Why High-End Travelers Might Choose a Street of Unfinished Buildings
When I built Mara House, our location among ordinary houses in Luxor – away from the main strip of tourist hotels – was not a compromise. It was the point. Guests loved it. But apart from that, I did not choose the location – the location choose me. At that time in my life I never made a big decision, my next move was always clear and unequivocable.
(Photo above: Mara House Luxor in 2004)
What attracted so many back then was the fact they could see their end price. I gave people added options but always with transparency, no hidden extras and no compulsory shopping stops during their tours. So they could plan their experience in line with their budget. I told people the truth. I still offer the same.
Today the market has shifted for me from economy and mid-price visitors to high end travelers – and now would be a good time for me to review again why Mara House is exclusive, special and incomparable.
Mara House – a unique chance to understand Egypt
A short stay at Mara House Luxor in the midst of an ordinary community provides the opportunity to see and to gain insight into real life in Egypt, both present and past – and, in many ways, there is not a lot of difference. During your time at Mara House you will have time to question what you saw during the day or during your stay in Cairo.
For me this is a very important part of your stay because it is very easy for outsiders to come to wrong conclusions and judgments about what they see – simply because they are coming from a different background, different values, different cultures, and different ideas. Travel is priceless when the traveler is able to leave their own belief systems aside and is willing to explore what may seem strange, wrong, unbelievable, or difficult to understand – that is where new experiences and truly exploring different cultures result in personal growth and expansion. That is where peace begins and cultural differences become experiences to treasure and preserve in a world hurdling down the road of bland uniformity.
Let me explore with you just one example of what I mean about perception leading to wrong conclusions and judgments. Any traveler arriving on our street can easily be forgiven for thinking they are in a poor area because their brain automatically compares what the eye sees to what they are either used to or what they expect. Then the brain makes a quick calculation and makes a judgment call (forms an opinion) based on what it normally accepts as safe/unsafe or good/bad so that it can quickly prepare for flight or fight. My son did exactly this on his first visit to me, and I was shocked, not because of his judgment call, but because I had never seen the street through eyes like his, and for a moment, my brain was startled – not at the street, but at myself. How had I stopped seeing what a stranger would see?
The difference between my son’s reaction and what I had never seen was that I knew the street, the people in it, and the reality behind all what looked to be – unfinished buildings. I knew:
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- Nobody in the street had to pay a mortgage – the millstone about the necks of so many of our visitors
- Every building was a family building, where one generation bought the land and, over time, made an apt at either ground level or the first floor. Succeeding generations would build the next floors as each son or daughter got married and moved in. Multi-generational family living – no need for babysitters for children or nursing homes for ill or aging parents.
- Every house was comfortable inside to various degrees depending on the combined income of the extended family. The outside of the house is not so important to us for different reasons – nobody needing to impress the neighbours being just one of the reasons.
- Professions of people living in the street include plumbers, electricians, bank employees, shop assistants, teachers, carpenters, calesh drivers, tourist industry employees, company owners and taxi drivers. Mara House is the only tourist accommodation in the area. Nobody in my street is unemployed, and it is a mixture of muslim and christian. Nobody is judged on their status or religion – only on behaviour and in that aspect Egyptians are very forgiving.
Now do you understand why asking questions about what you see in a different culture is so vital? But there is more to it than that, unfortunately. Since the advent of social media and the way the outside world reacted to what they termed the “Arab Spring” which they believed hit Egypt in 2011, I have noticed that some Egyptian guides can tend to tell their clients what they expect to hear in conversations about modern Egypt. They do this because agreeing with the client may result in a bigger tip than if the guide were to challenge or disagree with the client’s already formed point of view. For travelers arriving with the idea that Egypt is a backward country or a repressed population, it is unfortunate for them to meet such guides. That will not be your experience with us.
None of this means Mara House lacks comfort. As I said earlier – the street outside does not reflect the interiors of the buildings. At Mara House Luxor, your suites are spacious, cooled, cleaned, and put together with care. Your bed is good. Your bathroom is private and spotless. But if you are looking for a marble lobby and uniformed staff who call you ‘sir’ – we are not that, and we have never pretended to be. What we offer is rarer: a door into a real Egyptian neighborhood, held open by someone who will tell you the truth about what you see, honesty and genuine care for your health, safety and authentic personal experience.
For more on what to expect if you decide to immerse yourself in Egypt with Mara please check out what I have previously written about Mara House here and why you might want to bring earplugs.
For some insight in our guests’ opinions – Guest Book
My next post will be about new, rare experiences throughout Egypt. These offers and services are not among the current services on offer.
Last updated on 02/05/2026 by Marie Vaughan