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.
Superbly comfortable & atmospheric hotel
"Trip Advisor's reviews of Mara House looked promising, and I found Mara's website helpful in the early stages of planning this trip. Mara herself was most helpful in the planning stages for the trip, and though she was away when we arrived, she kept in touch by email & continued to offer helpful advice. The highlights of our actual stay in Mara House were: firstly, the impeccable service provided by the staff, particularly Sahry and Amr, who were attentive to every need, and constantly offering help and advice; ]secondly, the beautiful, spotlessly clean and artistic decor which greatly enhanced the experience of staying there; thirdly, the excellent Salahadeen Feast offered by the restaurant.
Mara offers a good range of trips and activities, but we had booked these through another company so I am unable to comment on this aspect of her service. I would thoroughly recommend the guest house, and can vouch that the staff all take great pride in providing an excellent service."
"Trip Advisor's reviews of Mara House looked promising, and I found Mara's website helpful in the early stages of planning this trip. Mara herself was most helpful in the planning stages for the trip, and though she was away when we arrived, she kept in touch by email & continued to offer helpful advice. The highlights of our actual stay in Mara House were: firstly, the impeccable service provided by the staff, particularly Sahry and Amr, who were attentive to every need, and constantly offering help and advice; ]secondly, the beautiful, spotlessly clean and artistic decor which greatly enhanced the experience of staying there; thirdly, the excellent Salahadeen Feast offered by the restaurant.
Mara offers a good range of trips and activities, but we had booked these through another company so I am unable to comment on this aspect of her service. I would thoroughly recommend the guest house, and can vouch that the staff all take great pride in providing an excellent service."
A taste of the real Luxor
"Mara House was a wonderful retreat in Luxor. It is small and located in a neighborhood away from the main section of town. I vacationed here for two days with my wife and two children (then 3 and 5). Mara is an Irish expatriot who runs this lovely hotel. SHe is almost always available and takes great care of her guests. The accomodations are wonderful and quaint, with a/c in the bedrooms which is a must. The fridge is stocked and the food (especially breakfast) is fantastic. Mara will set you up with everything you need for sightseeing and getting to and from the airport. Of note is the fact that we felt completely safe and welcome in the neighborhood. My children played with the local kids on the street, and the walk to and from town was well lit and safe."
"Mara House was a wonderful retreat in Luxor. It is small and located in a neighborhood away from the main section of town. I vacationed here for two days with my wife and two children (then 3 and 5). Mara is an Irish expatriot who runs this lovely hotel. SHe is almost always available and takes great care of her guests. The accomodations are wonderful and quaint, with a/c in the bedrooms which is a must. The fridge is stocked and the food (especially breakfast) is fantastic. Mara will set you up with everything you need for sightseeing and getting to and from the airport. Of note is the fact that we felt completely safe and welcome in the neighborhood. My children played with the local kids on the street, and the walk to and from town was well lit and safe."
A Real Gem
"We arrived at Mara House early in the morning after an exhausting night train journey from Cairo to Luxor; I myself had contracted what I thought was food poisoning only 7 hours before. Upon arriving, Mara's staff were more than accommodating by providing us with both tea and medication to sooth the detrimental effects of what I would later learn to be 'Pharaoh's Revenge' (a nasty bacterial bug that mimics the stomach flu). After hearing that I was ill, Mara immediately called to both inform me of the course of action I had to take to rid myself of this bacteria (using Antimol) and to confirm the day trips we had conversed about ahead of time via email. Everyone was incredibly helpful.
I have never been so 'spoiled' as I was during the 4 days we spent at Mara House. Our room and the house more than exceeded my expectations. It was obvious that considerable thought had gone into creating a traditional Egyptian atmosphere that felt both welcoming and homey, especially after long day trips. Sahry and Amr, the two male staff members running the place, were the most gracious of hosts. They both are completely devoted to making your time spent at Mara House relaxing and enjoyable. Their cooking was unreal; be sure to indulge in the Egyptian feast.
The West Bank, Karnak/Luxor Temple, Abydos and Dendera, and Aswan Tours were incredible and extremely well organized, providing us with an excellent Egyptologist as a guide to the history associated with each. Well worth the money.
I would recommend Mara House to anyone visiting Luxor. If you're looking for a place to help create memorable experiences that will last a lifetime, then Mara House is where you'll want to stay.
Thank you so very much Mara!
Aleisha & Kathleen"
"We arrived at Mara House early in the morning after an exhausting night train journey from Cairo to Luxor; I myself had contracted what I thought was food poisoning only 7 hours before. Upon arriving, Mara's staff were more than accommodating by providing us with both tea and medication to sooth the detrimental effects of what I would later learn to be 'Pharaoh's Revenge' (a nasty bacterial bug that mimics the stomach flu). After hearing that I was ill, Mara immediately called to both inform me of the course of action I had to take to rid myself of this bacteria (using Antimol) and to confirm the day trips we had conversed about ahead of time via email. Everyone was incredibly helpful.
I have never been so 'spoiled' as I was during the 4 days we spent at Mara House. Our room and the house more than exceeded my expectations. It was obvious that considerable thought had gone into creating a traditional Egyptian atmosphere that felt both welcoming and homey, especially after long day trips. Sahry and Amr, the two male staff members running the place, were the most gracious of hosts. They both are completely devoted to making your time spent at Mara House relaxing and enjoyable. Their cooking was unreal; be sure to indulge in the Egyptian feast.
The West Bank, Karnak/Luxor Temple, Abydos and Dendera, and Aswan Tours were incredible and extremely well organized, providing us with an excellent Egyptologist as a guide to the history associated with each. Well worth the money.
I would recommend Mara House to anyone visiting Luxor. If you're looking for a place to help create memorable experiences that will last a lifetime, then Mara House is where you'll want to stay.
Thank you so very much Mara!
Aleisha & Kathleen"
A weekend get away
"My weekend in Luxor staying at Mara House was an excellent R&R weekend away from the hussle and bussle in Cairo (where I live and work). Mara and Amr organised a fabulous sightseeing day on the West Bank starting with a dawn hot air balloon ride - I would get up at 0345 every day if each day could start with breathtaking views from a balloon basket high in the sky.
Amr was our host for the weekend, he made us feel most welcome. The house and our room was clean, spacious, comfortable, well stocked fridge with water, soft drinks, wine and beer and I loved the decor. We had a fabulous weekend in Luxor and Mara, Amr and Mohamed played a big part in that!"
"My weekend in Luxor staying at Mara House was an excellent R&R weekend away from the hussle and bussle in Cairo (where I live and work). Mara and Amr organised a fabulous sightseeing day on the West Bank starting with a dawn hot air balloon ride - I would get up at 0345 every day if each day could start with breathtaking views from a balloon basket high in the sky.
Amr was our host for the weekend, he made us feel most welcome. The house and our room was clean, spacious, comfortable, well stocked fridge with water, soft drinks, wine and beer and I loved the decor. We had a fabulous weekend in Luxor and Mara, Amr and Mohamed played a big part in that!"
Adventures in Egypt
"After an eventful and tiring (but amazing ) few days in Cairo we arrived early in the morning after the night train from Cairo to Luxor. Thankfully Mara had arranged for her driver to meet us so we were whisked straight to the hotel and a quick check in to our wonderful room for a much needed lie in.
Throughout the trip the attention and care given to us and ensuring that we had a great experience in Luxor was fantastic and really genuine (even with all the extra needs we brought with us..lost passport, found passport, transport passport from Cairo, passport cancelled...). But it all worked out well in the end and Mara helped us get to our next destination in Dahab. The tours were great, and since it wasn't busy at the time my friend and i had a private tour at no extra cost. A great chance to ask and learn anything we wanted to know about Egyptian history. The advice give on this and what to see was also spot on.
What more can i say, wonderful Egyptian breakfasts, cold beer in the fridge at market prices and beautiful rooms. Thanks for a wonderful stay and we'll definitely come back!"
"After an eventful and tiring (but amazing ) few days in Cairo we arrived early in the morning after the night train from Cairo to Luxor. Thankfully Mara had arranged for her driver to meet us so we were whisked straight to the hotel and a quick check in to our wonderful room for a much needed lie in.
Throughout the trip the attention and care given to us and ensuring that we had a great experience in Luxor was fantastic and really genuine (even with all the extra needs we brought with us..lost passport, found passport, transport passport from Cairo, passport cancelled...). But it all worked out well in the end and Mara helped us get to our next destination in Dahab. The tours were great, and since it wasn't busy at the time my friend and i had a private tour at no extra cost. A great chance to ask and learn anything we wanted to know about Egyptian history. The advice give on this and what to see was also spot on.
What more can i say, wonderful Egyptian breakfasts, cold beer in the fridge at market prices and beautiful rooms. Thanks for a wonderful stay and we'll definitely come back!"
Gem!
"Absolutely beautiful hotel! Highly recommend the tours arranged by Mara House-- we trust her advice and had a wonderful time experiencing Luxor, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings tour, and most unforgettable -- Dendara Temple. Mara and her staff made us feel so special and our suite was very unique and comfortable. Thank you Mara!"
"Absolutely beautiful hotel! Highly recommend the tours arranged by Mara House-- we trust her advice and had a wonderful time experiencing Luxor, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings tour, and most unforgettable -- Dendara Temple. Mara and her staff made us feel so special and our suite was very unique and comfortable. Thank you Mara!"
all the comforts of home
"I arrived in Luxor after a journey across the desert from the Red Sea. My driver called Mara who gave him directions and I was delivered safely to her door where she was awaiting me. I was offered tea and shown to a spacious, clean, tastefully decorated room complete with fridge packed with cold beverages including beer and wine.
I relaxed in the roof garden and perused the concise recommended tours of the temples and tombs in the Valley of the Kings recommended by my hostess. Mara not only offers a knowledgable, reliable guide and driver for the western valley sites but also offers a callish (horse and buggy with driver) for trips to local restaurants and nearby temples.
I was in Egypt during the recent presidential elections and it was interesting to hear political discussions regarding the new democracy expectations and hope. I felt quite safe during my visit and the staff had breakfast ready and was always available for questions or requests.
A lovely restaurant and fountain have been added at Mara's and a lounge with a full bar is a comfy place for a sit and a chat. I was a bit anxious being a single woman traveler in Egypt but Mara reviewed safety practices and also advised me on tipping. I felt relaxed and made the most of my three day stay in Luxor thanx to Mara's expertise and dedicated staff. Two thumbs up!
Carol
Accord,NY June, 2012"
Luxors' Little Gem!
"We have just returned to the cold of the UK after a fantastic time away in Egypt. The saddest part was the complete lack of tourists, and such a friendly place with SO much to see and do.
We choose Mara's House after reading reviews here and we were certainly not disappointed at all! Mara is there whenever you need her, and is a mine of information - who needs Wikipedia! She organises anything to suit your personal needs in the way of tours and highlights, or meals and what to do of an evening.
There was no faulting anything - her staff and anyone that she called on for tours or our Calesh trips in the evening out to have a meal that Ramadan and Rambo went beyond the call of duty or what you could ever expect to make everything in Luxor really special.
Had we been concerned at all that there was any trouble from what we had seen and heard on the news with the media hype, there was nothing to be seen of anything that would give the slightest of concerns.
All we saw was wonderfully friendly people, who were SO concious even in the tourist markets 'not to hassle', but also very sadly literately hundreds of River Cruise boats 8 deep tied up along the river.
Back to Mara House and the rooms were fantastic and spacious, with great cooling facilities, wonderful staff and everything you could need. We travelled with our 2 daughters 10 and 7, and our son 4, and they loved every minute and learnt SO much.
To sum up - you could spend a load of money, stay in a 'luxury hotel' that could be anywhere in the world with no personality, or you could stay at Mara House, and SEE Egypt and be a real part of the place. I am really pleased that we choose the latter and had the wonderful experience we did! The only negative was - it wasn't long enough!!
THANKS MARA!
Linstrom Family"
Reviewed on Triipadvisor
"We have just returned to the cold of the UK after a fantastic time away in Egypt. The saddest part was the complete lack of tourists, and such a friendly place with SO much to see and do.
We choose Mara's House after reading reviews here and we were certainly not disappointed at all! Mara is there whenever you need her, and is a mine of information - who needs Wikipedia! She organises anything to suit your personal needs in the way of tours and highlights, or meals and what to do of an evening.
There was no faulting anything - her staff and anyone that she called on for tours or our Calesh trips in the evening out to have a meal that Ramadan and Rambo went beyond the call of duty or what you could ever expect to make everything in Luxor really special.
Had we been concerned at all that there was any trouble from what we had seen and heard on the news with the media hype, there was nothing to be seen of anything that would give the slightest of concerns.
All we saw was wonderfully friendly people, who were SO concious even in the tourist markets 'not to hassle', but also very sadly literately hundreds of River Cruise boats 8 deep tied up along the river.
Back to Mara House and the rooms were fantastic and spacious, with great cooling facilities, wonderful staff and everything you could need. We travelled with our 2 daughters 10 and 7, and our son 4, and they loved every minute and learnt SO much.
To sum up - you could spend a load of money, stay in a 'luxury hotel' that could be anywhere in the world with no personality, or you could stay at Mara House, and SEE Egypt and be a real part of the place. I am really pleased that we choose the latter and had the wonderful experience we did! The only negative was - it wasn't long enough!!
THANKS MARA!
Linstrom Family"
Reviewed on Triipadvisor
Fantastic choice in Luxor
"Two friends and I traveled to Luxor at the end of May. We debated on which hotel to stay at, and asked Mara numerous questions via email. She was always very quick with her response and provided great insight on what she thought we should do with our time. We ended up choosing her room and tour combination, choosing to see the West Bank as well as Abydos and Dendera, and could not have been more pleased.
Mara arranged a driver to pick us up from the airport (thankfully, as there were some very aggressive taxi drivers there trying to get our business). From there we set off on our first tour with a very knowledgeable guide and driver. The information provided by the guide at each location was great. Due to the huge drop in tourism, we were also able to walk right into many sights that our guide says are normally very packed.
The next day we did the Abydos and Dendera tour, which exceeded expectations. I think Dendera was my favorite site in all of Luxor, so thanks for the suggestion, Mara! During each of our nights, we also saw the Luxor and Karnak temples with transportation arranged by Mara's staff.
Bottom line with the tours: I thought they provided great information and were a good value for what was included. The ability to combine the airport transfers, room, and tours into one rate was very easy and definitely the best option for us.
Mara House itself is a very clean and lovely boutique hotel, with a really nice rooftop terrace. We were the only guests at the time, and staff truly went out of their way to make sure we had everything we could think of. We stayed in a suite with two bedrooms, 1 bath, a terrace, and kitchen. The mini fridge was well stocked with water and beer, and easily the most reasonable prices I've ever seen at a hotel. Coffee and tea are also available at all times.
Mara also provides a book full of information upon arrival, including local restaurant recommendations, tipping guidelines (very helpful!), local attraction information, etc.
RE: security in Egypt at this time, I wanted to mention that we, as 3 women, felt 100% safe at all times. I believe that many times the news may sensationalize things for a great story, and I wouldn't want to understate anything going on in the country right now, but we never felt like anything happening politically affected our trip in a negative way. Obviously we stayed away from any planned protests, but other than that didn't take any other special precautions. The Egyptian people are hurting badly because of this drop in tourism, so if you've ever wanted to go to Egypt, this is definitely the time to go!
One other note...I believe Mara also has a location in Cairo that I would check out if I returned. We used hotel points for a hotel in Cairo so that it was free, but if I returned, I would definitely check out the accommodations she has to offer before looking elsewhere.
Many thanks to Mara and her staff for a trip of a lifetime!"
"Two friends and I traveled to Luxor at the end of May. We debated on which hotel to stay at, and asked Mara numerous questions via email. She was always very quick with her response and provided great insight on what she thought we should do with our time. We ended up choosing her room and tour combination, choosing to see the West Bank as well as Abydos and Dendera, and could not have been more pleased.
Mara arranged a driver to pick us up from the airport (thankfully, as there were some very aggressive taxi drivers there trying to get our business). From there we set off on our first tour with a very knowledgeable guide and driver. The information provided by the guide at each location was great. Due to the huge drop in tourism, we were also able to walk right into many sights that our guide says are normally very packed.
The next day we did the Abydos and Dendera tour, which exceeded expectations. I think Dendera was my favorite site in all of Luxor, so thanks for the suggestion, Mara! During each of our nights, we also saw the Luxor and Karnak temples with transportation arranged by Mara's staff.
Bottom line with the tours: I thought they provided great information and were a good value for what was included. The ability to combine the airport transfers, room, and tours into one rate was very easy and definitely the best option for us.
Mara House itself is a very clean and lovely boutique hotel, with a really nice rooftop terrace. We were the only guests at the time, and staff truly went out of their way to make sure we had everything we could think of. We stayed in a suite with two bedrooms, 1 bath, a terrace, and kitchen. The mini fridge was well stocked with water and beer, and easily the most reasonable prices I've ever seen at a hotel. Coffee and tea are also available at all times.
Mara also provides a book full of information upon arrival, including local restaurant recommendations, tipping guidelines (very helpful!), local attraction information, etc.
RE: security in Egypt at this time, I wanted to mention that we, as 3 women, felt 100% safe at all times. I believe that many times the news may sensationalize things for a great story, and I wouldn't want to understate anything going on in the country right now, but we never felt like anything happening politically affected our trip in a negative way. Obviously we stayed away from any planned protests, but other than that didn't take any other special precautions. The Egyptian people are hurting badly because of this drop in tourism, so if you've ever wanted to go to Egypt, this is definitely the time to go!
One other note...I believe Mara also has a location in Cairo that I would check out if I returned. We used hotel points for a hotel in Cairo so that it was free, but if I returned, I would definitely check out the accommodations she has to offer before looking elsewhere.
Many thanks to Mara and her staff for a trip of a lifetime!"
perfect choice
"Mara House was absolutely perfect for us as a young couple. It is in a quiet, peaceful, non-touristy area yet only a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of central Luxor. Our room was lovely and the hotel staff were fantastic.
We went on one of Maras organised tours and it was very interesting and good value for money, the other days we ventured out without a guide but had drivers, lunch etc organised for us by the hotel.
We did not get to meet Mara (as she was on a holiday of her own!) but her manager Amr went out of his way to make sure we were able to do everything we wanted to do. We were made to feel very welcome, were offered tea every time we appeared, and went to the local coffee shop on several nights with Amr and his friends.
We left after our 5 day stay feeling like we had made good friends, as well as having had a wonderful holiday. We cannot fault Mara House, we highly recommend it and know that we will definitely be returning at some point :D"
"Mara House was absolutely perfect for us as a young couple. It is in a quiet, peaceful, non-touristy area yet only a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of central Luxor. Our room was lovely and the hotel staff were fantastic.
We went on one of Maras organised tours and it was very interesting and good value for money, the other days we ventured out without a guide but had drivers, lunch etc organised for us by the hotel.
We did not get to meet Mara (as she was on a holiday of her own!) but her manager Amr went out of his way to make sure we were able to do everything we wanted to do. We were made to feel very welcome, were offered tea every time we appeared, and went to the local coffee shop on several nights with Amr and his friends.
We left after our 5 day stay feeling like we had made good friends, as well as having had a wonderful holiday. We cannot fault Mara House, we highly recommend it and know that we will definitely be returning at some point :D"
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.)