The Best Luxury Hotels

Four Seasons (Cairo; tel. 02/573-1212 or 800/819-5053; www.fourseasons.com):

The most luxurious spot in town to spend a night, this newcomer is centrally located across from the Cairo Zoo. Rooms are discreetly elegant, with plush carpet floors and marble baths, and the service is impeccable.

Mena House Oberoi (Cairo; tel. 02/383-3444 or 800/562-3764; www.oberoihotels.com): A legendary hotel nestled at the foot of the Pyramids, this rustic colonial villa was built in 1869 as a resting house for sightseeing royals. It's quite a distance from the center and showing its age, but to wake up to views of Cheops framed by palm trees and mist, this is the place to be.

Hilton Fayrouz (Sharm El Sheikh; tel. 069/600-136 or 800/445-8667; www.hilton.com): Comfortable bungalows surrounded by meandering, landscaped gardens. Boasting the largest beach in the coveted Na'ama Bay, the Fayrouz is pleasant and not too expensive, with experienced staff and a popular bar.

Ritz-Carlton (Sharm El Sheikh; tel. 069/661-919 or 800/241-3333; www.ritzcarlton.com): A sleek white exterior, luscious pool and sprawling grounds make this a very upscale affair. Known for massages like "Cleopatra's Indulgence," it's a swanky seaside resort with five-star service and a private terrace in every room.

El Salamlek Palace (Alexandria; tel. 03/547-7999; www.sangiovanni.com): Built after an Austrian design in 1892 by the Khedive Abbas Helmi II, this imposing manor was originally a hunting lodge for the Khedive's Hungro-Austrian mistress. It's a touch pricey due to its history, location and private beach.

Jolie Ville Moevenpick (Luxor; tel. 095/374-855; 800/344-68357; www.moevenpick.com): Set within the lush gardens of the tiny Crocodile Island and surrounded by exotic plants, it's a bucolic dream. Stay in a comfortable bungalow, play tennis or golf, and listen to the birds chirp.

Sofitel Winter Palace (Luxor; tel. 095/380-422; www.accorhotels.com): A grand Victorian estate built in 1886 as a playground for royalty, the Winter Palace oozes grace and history. Dignitaries like the Shah of Iran and Winston Churchill have stayed here, and Agatha Christie wrote part of "Death on the Nile" here.

Sofitel Old Cataract (Aswan; tel. 097/316-000; www.accorhotels.com): This brick-red Edwardian classic gained fame after Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile was filmed here, taking advantage of its graceful Islamic interiors and spectacular Nile views. For the past century it's been one of the most highly regarded hotels in Egypt.