That the biggest challenge wouldn’t be making a 6:30 a.m. flight—but actually getting any sleep before it.
I had actually switched my inbound flight a few days prior to avoid a potentially lengthy (~6hour) self-transit within CAI to avoid risking either being stuck in the international transit area at Cairo Airport (plenty of horror stories about that around…) or missing my onward flight completely. So 12 or so hours seemed plenty to get to an airport hotel, check in, shower and try to sleep before the early departure the next day.
A welcome surprise at immigration
I arrived at 5 p.m. local time, expecting to navigate the usual arrival gauntlet at Cairo Airport. What I hadn’t realised was that the hotel’s transfer service didn’t just include a shuttle—it also came with a meet-and-greet before immigration and customs.
This meant bypassing the regular lines entirely, getting processed through the aircrew immigration channel, and having my visa on arrival sorted for me without lifting a finger. I could have managed all of this myself, but after a mediocre British Airways flight, it was an incredibly welcome surprise. Within seven minutes of leaving Terminal 2, I was walking into the hotel.
Check-in and first impressions
Security screening is standard at many hotels in Egypt, and Le Meridien Cairo was no exception. A quick bag scan and metal detector later, I was at the reception desk, where I was greeted promptly and checked in without issue. The reception staff were polite and took the time to go over the meal options, including four on-site restaurants and 24-hour room service.
The lobby was modern and clean, with a mix of tourists and airline crew coming and going. But getting to the room was a different story—the hotel layout felt like a maze. I don’t know if it was intentional design or just my own sense of direction failing me, but it reminded me of a casino, where you’re never quite sure which way is in or out. Thankfully, the check-in clerk gave me clear directions, or I’d probably still be wandering the hallways (much like I was when departing the next morning…).
The room – comfortable, but well-worn
I booked a king room with an “airport view,” though “airport view” turned out to be a generous description. I could see an inactive runway off in the distance, but the real highlight was a radar dish stealing most of the spotlight. Not quite the avgeek dream, but at least I wasn’t here for the scenery.
The room itself was spacious, well laid out, and clean, though it was clear this hotel had seen some things over the years. It wasn’t run-down, but it lacked the polish and upkeep you’d expect from a true five-star property.
The bed was comfortable, the pillows a little too soft for me, but that’s personal preference. A small table with two chairs made for a decent workspace, though in my case, it mostly served as a dumping ground for camera gear and chargers. A small touch I appreciated was the local welcome snack selection and an apple—nothing extravagant, but a nice gesture.
The bathroom – do your best, caulk the rest
This is where the five-star rating started to feel a little optimistic.
The shower-tub combo had clearly seen better days, and the “rain shower” head seemed strategically placed to ensure maximum bathroom flooding. Rather than fight a losing battle with a soaked floor, I decided to run a bath instead—or at least, I tried.
The tub plug didn’t seal, meaning the water drained as fast as it filled. Normally, I’d improvise by placing a glass over the drain to help slow the flow, but with the plug awkwardly positioned in the center of the tub, that wasn’t happening. It was clear that the “do your best, caulk the rest” philosophy was alive and well here.
If I’d been staying longer, I would have asked for maintenance or a room swap. For a single night, I just worked around it.
The real issue – sleep quality
This was the one thing I needed most, and unfortunately, this is where the hotel completely lost me.
Aircraft noise? Totally fine. It’s an airport hotel—hearing the occasional takeoff or landing is expected. What wasn’t expected was the complete lack of soundproofing to the hallways.
At three separate points in the night, I was woken up by what sounded like plates and cutlery crashing onto a hard floor. I have no idea what was going on outside, but unless there was an actual Greek wedding happening in the corridor, it was way too much noise for a hotel where people are trying to get some rest.
By the time my alarm went off at 3 a.m., I had managed two and a half hours of broken sleep.
Connectivity and extras
The Wi-Fi was slow at times, but it worked, and it was free. Power outlets were a mix of multi-region plugs and type-F, with two USB-A ports—enough for a short stay. The TV didn’t work, but I wasn’t planning on watching it anyway.
Room service and dining
The hotel has four restaurants, but I wasn’t in the mood for a sit-down meal, so I ordered room service instead.
Delivery took around 50 minutes, exactly as quoted. The staff were friendly, and the food—a club sandwich with an orange juice—was decent, filling, and good value for money.
Breakfast is served from 4 a.m., but with a 3 a.m. checkout, I wasn’t about to force myself to eat at what was effectively 2 a.m. body-clock time.
Le Meridien Cairo Final thoughts – worth it?
Le Meridien Cairo Airport got a lot right. The meet-and-greet service was exceptional, check-in was smooth, and the staff were genuinely great. The room was clean, and for the price, the value was fair.
But if a hotel’s main purpose is to give you a place to sleep before a flight, then poor soundproofing is a deal-breaker. If a better airport hotel option existed, I’d likely book elsewhere.
Would I stay here again for a layover? Yes, but I’d bring earplugs next time.
Would I book this for a longer stay? Probably not.
For a one-night stopover, it does the job—but after such a rough night’s sleep, I wished my onward flight was more than just 2 and a half hours so I could actually get some solid sleep.
