Al Moudira Hotel

12 Best Hotels and Resorts in Africa and the Middle East, According to Our Editors | Condé Nast Traveler

"The word oasis gets thrown around, but in the case of Al Moudira, it’s merited. On land filled with date palms and next to fields of sugarcanes in Luxor, Egypt’s quiet west bank, this jumble of cupola-topped suites feels world’s away from the cruise ship crush across the Nile. Italian Lebanese designer Zeina Aboukheir opened it in 2002, and it’s long been a hideaway for aesthetes like Rick Owens (and Christian Louboutin is often there for lunch). Under new ownership, the property has had a subtle facelift; the new villas with stargazing rooms and salvaged marble and tilework blend right in with the original suites nearby, which are similarly adorned with hand-painted hieroglyphs, trompe l’oeill drapery, and souk-sourced antiques. There’s a farm with ostriches, donkeys, and a new seasonal restaurant by Andalusian chef Gioconda Scott, and a lounger-lined pool that warrants that oasis moniker all on its own. Luxor’s sunrise balloon rides and temple tours await, but no one could judge guests for simply snoozing the day away in this sun-dappled dream. From $330. —Chris Schalkx" - CNT Editors