One of the best parts of my job is hopping between fabulous hotels across the globe and reviewing them (I’m insufferable, I know).
However, my latest stay in Egypt set the bar so high that it has already ruined every hotel I visit for the foreseeable future.
From a 1km-long private beach to service so good you forget what lifting a finger feels like, I could write War and Peace about this place. But I’ll keep it to a few hundred words.
I fly into Egypt for the first time with an open mind and, besides the pyramids and loose knowledge of ancient history, not a lot more.
I land and, once I’ve battled my way through the country’s infamously chaotic passport control, I am greeted by one of the warmest people I have ever met. He’s in a three-piece suit and he’s holding a Four Seasons sign.
Like most ordinary people, living in luxury has always been, well, a luxury. And, as a generally independent person, I usually arrange trips and transfers myself.
Best of Metro Deals
Get exclusive discounts with Metro Deals – save on getaways and spa days. Powered by Wowcher
Bannatyne Spa
Spa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco — save up to 57% off.
Other deals
Mystery Escape
Hotel stay with return flights from as low as £92pp — save on worldwide holiday packages.
Beach Retreat (Lanzarote)
4* Lanzarote beach holiday with flights — save up to 58%.
UK Getaway
4* Radisson Blu Durham stay with breakfast, spa access & late checkout — save 60% off.
Drive Supercars
3–12 lap supercar driving experiences from £16.99 — save up to 65%.
However, from the moment I meet Adel, my driver for the next few days, I realise that here in Egypt, whatever I know about ‘doing it yourself to get it done’ is well and truly out the window.
My first stop is the Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza, a grand 30-something-floor building nestled against the bank of the Nile with views as good as you’d expect.
My room is massive and every step sinks me deeper into the carpet that looks a lot like my mattress topper back in London. The bellboy arranges my luggage and I’m finally alone to explore the new pad I get to call home for the next few days.
Four Seasons is renowned for personalised care. Its ethos is essentially ‘treat others how you want to be treated’ and this is reflected in every corner of their hotels.
Excitement builds each time I return to my room, as I anticipate what treats have been left for me.
To name a few: a leather tech pouch presented in a box on my bed, a chocolate truffle mould of Ramses III and enough snacks to last me about three years, God forbid I am ever stuck in Egypt for that long…
Adventures outside the hotel are a breeze, too. Concierge staff ready to cater to my every need have me booked on excursions back in time to ancient civilisations.
A personal highlight is their private tour to the pyramids, which (obviously) includes a camel ride across the desert. My history teacher from the Midlands would be so proud; all those hours sitting in front of a wheeled-in TV with DK Eyewitness blaring, finally have their moment to shine.
And getting around? The least of your worries.
The hotel also arranges transport for you with a swish and a flick. No matter the time or ask, Adel is ready and waiting with a smile on his face, always accompanied by a cool box full of icy water and Four Seasons-branded wet wipes to dab off my sweat from a hard few hours of living my alter-ego as Indiana Jones.
Of course, no great adventure should begin without proper fuel.
Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to find it. Beneath the very same roof lies a collection of restaurants you could easily spend the entirety of your trip exploring, all of which also rate impeccably, according to my detective work on Google Reviews and TripAdvisor.
Each restaurant has its own ambience and flavour, from local dishes to contemporary international cuisine. My personal favourite, though, is Riviera — an Italian retreat where the pasta is handmade and the views are a literal chef’s kiss.
Exploring done and feeling a little museum’d-out (here is where I plug my Grand Egyptian Museum review if you haven’t already read it), it’s time to swap adventure for indulgence.
A short hop from Cairo Airport lands me in Sharm El Sheikh. Known as the ‘City of Peace’ and home to the world’s largest Four Seasons resort, this Red Sea outpost is all about tranquillity.
Being their biggest property in the world, you are welcomed into more of a town than a resort. It’s so big that the driveway adds a solid five minutes to your Uber from the airport and, once you’ve arrived, you need golf buggies to get around the phenomenal 90-acre plot.
Driven to the door of my room, I open it to such overwhelm that I’m almost brought to tears. I’m in the Premier Sea-View Room and it’s bigger than my flat in London.
Personal favourite features include a walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with a TV in the mirror(!!!) and a private terrace big enough to play footie on.
A chocolate photo frame with my face printed on it is the icing on the cake and I cannot wait to get stuck into my next few days in paradise.
Unsurprisingly, what is on offer here is nothing short of monumental. Two diving centres, a gym fancier than my local Gymbox and garden walks so peaceful you forget what the Kew Gardens hype is all about. They cater to everyone and every interest, and you only have to take a short stroll (or even shorter buggy ride) to find it.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also available on-site during your stay, meaning you don’t have to take a step outside of the resort if you don’t want to (and really, why would you?).
The service is so good that the staff remember your name — something I’ve never been treated to at my usual 3-4-star haunts.
Taking one for the team, I’m eating and drinking my way around their total of 12 bars and restaurants, where they offer some of the best cuisine from all corners of the globe.
Personal favourites include Zitouni for dinner, offering Levantine fare with traditional dishes spanning Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. The traditional bread and lamb main is nothing short of perfection.
For brekkie, head to Arabesque. They serve Middle Eastern specialties alongside the usual suspects at a full buffet, with a side of views over the Red Sea.
For lunch, tuck into the chicken tacos at Luna. This Latin-inspired diner is situated poolside, so you’re only a few steps away from slumping back on the sun lounger for the afternoon.
With a full belly, a fuller heart and a glowing tan courtesy of Sharm’s year-round sunshine, I round off my Egyptian adventure with one last snorkel among reef fish in the property’s private coastline.
I step out of the water feeling so grateful, albeit a little bit ruined, because it’s almost impossible to imagine another hotel ever topping the spell that the Four Seasons is casting over me this week.
Everything to know about travelling to Egypt: at a glance
Cash is king
Egypt is a cash-first country, so make sure you bring some with you. Upon arrival, you also need cash to buy a visa. They prefer USD for this, but you can also pay in Sterling or queue in a longer line to pay via card (only do this if you haven’t already paid for one online; I didn’t because the website is clunky).
Getting there
EgyptAir and British Airways run several daily flights from the UK to Cairo. Direct flights in January 2026 start at £358pp with Egyptair, flying from London Heathrow to Cairo return.
For internal flights, EgyptAir and AirCairo fly between Cairo and Sharm-el Sheikh, and prices start at just £49pp for the short trip.
Where to stay
Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh
The best available rate in January 2026 starts 17th till the 25th, which offers a Superior Room at USD 515 per night all-inclusive on Bed and Breakfast basis. However, please note that their rates are dynamic and subject to change at any point.
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza
The best available rate in Jan/Feb is currently at USD 430 (excluding service charges and applicable taxes) on a room-only basis in a Superior Room or USD 485 (excluding service charges and applicable taxes) on a bed and breakfast basis. Both rates are based on double occupancy. However, please note that their rates are also dynamic and subject to change at any point.
