From its impeccable service to its exquisite design, the St. Regis Al Masa exudes sophistication and delivers an unparalleled stay in Egypt's bustling capital. We used our American Express Platinum perks to stay here, and thoroughly enjoyed the $200 room discount, $100 to spend at the hotel which we used to arrange our airport transfers, room upgrade and free breakfast.

Majestic Ambiance:
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As you step into the St. Regis Al Masa, you are immediately embraced by an atmosphere of grandeur and timeless elegance. The tastefully adorned lobby, with its high ceilings, luxurious furnishings, and intricate detailing, sets the stage for an indulgent experience that continues throughout the property.

Luxurious Accommodations:

The spacious rooms exude refinement and boast modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing stay. The expansive windows provide breathtaking views of the cityscape, allowing guests to soak in Cairo's charm from the comfort of their rooms.

The Breakfast!

Food enthusiasts will be delighted by the upscale culinary offerings at the St. Regis Al Masa Hotel. The property boasts several outstanding restaurants, from fine dining experiences to casual settings serving authentic Egyptian cuisine, the hotel's restaurants cater to all palates. The breakfast buffet alone was worth this stay as each plate was truly a work of art!

Exemplary Service:

The St. Regis brand is renowned for its exceptional service, and the Al Masa Hotel lives up to this reputation. The staff is attentive, professional, and dedicated to meeting the needs of each guest. Unfortunately in Egypt, at some of the fancier hotels, they don’t allow hijab-wearing Muslim women to swim in their pools. However, we were extremely pleased that this resort has not adopted this discriminatory policy, and welcomed women of all faiths and clothing styles. This showed their true commitment to extraordinary service. Thank you!

Relaxation and Rejuvenation:

After a day of exploring Cairo's historical treasures, guests can look forward to a quiet retreat at the hotel's spa and wellness facilities. The spa offers a range of luxurious treatments, and the fitness center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The property is expansive with lots of places to seek privacy.

Watch this video below for a recap of our amazing time and if we haven’t convinced you yet, you’re going to definitely want to get the American Express Platinum!

Over the summer, we went on a road trip through Arizona, follow along for your next vacation!

Day 1: (Montezuma Castle)

We flew into Phoenix Airport and drove North to Sedona, which is about a 2.5 hour drive. To break up the drive, we stopped at Montezuma Castle, which is an interesting cliff dwelling created by the Sinague people 1000 years ago! It makes for a great stop, as it's a short 1/4-mile paved loop to see it, and has a small visitor’s center with water stations and bathrooms.

Days 2-3: (Sedona)

Plan to spend a few days exploring the gorgeous city of Sedona. Sedona is settled in incredible orange rock formations that glow brightest around sunset. There are some absolutely awe-inspiring hikes to take, our favorite of which was Devil’s Bridge. The hike is long(!) 3.6 miles to reach it (and then you have to hike back). Begin in the parking lot for 'Dry Creek trailhead' and hike along that trail for about a mile until you reach a wide dirt road (Dry Creek Road). This road is closed to all normal vehicles, but open to off-road vehicles and large SUVs. If you rented a big enough SUV, you can bypass the first half of this hike, by driving down Dry Creek Road and parking at the smaller lot at the bottom of the hill. If you are walking this stretch of the trail, it is the hardest part of the hike, as there isn’t much to look at it and there is no shade which can be grueling in the Arizona heat. Once you reach a red sign post, and a small parking lot on your right, that’s where the “real” Devil's Bridge hike begins. It’s just about another 1.5 mile up and it’s definitely worth it! When you get to the carved tunnel like cave (a must stop place for pics and rest!) you are really almost there as it’s just around two more bends.

​Devil's Bridge is a natural rock arch. You can walk out on it and take pictures, but be warned if you are scared of heights, there are cliffs hundreds of feet down on either side. Our son who was 9 at the time did go out on the arch, but it was very nerve-wracking.

Other hikes to consider in Sedona are Boynton Canyon and Red Rock crossing. Also make sure to check out the Tlaquepaque center to see local art and eat in one of the many fabulous restaurants.

Days 4-6: (Williams, AZ)

After Sedona, continue driving North to Williams, Arizona which is about 1.5 hours away. Williams is a very, very small town (think one major road- Route 66!) but it is the closest town to the Grand Canyon. All of the restaurants in town are Route 66 themed, and there are even some Disney/Pixar 'Cars' themed cars who cruise the route regularly so keep your eyes out. 

Our favorite attraction in Williams was the Deer Farm. Once inside you will immediately be surrounded by hundreds of hungry deer. You can pet them, feed them and spend as much time as you like with them. However, the deer can get slightly aggressive and start chewing on your clothes when you run out of food. Also check out Bearizona- a sort of self-driven safari zoo, where you drive through the cages of bears, wolves, reindeer, bison and more.

Dedicate at least one of your days in Williams to visiting the Grand Canyon. We took the Grand Canyon Railway which is a train that connects Williams directly into Grand Canyon village. The advantage to taking this train is that you bypass traffic going into the park as well as searching for parking, but the train is SLOW (it runs at 40mph the entire time) and it’s a 2 hour ride, so get comfortable. We rode in the first class observation car, and to be honest there’s really nothing to see along the way, so save your money and just book the cheapest car.

At the Grand Canyon we hiked the South Rim trail to the Yavapai Geology Museum (about 1.5 miles). The trail does go right along the rim of the canyon, as the name suggests, but there is a small barrier before the canyon drops off so we never felt unsafe. After our short hike and taking in the views, we had lunch at the famous El Tovar Lodge (views are great, food is lackluster).

Days 8-10: (Page, AZ)

Your final stop on the road trip is the city of Page, AZ, located about 2.5 hours North of Williams. On the way, make sure to stop at the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks, as it is absolutely fascinating!

The area used to be a marshland when the infamous meteor struck in Mexico. The sheer heat essentially baked the clay ground into a hard rock, locking in hundreds of dinosaur tracks frozen in time. When you pull up, a Navajo guide will meet you and take you on an astounding 1/2 hour tour to see many different kinds of dinosaur prints, eggs, and even poop. There is no cost for the tour, they work solely on donations/ tips, so just bring along some cash.

In Page, you MUST visit Antelope Canyon. It was our favorite part of the entire trip, and in our opinion is even more impressive than the Grand Canyon. Antelope Canyon is really two different canyons- lower and upper. After A LOT of research, we decided to tour the lower canyon and it did not disappoint! Note: you can’t go without booking a Navajo tour guide and tours do fill up, so book early. The canyon is unreal and a photographer's paradise, so savor every moment.

Finally, be sure to visit Horseshoe Bend in Page. This is a 1000 foot straight down cliff where the Colorado makes a turn and resembles a horseshoe. From the parking lot it is about a 1/2 mile walk to reach it, but beware- while there is a fence barrier in the middle, the two open sides are filled with people who get way too close to the edge.

We recently got a question in our Instagram inbox which read:

Q: Any recommendations for airline carriers that offer good deals or cards that you found useful for your Greece business class trip?

The best airline for this route right now would probably be Air France, using their Flying Blue rewards program. This program is transfer partners with both Chase and Capital One.

Here's what we'd do:

1. Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred which currently comes with an astounding 80k point sign up bonus. (Be sure to read all the details and meet your minimum spend).

2. Check for redemption rates with Air France Flying Blue points. (Find the flight you want first because flights can vary in price from 45k all the way to 300k points) So don't transfer until you find the flight you want! If you don't find a flight you want with AirFrance, be sure to check United and AeroPlan. 

You will typically get the best redemption rates if you search for flights about 6 months out. For example, with just a quick search today we found this redemption below. 

3. After you locate a flight you want, transfer your points to Flying Blue via the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal. After clicking on the icon shown below, just click on Air France Flying Blue and then click 'transfer'. 

Hope this helps and be sure to check out this Athens itinerary to get inspiration for your trip. See you in Greece!