Best place for expat families

Zamalek, Maddi, dokki or Garden City

the best places for expats are definitely the ones mentioned above. public transportation here isn't something Americans are used to as it is below standards. I'm having great difficulty getting around myself to Maadi and Zamalek. which of course are the places to be if you're an expat.

This is the perennial question!!

The basic answer is - whereever it is easiest to get to your work!!!
Everyone has their own opnions on where to live - Rehab, Heliopolis, Zamalek, Maadi, Garden City, 6th October.
Foe every place you will find people who love living there and people who hate living there!

It depends on whether you like liviing in somwhere vey crowded / or somewhere more open!
Yes some places in Cairo have more 'expat shops', etc. - but it isn't the end of the world to have to get there by car - unless you enjoy having a few too many every time!!
All these places have their plus points - but the biggest plus point for me was the commute to work and back.  You work most of the week - and so have to suffer the traffic every one of these days - and to be stuck in traffic for hours on end on the way to and from work - is not my idea of heaven!
Also it isn't necessary for me to be 'on top' of the nightlife. We can drive, I have a car - and to be honest my life is more family oriented than partying evey night - although it is good to do it sometimes.
Most of the more popular areas of Cairo have nice places to eat /visit / shops / malls.  But Also in some of the places it is difficult not to feel taken advantage of - just for the reason that I am an expat and I will pay these extortionate prices for food / drink because the place is in Zamalek or somewhere.

Again where you work is the 'thing' - make your commute the shortest you can.

biffy wrote:

This is the perennial question!!

The basic answer is - whereever it is easiest to get to your work!!!
Everyone has their own opnions on where to live - Rehab, Heliopolis, Zamalek, Maadi, Garden City, 6th October.
Foe every place you will find people who love living there and people who hate living there!

It depends on whether you like liviing in somwhere vey crowded / or somewhere more open!
Yes some places in Cairo have more 'expat shops', etc. - but it isn't the end of the world to have to get there by car - unless you enjoy having a few too many every time!!
All these places have their plus points - but the biggest plus point for me was the commute to work and back.  You work most of the week - and so have to suffer the traffic every one of these days - and to be stuck in traffic for hours on end on the way to and from work - is not my idea of heaven!
Also it isn't necessary for me to be 'on top' of the nightlife. We can drive, I have a car - and to be honest my life is more family oriented than partying evey night - although it is good to do it sometimes.
Most of the more popular areas of Cairo have nice places to eat /visit / shops / malls.  But Also in some of the places it is difficult not to feel taken advantage of - just for the reason that I am an expat and I will pay these extortionate prices for food / drink because the place is in Zamalek or somewhere.

Again where you work is the 'thing' - make your commute the shortest you can.

Definitely Zamalek...