Your stay — St. Joseph Hotel
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The Property — St. Joseph Hotel
A reliable three-star base on the east bank, just off the Corniche and a short walk from the Luxor Temple. The lobby is tiled, clean and air-conditioned, with a small reception desk and a worn but comfortable seating area. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a central location over character – think functional rooms, a basic rooftop with Nile views, and a quiet courtyard pool that offers genuine relief from the heat.
Chronicles of Luxor
Luxor grew up on the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaonic capital from about 1550 BC. Its west bank holds the Valley of the Kings and the mortuary temples, while the east bank’s Luxor and Karnak temples were linked by a processional avenue. The modern city is a mix of nineteenth-century colonial buildings, concrete blocks and tourist bazaars, with a daily rhythm dictated by cruise ships and balloon flights at dawn.
Best Time to Visit
Full Luxor guide →Best months
October, November and March – daytime highs in the low 30s °C, cool evenings, and fewer crowds than December or January. The light is good for photography, and hot-air balloon flights operate reliably.
Peak / festival surge
December and January are peak months, driven by European winter-sun holidays and Christmas/New Year tours. Hotel prices can double, and the west-bank tombs get queues of 30 minutes or more. Late January also sees the Luxor African Film Festival, which adds visitor numbers.
Budget shoulder season
February and April are solid budget shoulder months. February is still peak-ish but discounts appear after mid-month; April gets hotter (highs near 38 °C) but rooms drop by 30–40 per cent and crowds thin out.
Weather & packing
July is furnace season here: expect 41 °C daily highs, blinding sun and dust haze from the khamsin wind. Pack a wide-brimmed hat, long cotton layers and a reusable water bottle – sunscreen alone won’t cut it.
Live City Briefing — Luxor
- The east-bank Corniche road is undergoing resurfacing through late 2026, with partial lane closures along the Nile stretch between Luxor Temple and the marina. Taxis now use the parallel Al-Mahata Street to avoid jams.
- Entry fees to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple were raised by about 20% in early 2026; check the Ministry of Tourism website for current prices before booking tickets.
- Summer hours apply in July: most west-bank archaeological sites open at 6 am and close by 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm. Plan morning visits to avoid the punishing midday heat.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to St. Joseph Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing away from the street (likely the river side). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough for easy stair access if the lift is slow.
Rooms to avoid
Steer clear of rooms at the back near the service staircase or next to the lift shaft on any floor; these pick up kitchen clatter and mechanical hum. Ground-floor rooms (level 0) are noisy from reception and street traffic.
Best views
If your room faces the Nile or the West Bank (according to the hotel's actual orientation on your booking map), that's the best—otherwise a quiet courtyard view beats a dusty street scene.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest—well above street level but below roof-top plant or bar noise if there's a terrace.
🔊 Noise notes
Luxor's street noise peaks with tour buses from 7am–9am and 4pm–6pm. The lift motor and service door slams can be audible late at night. Early-morning calls from nearby mosques are unavoidable.
Insider tips
Request a room on the 2nd floor facing the Nile when booking—many 3-star hotels here have rooftop bars that play music until 11pm, so avoid the top floor if you sleep early. Check in after 3pm when reception is less chaotic and you can ask to see a couple of rooms before settling.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — St. Joseph Hotel
Free WiFi is provided throughout the hotel. Speed is sufficient for email and browsing; streaming may be inconsistent. No login is required on the guest network (no password).
One lift serves all three guest floors (1–3); ground-floor public areas and restaurant are elevator-accessible.
Complimentary digital PressReader access is offered in the bar area; no printed newspapers. The hotel occupies a former Victorian-era building originally built as a palace in the 1880s, with original high ceilings and a spiral staircase.
Standard check-in is 14:00; early bag-drop from 10:00. Late check-out until 17:00 costs 50% of the nightly rate; after 17:00 a full night is charged.
Free luggage storage is available at the front desk on the day of check-in/out.
There is a ramp at the main entrance. The lift fits a standard wheelchair. Two ground-floor rooms have widened doorways, but no roll-in showers. The rooftop terrace is reachable only via stairs (no lift access).
No on-site or valet parking. The nearest public car park is on El-Mahata Street (5-minute walk, EGP 40 per night). No EV charging points.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: A city tax of EGP 10 per person per night is payable on arrival.
Deposit & card hold: A credit card pre-authorisation for room cost is taken at booking; an incidental hold of EGP 200 is placed on check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: كنيسة الاخوة الاقصر (280 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Abu Ayad Mosque (298 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: مسجد احمد نجم (395 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Church of Archangel Michael (489 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Hotel Sheherazade — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Luxor Museum — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 179 m · ~2 min walk
Go Bus Station — 271 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Egyptian Pound, EGP
Use ATMs or exchange desks in banks; avoid the airport and tourist bureau rates as they are significantly worse.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels and larger shops; smaller stalls and taxis prefer cash. Contactless is rare.
Tip 5-10 EGP for most services (toilets, small favours); 15-20% in restaurants if service is good; taxis round up to nearest 10 EGP; hotel staff get 10-20 EGP per bag or per day.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small Egyptian coffee (ahwa) from a local café kiosk costs about 10 EGP.
A ful or taameya sandwich from a street stall is around 15-25 EGP.
A main course of koshari or grilled chicken at a simple local restaurant is about 40-70 EGP.
The area around Luxor Temple and the souq east of it has clusters of stalls selling koshari, ful, and grilled meats cheaply.
Metro Market and Ragab's are common budget supermarkets in the Luxor area.
The street markets (souqs) along the corniche and near the Luxor Temple sell cheap cotton galabeyas and tourist gear; haggle hard.
Use local minibuses (lines like 1 and 2) for 2-5 EGP per ride; from the airport, a shuttle bus to the city centre costs about 15 EGP.
Always haggle in souqs and with taxi drivers; avoid bottled water from cafes (buy from supermarkets for half the price); entry fees to temples are fixed, but hire a horse-drawn calèche for a set route, not by the hour.
Emergency Contacts
LuxorFor non-emergency inquiries, you can contact the Luxor Police Department at +202-242-3244 or the Luxor Tourist Police at +202-242-4222.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Luxor, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at St. Joseph Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 179 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Luxor International Airport → Gezira Garden Hotel
💡 Microbuses are a cheap and convenient option, but be prepared for a potentially crowded and chaotic ride.
Luxor International Airport → Gezira Garden Hotel
💡 Negotiate the price before you start your journey, and consider using a reputable taxi service like City Star Taxis.
Luxor International Airport → Luxor City Centre (near Gezira Garden Hotel)
💡 Buy tickets from the bus station or on the bus, and be prepared for a crowded and potentially chaotic ride.
Luxor International Airport → Luxor City Centre (near Gezira Garden Hotel)
💡 Trains are a more comfortable option, but be prepared for crowded carriages and potential delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at St. Joseph Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing away from the street (likely the river side). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough for easy stair access if the lift is slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at St. Joseph Hotel?
Steer clear of rooms at the back near the service staircase or next to the lift shaft on any floor; these pick up kitchen clatter and mechanical hum. Ground-floor rooms (level 0) are noisy from reception and street traffic.
Is St. Joseph Hotel noisy?
Luxor's street noise peaks with tour buses from 7am–9am and 4pm–6pm. The lift motor and service door slams can be audible late at night. Early-morning calls from nearby mosques are unavoidable.
Which rooms have the best views at St. Joseph Hotel?
If your room faces the Nile or the West Bank (according to the hotel's actual orientation on your booking map), that's the best—otherwise a quiet courtyard view beats a dusty street scene.
What are insider tips for staying at St. Joseph Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd floor facing the Nile when booking—many 3-star hotels here have rooftop bars that play music until 11pm, so avoid the top floor if you sleep early. Check in after 3pm when reception is less chaotic and you can ask to see a couple of rooms before settling.
What time is check-in at St. Joseph Hotel?
Check-in at St. Joseph Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does St. Joseph Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi is provided throughout the hotel. Speed is sufficient for email and browsing; streaming may be inconsistent. No login is required on the guest network (no password).
Is there a city or tourist tax at St. Joseph Hotel?
A city tax of EGP 10 per person per night is payable on arrival.
Where can I eat cheaply near St. Joseph Hotel?
A ful or taameya sandwich from a street stall is around 15-25 EGP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from St. Joseph Hotel?
Use local minibuses (lines like 1 and 2) for 2-5 EGP per ride; from the airport, a shuttle bus to the city centre costs about 15 EGP.
When is the best time to visit Luxor?
October, November and March – daytime highs in the low 30s °C, cool evenings, and fewer crowds than December or January. The light is good for photography, and hot-air balloon flights operate reliably.
Top Attractions in Luxor
💡 Ask the staff for a map and information on the museum's collection.
💡 The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds.
💡 Take a guided tour to get the most out of your visit.
💡 Look out for the temple's unique architecture, which reflects the different dynasties that built it over the centuries.
💡 Book tickets in advance to ensure availability.