Accommodations

For those who want a (cheap) room with a view, there are several small hotels on the streets running south from the corniche near Raml Station Sq, The crowds are tolerable at LE5-10 per night, but the insects, ranging from tiny ticks and fleas to armor-plated, three-inch cockroaches, may be intolerable in some of these establishments. The places listed below are relatively clean and cheap, and all except the hostel and the Corail Hotel lie within walking distance of the two main squares. None have fans, unless noted; most Alexandrians depend on sea breezes for their air-conditioning.

Streets in Al-Manshiya Sq. bristle with budget hotels. Many Arab vacationers prefer to stay in the hotels near the corniche beaches, while short-term foreign visitors seem to favor accommodations near the center of town. Those who insist upon a beachside retreat should head out toward Montaza (18km) at least as far as Sidi Bishr (14km), where the amenities begin to balance the inconvenience of staying so far from the center of town. Serious piaster-pinchers can camp by the beach at Abu Qir for 5Opt (see Abu Qir below).