Fodor's Expert Review Steigenberger Cecil Alexandria

With the Cecil, you're paying for history more than creature comforts, but if atmosphere is what you want you'll find it here in spades. Built in 1930 and immortalized as one of Justine's haunts in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet, it retains few reminders of that era—just its elegant revolving door, two gorgeous old wooden elevators, and a dusty bar that's changed little since World War II. The rooms have high ceilings and large shuttered windows, and there's a richness in the burgundy and gold drapes and soft furnishings that decorate the space, which give a classical French feel. Some rooms and suites also have a sea view.