The Old Cataract Hotel is one of, if not the most famous hotel in all of Egypt. Opened originally in Aswan in 1899, everything about this place radiates old world travel. From the beautiful lush gardens, to the classic, sophisticated lobby, to the Moorish-style architecture. It makes me want to don a vintage 3-piece linen suit & fan myself with my wide brimmed hat, looking out over the Nile.

The hotel’s location in Aswan, historically an important trading hub since ancient times, means that it’s hosted a who’s who of famous people throughout the years. Winston Churchill, King Farouk, Howard Carter, Jimmy Carter, Margaret Thatcher, Omar Sharif and Princess Diana, just to name a few. But, perhaps most famously, Agatha Christie is said to have penned her book Death on the Nile in this very hotel.