I’ve finally gathered reviews and comments about Mara House and our Salahadeen Restaurant here on my own website. There aren’t many for Salahadeen, as it’s been open only to Mara House guests for years and TripAdvisor has since removed those reviews. These come from TripAdvisor, Google Maps, guest blogs, letters, and other kind words shared over time. Some are missing, as I hadn’t realized TripAdvisor began deleting reviews from tour guests who did their tours with us but who didn’t stay at Mara House. I hope these words give you a true sense of who we are and what Mara House is all about. Enjoy, Mara
471 entries.
Absolute gem
"Wonderful stay and great if you want to get away from the main tourist scene. I stayed there once before in 2010 and standards remain excellent although as with the rest of Luxor tourist numbers are well down and there was only one other set of guests.
In Mara's absence the hotel was being run buy two young Egyptian chaps who set the bar very high in terms of customer service. Nothing was too much trouble for them whether it was early breakfasts, arranging a bicycle to hire or anything else.
Mara had kindly arranged two excellent tours for me before I arrived which came with driver and a very good guide (North to Dendra and South to Philae) and I would recommend both.
The actual hotel is interesting being on the far (non tourist) side of the railways tracks about 8 minutes walk from the station and 20 minutes to Luxor temple. It's down a quite but safe side street. The location may be a consideration for some people as you are away from the main sites and restaurants but taxis are cheap if needed and Mara house has a couple on call.
The rooms are large with a bedroom and separate living room with fridge and sink. I slept well although you are 'in range' of an early morning call to prayer although the same could be said of many places.
In terms of deciding to book the location is the main swing factor given the excellent service can be taken as read. If you are happy to be in a 'local' area away from tourists and the centre then this is an excellent option.
If you are looking for the 5* experience or simply want a view over the Nile with inbuilt restaurant and room service probably not for you."
Reviewed on Tripavisor
"Wonderful stay and great if you want to get away from the main tourist scene. I stayed there once before in 2010 and standards remain excellent although as with the rest of Luxor tourist numbers are well down and there was only one other set of guests.
In Mara's absence the hotel was being run buy two young Egyptian chaps who set the bar very high in terms of customer service. Nothing was too much trouble for them whether it was early breakfasts, arranging a bicycle to hire or anything else.
Mara had kindly arranged two excellent tours for me before I arrived which came with driver and a very good guide (North to Dendra and South to Philae) and I would recommend both.
The actual hotel is interesting being on the far (non tourist) side of the railways tracks about 8 minutes walk from the station and 20 minutes to Luxor temple. It's down a quite but safe side street. The location may be a consideration for some people as you are away from the main sites and restaurants but taxis are cheap if needed and Mara house has a couple on call.
The rooms are large with a bedroom and separate living room with fridge and sink. I slept well although you are 'in range' of an early morning call to prayer although the same could be said of many places.
In terms of deciding to book the location is the main swing factor given the excellent service can be taken as read. If you are happy to be in a 'local' area away from tourists and the centre then this is an excellent option.
If you are looking for the 5* experience or simply want a view over the Nile with inbuilt restaurant and room service probably not for you."
Reviewed on Tripavisor
Mara House: ‘home away from home’
"From the first exchange of emails, Mara was very generous with her advice not only in regards to my planned stay in Luxor but also in regards to the whole trip. No question, query was too much trouble and she basically became my travel adviser for this holiday in Egypt I had been dreaming about for years.
Staying at Mara House is like staying with the locals in a beautifully appointed private house, away from the tourist area.
I was fortunate to stay there twice, first with my son and a week later on my own.
The suite I shared with my son was very spacious, tastefully decorated, well appointed including five star quality bed linen. The suite was smaller on my second stay but had the same ‘home away from home’ feel and attention to details.
The breakfast was a delicious spread and nothing was too much trouble for Ahmed and Amr: from organising a taxi when required to recommending excellent restaurants when in Luxor and picking me up in Aswan in a private car to get back to Luxor.
The Abydos and Dendera tour organised for us by Mara House was outstanding: from the very knowledgeable
Egyptologist guide we had to the smooth driving of the chauffeur and the delicious cold lunch provided.
Mara and Mara House turned my stay in Egypt into an unforgettable, wonderful holiday.
If you are looking for a unique experience, outstanding service and care, Mara House is the place to stay."
"From the first exchange of emails, Mara was very generous with her advice not only in regards to my planned stay in Luxor but also in regards to the whole trip. No question, query was too much trouble and she basically became my travel adviser for this holiday in Egypt I had been dreaming about for years.
Staying at Mara House is like staying with the locals in a beautifully appointed private house, away from the tourist area.
I was fortunate to stay there twice, first with my son and a week later on my own.
The suite I shared with my son was very spacious, tastefully decorated, well appointed including five star quality bed linen. The suite was smaller on my second stay but had the same ‘home away from home’ feel and attention to details.
The breakfast was a delicious spread and nothing was too much trouble for Ahmed and Amr: from organising a taxi when required to recommending excellent restaurants when in Luxor and picking me up in Aswan in a private car to get back to Luxor.
The Abydos and Dendera tour organised for us by Mara House was outstanding: from the very knowledgeable
Egyptologist guide we had to the smooth driving of the chauffeur and the delicious cold lunch provided.
Mara and Mara House turned my stay in Egypt into an unforgettable, wonderful holiday.
If you are looking for a unique experience, outstanding service and care, Mara House is the place to stay."
Mara House surpassed my expectations!
"I never write reviews but I was so happy with my stay at Mara House that I thought I should share. I happened across Mara House's Web site when I was researching my itinerary for Egypt. The information on the Web site about Egypt, sight-seeing, and tips for travelers was so helpful that I decided to stay at Mara House. Having been to Egypt now and stayed at Mara House I can attest that everything Mara House's Web site says is true. The accommodations were clean, nicely-appointed, and comfortable. My room was spacious and had a very convenient refrigerator stocked with items at uninflated prices. Mara House and my room were wonderful respites from the excitement, dust, and heat of Luxor and a day's sight-seeing (the air conditioner worked great).
Even better than the accommodations was Mara House's service. The staff were friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to make me comfortable. Example: I arrived around 10:30 at night. When I checked in I asked if they had a map since I like to do my sight-seeing on foot. Not only did they provide a map but they also took me on a half-hour walk at 11:00 at night to show me how to get to downtown Luxor! On the walk, the gentleman explained all kinds of things about the city, e.g. how to buy food at the shops, how much to pay for transportation, how to get in touch with Mara House if I experienced any trouble, etc. I don't think the staff ever slept or left the lobby because every time I returned to Mara House from my excursions, they were there to open the door even though I had my own key and ask how everything was. They also were up at 4:30 am on the day that I left to make sure I was awake and accompany me to the airport with the driver they arranged.
I am not one for guided tours since I like to find and experience things on my own, but I would recommend you let Mara House arrange for tour guides and drivers for any excursions that take you out of Luxor, like the Valley of the King or the temples at Abydos and Dendera. I discovered that things are not clearly marked or explained and that walking the Valley of the Kings would have taken up too much of my valuable sight-seeing time. Mara House made all my touring easy. I told the staff where I wanted to go and they arranged for a driver and tour guide for both of my day trips. All I had to do was show up in the lobby in the morning and everything was taken care of! The tour guide was friendly and accommodating and took care of buying all the tickets and navigating through the itinerary. Thankfully, the drivers knew their craft well since driving in Egypt is not for the faint-hearted.
I loved everything I did and saw in Egypt, but I would go back just to stay at Mara House again."
Reviewed on Tripadvisor
"I never write reviews but I was so happy with my stay at Mara House that I thought I should share. I happened across Mara House's Web site when I was researching my itinerary for Egypt. The information on the Web site about Egypt, sight-seeing, and tips for travelers was so helpful that I decided to stay at Mara House. Having been to Egypt now and stayed at Mara House I can attest that everything Mara House's Web site says is true. The accommodations were clean, nicely-appointed, and comfortable. My room was spacious and had a very convenient refrigerator stocked with items at uninflated prices. Mara House and my room were wonderful respites from the excitement, dust, and heat of Luxor and a day's sight-seeing (the air conditioner worked great).
Even better than the accommodations was Mara House's service. The staff were friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to make me comfortable. Example: I arrived around 10:30 at night. When I checked in I asked if they had a map since I like to do my sight-seeing on foot. Not only did they provide a map but they also took me on a half-hour walk at 11:00 at night to show me how to get to downtown Luxor! On the walk, the gentleman explained all kinds of things about the city, e.g. how to buy food at the shops, how much to pay for transportation, how to get in touch with Mara House if I experienced any trouble, etc. I don't think the staff ever slept or left the lobby because every time I returned to Mara House from my excursions, they were there to open the door even though I had my own key and ask how everything was. They also were up at 4:30 am on the day that I left to make sure I was awake and accompany me to the airport with the driver they arranged.
I am not one for guided tours since I like to find and experience things on my own, but I would recommend you let Mara House arrange for tour guides and drivers for any excursions that take you out of Luxor, like the Valley of the King or the temples at Abydos and Dendera. I discovered that things are not clearly marked or explained and that walking the Valley of the Kings would have taken up too much of my valuable sight-seeing time. Mara House made all my touring easy. I told the staff where I wanted to go and they arranged for a driver and tour guide for both of my day trips. All I had to do was show up in the lobby in the morning and everything was taken care of! The tour guide was friendly and accommodating and took care of buying all the tickets and navigating through the itinerary. Thankfully, the drivers knew their craft well since driving in Egypt is not for the faint-hearted.
I loved everything I did and saw in Egypt, but I would go back just to stay at Mara House again."
Reviewed on Tripadvisor
Mara House - Nov. & Dec. 2014
"If you are going to stay in Luxor for a few days or for a more extended period, I strongly recommend Mara House. I have just completed my first visit to Luxor and have had a wonderful time. In fact I hope to return to Egypt next year and, if I do, I will certainly stay at Mara House when in Luxor.
The rooms (suites) are spacious, well appointed, clean and very reasonably priced. Mara House organizes guided tours to Abydos & Dandara, Karnak & the Luxor Temple, and the West Bank. In addition has connections with 4 or 5 taxies and this is re-assuring and one less hassle to worry about.
After the tour I returned to the West Bank via taxi until I had visited every tomb open to tourists. They also facilitated a balloon ride and several felucca rides.
Ahmed (the manager) has spent hours helping me book my Nile Cruise and the Hotel I will stay at in Aswan (I don't have a cell phone nor access to my email).
Amr is the King of the Kitchen - a chef and not a cook. lol And everything he makes is a native Egyptian dish - you just can't beat that.
The staff are always friendly and professional and I got to know them well over 2 months.
Now is the time to come to Egypt as there continue to be few tourists about (and I don't think this will cont. much longer).I have been in tombs in the Valley of the Kings with just a couple other tourists, and stood alone in the center of the Great Court in the Luxor Temple with no one in sight but a couple temple guards.
Luxor is an ancient Arabian delight - at no time have I felt threatened or in danger - and I am just a 68 year old baby-boomer lost in the wonder of it all.
The other day I was at Karnak and saw 2 buses of tourists. The cabby told me 50+ was the norm prior to 2011. Don't miss this opportunity I think the crowds will be back soon."
Reviewed on Triipadvisor
"If you are going to stay in Luxor for a few days or for a more extended period, I strongly recommend Mara House. I have just completed my first visit to Luxor and have had a wonderful time. In fact I hope to return to Egypt next year and, if I do, I will certainly stay at Mara House when in Luxor.
The rooms (suites) are spacious, well appointed, clean and very reasonably priced. Mara House organizes guided tours to Abydos & Dandara, Karnak & the Luxor Temple, and the West Bank. In addition has connections with 4 or 5 taxies and this is re-assuring and one less hassle to worry about.
After the tour I returned to the West Bank via taxi until I had visited every tomb open to tourists. They also facilitated a balloon ride and several felucca rides.
Ahmed (the manager) has spent hours helping me book my Nile Cruise and the Hotel I will stay at in Aswan (I don't have a cell phone nor access to my email).
Amr is the King of the Kitchen - a chef and not a cook. lol And everything he makes is a native Egyptian dish - you just can't beat that.
The staff are always friendly and professional and I got to know them well over 2 months.
Now is the time to come to Egypt as there continue to be few tourists about (and I don't think this will cont. much longer).I have been in tombs in the Valley of the Kings with just a couple other tourists, and stood alone in the center of the Great Court in the Luxor Temple with no one in sight but a couple temple guards.
Luxor is an ancient Arabian delight - at no time have I felt threatened or in danger - and I am just a 68 year old baby-boomer lost in the wonder of it all.
The other day I was at Karnak and saw 2 buses of tourists. The cabby told me 50+ was the norm prior to 2011. Don't miss this opportunity I think the crowds will be back soon."
Reviewed on Triipadvisor
A gem at Luxor
"Mara House is a gem a few hundred meter behind the Luxor railway station. The beautiful, traditional house fulfils all the needs of a modern traveller: quiet, clean, good food, fast internet, roof terrace and extremely helpful staff. Mara House is an excellent location to remain a bit longer to experience the ‘real Luxor’ and not just rush through all the magnificent temples and leave."
"Mara House is a gem a few hundred meter behind the Luxor railway station. The beautiful, traditional house fulfils all the needs of a modern traveller: quiet, clean, good food, fast internet, roof terrace and extremely helpful staff. Mara House is an excellent location to remain a bit longer to experience the ‘real Luxor’ and not just rush through all the magnificent temples and leave."
Incomparable Service In A Great Place To Stay
"Don't even think about it. Just book a stay here. From the get go, Mara not only helped me book a stay in her lovely hotel, but gave invaluable help in planning our whole trip to Egypt. She gave us great advice on how many days to spend in each of the three locations that we were staying plus helped me book very nice guides in both Luxor and Cairo. She also helped us book a hot air balloon ride of the Valley of the Kings that was really unforgettable and one of the highlights of our trip. She organized pick ups for us at the airport (even though our party of four had two separate arrival times) and her staff is probably one of the most accommodating I have ever run across.
Due to a slight delay (and some lost luggage) we arrived past midnight and not only did her crew give us a warm greeting upon arrival but let us know that they were available to us 24/7. Think you will get that kind of attention at the bigger name hotels? No way.
The rooms were very comfortable and our two rooms were connected by a living room area, great for lounging around and chilling out.
The next 3 days were filled with so much sightseeing at the Luxor and Karnak temples, a day trip to Abydos and Dendara, the aforementioned balloon ride before the tour through the Valley of the Kings, and the temples and tombs surrounding the area.
All through it, Mohammed our guide, gave us very knowledgeable, pertinent information but also gave us time to explore on our own. He was a pretty cool guy. One night, in asking for a taxi to get a dinner in town, the staff suggested a calesh ride for the same price. What a cool experience. Being driven around in a carriage by donkey and getting to see some of the city was definitely worthwhile.
The staff will always let you know how much the taxis will cost so there is no haggling or surprised with the drivers. I found the prices quoted were more than fair.
The last day though is when the staff and Mohammed really shined in helping us over some bumps. One of my friends space out and forgot to buy his ticket from Luxor to Cairo so that necessitated a sort of complex departure that involved having our driver take him to the ferry form where we were on the tour, to another taxi that would take him to the airport. That latter taxi stopped at Mara house to collect my friend's luggage first so that we wouldn't have to bring it with us during the day. One of the staff from the hotel came with the taxi to make sure my friend would meet up with the taxi driver and get to the airport in time.
The level of service continued in Cairo as the people Mara arranged to take us to our hotel from the airport had to first negotiate the red tape in getting my other friend's luggage out of storage that the airline had lost and refused to deliver to Luxor. The gentleman was with my friend for an hour and a half before he finally was able to get it and we were able to leave for our hotel.
Our guide in Cairo, also arranged by Mara was excellent and I have to agree with her advice that if there is one place in all of Egypt to have a guide, it is at Giza. The level of hassle and aggressiveness by the vendors and touts there was really hard to watch. Without a guide, we would definitely would have been followed around relentlessly like I witnessed other tourists there experiencing.
All in all, I recommend Mara's hotel and her staff and indispensable advice with all my heart. I have traveled to over 40 countries in the world (even though I usual don't write reviews, I felt compelled to do so for her and her staff) and while I may have stayed in more posh hotels, none have had the level of service she and her staff provided.
We stayed at the Hilton in both Cairo and Sharm-el-Shiek and while the staff there was competent and nice, there was no comparison in the attention to detail and willingness to help Mara and her crew showered upon us.
As I said in the beginning, don't hesitate to make a booking with her. In fact, don't hesitate to come to Egypt. We had one of the best trips ever here."
Reviewed on Tripavisor
"Don't even think about it. Just book a stay here. From the get go, Mara not only helped me book a stay in her lovely hotel, but gave invaluable help in planning our whole trip to Egypt. She gave us great advice on how many days to spend in each of the three locations that we were staying plus helped me book very nice guides in both Luxor and Cairo. She also helped us book a hot air balloon ride of the Valley of the Kings that was really unforgettable and one of the highlights of our trip. She organized pick ups for us at the airport (even though our party of four had two separate arrival times) and her staff is probably one of the most accommodating I have ever run across.
Due to a slight delay (and some lost luggage) we arrived past midnight and not only did her crew give us a warm greeting upon arrival but let us know that they were available to us 24/7. Think you will get that kind of attention at the bigger name hotels? No way.
The rooms were very comfortable and our two rooms were connected by a living room area, great for lounging around and chilling out.
The next 3 days were filled with so much sightseeing at the Luxor and Karnak temples, a day trip to Abydos and Dendara, the aforementioned balloon ride before the tour through the Valley of the Kings, and the temples and tombs surrounding the area.
All through it, Mohammed our guide, gave us very knowledgeable, pertinent information but also gave us time to explore on our own. He was a pretty cool guy. One night, in asking for a taxi to get a dinner in town, the staff suggested a calesh ride for the same price. What a cool experience. Being driven around in a carriage by donkey and getting to see some of the city was definitely worthwhile.
The staff will always let you know how much the taxis will cost so there is no haggling or surprised with the drivers. I found the prices quoted were more than fair.
The last day though is when the staff and Mohammed really shined in helping us over some bumps. One of my friends space out and forgot to buy his ticket from Luxor to Cairo so that necessitated a sort of complex departure that involved having our driver take him to the ferry form where we were on the tour, to another taxi that would take him to the airport. That latter taxi stopped at Mara house to collect my friend's luggage first so that we wouldn't have to bring it with us during the day. One of the staff from the hotel came with the taxi to make sure my friend would meet up with the taxi driver and get to the airport in time.
The level of service continued in Cairo as the people Mara arranged to take us to our hotel from the airport had to first negotiate the red tape in getting my other friend's luggage out of storage that the airline had lost and refused to deliver to Luxor. The gentleman was with my friend for an hour and a half before he finally was able to get it and we were able to leave for our hotel.
Our guide in Cairo, also arranged by Mara was excellent and I have to agree with her advice that if there is one place in all of Egypt to have a guide, it is at Giza. The level of hassle and aggressiveness by the vendors and touts there was really hard to watch. Without a guide, we would definitely would have been followed around relentlessly like I witnessed other tourists there experiencing.
All in all, I recommend Mara's hotel and her staff and indispensable advice with all my heart. I have traveled to over 40 countries in the world (even though I usual don't write reviews, I felt compelled to do so for her and her staff) and while I may have stayed in more posh hotels, none have had the level of service she and her staff provided.
We stayed at the Hilton in both Cairo and Sharm-el-Shiek and while the staff there was competent and nice, there was no comparison in the attention to detail and willingness to help Mara and her crew showered upon us.
As I said in the beginning, don't hesitate to make a booking with her. In fact, don't hesitate to come to Egypt. We had one of the best trips ever here."
Reviewed on Tripavisor
Fantastic stay
"This is a great little place to stay in Luxor. It has character, is interestingly decorated, certainly not one of the sterile 5 star resorts that could be anywhere. It is very welcoming with nice rooms at a great price. It is located minutes from many attractions in Luxor. Mara herself is one of the friendliest people you will meet, and it is her that will go out of her way to make sure you are comfortable, and will give you tips and help you plan your days in Luxor should you need it. Although the kitchen was closed while I was there, I have heard from several people that they have the best Egyptian food in town. This is definitely the place to go to, and if I ever go back to Luxor this will be the place I stay."
"This is a great little place to stay in Luxor. It has character, is interestingly decorated, certainly not one of the sterile 5 star resorts that could be anywhere. It is very welcoming with nice rooms at a great price. It is located minutes from many attractions in Luxor. Mara herself is one of the friendliest people you will meet, and it is her that will go out of her way to make sure you are comfortable, and will give you tips and help you plan your days in Luxor should you need it. Although the kitchen was closed while I was there, I have heard from several people that they have the best Egyptian food in town. This is definitely the place to go to, and if I ever go back to Luxor this will be the place I stay."
Mara Celeste
"Two week stay with the good people at Mara House. These days it is skeleton crew keeping the place ticking over; so a little bit the feel of being on a ghost ship. Despite difficult times with very low bookings all over Luxor they manage to maintain good standards. In fact this time there was actually another guest in residence (first time I experienced this) for some of the time and thus a few late nights chatting over several beers in the bar.
I made a point of keeping to my usual routine, walking through the streets to the rail station then through the underpass and for short walk to Luxor temple or the Ferry port to cross over to the west bank for a days "work". I did more trips via Caleesh as they seem most in need of support and one can pay LE5-10 for quick hop to ferry or up the street. Saves a lot of sweat.
Among the excellent facilities at Mara House is the internet and ability to pay by debit card, something becoming less common in Luxor and which can make money management difficult. The bookshops seem to be good at taking plastic, including the rather well priced (with a bit of haggling) bookshop/giftshop in the Mummification museum.
I've a feeling Mara is passing on the baton for managing the hotel to her son John - much as I missed seeing Mara this time round I feel the place is in very safe and competent hands."
"Two week stay with the good people at Mara House. These days it is skeleton crew keeping the place ticking over; so a little bit the feel of being on a ghost ship. Despite difficult times with very low bookings all over Luxor they manage to maintain good standards. In fact this time there was actually another guest in residence (first time I experienced this) for some of the time and thus a few late nights chatting over several beers in the bar.
I made a point of keeping to my usual routine, walking through the streets to the rail station then through the underpass and for short walk to Luxor temple or the Ferry port to cross over to the west bank for a days "work". I did more trips via Caleesh as they seem most in need of support and one can pay LE5-10 for quick hop to ferry or up the street. Saves a lot of sweat.
Among the excellent facilities at Mara House is the internet and ability to pay by debit card, something becoming less common in Luxor and which can make money management difficult. The bookshops seem to be good at taking plastic, including the rather well priced (with a bit of haggling) bookshop/giftshop in the Mummification museum.
I've a feeling Mara is passing on the baton for managing the hotel to her son John - much as I missed seeing Mara this time round I feel the place is in very safe and competent hands."
A Luxor Gem
""We had a wonderful stay at Mara House last month, and the real gem is the proprietor Mara Vaughn. Although her place is beautiful, immaculately kept and hospitable, it was Mara who singlehandedly assisted me and my fiancee plan the trip of our lives to Egypt. She was giving and kind, helping me throughout the months leading up to our Dec. 2013 trip there with endless emails and advice.
She organized tours in both Luxor and Cairo, and although she does not make a lot of profit on the Cairo tours, I really do believe her motivation is to see others have a wonderful trip to Egypt. She helped me more than she knows, and we had a flawless trip as a result.
On Mara House itself: It is situated close to all the major sites in Luxor, as well as selected restaurants. Upon arrival, we were greeted with welcome tea, and given a lot of information about our stay, surrounding sites and suggestions for activities.
Our place was a suite, and was plenty of room for the two of us. The staff were attentive to our needs, including laundry service and tea on demand. The room and bed were very comfortable, and the decor was had taste and was thoughtful. Our fridge was stocked with plenty of drinks, wine, snacks, all for a nominal fee, and although we were so busy, the rooftop lounge looked mighty appealing after long days exploring the temples.
Amr, Mara's assistant, kindly took us around Luxor several nights, arranging taxis and coordinating our trips out to town. He was really essential in making sure our Luxor experience went smoothly, from the minute we got there. The breakfasts were good, and Amr packed me a boxed lunch to explore Abydos and Dendera on my birthday (my fiancee was in bed with "mummy's revenge), which helped quite a bit. You might want to pack ear plugs or listen to some relaxation music before bed, as the street in front of Mara House tends to get loud, especially on wedding weeks (we happened to hit one down the street).
Mara has a few suggestions for restaurants in the area, including Taste of India and Sofra, the latter being our go to restaurant for several meals. We were disappointed not to be able to eat at Mara House's restaurant, Salahadeen, but the low volume of tourists dictated it's closure for now. Ask Amr for the "orientation book," in which you'll find all the suggestions Mara has vetted for you to optimize your trip to Luxor.
The other bonus is that Mara knows how to find all the right people, from staff to drivers and tour guides. We had a very talented and experienced tour guide and driver during our time in Luxor, as well as Cairo. She works with Djed Egypt in Cairo, a company I could write glowing reviews about. Luxor has been hit badly by the lack of tourists. This is glaringly obvious everywhere you look around town. My hope is that reviews like this will spur people to come back to Luxor, and to Egypt in general.
At no time in Luxor, or Egypt for that matter, did my fiancee and I feel threatened or even uncomfortable at the sign of danger or political volatility that would have prevented us from doing activities or being around certain places. The people of Luxor are kind, giving, professional and desirous of more touristic activity, so go there. You'll have the experience of your life. And stay with Mara at Mara House.""
""We had a wonderful stay at Mara House last month, and the real gem is the proprietor Mara Vaughn. Although her place is beautiful, immaculately kept and hospitable, it was Mara who singlehandedly assisted me and my fiancee plan the trip of our lives to Egypt. She was giving and kind, helping me throughout the months leading up to our Dec. 2013 trip there with endless emails and advice.
She organized tours in both Luxor and Cairo, and although she does not make a lot of profit on the Cairo tours, I really do believe her motivation is to see others have a wonderful trip to Egypt. She helped me more than she knows, and we had a flawless trip as a result.
On Mara House itself: It is situated close to all the major sites in Luxor, as well as selected restaurants. Upon arrival, we were greeted with welcome tea, and given a lot of information about our stay, surrounding sites and suggestions for activities.
Our place was a suite, and was plenty of room for the two of us. The staff were attentive to our needs, including laundry service and tea on demand. The room and bed were very comfortable, and the decor was had taste and was thoughtful. Our fridge was stocked with plenty of drinks, wine, snacks, all for a nominal fee, and although we were so busy, the rooftop lounge looked mighty appealing after long days exploring the temples.
Amr, Mara's assistant, kindly took us around Luxor several nights, arranging taxis and coordinating our trips out to town. He was really essential in making sure our Luxor experience went smoothly, from the minute we got there. The breakfasts were good, and Amr packed me a boxed lunch to explore Abydos and Dendera on my birthday (my fiancee was in bed with "mummy's revenge), which helped quite a bit. You might want to pack ear plugs or listen to some relaxation music before bed, as the street in front of Mara House tends to get loud, especially on wedding weeks (we happened to hit one down the street).
Mara has a few suggestions for restaurants in the area, including Taste of India and Sofra, the latter being our go to restaurant for several meals. We were disappointed not to be able to eat at Mara House's restaurant, Salahadeen, but the low volume of tourists dictated it's closure for now. Ask Amr for the "orientation book," in which you'll find all the suggestions Mara has vetted for you to optimize your trip to Luxor.
The other bonus is that Mara knows how to find all the right people, from staff to drivers and tour guides. We had a very talented and experienced tour guide and driver during our time in Luxor, as well as Cairo. She works with Djed Egypt in Cairo, a company I could write glowing reviews about. Luxor has been hit badly by the lack of tourists. This is glaringly obvious everywhere you look around town. My hope is that reviews like this will spur people to come back to Luxor, and to Egypt in general.
At no time in Luxor, or Egypt for that matter, did my fiancee and I feel threatened or even uncomfortable at the sign of danger or political volatility that would have prevented us from doing activities or being around certain places. The people of Luxor are kind, giving, professional and desirous of more touristic activity, so go there. You'll have the experience of your life. And stay with Mara at Mara House.""
Something Different
"I had planned to stay at a 5 star hotel in Luxor but cancelled my booking after reading reports on Mara House on Trip advisor. I loved staying at Mara House which I found homely, comfortable and the staff and Mara very accommodating and friendly.
Mara arranged transfers from Aswan with stops to Luxor and a taxi on the West Bank all of which were competitively priced and I compare prices.
The house is in a residential area, where there is construction and the streets surrounding the hotel are filled with the sounds of daily Egyptian life, which I enjoyed. The walk to the station may not suit everyone, but I found the neighborhood safe and interesting, the locals are just interested in who you are, laughing, teasing, children asking for money, but all good natured.
If you enjoy 5 star hotels and everything that comes with them, this hotel may not be for you.
If you are looking for something more authentic, give it a go. I would stay with Mara and her team if I returned to Luxor in a heartbeat"
"I had planned to stay at a 5 star hotel in Luxor but cancelled my booking after reading reports on Mara House on Trip advisor. I loved staying at Mara House which I found homely, comfortable and the staff and Mara very accommodating and friendly.
Mara arranged transfers from Aswan with stops to Luxor and a taxi on the West Bank all of which were competitively priced and I compare prices.
The house is in a residential area, where there is construction and the streets surrounding the hotel are filled with the sounds of daily Egyptian life, which I enjoyed. The walk to the station may not suit everyone, but I found the neighborhood safe and interesting, the locals are just interested in who you are, laughing, teasing, children asking for money, but all good natured.
If you enjoy 5 star hotels and everything that comes with them, this hotel may not be for you.
If you are looking for something more authentic, give it a go. I would stay with Mara and her team if I returned to Luxor in a heartbeat"
See More
- Mara House Luxor – your home away from home
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Photos of Our Suites – Take a look at the rooms you’ll call home.
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Mara House Guest Gallery – Faces and memories from over the years.
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Salahadeen Restaurant & Feast – The story behind our restaurant and its exclusive menu.
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(Coming Soon: Photo Journal of Mara House – from the first brick to today.)