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.
We wish we stayed longer!
"We spent only one night in this wonderful, warm and well-run hotel in Luxor. The suites are super clean, have authentic decor, and there are some very nice pieces of art on the walls. Also, they are extremely spacious!
We have arranged transportation from the airport to the hotel through Mara at a fixed price (a rarity in Egypt), and the driver was so welcoming and accommodating to our wishes, that he ended up driving us around for 40 min (instead 10) so that we could grab the best falafel in Luxor (the takeout place was unfortunately located on the other side of the town from the hotel). The trip was fully worth while, and if you are driven by Mouhamed, do ask him to take you there.
We had a brief chance to chat with Mara the following morning, and she is a truly delightful and warm person. You feel in Mara House like you're in a friend's house. We stayed in Luxor only one day so we didn't have a chance to enjoy Mara House, but if ever in Luxor again would definitely go back there."
"We spent only one night in this wonderful, warm and well-run hotel in Luxor. The suites are super clean, have authentic decor, and there are some very nice pieces of art on the walls. Also, they are extremely spacious!
We have arranged transportation from the airport to the hotel through Mara at a fixed price (a rarity in Egypt), and the driver was so welcoming and accommodating to our wishes, that he ended up driving us around for 40 min (instead 10) so that we could grab the best falafel in Luxor (the takeout place was unfortunately located on the other side of the town from the hotel). The trip was fully worth while, and if you are driven by Mouhamed, do ask him to take you there.
We had a brief chance to chat with Mara the following morning, and she is a truly delightful and warm person. You feel in Mara House like you're in a friend's house. We stayed in Luxor only one day so we didn't have a chance to enjoy Mara House, but if ever in Luxor again would definitely go back there."
Not much that we can add...........
"After reading all the positive reviews on TA, Mara's House completely lived up to expectations. Great hotel, great hosts and great advice.
Just want to add that as a family with young kids of 7 & 5, we were a little worried that we were pushing our luck with five days of temples and tombs, but Mara got them really excited with her stories of pharoahs, gods and godesses, and set them little tasks every day to find this or that. Everything was so easy going!
If we had to make any constructive criticism; bring some ear plugs as the dogs barking at night is a bit of a pain, and a kettle in the rooms for tea/coffee would have been nice.
Absolutely recommend staying at Mara's if you're going to visit Luxor (the big hotels on the Nile looked really dull!) However, if you want an afternoon by the pool, perhaps try the Mercure; nice pool and grounds, LE 50 pp, half price for kids).
To have Karnak Temple only 10 mins away on foot, and the West Bank (Valley of the Kings etc) only 30 mins away by bus from Mara's was another bonus. Yet, you're still staying right in the middle of the timeless, real life of Luxor.
Food in the restaurant was great as well.
Can't wait for Mara's in Cairo (Inshallah) !!!"
"After reading all the positive reviews on TA, Mara's House completely lived up to expectations. Great hotel, great hosts and great advice.
Just want to add that as a family with young kids of 7 & 5, we were a little worried that we were pushing our luck with five days of temples and tombs, but Mara got them really excited with her stories of pharoahs, gods and godesses, and set them little tasks every day to find this or that. Everything was so easy going!
If we had to make any constructive criticism; bring some ear plugs as the dogs barking at night is a bit of a pain, and a kettle in the rooms for tea/coffee would have been nice.
Absolutely recommend staying at Mara's if you're going to visit Luxor (the big hotels on the Nile looked really dull!) However, if you want an afternoon by the pool, perhaps try the Mercure; nice pool and grounds, LE 50 pp, half price for kids).
To have Karnak Temple only 10 mins away on foot, and the West Bank (Valley of the Kings etc) only 30 mins away by bus from Mara's was another bonus. Yet, you're still staying right in the middle of the timeless, real life of Luxor.
Food in the restaurant was great as well.
Can't wait for Mara's in Cairo (Inshallah) !!!"
Mara = awesome
"Mara House is the perfect spot for travelers who are interested in seeing sites and are not concerned with night life. It is run by Mara and her family and is the perfect spot to come home to after a long day of sightseeing in and around Luxor. I went with a group of 5 had two spacious rooms, breakfast included and Mara was very helpful in hiring drivers for the day to take us around to local temples and tombs. The restaurant that is attached to the hotel has delicious food cooked fresh with local ingredients. Lots of vegetarian options on the menu as well."
"Mara House is the perfect spot for travelers who are interested in seeing sites and are not concerned with night life. It is run by Mara and her family and is the perfect spot to come home to after a long day of sightseeing in and around Luxor. I went with a group of 5 had two spacious rooms, breakfast included and Mara was very helpful in hiring drivers for the day to take us around to local temples and tombs. The restaurant that is attached to the hotel has delicious food cooked fresh with local ingredients. Lots of vegetarian options on the menu as well."
Welcome Sanctuary
"Every positive review on Trip Advisor about Mara House is true !
We made our choice of hotel in Luxor based purely on the Trip Advisor's glowing praise but were skeptical that some reviews may have been planted as surely no establishment in Egypt is that good. 'Too good to be true' was the thought foremost in my mind.
Things started well when our arranged transfer was actually waiting for us at the airport - a rarity in Egypt we had discovered. We were greeted warmly by Mara and, as time was of the essence, a 'greatest hits of Luxor' package was quickly formulated for us, driver arranged and we were off to the Valley of the Kings. We found her guidance, wisdom and advice invaluable which made our sightseeing a real pleasure. Luxor is the hassle capital of Egypt and quite possibly the world - so it is a godsend to have someone on your side advising on traps to avoid, prices and the like. You can easily develop a seige mentality in Egypt that dimishes the enjoyment of why you are there.
Rooms have air-con and are very spacious complete with pleasant tasteful décor. The only downside was the shower is the open type (screenless / wetfloor) - although my partner loved this as she gets water all over the floor anyway - this time it was legitimate. We also managed to get some rays in the rooftop garden which is a great place for a few beers after a hard day sightseeing.
The location is not the greatest but this should pose no real problems as a taxi can be arranged for only a few dollars. Be sure to not leave the hotel without the address written down in Arabic and/or a map as we found a lot of the Luxor taxi drivers had never heard of it and all the streets looked very similar to any us new arrivals.
The highlight of our stay was most definitely the sumptuous food served in the gorgeous restaurant - overseen by Mara's son Steve - it was the best meal we ate in Egypt. The tasting menu is similar to Greek/Turkish meze's and was truly superb. First class.
I highly recommend Mara House and only wish we could have stayed longer."
"Every positive review on Trip Advisor about Mara House is true !
We made our choice of hotel in Luxor based purely on the Trip Advisor's glowing praise but were skeptical that some reviews may have been planted as surely no establishment in Egypt is that good. 'Too good to be true' was the thought foremost in my mind.
Things started well when our arranged transfer was actually waiting for us at the airport - a rarity in Egypt we had discovered. We were greeted warmly by Mara and, as time was of the essence, a 'greatest hits of Luxor' package was quickly formulated for us, driver arranged and we were off to the Valley of the Kings. We found her guidance, wisdom and advice invaluable which made our sightseeing a real pleasure. Luxor is the hassle capital of Egypt and quite possibly the world - so it is a godsend to have someone on your side advising on traps to avoid, prices and the like. You can easily develop a seige mentality in Egypt that dimishes the enjoyment of why you are there.
Rooms have air-con and are very spacious complete with pleasant tasteful décor. The only downside was the shower is the open type (screenless / wetfloor) - although my partner loved this as she gets water all over the floor anyway - this time it was legitimate. We also managed to get some rays in the rooftop garden which is a great place for a few beers after a hard day sightseeing.
The location is not the greatest but this should pose no real problems as a taxi can be arranged for only a few dollars. Be sure to not leave the hotel without the address written down in Arabic and/or a map as we found a lot of the Luxor taxi drivers had never heard of it and all the streets looked very similar to any us new arrivals.
The highlight of our stay was most definitely the sumptuous food served in the gorgeous restaurant - overseen by Mara's son Steve - it was the best meal we ate in Egypt. The tasting menu is similar to Greek/Turkish meze's and was truly superb. First class.
I highly recommend Mara House and only wish we could have stayed longer."
Truly a gem!
"We only stayed two nights and we should have stayed 2 months!
Mara House may be labelled as a B&B, but it is so much more : the restaurant certainly merits its excellent reputation, it's delicious, authentic and the decor is fantastic. The rooms are also very nicely decorated and extremely clean, so is the bathroom. We had booked a room and we ended up with an appartment....2 other rooms, a kitchen, a loungeroom and a bathroom,plus a balcony, it would have been perfect if we had come with our kids + boy-friends and girl-friends!!! It is certainly NOT a backpackers' hostel, it's really a boutique hotel.
The atmosphere is very familial yet the service is prompt and discreet. Mara is a wonderful woman, a true character and most travelers would be well advised to listen to her experienced views on Egypt, ancient and present.
The tours she organised for us were very interesting and free of the usual shopping stops.
We will go back and we recommend it!"
"We only stayed two nights and we should have stayed 2 months!
Mara House may be labelled as a B&B, but it is so much more : the restaurant certainly merits its excellent reputation, it's delicious, authentic and the decor is fantastic. The rooms are also very nicely decorated and extremely clean, so is the bathroom. We had booked a room and we ended up with an appartment....2 other rooms, a kitchen, a loungeroom and a bathroom,plus a balcony, it would have been perfect if we had come with our kids + boy-friends and girl-friends!!! It is certainly NOT a backpackers' hostel, it's really a boutique hotel.
The atmosphere is very familial yet the service is prompt and discreet. Mara is a wonderful woman, a true character and most travelers would be well advised to listen to her experienced views on Egypt, ancient and present.
The tours she organised for us were very interesting and free of the usual shopping stops.
We will go back and we recommend it!"
Oaisis in the desert of tourism
"This place is great! I booked it based on the positive reviews that Iread without realizing that it really is off the beaten path - which is a wonderful thing. Mara and her staff are the best in Egypt & I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone - unless you 1) are not in good walking shape, or 2) get uncomfortable outside the tourism bubble. Yes - getting to town means walking past real Egyptian homes and kids playing football/soccer in the street, but the locals are friendly and the break from the tourism touts is wonderful. For the price of a room, I get a 4 room suite and the "tasting" dinner offered one or two nights a week is spectacular."
"This place is great! I booked it based on the positive reviews that Iread without realizing that it really is off the beaten path - which is a wonderful thing. Mara and her staff are the best in Egypt & I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone - unless you 1) are not in good walking shape, or 2) get uncomfortable outside the tourism bubble. Yes - getting to town means walking past real Egyptian homes and kids playing football/soccer in the street, but the locals are friendly and the break from the tourism touts is wonderful. For the price of a room, I get a 4 room suite and the "tasting" dinner offered one or two nights a week is spectacular."
Lovely small hotel
"I stayed at Mara House for a total of 5 nights. It is in a residential area that is a 15 - 20 minute walk to the Corniche.
I had a big bedroom/sitting area and a separate room with a kitchen and dining area. Everything was incredibly clean and Mara could not be more accommodating. I took an unplanned side trip hat I booked through Mara - it was very interesting. Free WiFi.
The food in the restaurant is fabulous so if it is open when you're there, be sure to go.
I highly recommend this hotel."
"I stayed at Mara House for a total of 5 nights. It is in a residential area that is a 15 - 20 minute walk to the Corniche.
I had a big bedroom/sitting area and a separate room with a kitchen and dining area. Everything was incredibly clean and Mara could not be more accommodating. I took an unplanned side trip hat I booked through Mara - it was very interesting. Free WiFi.
The food in the restaurant is fabulous so if it is open when you're there, be sure to go.
I highly recommend this hotel."
A home away from home!
"After initially only planning to stay 2 nights we ended up extending our stay at Mara' s to 5 nights and we were so glad we did. Mara's is the perfect base for comfortably exploring Luxor and it's surrounding attractions. Rooms are large, nicely decorated and very clean. Be sure to request one with a balcony and fridge as not all rooms have these. The water pressure was great and there was good hot water. Older people may want to request lower level rooms as after a hard hot day the stairs can be a challenge, this was not a problem for us however and we enjoyed the view from the higher levels. We travelled with a laptop and found wireless internet was available in the stairwell even on the upper floors. Breakfasts are basic but nice (fruit salad, yoghurt, tea/coffee, bread, jams, fruit juice), but after 5 days of the same we were keen for a change. The packed lunches supplied on the Dendara and Abydos trip were a treat! I would also strongly recommend having a meal in Mara's restaurant at least once as their tasting menu is fabulous (bring your appetite - it is a huge feast!).
We did 4 trips with Mara's team ( twice to different West Bank locations, to Abydos & Dendara & a transfer to Aswan via Kom Ombo, Phillae and Edfu). and would highly recommend all of these. We felt them to be good value for money and we felt very safe with all of the drivers and guides. Ali was particularly knowledgeable.
Mara was also a wonderful source of information and advice about Egypt. We found her recommendations generally to be excellent and spot on (....but don't listen to her if she suggests not visiting the Ramesseum - which we found to be FANTASTIC!). (Sorry Mara!!).
We will definitely stay at Mara's next time we are in Luxor, as well as if she opens in Cairo, and strongly recommend Mara House to anyone who seeks a comfortable, stress free yet authentic taste of Egypt."
"After initially only planning to stay 2 nights we ended up extending our stay at Mara' s to 5 nights and we were so glad we did. Mara's is the perfect base for comfortably exploring Luxor and it's surrounding attractions. Rooms are large, nicely decorated and very clean. Be sure to request one with a balcony and fridge as not all rooms have these. The water pressure was great and there was good hot water. Older people may want to request lower level rooms as after a hard hot day the stairs can be a challenge, this was not a problem for us however and we enjoyed the view from the higher levels. We travelled with a laptop and found wireless internet was available in the stairwell even on the upper floors. Breakfasts are basic but nice (fruit salad, yoghurt, tea/coffee, bread, jams, fruit juice), but after 5 days of the same we were keen for a change. The packed lunches supplied on the Dendara and Abydos trip were a treat! I would also strongly recommend having a meal in Mara's restaurant at least once as their tasting menu is fabulous (bring your appetite - it is a huge feast!).
We did 4 trips with Mara's team ( twice to different West Bank locations, to Abydos & Dendara & a transfer to Aswan via Kom Ombo, Phillae and Edfu). and would highly recommend all of these. We felt them to be good value for money and we felt very safe with all of the drivers and guides. Ali was particularly knowledgeable.
Mara was also a wonderful source of information and advice about Egypt. We found her recommendations generally to be excellent and spot on (....but don't listen to her if she suggests not visiting the Ramesseum - which we found to be FANTASTIC!). (Sorry Mara!!).
We will definitely stay at Mara's next time we are in Luxor, as well as if she opens in Cairo, and strongly recommend Mara House to anyone who seeks a comfortable, stress free yet authentic taste of Egypt."
An oasis in Luxor
"What a relief to step off the overnight train from Cairo (worth doing even if 5 hrs late) and be met by Mara and her driver. After traveling on our own for 2 weeks in Lebanon, Syria, and now Egypt, it was a delight to be welcomed to Mara House. It's a boutique hotel/B&B (breakfast is included) with "rooms" the size of flats. Yes, Mara House is on the "wrong" side of the tracks, but it feels "right" to be staying in a true Luxor neighborhood with children playing in the side streets and to be away from the buskers and tourist shops. We felt safe walking from the Nile River area to Mara House, even at night.
We stayed 3 nights, took 2-1/2 days of tours (Mara even sent us off with great bag lunches for one of our tours), and really enjoyed dinner (and the company of a couple from Switzerland) at Mara House's restaurant. The common areas were comfortable; it was relaxing to have a drink from the well-stocked bar while checking email with the free wi-fi (also worked in our rooms). We even took advantage of the very reasonable and super prompt laundry service; they do it there.
Without a doubt, I would return to Mara House again--we are so happy we decided to skip the cruise ships and see the sights from our base in Luxor. After reading Mara's extensive website before our trip, I felt well prepared thanks to her practical advice. Mara loves to solve problems or concerns a traveler may have; she got us on our way to Aswan via the morning train (it even left on time!) and helped us plan travel arrangements to Abu Simbel."
"What a relief to step off the overnight train from Cairo (worth doing even if 5 hrs late) and be met by Mara and her driver. After traveling on our own for 2 weeks in Lebanon, Syria, and now Egypt, it was a delight to be welcomed to Mara House. It's a boutique hotel/B&B (breakfast is included) with "rooms" the size of flats. Yes, Mara House is on the "wrong" side of the tracks, but it feels "right" to be staying in a true Luxor neighborhood with children playing in the side streets and to be away from the buskers and tourist shops. We felt safe walking from the Nile River area to Mara House, even at night.
We stayed 3 nights, took 2-1/2 days of tours (Mara even sent us off with great bag lunches for one of our tours), and really enjoyed dinner (and the company of a couple from Switzerland) at Mara House's restaurant. The common areas were comfortable; it was relaxing to have a drink from the well-stocked bar while checking email with the free wi-fi (also worked in our rooms). We even took advantage of the very reasonable and super prompt laundry service; they do it there.
Without a doubt, I would return to Mara House again--we are so happy we decided to skip the cruise ships and see the sights from our base in Luxor. After reading Mara's extensive website before our trip, I felt well prepared thanks to her practical advice. Mara loves to solve problems or concerns a traveler may have; she got us on our way to Aswan via the morning train (it even left on time!) and helped us plan travel arrangements to Abu Simbel."
A total GEM! Can't wait to return!
"I was on a very short trip in Luxor, travelling by myself, and was looking for a place that would be very relaxing, cozy and safe. Mara's House was all of those and much more. She is an extremely sweet Irish person and makes sure all your needs are met.
The room I had was huge; her beds were so comfortable it was quite difficult for me to get up the next day.
Breakfast and service were just divine. Given my return flight time I was not able to stay for dinner (she has a beautiful restaurant inside); but as I was waiting for my taxi, the smell of the plates being served were just heavenly.
I stayed at a four star hotel in Cairo and that location does not come close to Mara's place. I am looking forward in coming back to Luxor for a longer time and certainly will stay here again. Mara mentioned she will be opening a place in Cairo soon, I will be on the lookout for that one as well.
Very strong recommendation for those travellers who want to experience a total treasure!"
"I was on a very short trip in Luxor, travelling by myself, and was looking for a place that would be very relaxing, cozy and safe. Mara's House was all of those and much more. She is an extremely sweet Irish person and makes sure all your needs are met.
The room I had was huge; her beds were so comfortable it was quite difficult for me to get up the next day.
Breakfast and service were just divine. Given my return flight time I was not able to stay for dinner (she has a beautiful restaurant inside); but as I was waiting for my taxi, the smell of the plates being served were just heavenly.
I stayed at a four star hotel in Cairo and that location does not come close to Mara's place. I am looking forward in coming back to Luxor for a longer time and certainly will stay here again. Mara mentioned she will be opening a place in Cairo soon, I will be on the lookout for that one as well.
Very strong recommendation for those travellers who want to experience a total treasure!"
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.)