Can you get a hotel room upgrade in Egypt, and what's the difference between room categories (standard, superior, deluxe, family suite)?

From messages by 2 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 56 days ago

TL;DR

At some Egyptian resorts (e.g. in the Marina area) you can tip the reception a small amount to get a nicer room than what was booked. Note that a "Superior" category isn't always bigger or better than Standard — sometimes it's even smaller, so it's worth checking exactly what each category includes before paying extra.

What the community said

The "Superior" room category can actually turn out smaller than a Standard room — it's unclear what exactly makes it "superior" then. Hotels in the Palm area have a separate Deluxe category which may be a better option.

Superior / Deluxe (Palm area)

It only makes sense to book a Family Suite if traveling with kids: the room size is similar to Standard, but it has a second room with a bunk bed where an average-sized adult would barely fit.

Family Suite

There are only about 16 Superior rooms in the hotel, so availability for an upgrade is limited, and in practice they can be smaller than a regular Standard room.

~16 Superior rooms

The official hotel price is one thing, but there's a human factor: at a hotel in the Marina area, a small tip to reception (per passport) got the guest a semi-lux room instead of the standard one they'd booked.

Hotel in the Marina area