Panta Lodge SIwa

It was a wonderful hotel overflowing with hospitality. I arrived at Siwa at 6 am and couldn't check in, so I sat in the lobby. The staff who came around 7:30 greeted me and allowed me to check in earlier than scheduled. 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, took me to the bus stop, and helped me 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 due to the rural location. 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 bath towel as they are not provided. The rooms are cleaned well.

When I arrived at 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 not aware 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 a shower). 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 like 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.