Can you upgrade your hotel room on arrival in Egypt, and how much does it usually cost?

One traveler was offered building/block 900 with no extra category surcharge — staff simply asked how much they'd pay. They gave $10 and were very happy with that building.

Another traveler noted that not all standard rooms are bad, and reception can be negotiated with: for a small gift plus €25 they got to choose from four rooms and picked one on the first floor near the dining area. This was in March when rooms were available — in summer such choice may not exist.

Another comment warns that in their case everyone was refused a room change even for money, except through the check-in manager. That person quoted very high daily rates: $50–70 per night to upgrade from standard to family, and $7–10 per night to move into an 'improved' category (visually the same standard room but in better condition).

One traveler said they booked a standard room and then upgraded at the hotel for $20. In their experience, this was much cheaper than paying for a higher room category in advance through a tour operator.

There are also much pricier examples: one case mentioned upgrading two standard rooms to a three-room family unit for $250. This suggests the cost depends a lot on how big the upgrade is and how many rooms are involved.

Another traveler reported paying an unofficial $100 to move from a standard room to a family room. They also noted that some hotels have an official room-upgrade price list, so it is worth asking reception about the official option first.