I debated long and hard before selecting a hotel to stay in while visiting Cairo. I had originally planned to stay with friends, but the timing was off, so I had to fit a hotel into my three-country travel budget. I wanted inexpensive, safe, and decent. The King Hotel was a great fit. It is located in a quiet neighborhood, which helped me get much-needed sleep.
I arrived very late, in the middle of the night, after a flight delay. When I arrived, the desk clerk asked if I had taken the wrong bag from the airport. I checked, and, to my extreme embarrassment, I had. The real owner had already called the hotel (thanks to my location notation on my entry card) and the clerk put me in contact with her. The clerk arranged for a trusted driver (in the middle of the night) who delivered the bag to her, costing me just $6. I had no bag, and the hotel helped me with necessities for the night.
Problems at the airport the next day precluded me from getting my bag, so I opted to head to Alexandria early for a visit with friends. The hotel kindly adjusted my stay-time. When I came back three days later, I stayed there again.
The hotel is off the main path, but I had a driver with car, so that was of no consequence. The breakfasts were fine and typical Egyptian-style - I never left hungry. I reserved a three-bed, then a two-bed room. The cost difference was small, and I liked having the extra space. Everything was clean, the water was hot, and there were enough outlets for electronics. The weather was moderate, so I didn't need heat or air conditioning.
The first night I had a decent mattress, but during the second stay my mattress was too thin, even with one piled on top of the other. When I mentioned that when I check-out, they asked me why I hadn't told them, as they would have found me a better one. I believed them.
One regret - I never made it up to the roof restaurant, as I was not there when it was open.
I really appreciated the help and effort put forth by the staff, and will stay here again on my next visit.
If you are used to staying in American-comfort type hotels, the King Hotel will be too bare-boned for you. But if you travel to see and do things (rather than cocooning in your hotel), and appreciate inexpensive hotel value, safety, and a caring staff, I whole-heartedly recommend the King Hotel.