Where to leave your furry companions in Egypt when traveling: It’s Sahel and travel season, which means pet owners are facing the familiar dilemma of what to do with their furry friends while they’re away. While there’s plenty of kennels and pet hotels scattered across Egypt, it’s understandable why you would be hesitant to leave responsibility for your pet to a perfect stranger — which is why we’ve made some extensive research and talked to our fellow pet owner friends to find the most highly rated ones that offer the best facilities and services to keep your pets safe and give them a vacation of their own too.

Disclaimer: Sorry, cat moms and dads — most of this list is tailored towards dog parks and hotels. There seems to be a dearth of cat hotels in Cairo, but most cat parents we know recommend Meowgical (more on them below) — and we’ve listed a few online platforms where you can find a cat sitter.

ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN-

Eastwind is arguably the most popular pet hotel in Egypt, judging by the number of branches it has and the amount of people we’ve spoken to who have recommended it. It offers a wide range of services, including daycare and boarding, and also offers the convenience of a “pet taxi” that can pick up and drop off your beloved buddy for an additional fee, depending on how far away you are from the branch, Eastwind customers tell us. The pet hotel’s beach and park locations across Egypt also provide outdoor activities and exercise for your pets. Eastwind has locations in New Giza and Abu Rawash, and Hyde Park in New Cairo. It also has a branch in Ghazala Bay in the North Coast.

To ensure the safety of all the pups, Eastwind conducts home visits before boarding new dogs to make sure that they are trained and friendly.

THE PRICE TAG- Boarding fees depend on the size/type of the room and the breed of your dog, representatives tell us.

Breedy’s Dog Park and Hotel is another popular facility in Sheikh Zayed offering single day stays or long-term boarding. For long-term stays, you can choose between cozy small rooms, spacious large rooms, or luxurious suites. Spanning across two acres, Breedy’s provides ample space that includes a pool, an obstacle course, and regular exercise sessions. They also provide a dog taxi service, with a designated meeting point for pick-up and drop-off.

In addition to accommodation, Breedy’s offers comprehensive grooming services, including shampooing, brushing, nail clipping, and ear cleaning. They also provide chemical grooming treatments that help combat ticks and fleas.

THE PRICE TAG- Boarding costs EGP 300 a night, whereas stays longer than 10 days can cost you just EGP 200 a night. The prices include two meals.

Pet Club also has you covered with boarding or daycare, except his pet hotel just happens to be where the owners live. The facility boasts a large playground where dogs can socialize and play to their heart’s content. To ensure a safe environment, all dogs must pass a temperament evaluation prior to joining the daycare program. They also do not have any closed rooms, allowing for an open and inclusive atmosphere, helping dogs with stress or loneliness.

THE PRICE TAG- The price per night (which includes dry food) is EGP 300, but you can opt to give your fur baby a gourmet freshly prepared meal for an extra EGP 50. If your pup is staying for more than seven days, they receive a complimentary shower.

Doggiverse is another boutique pet daycare and boarding service that comes highly recommended from Sheikh Zayed residents. This facility helps dogs socialize with others, allowing them to play — while supervised — in the facility’s pool, and giving them ample room to just run around and be dogs. They also provide a dog pick-up and drop-off service for an additional fee, depending on your location, representatives tell us.

THE PRICE TAG- Boarding costs EGP 380 per day, with an extra EGP 70 added if they will feed your dog. Daycare hours are from 9am-7pm, and a full day will set you back EGP 250. Drop-off services are on the pricey side, with some EGP 250 to pick up your dog.

ON THE EAST SIDE-

A popular choice for Sahel-bound folks: Mazen’s Resort, located in Ahmed Orabi Compound in Obour, with a location in Hacienda Bay’s Lakeyard in Sahel during the summer month, offers boarding services as well as behavior and obedience training. Their trainers focus on teaching essential commands, and socializing dogs with others. They also provide leash training to ensure your dog’s safety and well-being during walks. Their daycare program features a splash pool for dogs to cool off and enjoy some aquatic fun, while the place also offers 24/7 vet care services.

BONUS POINTS: For busy pet owners, Mazen’s Resort offers a convenient dog walking service.

THE PRICE TAG- Daycare rates are per hour, and depend on the duration of your stay and whether you choose to keep your buddy in a standard, VIP (or in this case, VID), premium, deluxe, or deluxe VI rooms. One to three nights range from EGP 250 to EGP 400 per night, and the price goes down to EGP 175 to EGP 325 a night if you’re staying longer. VID rooms come with a terrace overlooking the garden, while premium and deluxe rooms with AC to keep your pups cool.

THE SAHEL PRICE TAG- You can subscribe to the six-hour half-day package for EGP 400, or the 12-hour full-day package for EGP 600. If your pup is spending the night, you can choose between three rooms for medium and large breeds: standard, lounge, and AC premium. These range from EGP 450 per night to EGP 800. Small breeds can stay in the AC deluxe mini for EGP 700 a night or the AC deluxe lounge for EGP 800 per night.

WE HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR FELINE COMPANIONS-Meowgical Nights LuxuryCatHotel is an exceptionally highly-rated establishment located in Maadi offering a unique concept in pet boarding by providing private rooms for cats on vacation, resembling a luxurious hotel experience. Whether you prefer a single room, a double room for family pairs, or a spacious family room for larger groups of cats, Meowgical Nights accommodates them all. To ensure the safety and well-being of all guests, this facility requires that all cats are fully vaccinated and neutered.

The distinguishing feature of this hotel is the absence of cages or general rooms, emphasizing individualized comfort and privacy for each feline guest. Meowgical Nights offers both basic and all-inclusive package options, as well as a drop-off service, making the process of bringing your cat to the hotel without any hassle.

THE PRICE TAG- Prices vary per season and per package, but the longer you board your pet, the better the rate will be, hotel owner Anna Louise told us. A refundable fee of EGP 1k per cat is required at check-in. Prices you can expect this summer are EGP 250 per day, EGP 1.5k per week, and EGP 5.2k per month, according to the owner.

IS YOUR LITTLE FUZZBALL MORE OF A HOMEBODY? The alternative to having your pet stay at a hotel is hiring a sitter. One advantage to this is it helps maintain your pet’s familiar environment and routine, while a pet sitter also provides personalized attention and one-on-one care for your pet.

Where to find petsitters: Trusted Housesitters operates on a subscription-based model, for EGP 2,599 a year. The subscription allows you to request a sitter as many times as you’d like, receive home and content ins., and around-the-clock vet line advice if needed. The sitters themselves don’t receive any payment — they just ask for room and board. The service also conducts background and ID checks on their sitters before verifying them, and you can see how other clients have rated the sitters on their profiles. PetBacker is another similar platform, which also allows you to hire a dog walker or groomer, but doesn’t require you to pay an annual fee. Instead, each sitter has their own rates on their profiles, and you can choose the one suitable for you.

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