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.
Fantastic Place to Stay in Luxor
"Really a great place to stay with a great staff. When I arrived the first night and was in a rush, one of the staff was kind enough to ride his bike to get me something to eat and put together the meal and borught it to my room. Everyone who worked there was so helpful and kind that I can't say enough good things about them (including Mara herself).
Although the house is located away from the main tourist area of Luxor it is not too far away from the city center. The neighborhood is not beautiful, but shows real Egyptian daily life and the neighbors are genuinely friendly as opposed to the calache drivers near the temple.
The rooms are quite large, well furnished and a good value for money as are the tours that Mara or the staff can help you arrange. If you are going to Luxor and looking for a comfortable place to stay that is more interesting than a normal hotel, I would highly recommend Mara House."
"Really a great place to stay with a great staff. When I arrived the first night and was in a rush, one of the staff was kind enough to ride his bike to get me something to eat and put together the meal and borught it to my room. Everyone who worked there was so helpful and kind that I can't say enough good things about them (including Mara herself).
Although the house is located away from the main tourist area of Luxor it is not too far away from the city center. The neighborhood is not beautiful, but shows real Egyptian daily life and the neighbors are genuinely friendly as opposed to the calache drivers near the temple.
The rooms are quite large, well furnished and a good value for money as are the tours that Mara or the staff can help you arrange. If you are going to Luxor and looking for a comfortable place to stay that is more interesting than a normal hotel, I would highly recommend Mara House."
Home
"The only disappointing thing about our time at Mara House, was that she wasn't there! But who can blame her for flying back to Ireland for Christmas! I certainly wont, not when she left a very capable staff, led by her Manager, Amr, who did EVERYTHING he could to ensure that we were happy, comfortable & enjoying our stay. What a gem.
Mara has an extensive & helpful website, she has been WONDERFUL at responding to emails, & she is very upfront & honest about her home & its idiosyncrasies! It was like a B&B, but in Luxor.
Walking to the Luxor Temple is like running the gauntlet, the first time, but after that...we loved being able to walk places & see, smell & hear the rich life of this city. Returning to Mara's was like coming home!
I recommend Mara's Dendara/Abydos trip. Terrific guide & we got to stay way longer than the tour buses in each place! I also recommend earplugs, as the night & early morning are rich in sound!!!!! This place is well worth staying in if you are wanting something a bit different."
"The only disappointing thing about our time at Mara House, was that she wasn't there! But who can blame her for flying back to Ireland for Christmas! I certainly wont, not when she left a very capable staff, led by her Manager, Amr, who did EVERYTHING he could to ensure that we were happy, comfortable & enjoying our stay. What a gem.
Mara has an extensive & helpful website, she has been WONDERFUL at responding to emails, & she is very upfront & honest about her home & its idiosyncrasies! It was like a B&B, but in Luxor.
Walking to the Luxor Temple is like running the gauntlet, the first time, but after that...we loved being able to walk places & see, smell & hear the rich life of this city. Returning to Mara's was like coming home!
I recommend Mara's Dendara/Abydos trip. Terrific guide & we got to stay way longer than the tour buses in each place! I also recommend earplugs, as the night & early morning are rich in sound!!!!! This place is well worth staying in if you are wanting something a bit different."
Lovely room and knowledgeable host
"A large room, decorated with thought, with kitchenette, very clean and a great shower. Mara is a friendly, knowledgeable and straight talking Irish lady and whilst we did not need to take advantage of her guiding contacts, it was useful to 'pick her brains' on a few issues (Mara, the day train to Cairo was quite a pleasurable experience, albeit long, as expected!).
According to the Rough Guide, the property is in the 'artisan' area of Luxor but read this as plumbers and builders, not sculpturers and artists! A friendly bunch though, unlike so many of the hawkers and unpleasant Egyptians who prey on tourists - such a short sighted approach. We are unlikely to return to Egypt because of this but if you do go, staying at Mara House is highly recommended."
"A large room, decorated with thought, with kitchenette, very clean and a great shower. Mara is a friendly, knowledgeable and straight talking Irish lady and whilst we did not need to take advantage of her guiding contacts, it was useful to 'pick her brains' on a few issues (Mara, the day train to Cairo was quite a pleasurable experience, albeit long, as expected!).
According to the Rough Guide, the property is in the 'artisan' area of Luxor but read this as plumbers and builders, not sculpturers and artists! A friendly bunch though, unlike so many of the hawkers and unpleasant Egyptians who prey on tourists - such a short sighted approach. We are unlikely to return to Egypt because of this but if you do go, staying at Mara House is highly recommended."
A wonderful haven
"A sincere warmth greets you on arrival, the rooms are lovely and the beds are comfortable. A well stocked minibar includes a very welcome cold beer at reasonable price. As the hotel is in the middle of an ordinary Egyptian neighbourhood, it's possible to feel you are in Egypt and not just hopping from hotel ghetto to another. The roof garden is lovely for a relaxing drink and chat among the trees and flowers. I can recommend the guide for the tour to Dendera/Abydos, he really knew his stuff."
"A sincere warmth greets you on arrival, the rooms are lovely and the beds are comfortable. A well stocked minibar includes a very welcome cold beer at reasonable price. As the hotel is in the middle of an ordinary Egyptian neighbourhood, it's possible to feel you are in Egypt and not just hopping from hotel ghetto to another. The roof garden is lovely for a relaxing drink and chat among the trees and flowers. I can recommend the guide for the tour to Dendera/Abydos, he really knew his stuff."
An Egyptian Oasis
"If you are going to Luxor to see the sights then you should stay in Mara House. Mara herself is warm and welcoming. You can trust her guides and taxi drivers, which means you can relax and enjoy the trip. The hotel has a typical Egyptian feel, the rooms are large and clean. The prices for the tours, guides, room and mini bar are very competitive."
"If you are going to Luxor to see the sights then you should stay in Mara House. Mara herself is warm and welcoming. You can trust her guides and taxi drivers, which means you can relax and enjoy the trip. The hotel has a typical Egyptian feel, the rooms are large and clean. The prices for the tours, guides, room and mini bar are very competitive."
We spent 3 days and nights with Mara and it made our trip to Luxor all the better for it. She welcomed us with drinks and plenty of free advice. If you are an independent traveller this is the place to stay.
The location is excellent, rooms and service excellent, and the roof top terrace a real bonus. Our trip over 12 days took us from Abu Simbel to Cairo. Mara House was the best value in Egypt!
Reviewed on Tripadvisor
The location is excellent, rooms and service excellent, and the roof top terrace a real bonus. Our trip over 12 days took us from Abu Simbel to Cairo. Mara House was the best value in Egypt!
Reviewed on Tripadvisor
Personal service
"I am indebted to Mara for helping to sort out our sleeper train tickets upon which our whole trip hinged. Having made enquires on our behalf at the station prior to our arrival, she accompanied us there immediately we arrived from the airport and made sure we were attended to. If you are looking for someone with whom you can have a conversation prior to departure to help organise your trip and personal attention then book with Mara. For me this alone was worth the cost of the room."
"I am indebted to Mara for helping to sort out our sleeper train tickets upon which our whole trip hinged. Having made enquires on our behalf at the station prior to our arrival, she accompanied us there immediately we arrived from the airport and made sure we were attended to. If you are looking for someone with whom you can have a conversation prior to departure to help organise your trip and personal attention then book with Mara. For me this alone was worth the cost of the room."
See a different side of luxor
"Maras house was beautiful, lovely decor and furniture. Unfortunately we only booked to stay one night, we wished we had booked to stay longer as we felt so comfortable here. The room we stayed in was huge, it was actaully 2 rooms, much bigger than what you get in top-range hotels. We are so glad we stayed here as we got to see a different side to egypt and visit some of the lesser-known temples with a great guide. If you stay here, do follow Maras recommendations for tours, her guides are fantastic and very attentive without being overbearing. We loved staying here especially because it was in great location, right next to the train station and also amungst a tradtional neighbourhood, we could chat with locals and have an experience that would definetly not be found a a high end chain hotel. We will be back soon and cant wait to try the restaurant! thank you Mara."
"Maras house was beautiful, lovely decor and furniture. Unfortunately we only booked to stay one night, we wished we had booked to stay longer as we felt so comfortable here. The room we stayed in was huge, it was actaully 2 rooms, much bigger than what you get in top-range hotels. We are so glad we stayed here as we got to see a different side to egypt and visit some of the lesser-known temples with a great guide. If you stay here, do follow Maras recommendations for tours, her guides are fantastic and very attentive without being overbearing. We loved staying here especially because it was in great location, right next to the train station and also amungst a tradtional neighbourhood, we could chat with locals and have an experience that would definetly not be found a a high end chain hotel. We will be back soon and cant wait to try the restaurant! thank you Mara."
The best guest house in Luxor
"We stayed in Luxor for four nights in Mara House. Luxor is an overwhelming experience and I think we would have been completely lost had we not stayed with Mara House. If you are an independent traveller looking to really experience Egypt I cannot recommend Mara House strongly enough.
From the moment our flight landed at Luxor airport, Mara was looking out for us. She had arranged to have her driver meet us at the airport, and look after the transfer. (We later saw her racing off to the railway station to meet other guests coming by train.) When we were checked in and settled, Mara sat down with us and asked about the “style” of Luxor experience we were looking for. Did we want the experience of Ancient Egypt? Were we looking to for contemporary religious history or ancient astronauts? Or simply to experience modern day Egypt? And according to our answers she recommend a range of tours and sites to visit. She took an overwhelming array of choice and crystallised it down to a manageable itinerary for us.
Mara’s advise ranged from “how do deal with touts on the street” to “which were the best restaurants“. She even helped us when stomach illness struck. It honestly felt like staying with an old friend, rather than a commercial hotel.
We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the street. The apartment was attractively furnished and set out. Every day we would awake with the distant sounds of Egyptian suburban life: the donkey pulling the gas cylinders through the street, or the call to prayer. It was exotic - but safe.
On the second night, one of her neighbours celebrated a wedding. As we walked down the street, the neighbours would smile and beckoning us into the festivities! The only reason we didn’t go inside was a shortage of time - if we had had weeks to stay we would have loved to have joined the fun.
Each morning and evening we would meet with Mara and her team, and the other travellers in the common areas and compare notes. Where are you going today? What did you enjoy? What was that temple like? Where did you eat yesterday? It was an easy way to share intelligence and to make friends. More than once we ended out on improvised excursions with other guests. It was all very cool.
We did two tours through Mara - the West Bank and the Abydos/Dendara tour. In each case the guide was excellent, and shielded us from the local hassle. The driver was safe and professional, but still Egyptian and delightfully charming.
Mara’s house is the opposite of an anonymous modern hotel. And if you want impersonal anonymity, then Mara’s place is not for you. But if you are looking for a friendly guest house with personalised advice and guidance, then I cannot recommend Mara House enough."
"We stayed in Luxor for four nights in Mara House. Luxor is an overwhelming experience and I think we would have been completely lost had we not stayed with Mara House. If you are an independent traveller looking to really experience Egypt I cannot recommend Mara House strongly enough.
From the moment our flight landed at Luxor airport, Mara was looking out for us. She had arranged to have her driver meet us at the airport, and look after the transfer. (We later saw her racing off to the railway station to meet other guests coming by train.) When we were checked in and settled, Mara sat down with us and asked about the “style” of Luxor experience we were looking for. Did we want the experience of Ancient Egypt? Were we looking to for contemporary religious history or ancient astronauts? Or simply to experience modern day Egypt? And according to our answers she recommend a range of tours and sites to visit. She took an overwhelming array of choice and crystallised it down to a manageable itinerary for us.
Mara’s advise ranged from “how do deal with touts on the street” to “which were the best restaurants“. She even helped us when stomach illness struck. It honestly felt like staying with an old friend, rather than a commercial hotel.
We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the street. The apartment was attractively furnished and set out. Every day we would awake with the distant sounds of Egyptian suburban life: the donkey pulling the gas cylinders through the street, or the call to prayer. It was exotic - but safe.
On the second night, one of her neighbours celebrated a wedding. As we walked down the street, the neighbours would smile and beckoning us into the festivities! The only reason we didn’t go inside was a shortage of time - if we had had weeks to stay we would have loved to have joined the fun.
Each morning and evening we would meet with Mara and her team, and the other travellers in the common areas and compare notes. Where are you going today? What did you enjoy? What was that temple like? Where did you eat yesterday? It was an easy way to share intelligence and to make friends. More than once we ended out on improvised excursions with other guests. It was all very cool.
We did two tours through Mara - the West Bank and the Abydos/Dendara tour. In each case the guide was excellent, and shielded us from the local hassle. The driver was safe and professional, but still Egyptian and delightfully charming.
Mara’s house is the opposite of an anonymous modern hotel. And if you want impersonal anonymity, then Mara’s place is not for you. But if you are looking for a friendly guest house with personalised advice and guidance, then I cannot recommend Mara House enough."
Excellent service, great comfort!
"We stayed two nights in Luxor and toured the west bank and the temples with Mara House tours. All in all it was a great experience. The service at Mara House was helpful, personal and genuinely friendly. The rooms were big with very comfortable beds. A big plus was the mini bar which had good prices.
When looking at a map of Luxor it can seem to a bit of, but it is really just a 10-15 min walk from downtown. It is also nice not to get a "TAXI! TAXI TAXI!" or "Carriage, you want carriage?" in your face as soon as you leave the hotel.
I would absolutely recommend Mara house to anyone wanting to see Luxor without any hassle."
"We stayed two nights in Luxor and toured the west bank and the temples with Mara House tours. All in all it was a great experience. The service at Mara House was helpful, personal and genuinely friendly. The rooms were big with very comfortable beds. A big plus was the mini bar which had good prices.
When looking at a map of Luxor it can seem to a bit of, but it is really just a 10-15 min walk from downtown. It is also nice not to get a "TAXI! TAXI TAXI!" or "Carriage, you want carriage?" in your face as soon as you leave the hotel.
I would absolutely recommend Mara house to anyone wanting to see Luxor without any hassle."
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.)