"Pros: This is an excellent choice for anyone who likes to stay apart from the hustle and bustle of the city itself. The village is calm and friendly, although of course rather dilapidated and trash-strewn outside the walls of the guest house (which is neat and well-maintained). Meals are served, including a boxed breakfast when I had to be gone very early for a tour, and transport arrangements are made on your behalf when requested. The family is calm, respectful, and attentive to any needs, and even the dogs are friendly despite their thick coats and lethargy in the heat. Cons: The remoteness is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the ferry is just a short walk away, and at 10 LE per ride is a great bargain in addition to offering chances to interact with local people and occasional other tourists. On the other hand, it starts running at 6:00am while most Abu Simbel tours leave from the city earlier than that. The guesthouse arranged a private boat for me (300LE), but this was a bit stressful. Similarly, taxis to and from the airport or train station are an added complexity (and reasonable expense) if you, like I, are not able to maneuver full luggage on and off the ferry. On the other hand, I did not find it terribly inconvenient to pop over to the other side to buy train tickets or make other purchases. The village does have a few little shops selling basics, but Ramadan has made it difficult to tell just how much would normally be available. Local villagers are generally quite welcoming and not manipulative, but of course there are bits of “I am doing this just for friendship but oh dear my feelings will be very hurt if you don’t tip me.”" ~Mark