This is a great little hostel for the price you pay, but the key is to ask for a sea view when you book your room as it is right on the Corniche! We found out about it in the lonely planet. Entry is on a side street that looks a little dingy but it's perfectly safe. Ignore any touts outside the entrance telling you that the place is closed or otherwise uninhabitable. Specify if you want your own bathroom as we did, it was simple but adequate and we were provided toilet paper and a bath over shower. Remember to turn the hot water on 15 minutes or so before you want to shower. The elevator usually works all times of day or night but be patient. I don't know what the dorms were like.
The manager here was very helpful, showed us where to find a working ATM around the corner and refused the "baksheesh" (tip) we offered for his trouble! Water and soda was available to buy in the main foyer and prices were reasonable. Included breakfast was your typical westerner aimed plate with a boiled egg, bread, fig jam, soft cheese and tea or coffee. A croissant was a treat one morning.
Not far from some lovely places to eat including Kadora's. Taxi fares to almost any tourist attraction are only 5 Egyptian pounds each way (around US$1), unless you are going as far as somewhere like Montezah Gardens which will cost you more. The main tourism office of Alexandria is also only a short walk away. The tram nearby is a lovely scenic trip through Alex, albiet slow, so make sure you have plenty of time to spare. If you're a fan of walking, you can also walk about half an hour and be at Fort Quaitbey.
The day we were leaving the hotel, a man thanked us on the lift. He had overheard us on the bus from the Borg el Arab airport talking about where we were intending to stay and decided to follow suit as he had not yet planned his own accomodations. He told us he was very pleased with the Union. We had no idea this had happened so we were happy our unwitting advice had been helpful to him.
Prosbudget price, amazing view of sea, central location, large rooms with bathroom and fridge, breakfast included
ConsDifficult disabled access via lift
