Rent an apartment or an Airbnb in Cairo, or anywhere in Egypt!
Want to see what an actual apartment in Cairo is like? Check out this YouTube video where I show an apartment I rented in downtown Cairo in November, 2021.
With more ways to connect with landlords offering short-term rentals, staying in a hotel is no longer the only viable option for travelers visiting Egypt. This blog post will cover staying in an apartment or Airbnb in Cairo (or elsewhere) instead of opting for a hotel: the benefits and drawbacks, what to expect, and how to find apartments for rent.
Why rent an apartment? Benefits and drawbacks:
Renting an apartment is not suitable for all travelers to Egypt. Before you decide to ditch the hotel, ask yourself:
-How long am I staying in each city? Will I be somewhere for more than a few nights?
-How important is it for me to have the extra facilities an apartment provides (laundry, full kitchen, privacy, etc.)?
-What do I expect in level of accommodation (budget, luxury, somewhere in-between)?
-Do I want access to a pool, spa, fitness facilities, and on-site drinking and dining where I stay?
-How important is it for me to have the assurance that if something goes wrong, I can complain to management, have my problem solved quickly, and get a refund if things do not work out?
If travelers are in a city for 5 days or more, if they want to have access to amenities like a full kitchen and laundry, and if they are alright with more basic, budget-level accommodations, then renting an apartment in Egypt is a great idea! However, if one has a chock-full, fast-paced itinerary, would not use the extra amenities an apartment provides, or prefers high-end (4/5 star) hotels with amenities like a pool or day spa, then an apartment is not a good fit. Another important thing to note about apartments is that working directly with a landlord does not offer the same protections as staying in a hotel—if something goes wrong at an apartment, you may not have a responsive landlord, ready to help you, whereas at a hotel (especially a luxury, international brand), management is always on-site, ready to fix anything that goes awry.
Some apartments in Cairo are luxurious, for a price. Others, like this apartment I rented in November, 2020, are very affordable (less than $15 per night), but do not offer the same comforts. You have to decide what works best for you on your trip.
What to expect
Since 2012, I have stayed in over 15 apartments throughout Egypt, some short-term rentals (less than one month), and some long-term rentals (one month or more). I have seen the gamut of apartment types in all neighborhoods, and want to share what travelers can expect if they rent an apartment in Cairo, or anywhere else in Egypt:
-Facilities: most apartments will have a full kitchen (fridge and freezer, stove, oven, sink), and most will have laundry. Other amenities, like internet, air-conditioning, a balcony, etc., may not be available everywhere. Make sure you clarify with the landlord everything an apartment includes, and check everything to make sure it works before agreeing to rent a place.
-Rent: the cost of an apartment varies, but a good rule of thumb is that an apartment will be at least as expensive as the budget hotel options in the area, if not a bit more, since it is more private (and usually has more space and amenities). In the past, I have paid anywhere between 200 Egyptian Pounds (less than $20) to 600 Egyptian Pounds (~$40) per night, depending on the location, size, quality, amenities, and how many guests were staying there. There are also more luxury apartment options available, but usually on sites like Airbnb.com.
-Level of accommodation: most of the time, an apartment will be the same level of accommodation as a budget hotel. The mattress may not be super comfy, the internet might go in and out, and there will almost certainly not be heating (which, January-March, means it can get pretty cold inside!). If you are used to the level of comfort a 3, 4, or 5-star hotel provides, renting an apartment is probably not for you.
-Customer service: apartments do not offer the same level of service you would get at a hotel. The washing machine stopped working? Don’t know how to turn on the water heater or work the stove? If you need something, renting an apartment means you will often wait for several hours before hearing back from your landlord. And if something really goes wrong, you probably will not be able to get your money back if you decide to leave a short-term rental. Always get the contact information (phone number and Whatsapp) for your landlord, and any doorman working your building. If you are concerned about customer service, Airbnb is a much better option for renting than working directly with a landlord, because Airbnb has its own built in customer support, along with insurance coverage, if things go south.
-Paperwork: apartment owners, just like hotels, will need to take a copy of your passport, in order to have it on file in case the tourism police ask who is staying at the apartment.
Facebook groups are one way to find a short-term rental, but buyer beware—sometimes advertisements on these groups are a bait-and-switch!
How to find apartments for rent
If you have decided that renting an apartment is right for you, here are some ways you can find apartments for rent:
Airbnb.com—Airbnb offers apartment rentals (short and long-term) all around the world, and they have apartments available in all major cities in Egypt. The benefit to using Airbnb is you can look at apartments in advance of your trip, online, and pay Airbnb directly, giving you access to customer service if anything goes wrong, and basic insurance coverage in case something happens during your stay. The drawback to using Airbnb is that it is often much, much, more expensive than working with a landlord directly.
Text Hassan Ibrahim, a landlord I used in the past—I rented an apartment in Cairo through Hassan Ibrahim in November, 2021. He has several quality apartments in downtown Cairo for rent. You can reach Hassan via email at hassan.ibrahim.eng@outlook.com, or Whatsapp at +20 1010609948. Tell him Gus from Egypt Adventures Travel sent you, and he'll take good care of you! Be sure to view the apartment though before committing to renting it.
Facebook groups—Facebook has several groups where landlords can offer their apartments for rent, and renters can post asking for accommodation options. Here is one I have used in the past for renting apartments. When meeting someone from a Facebook group, be wary, because sometimes folks on these websites use a bait-and-switch tactic to lure renters in; I have had it happen before where a landlord shares photos of an apartment, but when I go to see the apartment, they take me to an entirely different place that is not suitable at all, wasting my time. I have also had some great successes renting through folks I meet on Facebook, though, so it can be a mixed bag.
Now that you know the benefits and drawbacks of renting an apartment in Cairo, what to expect, and how to find an apartment for rent, what do you think? Is this a good option for your Egypt adventure?
If you rented an apartment during your trip, what was your experience like? Leave us a comment below!
