Panta Lodge SIwa

It was a wonderful hotel full of hospitality. I arrived at Siwa at 6 am and couldn't check in, so I sat in the lobby. The staff arrived around 7:30 and allowed me to check in earlier than planned. They also served breakfast. The interior of the hotel was very nice and soothing. When the bus I was supposed to take left two hours early, the hotel manager helped me. The manager explained the situation to a tuk-tuk driver and arranged for me to go to the bus stop to buy a new ticket in Arabic. Thanks to him, I was able to return to Cairo safely. The people of Siwa are wonderful. As for the hotel facilities, they are decent as it is in a rural area. The shower provides hot water, but the water has a slightly rusty smell, probably due to the saltiness of the area. You need to bring your own towel as they are not provided. The rooms are clean.

When I arrived in Siwa, I asked a local driver to take me to Panta Lodge, but he was not familiar with the place and had to inquire about the hotel's location. When I finally arrived, the on-site manager (Mohamed) was unaware of my booking, but he was very helpful. The room was comfortable, but the private bathroom needs maintenance (rusty faucet, misaligned with the center of the sink, shower floor not sloped to the drain resulting in a wet area after showering). The breakfast was great. I booked another night through Expedia, but Mohamed later informed me that the hotel was fully booked, so I had to cancel and request a refund from Expedia. It seems that their online bookings are managed by an off-site manager (a case of miscommunication). I enjoyed the common area and the friendly staff, so overall, I recommend it.