Stressed out about work, home or life in general? Not enough time for a vacation? A day use at one of Cairo’s many hotels may just be the answer to your problems. With the luxury, environment and services to answer all your needs, you can forget — if but for a day — about your increasing workload, whether the house is clean or whether the kids have had dinner.

Hotel day use is the perfect way to feel like you have gotten away from it all, with minimum organization and time investment. The packages vary but typically allow you to take a room for just the day, and bask by the pool ordering drinks. You may have access to the gym to burn off your stress or, often for an extra cost, you can use the sauna and jacuzzi. You can usually take up to four people with you, but again, this varies. Food and drink is usually not included.

Here are a selection of hotels across Cairo that you could visit:

At the Conrad Cairo, you can enjoy a picturesque view of the Nile, minus the screeching traffic of the Corniche. Prices are $70 a day, plus 25 percent service and tax, for both foreigners and Egyptians. Day use hours are 10am-8pm, during which time you will have access to both the health club and the pool. Children under 12 years of age can accompany their parents for free. During holidays, the hotel occasionally provides entertainment or activities for children. Tel: +2 (02) 580-8000

The Four Seasons Cairo at the Nile Plaza does not offer day use, but if you take a room for the day instead, use of the pool, health club and other Plaza facilities is included. The ‘superior’ room costs $320 for a single or $350 for a double while the ‘deluxe’ room costs $360 for a single or $390 for a double plus 25 percent taxes, for foreigners. For Egyptians and foreign residents, the ‘superior’ room costs $160 for a single or $175 for a double while the ‘deluxe’ room costs $180 for a single or $190 for a double, plus 25 percent taxes. Use either as a base to shop at Beymen, pamper yourself with a gorgeous new haircut from Mohammed El-Sagheer or try the stunning food at Aqua or Steak. Check early for availability. Tel: +2 (02) 791-7000

Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Bask in luxury by the pool

The Nile Hilton, in an incredibly central position on Tahrir Square, allows day use patrons to stay in the hotel from 9am to sunset. Stay in the cabana for the day, then dress up and head to Jazz Up, the Hilton’s trendy bar/restaurant, or Latex. The rate for a cabana, including access to the heated outdoor pool (with grass!) and health club, is LE 320 for an Egyptian or a foreigner. This covers up to three adults or two adults and two children; additional people can join for LE 110. It is also possible to book ten days by the swimming pool, without a room, for LE 1,000. Rates vary with season. Tel: +2 (02) 578-0444

The swank Grand Hyatt Cairo rents out its poolside cabanas for LE 650 including service charges, for both Egyptians and foreigners, with a maximum of two people per cabana. You can use the pool and room from 9am to 8pm; the health club and sports facilities are available at extra charges. If you prefer the sole use of the pool, spa or gym, without taking a room, you can pay LE 156 for each facility. Make certain to check out the adjoining Galleria, with boutiques from top Egyptian brands as well as Chopard and Filopateer Palace. Also worth checking out: A flick at Good News Cinemas. Ask about the possibility of a day use by the old pool, which is right on the Nile. Tel: +2 (02) 365-1234

At the Semiramis InterContinental day use starts at 9am and ends at 5pm. The day rate for a double room is LE 400 and includes use of the swimming pool and health club, for Egyptians. For foreigners the price is LE 500. Massages, sauna and jacuzzi are available for an extra fee. You can enjoy a day at the pool without booking a day use for LE 137, or the jacuzzi and gym for LE 105, for both foreigners and Egyptians. Children under 10 can accompany their parents free of charge. Make certain to have a bite to eat at the Bird Cage, which offers some of the best Chinese and Thai in town. Tel: +2 (02) 795-7171

At the Ramses Hilton, overlooking the Nile in Downtown Cairo, day use is $55 for Egyptians and $90 for foreigners, excluding taxes. This covers up to two adults and a child. The package, which runs from 10am to 6pm, includes free use of the swimming pool but not the health club. Tel: (02) 577-7444

While the Cairo Marriott does not offer day use, it is an extremely popular location to spend the day relaxing with a drink or a bite to eat, for both guests and non-guests. With acres of luscious, exotic gardens it is easy to see why. Indoors, the hotel is particularly renowned for its lavish breakfast buffet and for the eats at Roy’s or an evening at Harry’s Pub, but the Promenade Café is tops. Awesome kofta sandwiches, perfect ceasar salad and the safest place in Cairo to eat fuul and tameyya —all while sipping a water, a beer or wine. What more could you ask for? Tel: +2 (02) 728-3000

Courtesy Novotel Hotel Smooth and sophisticated

The Pyramisa charges LE 250 for Egyptians or $60 for foreigners, for up to three people to take a room from 9am until 6pm. Two children under 12 can attend for free. This normally gives you access to two pools and the gym in the health club. Tel: +2 (02) 336-7000

The InterContinental CityStars, at the heart of the mammoth CityStars complex, does not have day use but you can splurge and book a room from $140 to $200, plus 25 percent taxes, for foreigners. For Egyptians a single room is $137, or a double room is $147.50, including breakfast. Children under six years can stay for free. Check-in begins at 3pm and guests must leave by 12 noon the next day to avoid incurring another day’s fees. Rates include free use of the pool and gym. Tel: +2 (02) 480-0100

A trip to the JW Marriott really makes you feel as though you have entered a holiday resort and left the hustle and bustle of Cairo behind. In addition to the regular pool, you can try out the artificial wave pool at The Beach (beware of the kids in the summertime). The hotel provides generously sized inner tubes at no charge so you can bob lazily atop the waves. Guests can use the health club and gym but must pay for other facilities. For a separate fee, check out the golf course and tennis courts or the cards and billiards at the clubhouse. The JW Marriott usually organizes beach activities for children on weekends and holidays. The price is approximately $100 including taxes, for two people in a room or a cabana, staying from 10am through 8pm, for Egyptians and foreign residents. Foreigner rates start at $180, plus 25 percent taxes. Tel: +2 (02) 411-9428

A day at the elegant and absolutely endearing Concorde El-Salam Hotel will cost LE 500 including taxes for a room for two adults and two children for Egyptians. For a foreigner, it’s $100, plus taxes. The day lasts from 10am to 6pm. This includes use of the pool and health club. Tel: +2 (02) 622-6380

The Le Meridien Heliopolis charges LE 250 plus taxes for Egyptians or $60 plus taxes for foreigners, for day use from 9am to 6pm. The use of the gym is not included, but the swimming pool is. Tel: +2 (02) 290-5055

The Mövenpick Hotel Cairo-Heliopolis allows day guests to stay from 10am until 7pm. The guest has access to the swimming pool and health club, and massages come at an extra cost. The room, which costs $70 plus 25 percent taxes (for foreigners), can accommodate a maximum of three people. For Egyptians and foreign residents, be ready to shell out LE 502, including service charges. Tel: +2 (02) 291-9400

The Heliopolis Cairo Hotel offers day use in a poolside cabin that accommodates three people for LE 600, or a room for LE 450, service and taxes included (for Egyptians and residents). For foreigners the cabin and room cost $105 and $90 respectively. Hours are 10am-7:30pm and pool access is included. Other sports facilities including tennis and squash courts are available for a fee. For the kids, there is a garden complete with swings and slides. Tel: +2 (02) 267-7730

Day use of a double room at the Sofitel Maadi Towers & Casino costs LE 250, for two adults and two children, for both foreigners and Egyptians. Day residents can take full advantage of the swimming pool and health club, but pay for use of any other facilities including sauna or massage. Day use at the Sofitel starts at 10am and ends at 6pm. Tel: +2 (02) 526-0601

The Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence (Tel: (02) 573-1212) in Giza has no regular day-use system, but for those interested in several hours of serious pampering, the five-star property offers a tempting alternative with their Spa Day packages. The spa has a large variety of relaxing options with recently added Decléor body treatments and Dead Sea programs. Massage styles, all guaranteed to work out the stresses of daily life, include Thai, Balinese and Imperial massages (the last a luxury once fit for royalty and involving two masseuses). There are several packages to choose from and all include lunch either by the pool or in the Seasons Restaurant.

For LE 325 as an Egyptian or LE 425 as a foreigner, including taxes, two adults and two children can use the poolside cabanas at the InterContinental Pyramid Park. Day use runs from 10am untill sunset. Tel: +2 (02) 838-8300

The beautiful Mena House Oberoi has cabanas for LE 225 (Egyptians and foreign residents) including taxes, covering up to three people from 11am-7pm. Foreigners will pay $85 plus taxes. You can enjoy the swimming pool, a game of tennis, pay a little extra for golf or take a stroll in the grounds all against the backdrop of the Pyramids. While the indoor restaurants are worth trying, nothing beats an evening dinner in the garden against the lit-up backdrop of the Pyramids —the ostrich steak is to die for. Tel: +2 (02) 377-3222

On the same stretch of road, the Mövenpick Resort Cairo-Pyramids provides a day use package at LE 250 for Egyptians or $60 for foreigners. The package allows two guests to use the hotel’s pool (heated in winter), health club and sauna. Massage is available but at an extra cost. Day use starts at 10am and runs until 7pm. There is a playground for children. Tel: +2 (02) 385-2555

Giza’s Cairo Sheraton offers cabanas by the swimming pool for one person at a rate of $90 plus 25 percent taxes for foreigners and LE 550 for Egyptians. The pool is a bit small (go in the morning, as it’s in shadow after 3pm), but the gym is cool. Day use packages begin at 10am and run through to 6pm and include use of the swimming pool. Tel: +2 (02) 336-9700

At the Sofitel Le Sphinx day use of a room and the pool costs LE 250 for an Egyptian or $60 for a foreigner. Day use hours run from a relaxed ‘morning’ until ‘sunset’. Over Easter the price does rise but will include a special breakfast and lunch, as well as activities for the kids and a live band. Use of the hotel’s health club facilities is included in the rate, but the health club is temporarily closed. Tel: +2 (02) 383-7444

You can enjoy day use at the Amarante Pyramids for LE 350 as an Egyptian or $61 as a foreigner, with a maximum of four people per room. The hours are from 9am until sunset. Tel: +2 (02) 781-2211

Cairo’s Omm Kolthoum Hotel is an appealing choice for day use if you are looking to set aside the international hotel chains in favor of an authentic Egyptian experience. As an Egyptian, for LE 250 inclusive of tax and service you can reserve a regular room, foreigners pay $60. The room takes a maximum of three people and is available from 10am-8pm. No pool is available. Tel: +2 (02) 736-8444

Close to the airport, the Novotel Cairo Airport charges LE 400 for Egyptians or $70 for foreigners, excluding service charges, for a regular room for up to two adults. The pool is normally available to day use guests but was under reconstruction at the time of writing with an anticipated finish date of April. Day use lasts from 11am to 7pm. Tel: +2 (02) 291-8520

The Sonesta Cairo Hotel & Casino allows three guests to enjoy day use services, which includes a pool, for LE 300 including taxes for an Egyptian, or for $100 for a foreigner. Guests can use sports or health facilities at an additional charge. Day uses last from 9am through 5pm. Tel: +2 (02) 262-8111

At the Hilton Pyramids Golf Resort near Dreamland in Sixth of October City, day use is LE 350 for four people (Egyptians and residents) or $65 (Foreigners). While there, you can use the outdoor heated swimming pool, but at the time of writing the health club was under renovation. Children under 12 years of age can attend a kids club free of charge. Day use starts at 10am until sunset. Tel: +2 (02) 855-3334

The Mövenpick Media City offers a novel day use package which includes a free tour of Magic Land or the Media City. The tour takes place at 4pm and shows guests around the studios for 45 minutes. If entering individually, guests will receive a 50 percent discount on the entrance fee. Day use is open from 11am until 7pm at LE 300, including taxes, for two adults and two children (Egyptians) or $60 (foreigners). You will have access to the pool (perfect for lounging), heath club, sauna and jacuzzi. Tel: +2 (02) 855-5001

A cabana for four at the Novotel Cairo Sixth of October costs LE 350 or $62 including service and taxes, for both foreigners and Egyptians. This includes the pool and fitness center. Meals are not included, but for LE 29 each person can enjoy an open buffet lunch. For an extra fee, you can enjoy a massage or sauna at the Novotel’s fitness center. If you don’t want to book a room you can enjoy a day by the pool with lunch for LE 160. There’s also a children’s pool. Day uses run from 8am until sunset. Tel: +2 (02) 837-7200 .

EDITOR’S NOTE: All prices quoted were accurate at the end of March 2007 but are subject to change without notice, particularly over holiday seasons. Please phone to confirm details or make reservations. et

Copy Writer Salwa A. El-Sayed contributed to this story