We dedicated today to shopping in the Champ Élysées district. We originally planned to visit Petite Palais, located along the way to Champ Elysees, but we ended up skipping the sight and dedicating the full day to shopping.
The 8th Arrondissement – Home of Luxury Shopping
The 8th Arrondissement covers a large area from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe. This area is well-known worldwide for its luxury boutiques and shopping malls. We started the day by having breakfast at le Petit Flottes near our hotel. The cheerful staff at the cafe gave us a friendly welcome and patiently ran through the breakfast menu with us. Their breakfast was hearty and delicious, and the cafe’s ambience was cosy and had a Parisian flare.
We took the metro to the Louis Vuitton flagship store along Ave des Champ Elysee. I read online that the store was always crowded and wanted to beat the crowd by arriving in the morning. Coming out of the metro station next to the Louis Vuitton store, a huge silver box with LV printed all over attracted our attention. This is the LV hotel, which is still under construction. We did not have to wait too long before being allowed into LV’s flagship shop. The service at this store was not that great. Staff were ignoring customers and happily chatting amongst themselves. We had to look around for someone to assist us with our purchase. After payment, the staff just wandered off and were never seen again. I spotted Kenzo behind the LV store and wanted to get a sweater as the weather was turning cold in Paris. The service here was worlds apart from LV. The personable Assistant Store Manager immediately greeted us and helped me decide what to get. She was patient when I was torn between choices. The assistant store manager then brought out a sweater representative of Paris, which, according to her, had just come in this morning. I was happy with the purchase and the service we received at this store.
We returned to the shopping strip near our hotel, where more luxury stores such as Chanel (their flagship store is here), Dior, Goyard, Hermes, etc. Our first stop here was at Chanel, where we had to wait 30 mins for anyone to help us with our purchases. The staff assigned to assist us came across as insincere and seemed to be rushing. He would disappear after we made our payment, probably busy attending to the next customer. We headed to Dior, just across the road next. The staff at Dior were friendly and welcoming. We were warmly welcomed by the staff at the shop and promptly assisted by another staff member while her colleague served us drinks. As we wanted to check out men’s collections on our own, the staff gave us directions to head upstairs and told us to approach any of her colleagues if we needed help. We like the customer-focused service at Dior. We headed to Hermes next to help a friend get a pendant. The lady assisting us was lovely, but the rest of her colleagues were just crowding around and talking to each other. We received no help from the staff on the ground floor in the leather goods section. With our hands full, we returned to our hotel. Most of the time we were shopping, a lot of time was spent waiting for someone to assist us.
The 9th Arrondissement – The Rooftop with a View
I read that there is a rooftop at Galeries Lafayette in the 9th Arrondissement near the Opera where we could view Paris’s city skyline. Entrance to the rooftop was free, and no reservations were required. We wanted to go to this rooftop to see a different perspective of Paris. When opening Google Maps, I noticed several Galeries Lafayette in Paris. The one with the rooftop view is the one at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. As it was nearing dinner time and we had skipped lunch, we had dinner at one of the restaurants we chanced upon. The food at Hippopotamus was yummy. The grilled chicken was juicy and tender, and the service at the restaurant was excellent. After dinner, we headed to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann for the rooftop view but were disappointed to learn that the store was closing. It was 8.20 pm when we arrived there, and the store closed at 8.30 pm. As this is our second day in Paris, we figured we would have time to return for the rooftop view. At this hour, it seems all the shops are closed. The only other thing we could do at this hour was to see the Palais Garnier across the street from the outside. We only took photos of the exterior of the building as it seemed close. It was raining, and we decided to take a metro to return to our hotel to rest for the night.
Following our trip to Egypt, on our way back, we had to make a stopover somewhere between Singapore and Cairo (no direct flights are flying between both countries); I figured it would be a great opportunity to stop over in Paris. For this trip to France, we will only visit Paris. There is much to see and experience in Paris besides the famous Eiffel Tower and Arch de Triomphe. I made a few plans and finally thought of seeing Paris by Arrondissement. I found the website Paris Insiders Guide very useful and used the site extensively to plan my maiden trip to Paris.
We had an early start today, our tour company picked us up at 5.30 am to make it in time for our 9.30 am flight to Paris. The flight from Cairo to Paris was uneventful; after some 5 hours, we arrived at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. After collecting our luggage, our next task was to get to the RER station to get our Navigo weekly pass. Navigating Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport Terminal 1 was not as straightforward as I thought. The terminal had a circular design, and I had to ask a few people working at the terminal how to get to the RER station.
Navigo Passes
The first thing to do is to get our Navigo Weekly Pass for our transport within Paris. We could get two types of passes: the weekly pass, which requires an ID picture and provides unlimited weekly trips, and the Navigo Travel Easy Pass, which merely acts as a stored value card to load tickets. The weekly pass starts strictly on Monday and ends on Sunday, which was perfect for us. For passengers without a photo ID, we had 24 hours to get one in Paris City Centre to fix it ourselves. Arriving at the Roissypole stop (2 stations from Terminal 1), we joined the long, slow-moving queue to get the pass. After getting our passes, we were on our way to Paris City Centre via the RER B.
Exploring the Landmarks in the 8th Arrondissement
As we had an early start today, I planned for this day to be light. We planned to visit the Arc de Triomphe for sunset and then Jardin de Trocadero for a night view of the Eiffel Tower. We experienced delays when trying to find our way to the RER station and get our Navigo Pass, but we managed to check into our hotel room at 5 pm. After settling into our room, it was already sunset. We found visiting the Arc de Triomphe pointless and explored the landmarks nearby.
Church of Madeleine – The church with Greek Architecture
We headed to the Church of Madeleine, a 5-minute from our hotel. We took the opportunity to explore the shops on our way to the church. The area where we stayed was filled with luxury boutiques that still had their Christmas lights on display, giving out a festive vibe. These shops are housed in buildings not taller than 6 storeys, with the top floor as the roof floor with wrap-around balconies. The Madeleine Church was not too far from our hotel, occupying a space in the city where the roads seemed to be laid around the church. The Church of Madeleine looks like the Pantheon in Athens, having a heavily Greek-influenced architectural style. The front of the church is designed with eight Roman pillars, which wrap around the outer facade of the church. A carving of Jesus can be seen on the top of the main entrance to the church. As it was late, we did not enter the church.
Place de La Concorde – Home of the Luxor Obelisk
After having our dinner, we took the chance to stroll around our hotel. The area where we were staying (the 8th Arrondissement) is where most luxury boutiques congregate—making a mental note of the location of the boutiques which we will visit tomorrow. We walked towards the Place de La Concorde to admire the other twin obelisk we saw in Luxor, Egypt. Standing tall in the middle of the square, the obelisk was in perfect condition and seemed to have gold plated on its tip. We could glimpse the Eiffel Tower standing majestically on the Place de La Concorde backdrop.
The Icon of the 1st Arrondissement: The Louvre at Night
As it was still early (9 pm), we considered visiting the Louvre at night to take pictures of and with the iconic glass pyramid. On a Tuesday night, the Louvre was peaceful and tranquil, as the museum was closed. Despite that, the glass pyramid still attracted a handful of tourists and locals alike, wanting to take pictures of the pyramid at night. Decked in white lights, the glass pyramid was an interesting take on the 5,000-year-old structure we saw in Cairo just a week ago. The glass panels let us see the structure’s skeleton and how the designer materialised the pyramid’s construction. The pyramid at the Louvre is indeed a work of art. Most people today focused on taking pictures of the pyramid; few took the time to see the surrounding buildings.
The buildings surrounding the glass pyramid house the galleries of the Louvre. These buildings were once the residences of royalties, dating as far back as the 12th century. With the construction of Versailles, the royalty vacated the Louvre and converted their former residence to display their art collections. Today, the Louvre houses masterpieces such as the famous Mona Lisa painting and the Venus de Milo sculpture. As much as the interior was filled with art pieces, the exterior of the Louvre was equally impressive. The façade of the building is adorned with numerous statues, each intricately carved. After taking our fair share of the pictures, we returned to our hotel to rest early as we had an early start today.
The EgyptAir B777-300 that flew us from Cairo to Paris
At the Airport
Check-in
Our flight with EgyptAir flew out from Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport, mainly serving Star Alliance Airlines. Passengers flying in Business Class (regardless of airline) can use the Gold Track security clearance at the terminal’s far left end. EgyptAir Business Class check-in counters occupy the entire Row 1 of the terminal and are located at the far left end of the terminal after the Gold Track security clearance. There were just three groups of passengers in front of us, but we had to wait 15 minutes before our turn to check-in. Of the 11 counters dedicated to Business Class passengers, only four were open to serve passengers, contributing to the long wait time despite the short queue. The service at the check-in counter was bad. The ground staff looked unhappy to be sitting behind the counter working in the wee hours of the morning. There were no smiles, no welcomes from her. We had to repeat ourselves several times before she stopped asking us the same question, like a broken record. The ground staff continued to pull a long face throughout our check-in process and was observed to be slow in her work. To make matters worse, the ground staff did not even provide us with essential information like which lounge we should use, the boarding time and where our boarding gate was. EgyptAir Business Class passengers can use the Gold Track immigration clearance channel, guarded strictly by another ground staff who would direct Economy Class passengers to the queue for “everyone else”.
EgyptAir Lounges in Cairo International Airport Terminal 3
We did a little lounge hopping to all three EgyptAir Lounges in Cairo airport since we had time to kill before our flight.
Signage at the airside for EgyptAir Lounges
Gienah Lounge
Gienah Lounge was the first lounge we visited since this is the lounge closest to our gate in finger G. The lounge is on the right side after the duty-free shop in the direction of G gates. Gienah Lounge mainly uses a wooden theme on its walls and flooring in the lounging area. The lounge decor does not exude any luxurious vibe but is more of a practical space for passengers to chill before our flight. Gienah Lounge is a small lounge with limited seating and more lounging chairs than dining tables. Only around five dining tables are lined along the corridor inside the lounge. It feels as though these dining tables are placed there as an afterthought. As it was breakfast during my visit, Gienah Lounge mainly served sandwiches, bread, and yoghurt in a buffet style. Food was made available in two lounge areas, with one station located after the main entrance and another after the toilet in the forward part of the lounge. There are no showering facilities in the lounge. The reception staff at the lounge was very friendly and welcomed us into the lounge after scanning our boarding passes.
Alioth Lounge
The Alioth Lounge is to the left of the duty-free shop, after immigration and toward the F gates. Alioth Lounge is a bigger lounge (and the biggest among the three lounges we visited). The lounge is predominantly decked in white, black and sand-coloured marble tiles, and the bright light makes the lounge look fresh and airy. The elongated Alioth Lounge has ⅔ of the space furnished with black fabric chairs and a white-top table. Similar to the Gienah Lounge, the dining tables and chairs are packed to one side of the lounge. There are more dining tables in the Alioth Lounge, mainly due to the bigger floor area. The choice of furniture colour in this lounge is consistent with the main theme used throughout the lounge, making it very pleasing to the eye. Only one area that served food buffet-style was located at the far end of the elongated lounge. Similar to the Gienah Lounge and perhaps due to the breakfast timing, food is limited to salad, an assortment of bread and some sandwiches. Shower facilities were unavailable in this lounge, which seems to signal that the lounge is merely for premium class passengers to hang out while waiting for their flight. The reception staff at the Alioth Lounge was very thoughtful; upon scanning our boarding passes, they notified us that there was another lounge nearer to our gate.
Almeisan Lounge
With plenty of time, we decided to check out the last EgyptAir lounge in the terminal – the Almeisan Lounge, located to the left of the duty-free shops after immigration beside Gate F10 in finger F. The Almeisan Lounge has a wooden-themed decor, making the lounge feel very cosy and comfortable. The wooden theme extends from the floor to the walls, except for the walking area, which is laid in grey marble. Unlike the other two lounges, the lounging and dining areas are separated. Most of the lounge space is dedicated to the lounging area, making the lounge a great place to hang out and relax with the numerous armchairs in the lounge. There is an area with a very limited dining table, which was fully occupied when we visited the lounge. The food on offer is identical to that of Gienah and Alioth Lounge, mainly consisting of bread and salad for their breakfast run. The Almeisan Lounge is a smaller lounge with no showering facilities. The reception staff at the Almeisan Lounge was very observant. Upon scanning our boarding passes, they noticed that we were at the other side of the finger and informed us of Gienah Lounge, which is at the finger where our flight would depart. Upon understanding, we intended to check out the lounge and had some time to kill; the staff even volunteered information on the time required to walk from the Almeisan Lounge to our boarding gate.
The Aircraft
EgyptAir initially planned to deploy its newer B787-9 aircraft between Cairo and Paris. However, the airline changed the aircraft to the older B777-300 three days before our flight.
EgyptAir livery up closeEgyptAir B777-300 safety card
The Cabin
The EgyptAir B777-300 Business Class cabin looks bright and spacious, mainly due to the large amount of natural light that was let in with all the window shades up and how spaced out the seats are in the cabin. The airline uses yellow lighting during boarding, which gives the cabin a comfortable feel. The blue carpet and white seat shell contributed to the bright and airy feel of the cabin. The Business Class seats on EgyptAir’s B777-300 are navy blue, identical to those across EgyptAir’s fleet. The ceiling of the Business Class cabin was even dotted with white LED lights to create a starry sky look when the pilot dimmed the cabin and turned on the dark blue lights.
Three lavatories are allocated for Business Class passengers onboard EgyptAir B777-300, one is located in the front behind the cockpit and another two between the two Business Class cabins. The lavatories felt small, and the yellow lighting did not enhance the feeling of spaciousness in the lavatories. The large mirror installed at the sink did not enhance the sense of space here. I like the sensor-activated tap installed in the sink. The space between the sink and the toilet feels tight. The amenities in the lavatories are limited to hand soap, tissues, and packets of hand sanitiser.
The Seat
EgyptAir has 346 seats on its B777-300 aircraft, with 49 seats in Business Class and 297 in Economy Class. Business Class cabin is further segregated into two cabins, with 28 seats in the forward cabin and 21 seats in the rear Business Class cabin. The seats have a seat pitch of 76″ and measure 20″ wide. The Business Class seats on EgyptAir B777-300 can be reclined into a flatbed but at a 160° angle. Besides the upright take-off/landing and the flatbed mode, the seat can also be adjusted to a lounge mode. These three modes can be conveniently adjusted with a touch of the button from the seat control panel on the seat armrest. Passengers can also adjust the seat to recline, and the angle of the calf rests to their liking between the modes. There was supposed to be a massage function, but it did not work on my seat (perhaps due to ageing). The legroom room in the Business Class seats on EgyptAir B777-300 was superb; I could straighten my leg and still not hit the seat in front. Due to the thick cushioning, I find the Business Class seats on EgyptAir B777-300 very comfortable. I was able to catch two hours of rest in the flatbed mode.
Other than the overhead reading light, the Business Class seats also came fitted with another reading light. A small partition between the two seats provides limited privacy to the passenger taking the window seat. Each seat is also fitted with a USB-A charging outlet below the headphone jack between the two seats and an international power outlet in the lower part of the seat. The seat table is stowed in the console between the two Business Class seats. The table is folded into halves for storage purposes. When fully deployed, each Business Class passenger has a large table perfect for working their laptops. I like how EgyptAir used the space on the console between the two seats as a cocktail table or additional space for passengers to place their things.
The storage on EgyptAir B777-300 Business Class seats is a tad limited. A small cubby is in the inside armrest, beneath the IFE controller storage cutout. I thought this cubby was too small to place anything besides passports and mobile phones. I could hardly fit the 500ml bottled water the airline provided to all passengers. The seat pocket, fitted on the back of the seat in front of us, offers more storage space. Due to its flat design, I do not think it can fit anything besides a laptop or a tablet. There are two rectangular holes near the floor on the back of the seat in front of us. I find these “holes” are perfect for storing my shoes.
Inflight Entertainment
Each Business Class seat on EgyptAir B777-300 has a 15.4″ personal TV. The EgyptAir B777-300 is an older product, so these TVs do not have a touchscreen function. The TVs are fitted into a fixed position, which means that they cannot be adjusted to provide a good viewing angle when lying down in the flatbed mode of the seat. The IFE controller is an older model that comes with a Qwerty keyboard behind it. Despite its age, the IFE controller did not lag. EgyptAir has a great library of entertainment in their IFE system, where I found a variety of entertainment, from Hollywood blockbusters to channels and even a radio option. The IFE system was well laid out in an intuitively designed menu, making selecting entertainment options a breeze. The headphones that EgyptAir provided felt cheap and did not come with a noise-cancelling function.
Meal Service
This was a 5-hour flight from Cairo to Paris, so only one meal was served. EgyptAir is a dry airline and does not serve alcohol onboard. When we got settled into our seats, a cabin crew came over and gave us a bottle of water, and another came by to serve a glass of orange juice as the welcome drink. About 1 hour into the flight, the refreshment service begins. We were given a choice of a cookie or a packet of mixed nuts to go with our drink. I would say the cookie, though not crispy, was tasty.
Lunch service began about 1½ hours into the flight, with another refreshment run. Our tables were set up for lunch, and the cabin crew distributed our meal tray with all three appetisers. For appetisers, we were served a cheese platter, salad with cheese, and smoked duck with rice, all served in a small container commonly found in Economy Class meal trays. EgyptAir does not distribute menus nor take orders in their Business Class cabin. For the main course, the EgyptAir cabin crew pushed out a trolley with all the options available for this flight and let passengers choose. For the main course, the options for today’s flight include chicken with mashed pumpkin, fish with rice, or eggplant with vegetables as a vegetarian option. I went with the chicken, and my friend opted for the fish. The chicken was moist and juicy and tasted very good. My friend’s fish was equally tasty, and the rice was fragrant. Another trolley was pushed around the cabin with choices for desserts. The desserts available were fruit platter or caramel mouse cake. I had the cake and found it a tad too sweet. EgyptAir is perhaps one of the few airlines that displayed the mains and desserts available in a trolley, akin to flying in yesteryears, which I thought was refreshing. I like allowing us to see what the food looks like before deciding what to eat.
Service
This flight destroyed all the good impressions in terms of service that I had with EgyptAir. The service was bad since the ground service. The staff at the check-in counters was not the friendliest of all. She did not maintain eye contact and was not attentive when communicating with her. She was seen with a long face throughout the check-in experience. The onboard experience was equally bad. The cabin crew who served the side we sat in did not seem too happy to serve us. She was pulling a long face when I requested a pillow and blanket. She took her time and seemed to conveniently forget about my pillow set request. I have never seen a smile on her face when interacting with us. The cabin crew would cut short the conversation by giving a one-word reply to our questions and then rushed off into the galley. When we had an issue with another passenger occupying our seat during boarding, the cabin crew did not come forth and help us. We only saw the cabin crew smile during dessert service when she was working with another cabin crew (we suspect that could be her supervisor).
Thankfully, a small number of EgyptAir staff are still friendly and welcoming. The so-called supervisor was friendlier and made us feel welcome. I saw her serving in the other aisle, and she was observed to be caring and friendly to the passengers. It is a pity that she was not assigned to serve our side of the aircraft. The reception staff at the three lounges came across as friendly and sincere. They were thoughtful enough to remind us about a lounge near our boarding gate.
Afterthought
It was a shame that EgyptAir had a last-minute change of aircraft from one of their newer aircraft, B787-9, which came fitted with different Business Class seats, to the older B777-300. Nonetheless, the Business Class seats on EgyptAir B777-300 were comfortable. Despite being on an angle flatbed, I found the seat to be very comfortable in flatbed mode thanks to the thick cushioning, which I was able to catch some rest on. EgyptAir B777-300 aircraft has very limited storage space for its Business Class passengers. The food served onboard was delicious, and I liked how the cabin crew pushed a trolley to showcase the main course and dessert options, which are getting rare these days. The service was the worst that we have experienced with EgyptAir. The cabin crew servicing our aisle did not seem welcoming and would always rush off. She came across as disinterested in her job. The only time she was somewhat friendly was when she was serving dessert with another colleague.
Four Seasons at the First Residence is located on the west bank of the Nile River that runs through downtown Cairo. The hotel sits atop the First Mall, and I found it looks dead, selling mainly luxury goods. Other than the mall’s atrium cafe, there are no eateries or restaurants. Fortunately, several shops near the hotel were selling snacks and smaller items. We also found KFC and Pizza Hut to be the only choices for food, other than the overpriced restaurants in the hotel and the riverboats docked on the Nile in front of the hotel. The Cairo Zoo and French embassy are next to Four Seasons at the First Residence. There is not much around the hotel, and it is far from everything else. Getting to Tahir Square, the centre of downtown Cairo, requires a 30-minute walk (or 10 minutes by Uber or cab).
The Room
Our tour company booked us into the Deluxe Room at Four Seasons at the First Residence. The 58m2 Deluxe Room is the same as the next category room – the Premier Room in terms of floor space and decor. The only difference is the view of the room, where the Deluxe Room faces the Nile River, and the Premier Room faces the Pyramids.
Entryway
We could feel an old-school luxury vibe when we entered the Deluxe Room. The first sign of luxury in the room is apparent from the small chandelier-like lamp installed in the entryway. Decked in warm yellow lighting, the room exudes a cosy and comfortable feel. This part of the room houses a wardrobe and minibar. The wardrobe inside the Deluxe Room was built into the wall and comprised two-panel sections and one-panel sections. The single panel next to the main entrance to the Deluxe Room houses a two-tiered open shelving on top of a three-tiered drawer. This design provides space for its guests to stow away smaller clothing items. The in-room safe and the iron are stored on the shelves above these shelving spaces inside the wardrobe. The two wooden door panels open up to the space for hanging clothing. I believe this part of the wardrobe is capable of swallowing at least two weeks of clothing, but the number of hangers supplied is limited. A luggage rack and the ironing board are also stowed inside this part of the wardrobe. I like the rack design of the wardrobe, which is large enough for guests to put away their luggage after unpacking.
The minibar is situated next to the wardrobe in the room’s entryway. Here, we found a Nespresso machine, electric kettle, bottled water, and ice bucket, along with coffee capsules and tea bags placed on the marble-top open shelving. Some wine glasses and champagne flutes are neatly placed on the glass-top shelving above it. The mini fridge is fully stocked with drinks and some snacks, which are all chargeable, underneath the coffee and tea-making appliances, hidden in a cabinet.
Sleeping Area
The door frame between the entryway and the Deluxe Room’s sleeping area clearly segregates the room’s two parts. The sleeping area is dominated by the large king bed, which occupies about ⅔ of the sleep area in the Deluxe Room. On the ceiling hangs a gold-plated glass chandelier that provides most of the illumination in the sleeping area. The floral prints on the carpet extend to the headboard of the king bed, giving the design language some form of consistency. Using an old English headboard further projects the sense of luxury in the room. We got excellent sleep quality on the king bed that is topped by a firm mattress. The bedside tables and the design of the table lamp chosen by Four Seasons at the First Residence enhance the sophisticated opulence feel of the room. Despite not being fitted with drawers and decorated with a lamp, in-house telephone and radio, I found the space afforded by the bedside tables sufficient for us to place our lifestyle devices.
Sitting on a marble-top TV console opposite the king bed is a 42″ flat-screen TV placed perfectly for guests to obtain entertainment from the bed. The TV is loaded with both Egyptian and international channels that keep us entertained while not out exploring the vibrant city of Cairo. We could use a couple of drawers on the TV console to put away the souvenirs we bought in Cairo. A single-seat armchair equipped with an ottoman is placed beside the TV console. This armchair is very comfortable for relaxing or reading a book.
Further into the sleeping area, after the king bed and before the floor-to-ceiling glass window panels, we found a work desk. The luxury vibe in the Deluxe room is also apparent in the elegant dark brown wooden work desk with gold patterns and floral designs. The work desk is of a great size for guests staying in this room to get some work done. The power sockets are conveniently fitted onto the wall next to the work desk. Guests can look out into the Nile for inspiration or to relax their eyes while sitting on the red velvet chair while working.
Bathroom
The entrance to the bathroom of the Deluxe Room in Four Seasons at the First Residence resides in the sleeping area next to the TV console. The luxurious theme seen throughout the room flows into the bathroom. Decked in sand brown colour, the colour choice in the bathroom suited the desert country of Egypt very well. The bathroom has an elongated layout, with the bathing and sink areas on opposite sides. The first thing that caught my eye was the long sink countertop space. The dual sink is fitted into a brown marble top, accompanied by a gold frame mirror that stretches the entire bathroom length, adding to the luxurious theme throughout the room. There are toilet amenities on the countertop and the glass latch at the sink area, but one point to note is that Four Seasons at the First Residence did not provide a dental kit as part of their amenities offering in the room.
Opposite the sink is a huge bathtub and walk-in shower. The walk-in shower, next to the bathroom entrance, is a huge space for showering that comes fitted with a regular shower head in the shower. Four Seasons at the First Residence provides its guests in the Deluxe Room with bath amenities from Gyspy Water, a Stockholm brand, which left my skin feeling soft and refreshed. I like the fragrance of the bath amenities provided. There is ample space in the shower for guests to place their dental kits and facial wash. The bathtub is fitted next to the walk-in shower, further into the bathroom. The bathtub is rather sizeable, and I had a great soak in to wash away the fatigue from exploring Cairo. The toilet is a separate room tucked in the furthest end of the bathroom. Even the enclosed toilet space, which comes with a separate European-style bidet, feels spacious.
Service
Welcome amenities in the Deluxe Room
Four Seasons is renowned worldwide for its luxury and top-notch service. While the service we received at Four Seasons at the First Residence was good, I find the service not memorable. The staff were welcoming and were able to respond to any questions posed to them. However, they are seen standing behind their desks or just hanging around waiting for guests to approach them rather than proactively engaging guests. Case in point: the porters in the hotel were more concerned with guests putting our bags through the x-ray machines upon entering than helping guests with their bags or offering greetings. The reception team were found hanging around behind their desks instead of actively welcoming guests who stepped into the hotel. Having said that, by no means were the staff in Four Seasons at the First Residence rude or anything; they were still seen smiling at guests and making eye contact with them.
Hotel Facilities
Gym
Four Seasons at the First Residence has quite a large gym on level 4 of the hotel. The gym is very well equipped with cardio and strength training machines. The 10 treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes were all placed facing the large window, allowing guests to work out with a view of the Nile River. While the number of strength training machines is limited, these machines allow guests to engage in total body workout, working different major muscle groups. There is even a free weight area with dumbells for body workouts. In the middle of the gym is an open space, which is meant for guests who want to do yoga or even stretching. Inside the gym’s changing room, we saw a huge jacuzzi facing a window that looked out into the Nile River. There is even a sauna and steam room inside the changing room.
Swimming Pool
Four Seasons at the First Residence has a large swimming pool on level 4 of the hotel building. The pool allows guests to do some serious lap swimming. There are quite a number of sundeck chairs on the pool, where guests can get a great tan as there is no vegetation blocking the sunlight. There is also a small wading pool at the side of the swimming pool for children to play in.
Overall
The Deluxe Room in Four Seasons at the First Residence is spacious and comfortable. The room screams luxury, consistent with the branding of the hotel chain worldwide. I found the sleep quality on the king bed to be excellent. The only letdown is the view, blocked by a building in front of our room. The hotel’s location is also rather inconvenient as there are not many shops or shopping malls near the hotel aside from the boring First Mall below the hotel. The service in the hotel was good but not memorable.
The EgyptAir A321neo that flew us from Luxor to Cairo
At the Airport
EgyptAir’s check-in counters are located on the first row to the right of the terminal building. The airline uses four check-in counters, one for Business Class passengers and three for Economy Class passengers. The check-in process was efficiently done despite the long queue, we only waited for 5 mins to get our luggage checked in. We had to clear security twice, once before the check-in counters and another before the boarding area. The boarding process was a little chaotic, as the two boarding gates were facing each other, with flights departing around the same time, creating a scene where passengers did not know which queue was for which gate. There is a lack of ground staff directing passengers to the correct queue, resulting in passengers from both gates crowding around the area.
The Aircraft
EgyptAir deployed its newest aircraft, an A321neo delivered in August 2023, for this flight from Luxor to Cairo. The airlines usually deploy this aircraft for medium-haul flights; I guess we were lucky to have flown it.
EgyptAir A321neo up closeEgyptAir A321neo safety card
The Cabin
There are 182 seats onboard EgyptAir A321neo, with 16 recliner seats in Business Class and 166 in Economy Class. The cabin felt fresh and bright due to the white-coloured walls and the white lighting illuminating the entire cabin. Unlike the usual EgyptAir aircraft, the Economy Class cabin onboard the A321neo seats are decked in black leather, giving the cabin a refined and luxurious look. Perhaps the aircraft is still new at the time of my flight, the Economy Class cabin looks clean and bright. EgyptAir still uses its iconic blue carpeting commonly found in the other aircraft the airlines own, paying homage to the blue colour theme used on the Horus logo on its fuselage. I did not have the opportunity to visit the lavatory as the lady sitting beside me was napping throughout the flight from Luxor to Cairo and only woke up to receive drinks from the cabin crew.
The Seat
Each of EgyptAir’s 166 Economy Class seats is very comfortable to sit on, despite being thinner padded compared to their B737-800 that I flew from Aswan to Abu Simbel. Economy Class seats onboard EgyptAir A321neo have a seat pitch of 30″ and are 18″ wide. They are capable of reclining 3″, which made snoozing on the seats very comfortable, partly also contributed by the padded headrest. The legroom in the Economy Class seats is pretty generous. The tray table on the seats is very standard but still large enough for one to work on a laptop. There is a power outlet between the seats in front of ours which we can use to charge our mobile devices. The seat has a large pocket, which is standard for aircraft worldwide. The oversized seat recline button on the armrest is very responsive. I like how EgyptAir fitted an individual air nozzle overhead, next to the reading light that ensures the comfort of its passengers.
Inflight Entertainment
Each Economy Class seat onboard EgyptAir A321neo is fitted with a 9″ personal TV turned on the entire flight. There are no IFE controllers on the seats; rather, passengers rely on the touchscreen function on the IFE monitor to access entertainment options on the screen. I found the touchscreen function on the personal TV to be very responsive. EgyptAir has a good selection of entertainment options for inflight entertainment, organised in an intuitively designed menu. They even have the latest Hollywood blockbuster in their IFE. The headphone jack and USB power outlet are located beneath the IFE screen. However, as this was a short flight, earphones were not distributed. I used the earplugs I got from Singapore Airlines and could still enjoy the IFE.
Each EgyptAir A321neo Economy Class seat is fitted with a 9″ personal TVThe entertainment options are laid out in an intuitive menu
Meal Service
This was a short 1-hour domestic flight, so no meals were served onboard. The EgyptAir cabin crew went around the cabin distributing bottled water to all passengers in Economy Class.
EgyptAir serves bottled water to its Economy Class passengers for this short 1-hour flight.
Service
Despite being on a short flight and with limited chances of interaction, the crew’s warmth was still felt. They were at the door welcoming passengers the moment we stepped onboard. Their smile never waned even though it was an early morning flight and was apparent during drinks distribution. The diligent crew was seen patrolling the cabin to collect trash before landing and during safety checks. Even after the plane had landed, the crew were at the door smiling at passengers and thanking us for flying with EgyptAir.
Afterthought
We were pleasantly surprised to be flying with EgyptAir’s newest A321neo. The Economy Class cabin was bright, and the seats were very comfortable. The IFE fitted was a bonus that entertained me during the short 1-hour run between Luxor and Cairo. The cabin crew were welcoming and friendly. I enjoyed this flight with EgyptAir.
Flying over LuxorWe spotted the Great Pyramids of Giza
EgyptAir B737-800 serving this short route between Aswan and Abu Simbel
Aswan Airport
EgyptAir occupies counters 4 to 7 in the check-in hall of Aswan Airport. Three of the four counters are dedicated to Economy Class passengers and one to Business Class passengers, with the queues for the respective classes being very well marked out. As we flew out early in the morning, there was no one queueing up in the Business queue and only a handful of passengers in the Economy Class queue. As our tour company had performed the check-in before we reached the airport, we whizzed through to the boarding area. Unlike Cairo Airport, we were required to clear only two security checks, one at the main entrance and another before the boarding area.
Abu Simbel Airport
Abu Simbel Airport is a very small airport, and the check-in counters are immediately visible when we enter the terminal building. There are only five check-in counters in the airport terminal. EgyptAir occupies counters four and five in the terminal building. There did not seem to be any distinction between Business and Economy Class queues. We did not have to go through check-in because we had already been issued our return boarding passes. Like Aswan Airport, we had two security checks to access the waiting area.
The Aircraft
EgyptAir uses the single-aisle B737-800 for this 30-minute short hop between Aswan and Abu Simbel.
EgyptAir B737-800 Safety CardClose-up shot of EgyptAir B737-800
The Cabin
The EgyptAir B737-800 has 144 seats, 24 recliner seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. The airline decked its B737-800 Economy Class cabin with their signature blue tones that were seen in the Horus logo painted on the aircraft’s fuselage. The use of yellow lighting throughout the cabin made it look gloomy and aged. The windows in the cabin did not help in letting sufficient natural light in to elevate the sense of gloominess.
Lavatories for Economy Class passengers are located at the back of the aircraft. As the B737-800 is a smaller aircraft, the space allocated is quite limited. The lavatory was clean, perhaps due to the low usage for this short flight time. The use of white lighting in the lavatory made the lavatory look fresh and clean. There is a small sink fitted in the lavatory, and the amenities are limited to hand soap (other than the usual toilet paper and tissues), understandable for a short 30-minute domestic flight.
The Seat
EgyptAir B737-800 Economy Class seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration, each with a seat pitch of 31″ and measures 17″ wide. All seats can provide a 4″ recline via the recline button on each seat’s armrest. I find the legroom on the Economy Class seats quite good. The seat has thick padding, which is great even when flying longer distances. The tray table was quite sizeable, great for passengers who wanted to entertain themselves using a laptop or a tablet. EgyptAir fits its Economy Class seats with a single pocketed seat pocket, which is useful for passengers to stow bigger items. I like the individual air vents that somehow allow me to control the temperature in my seat. Other seat controls, like reading light and flight attention buttons, are fitted on the ceiling above each Economy Class seat.
Inflight Entertainment
EgyptAir B737-800s in Economy Class were not fitted with an individual personal TV; rather, a drop-down screen from the ceiling was installed in every few seats. It seemed that the main purpose of this screen was to play safety videos. The screen displayed the flight route information for the rest of the flight. I found a digital panel to control audio and a headphone jack on the armrest. As the flight was short, I did not try to see if the audio channels worked.
Meal Service
As this route between Aswan and Abu Simbel is a 30-minute flight, no meals were served onboard. The flight crew went around distributing bottles of water to all passengers.
Economy Class passengers were given this small bottle of water despite the short flight time.
Service
The flight was too short to have any meaningful interaction with the flight crew. Our only interactions with the cabin crew were at boarding, water runs, and disembarkation. I can see the crew wearing their smiles, welcoming passengers, and during drinks distribution. They were also seen diligently inspecting the cabin for take-off and landing and another time to collect trash.
Afterthought
The Economy Class seats on EgyptAir B737-800 are comfortable due to their thick padding and legroom. As this is an older aircraft, seats were not fitted with IFE but with an old-school radio. But this does not bother me as the journey between Aswan and Abu Simbel is only 30 mins. Despite having a short flight time, the warmth and welcome from the crew can still be felt.
The MS River Tosca sailed us between Luxor and Aswan on the River Nile
The Boat
The River Tosca is a riverboat cruise that takes visitors on a round trip from Luxor to Aswan and back to Luxor. The River Tosca has five decks, where all 41 cabins onboard were located from decks two to four. Boasting an all-suite cruise, there are essentially only two types of suite rooms onboard the MS River Tosca: the Grand Suite and the Royal Suite. The Royal Suite is a true suite with a separate living and sleeping area. The other 39 cabins onboard the MS River Tosca are the Grand Suite, essentially a Junior Suite. The MS River Tosca is one of the better and more luxurious riverboats that operates along the Nile River. The boat exudes an old-school 19th-century charm in its decor, where most of the public area of the boat is decked in dark brown wood finishes.
The Cairo Deck Suite
Our 31m2 Grand Suite is situated on the Cairo Deck, the second and lowest deck with guest accommodations. There are only four suites on this deck, situated on the forward part of the boat.
Entryway
The entryway of the Grand Suite onboard MS River Tosca did not have any furnishings, and we could see the entirety of the Grand Suite from this part of the room. My first impression of the Grand Suite onboard was that it looked old school due to the colour choice of the wallpaper and the carpet. The grey background wallpaper with patches of maroon, brown print, and white laces looked like something from the 80s. The brown and red carpet in the suite gave it a desert vibe, seemingly reminding guests that Egypt is covered mostly by the Sahara desert. The entryway is home to the wardrobe in the Suite and the entrance to the bathroom.
The wardrobe fitted in the Grand Suite onboard MS River Tosca has three sections. The section nearest the door is where we found additional pillows and a minifridge fully stocked with drinks complementary to guests onboard. The second panel of the large wardrobe is where we hang our clothing. The hanging space behind the second panel gave us ample space to hang our seven days’ clothing. I liked how the riverboat was generous in providing us with many hangers in the wardrobe. The third section of the wardrobe features shelving space with three large drawers occupying the lower part, while the open shelf takes the top part of this section. I also like the generous amount of space in this part of the wardrobe, allowing us to stow our smaller clothing items and stuff we bought out of sight. We found an in-room safe in this part of the wardrobe. The three-panel sliding doors on the wardrobe are fitted with mirrors, making the entryway look larger. Opposite the wardrobe is the bathroom.
Bathroom
I like the design of the bathroom. Decked in white and light brown tiles, the bathroom looked clean and bright, which is also contributed by the mirrors used throughout the bathroom. The bathroom has a fairly large countertop space at the sink area, where we had plentiful store space for our toiletries. The drawers at the sink area further enhance the storage situation. Opposite the sink is a walk-in shower fitted with regular and rain shower heads. The space in the walk-in shower is also generous, and I did not have to engage in elbow wars while showering. The toilet and a European bidet are tucked into the bathroom wall furthest from the entrance. The MS River Tosca even fitted a sizable bathtub in the bathroom, perfect for a bath to soak away the weariness we accumulated from exploring Upper Egypt.
Sleeping Area
The sleeping area occupies most of the space in the Grand Suite. Next to the wardrobe is a vanity table that doubles as a work desk. The desk is large enough to serve both functions, and its three drawers provide additional space to stow away smaller items. We primarily used the power outlets fitted on the wall at the work desk to set up our “charging station,” where we charged our power banks and lifestyle devices.
A couple of armchairs and a small table are tucked in one corner of the cabin, next to the floor-to-ceiling window panels. The thick cushion-padded armchairs are a great spot to relax, and the chairs are placed next to the window, which makes it a perfect spot to look out into the Nile as MS River Tosca makes its way along the river. The small table between the two armchairs is occupied by an electric kettle and coffee and tea items. We did not use the coffee and tea in the suite throughout our seven-day sailing onboard, as there was a pantry just outside our cabin. Nonetheless, it was thoughtful of the boat to provide such convenience to their guests by including a small coffee/tea station here.
On the other side of the sleeping area sits the bedding area, which looks elegant. The brown high cushioned headboard matching the bed runners gave this part of the suite a very cosy feel. Rather than calling the bed a king bed, it is merely two super single-sized beds being pushed together to form a king bed. This bedding arrangement is very common in the cruise industry, where some cruise liners do a better job concealing the gaps of the single bed. However, on the MS River Tosca, there is no intention to conceal that the bed comprises two single beds. They even furnished the beds with individual blankets tucked into the space between them. The bed’s sleeping quality was excellent, leaving us feeling refreshed every morning and after every nap. At the end of the bed are a couple of individual benches, which we use to place our luggage. The top of these benches are padded with thick cushions, making them a great space to sit on while watching the TV mounted on the wall opposite. The TV placement is perfect for us to watch while lazing on the bed. However, the entertainment options on the TV are very limited, with only four channels: two Egyptian channels and one English channel. The fourth channel merely loops some PowerPoint slides over and over again. We were limited to the English channel, BBC, as we did not understand Arabic. Standing guard on both sides of the bed are two bedside tables. Decked in light brown, the two-tiered drawer bedside tables are quite large, giving us additional storage space and allowing us to place our lifestyle devices on them. The only design flaw with the bedside tables is the lack of power outlets, preventing us from charging our mobile phones.
French Balcony
The Grand Suite onboard MS River Tosca did not have a balcony per se. Rather, the suite is fitted with a French Balcony in which the centre floor-to-ceiling glass panel can be slid to let a fresh Nile breeze into the suite. There are bars fitted to prevent guests from falling overboard.
French balcony in our Grand Suite
Service
Service was top-notch onboard the MS River Tosca. Every staff member we met was welcoming and always had a smile on their face. Every time we return from sightseeing, the staff will be at the door welcoming guests with refreshing drinks. The staff greeted us every moment we bumped into them on the boat. Telab was our cabin attendant who always kept our cabin clean and tidy twice daily. When we saw him along the corridor, he checked if we needed to top up supplies. He would always leave a small souvenir with the next day’s programme sheet on our bed every evening during turndown service.
The staff at the dining hall were amazing. They would remember our preference for seating and always brought us to our preferred table. They always found a good alternative when our preferred table was unavailable. The staff remembered that we liked spicy food and would always bring us a bottle of hot sauce without asking for it. There was an occasion when the dining hall staff told the head chef onboard our preference for spicy food and gave us a small bowl of spicy sauce the head chef prepared. The head chef is an elderly gentleman who was active in the dining hall during meal time, introducing the dishes to guests. He was very personable and took care of us very well. He would always recommend the speciality of the day for us to try. We had a great time onboard MS River Tosca, mostly due to the personable staff onboard who would always lean in to help without fail.
Meals
Meals are served in the main dining room on the boat’s Nile Deck (Deck 1), just one deck below the reception onboard MS River Tosca. We were told that the cruise company has a farm in Luxor, where most of the produce used to prepare the meals came from. Every meal served was Western cuisine, except for a few days when we saw some Egyptian food on the menu. Most lunches were buffet-style, usually with two meat and two vegetarian options. There is a good selection of salad and starters, and we were spoilt for choice for desserts. Dinner is served in a restaurant-style, where we are given a menu with appetisers, mains, and desserts. The restaurant staff was happy to take our orders and customise the options. Drinks and wines are included in the meals onboard. The food prepared onboard was delicious and of high quality; we enjoyed every meal and looked forward to the next meal. The menu changes daily, and we were well fed by the Chef team onboard the MS River Tosca.
Around the Boat
Sundeck & Pool
MS River Tosca dedicated the entire Sun Deck (Deck 4), the highest deck onboard, to the sundeck and swimming pool. The sundeck consists of two distinct areas: the pool deck and the alfresco area. The forward part of the boat is dedicated to the pool deck, where a small pool is fitted to the front of the sundeck onboard MS River Tosca. The pool is too small for anyone to swim in, which I thought served more as a dipping pool to cool guests off during the summer months. There are numerous sun chairs and loungers behind the pool for guests to relax while we sail on the Nile. The sundeck is a great place to watch sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed the tranquillity of the Nile on the sundeck loungers.
The back half of the sundeck is an alfresco area furnished with dining tables and chairs to cater to different group sizes. Guests using the alfresco area are shaded by a large tentage, which I found perfect for relaxing and enjoying the Nile breeze. A bar counter at the back of the boat serves drinks and cocktails. Daily afternoon tea onboard is also served at this part of the sundeck. Activities such as yoga, Zumba and cooking classes are also conducted in the alfresco area of the sundeck.
Gym
A small gym on MS River Tosca is located on the Pyramid Deck (Deck 4). The minimalist gym has only cardio machines: two stationary bikes and a treadmill. We also found two vibrating workout machines onboard.
Lounge
The lounge is located opposite the main reception onboard MS River Tosca. Decked in dark brown wooden finishes, the lounge exudes a sense of calmness and elegance. There is a bar at the lounge where guests can order drinks, wines and cocktails from (extra charges). A daily speciality cocktail is on top of the boat’s list of cocktails. The lounge is another venue for us to hang out when we are not in our cabin or the sundeck, as it is usually quiet. The couches and dining chairs are furnished mainly on the parameters of the lounge, leaving the centre part of the lounge empty. We had our welcome cocktails in the lounge the first time we boarded, and the boat organised nightly talks from the Egyptologists for guests to understand more about the history of Egypt. Then, there were nights when we saw performances of traditional Egyptian dances here in the lounge.
Library
The library onboard MS River Tosca is inside the lounge on the main reception deck. The library is an enclosed area where we see books (not sure if they are for display purposes), a chess set, a backgammon board and a shisha inside. I am pretty sure the shisha is for display purposes. I thought the library was a great place to hang out watching life on the River Nile flow by at the water level and in an enclosed space. It is furnished with a large couch and some chairs that look out into the Nile River through the floor-to-ceiling glass window. We saw that the library was mostly empty during sailing onboard the MS River Tosca.
Overall
The MS River Tosca was an excellent boat to sail along the River Nile. Despite being a tad old and signs of ageing, the elegant boat is very well maintained. The Grand Suite was spacious, and the sleep quality on the bed was excellent. The only letdown is the limited entertainment options on the TV. The food onboard was amazing and of high quality. The staff we met onboard were personable and welcoming. They are the stars that made our sailing onboard the MS River Tosca memorable.
Boarding Alexandria Airlines B737-500 on the tarmac
At the Airport
The Alexandria Airlines flight from Cairo to Luxor departed from Cairo Airport Terminal 1 Hall 1, mainly serving domestic destinations. All passengers using the terminal (or any Egyptian airport terminals) would need to clear three security checkpoints. The first checkpoint was right at the entrance of the terminal building, where the authorities would only admit personnel with a valid booking into the terminal. The second checkpoint is inside the terminal building, right before the airlines’ check-in counters, and the third is before entering the aircraft waiting area. Alexandria Airlines’ check-in counters are not located in the main terminal but in an obscure part of the terminal building. The two check-in counters that Alexandria Airlines uses are Economy Class counters, as the airlines only have Economy Class onboard. Alexandria Airlines uses the EgyptAir counters; even their boarding pass was labelled EgyptAir. Today’s flight was full, causing the queue at the check-in counters to be long. Coupled with the slow check-in process, it took us about 20 minutes to get our luggage checked in. The ground staff did not give us any information on where the gate was, perhaps because our tour director was around to help us.
The Aircraft
According to the airline’s website, Alexandria Airlines currently has a fleet of two aircraft, the older B737-500 and a relatively newer B777-300. Alexandria Airlines used their smaller B737-500 aircraft to fly between Cairo and Luxor today.
Alexandria Airlines B737-500 safety card
The Cabin
Alexandria Airlines B737-500 has 121 seats in all Economy Class seats. The single-aisle aircraft looked gloomy due to the combination of dark blue coloured seats and the yellow lighting used in the cabin. The aircraft looked like it was stuck in yesteryears, with the seats showing signs of ageing and the oversized latch on the overhead bin. Even the call and light buttons above the seats were huge physical buttons.
The only two lavatories are located at the aircraft’s front and rear. The lavatories were in very bad shape, with serious yellowing and stains. The entire lavatories feel small, perhaps due to the size of the aircraft and the lighting colour used. The mirrors the airline installed in its lavatories did little to give its users a sense of spaciousness. The small sink in the lavatory is fitted with the traditional push button taps. The lavatory has no amenities besides a dirty hand soap container (those you would buy from supermarkets). The lever flush did not even work, at least for the rear lavatory that I used.
The Seat
Seats onboard the single-aisle Alexandria Airlines B737-500 are arranged in a 3-3 configuration. Seats on the exit row are arranged in a 2-2 configuration, and the last row has only three seats on the right of the aircraft. Seats come with a seat pitch of 30” and measure 17.5″ wide with a 3″ recline. The legroom on each seat was excellent, especially for a short-haul flight. I find the seats very comfortable due to the thick padding used. Each seat is fitted with a large seat pocket. However, the seat pocket on my seat had some trash in it that I did not find inviting to use. The tray table fitted on each seat was large.
Inflight Entertainment
Alexandria Airlines B737-500 has been in service for over 30 years (according to the airline’s website). Thus, no Inflight Entertainment was installed, not even the in-sit radio in older aircraft. The two flight attendants serving this short domestic run perform safety demonstrations manually.
Meal Service
Due to the short flight time (of 1 hour), no meals were served onboard the aircraft. However, the cabin crew went around distributing bottled water to all passengers.
Service
I thought the service onboard was good for a short domestic run and limited interaction opportunities. The cabin crew was seen smiling and greeting all passengers at the door and immediately sprung into action, distributing water with a smile as soon as the seat belt signs were turned off. They were seen constantly patrolling the cabin to clear trash and diligently securing the cabin for take-off and landing.
Afterthought
The ageing Alexandria Airlines B737-500 served its purpose of ferrying passengers from Cairo to Luxor for the short 1-hour domestic flight. I found the legroom was generous, and the seating was comfortable. The aircraft does come across as a little dirty in the seat pockets and the lavatory. The service rendered by the two flight attendants was good.
