Al Moudira

Al Moudira—a baroque hotel fit for royalty, just a few miles south of the Valley of the Queens—incorporates materials salvaged from the corners of Egypt: stained glass lines the ceilings; frescoes and latticework adorn the arched walls; and 100-year-old wooden columns surround the swimming pool. The air is fragrant with henna and jasmine, wafting from a 20-acre garden planted with lemon, mandarin, and guava trees. All 54 guest rooms are decked out with richly hued kilim rugs, desks inlaid with mother- of-pearl, and spacious bathrooms modeled after Turkish hammams.