We stayed at the Old Cataract for a week, and were lucky enough to be upgraded to a gorgeous suite in the palace wing, which had a huge terrace overlooking the Nile. The whole hotel is warm, traditional yet modern, with tastefully decorated rooms and great facilities, fabulous food and service. However what really 'makes' the hotel is the staff - Elia (1902 restaurant - which is a fabulous experience in itself), Ashram at the pool, Ereena and Nagy, at breakfast, and Ahmed and Ayman at Dinner. They are without exception attentive, and keen to ensure that they provide a great level of service, but they also anticipate what you need before you know yourself. They were also kind and interested in guests as people - which is unusual in an upmarket hotel, where sometimes the staff themselves can be quite 'snooty! An example of this was when my mum was unwell - I told staff at breakfast, who immediately asked whether they could send anything to her room, and for several days afterwards asked every time they saw her if she was ok, she tends to get a bit breathless when walking upstairs, and when she paused on the way up from the jetty, to get her breath back and sit on a wall for a rest, Nagy (I think) passed down a cushion for her to sit on. I have always loved Aswan - it's my favourite place in Eygpt, and the Old Cataract is the perfect place to stay. We will most definitely be back

We'd seen this hotel in 2008 and 2009 on the two Nile cruises we had done from Luxor to Aswan but it was closed and due for refurbishment. So during our trip to the Winter Palace in Luxor recently we decided to give it a visit. Luxor to Aswan by taxi is about just over 3 hours. Arriving at 11am we were going to have a walk round Aswan as we knew it well from the previous trips. But we decided to go and have a look at the Old Cataract first. Three hours later, we were still there! After having refreshment on the terrace, we decided to stay for lunch. And what a splendid meal it was, served by the inimitable Gaber who, during serving us the meal, gave us a potted history of the place. We ate under the King Farouk tent on the terrace and really felt like celebrities, the way we were treated. After a long relaxing lunch we had a stroll round the beautiful gardens and then Gaber asked if we would like a tour of the hotel, which he gave us. Although it has been completely refurbished the style and ambience is still one of old style glamour and you could still imagine two of its more famous residents, Dame Agatha and Sir Winston walking down the corridors. A really special end to a very special lunch before it was time for the three hour drive back to Luxor. A kind of dream come true for both of us and it's a big thank you to Gaber for showing us the splendour and grandeur that is the Old Cataract. If only one day we could stay.........!

To stay at the Old Cataract was why we booked to go to Aswan - of course we also went to Abu Simbel, Philae, Kalabshe and visited the Aswan High Dam. But the Old Cataract was my primary reason to visit - and it didn't disappoint. Steeped in history and tradition, it is beautifully renovated and it was a privilege to stay there. We were upgraded to an amazing room in the Old Cararact building for which we were very grateful. I shall upload some views from our balcony window where we spent every evening before dinner taking photos of the sunset over the West Bank.