Kato Waidi Nubian Resort

Great views of the Nile with lots of boat traffic and people watching. Rooms aren’t great, pretty but in need of some repairs. shower is very primitive, just a nozzle on the wall and a floor drain, no enclosure. Window wouldn’t open so it was quite dark. But the market nearby was wonderful and we didn’t spend much time in our room anyway. As long as you are not looking for luxury, you will love this place. Authentic Nubian.

The location is very nice, the view is beyond amazing.. the food is average for lunch below average for the breakfast.. rooms are clean.. my worst experience was the staff.. on my second day we requested to have a boat to go to elephantine island, nobles tombs and botanical gardens.. we talked to the sailor and had a deal to take us for 500 EGP.. we climbed the hill at nobles tomb, while going down we met someone who told us that the sailor is asking people who are going up to ask “those with red backpacks” to come down because he’s late (this was 3 hours after we had the deal for the whole tour) we went down to find the sailor screaming that he want to go back to the hotel now!!! We called the administration who asked him to complete the tour as the deal so he did but with lots of screaming.. the second weird experience was when we checked out at 6 am, we called them to tell them that we have a lost item that was left in one of the rooms, they found our items (a purse full of makeup and a Calvin clein hand bag full of bracelets) they found it and we asked them to send it to a friend in a nearby hotel and we will pay for the messenger, they said that instead they will send them with the messenger to Luxor (where we were at this moment) but we have to pick it up from the messenger at the train station at 2 am, although it was less convenient than having the friend in Aswan take it, we agreed, went to meet the messenger at 2 am, he said “oh sorry I left your items at a cafe in Aswan 3 hours ago” and he simply left 🤷‍♀️

This hotel has very high rating but as a couple who booked and then did not stay even after we paid feel like we need to manage expectations. The place is a hole in the wall it's made out of concrete block. The shower is a pipe in the bathroom, the floor is tile, and the outside is sand. It is located in the Nubian Village, and the area is very impoverished. Water speculative-The staff is extremely welcoming, organized kind and the place is very clean. Just keep in mind you get what you pay; for my husband would not even get off the boat (AKA water taxi) that brought us there. and we ended up checking ourselves into the Old Cataract Hotel. Our friends stayed, and there was a wedding that night. This property as a"once in a lifetime experience!"

What sets the Kato Waidi Nubian house apart from its wonderful location inside the Nubian village and by the Nile riverside is the owner/manager Mahmud and his wonderful staff. Mahmud was super helpful when it came to guiding us about the things to do in and around Aswan and he also helped organize our trip to Abu Simbel and our drop to Luxor, at a very reasonable price. He gave us valuable tips on what to buy and where as well. Coming back to the resort, it is pretty big and very nicely done up. There are two sections - the main one is adjacent to the river and the second part is just behind it with at least one corner room with a full view of the river. The main section has a large open air dining area with many tables right next to the river. All the staff are extremely helpful and cooperative and the food is delicious as well. We tried the local dishes and really enjoyed them. The resort has a number of friendly cats and a couple of friendly dogs (which get bullied by the cats) and it was good fun to interact with them. We love animals and enjoyed the cats rubbing themselves against us below the table while we were eating but if someone is afraid of animals then this may be something to think about. Although we stayed in the annexe and not the main part of the resort, we also found it nice. All the buildings are built in the Nubian style of architecture with brickwork arches with no keystones. The rooms were functional and although a bit small, were ok. They gave a sense of what living in the village would be like. Our bathroom was large and nice too with a bathtub, although having a shower curtain would have helped. Anyway, I am nitpicking here. We loved our stay at the Kato Waidi and would love to stay there again.

This place screams local charm and happiness. The location is amazing, in a Nubian village (you will think the taxi driver is lost), it is colorfully cheery, so clean, on the river, and the restaurant is so delicious…as you dine Nile side. One night a local music group came…super fun. There is a local man with a boat, Fufu, and for $2.00 he is the most fun water taxi ever. I look for hotels that have all the feel for where you are and this place nails it. This is a Muslim hotel so no bar. Good thing we had a bottle of vodka from duty free. The hotel does not have a pool. The manage told me they are adding one soon! Good thing This place is just everything you would want in a cool place. Book it ! Parker in Santa Fe