Steigenberger Resort Achti

Steigenberger Resort Achti sits on Khaled Ibn El Walid Street in the Awameya district, with direct frontage onto the Nile and a felucca dock at the bottom of the garden. It is minutes from the town centre and about eleven kilometres from the airport, which makes it practical for short stays as well as longer breaks combining sightseeing with time by the pool.

The resort offers fifteen room types, starting with Classic rooms with city views and rising to the Royal Suite of around 150 square metres. Deluxe rooms face the Nile and come with terraces, and they are worth the extra if you want to watch the feluccas and the light changing over the West Bank hills from your own space.

The pool area is a big part of the appeal. There are two heated outdoor pools with waterfalls and a whirlpool, plus a children's pool, which makes this a comfortable base for families in the cooler months when unheated pools can be chilly. Restaurant Karnak is the main dining room, and there is also a pool restaurant and a bar. Menus include international dishes alongside vegetarian and vegan options, which is helpful in a city where meat-heavy grills dominate many local menus.

Achti suits families, couples and travellers who want a resort atmosphere without being far from the monuments. Its position on the Nile means you can arrange a sunset felucca sail without leaving the hotel, and the street outside is lined with other hotels, cafés and tour offices, so you will not lack options in the evenings. Those wanting historic character or a rural setting may prefer the West Bank.

Luxor Temple and the souq are a short taxi or horse-carriage ride north along the Corniche, and Karnak is a little further. Ferries and the road bridge give access to the West Bank sights, which most guests visit on an organised half-day or full-day tour. Book directly through the hotel group's website, by phone or by email, and ask about Nile-view availability when you reserve.

Luxor's peak season runs through the cooler months, when prices rise and the pools are at their most pleasant in the afternoons, so reserve early for winter dates. In summer the heat is intense, and a resort with gardens and pools becomes a real refuge between outings.