How to book a holiday home or serviced apartment in Egypt with BlueKeys
Last updated · BlueKeys
To book a home on BlueKeys, choose your dates on the listing and send a booking request — no card is charged. The team checks the dates with the operator and, once confirmed, sends a secure payment link on WhatsApp. You pay by card, InstaPay or bank transfer, in EGP. If the home isn't available, you pay nothing.
How to book a chalet in Sahel or an apartment in Cairo, step by step
Whether you are planning a summer week in a North Coast chalet or looking to rent an apartment in Egypt for a city stay, booking works the same way on every BlueKeys listing. You only pay after a real person has confirmed your dates with the operator who runs the home.
- Choose a home and your dates on bluekeys.co, then tap "Request to book". No card is charged at this stage.
- The BlueKeys team checks your dates with the operator.
- Once your dates are confirmed, the team sends you a secure payment link on WhatsApp.
- Pay by card through the secure link, or by InstaPay or bank transfer. Prices are in EGP.
- Enjoy your stay.
What do you pay, and when?
- When you request to book: nothing. No card is charged.
- If the home isn't available for your dates: nothing. You simply don't pay.
- After the team confirms your dates with the operator: you pay using the secure payment link sent on WhatsApp, or by InstaPay or bank transfer.
- Every fee — nightly rate, cleaning, compound access card and service fee where they apply — is itemised in the price breakdown on the listing before you confirm.
For a line-by-line explanation of cleaning fees, access cards and service fees, see our guide to vacation rental fees in Egypt.
Which payment methods can you use, including InstaPay booking?
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Card | After your dates are confirmed, the team sends a secure payment link on WhatsApp and you pay by card through it. |
| InstaPay | Available once your dates are confirmed. Let the team know on WhatsApp that you'd like to pay by InstaPay. |
| Bank transfer | Available once your dates are confirmed. Let the team know on WhatsApp that you'd like to pay by bank transfer. |
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms depend on the home and the operator that runs it, and the listing shows the terms that apply. For most North Coast homes in Marassi and Fouka Bay, the rule shown on the listing is:
- 100% refund if you cancel up to 3 weeks before arrival.
- 50% refund if you cancel between 2 and 3 weeks before arrival.
- Non-refundable within 2 weeks of arrival.
Where a listing doesn't show cancellation terms, the team sends you the host's terms in writing on WhatsApp before you book.
Are there minimum stays or monthly-only homes?
Minimum stays vary by home, commonly from 2 to 7 nights. Each listing shows its minimum, and the date picker applies it when you choose your dates. Some homes, such as a few suites in New Cairo, are rented monthly only and are marked as monthly-only on the listing.
How does BlueKeys choose its homes?
BlueKeys lists serviced apartments, chalets, villas and holiday homes run by established operators it works with directly. This is how listings are kept accurate:
- Each listing — photos, details and prices — is reviewed before it is published.
- Calendars sync automatically with the operator's booking system.
- A real person confirms each booking request with the operator before you pay.
- Homes an operator stops offering are removed from the site.
BlueKeys also offers a Best Price Guarantee.
Can you talk to the team on WhatsApp before booking?
Yes. You can message the BlueKeys team on WhatsApp in Arabic or English to ask for recommendations before you book — for example, which area suits your trip. The team replies fast during Cairo working hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is my card charged when I request to book?
No. Sending a booking request doesn't charge any card. The team first checks your dates with the operator, and only after they're confirmed do you receive a secure payment link on WhatsApp.
Can I pay with InstaPay?
Yes. Once your dates are confirmed you can pay by InstaPay, by bank transfer, or by card through the secure payment link. All prices are in EGP.
What happens if the home isn't available?
You pay nothing. Because no card is charged when you request to book, there is nothing to refund. You can message the team on WhatsApp for recommendations on other homes.
What is the cancellation policy?
It depends on the home and its operator, and the listing shows the terms. For most North Coast homes in Marassi and Fouka Bay: 100% refund up to 3 weeks before arrival, 50% between 2 and 3 weeks, and non-refundable within 2 weeks. Where terms aren't shown, the team sends them in writing on WhatsApp before you book.
Can I book on WhatsApp?
Your booking request starts on the website with "Request to book", and the team then sends your secure payment link on WhatsApp. You can also message the team on WhatsApp before booking for recommendations, in Arabic or English.
Is there a minimum stay?
Usually, yes. Minimum stays vary by home, commonly from 2 to 7 nights, and are shown on each listing and in the date picker. A few homes, such as some New Cairo suites, are monthly-only and marked so.