How to book a holiday home or serviced apartment in Egypt with BlueKeys
Last updated · BlueKeys
There are two ways to book on BlueKeys. Homes marked Instant booking can be paid by card at checkout on bluekeys.co, and your stay is confirmed the moment the payment goes through. Any home can also be booked with "Request to book, pay later": no card is charged, the team confirms your dates with the operator on WhatsApp, then you pay the way that suits you — card through a secure payment link, InstaPay or bank transfer, in EGP or USD. 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, you choose your home and dates the same way. Then you pick how to book: instantly by card, where the home offers it, or as a request you pay for after the team has confirmed your dates.
Instant booking: pay by card and you're confirmed
- Choose a home marked "Instant booking" and your dates on bluekeys.co, then tap "Book now".
- Check the full price breakdown and add your details at checkout.
- Pay by card on the payment provider's secure page. Your stay is confirmed the moment the payment goes through, and the receipt comes by email.
Request to book, pay later: no card charged up front
- Choose any home and your dates, then tap "Request to book" (or "Request to book, pay later" at checkout). No card is charged.
- The BlueKeys team checks your dates with the operator and confirms with you on WhatsApp.
- Pay the way that suits you: by card through a secure payment link, by InstaPay or by bank transfer, in EGP or USD.
Stays that start today can't be paid online; send a request and the team confirms with you on WhatsApp.
What do you pay, and when?
- Instant booking: you pay the full stay total by card at checkout, and that confirms the booking.
- Request to book: nothing when you send the request. You pay only after the team confirms your dates with the operator.
- If a requested home isn't available for your dates: nothing. You simply don't pay.
- Every fee — nightly rate, cleaning, compound access card and service fee where they apply — is itemised in the price breakdown before you pay or send a request.
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 at checkout | On homes marked Instant booking. You pay on the payment provider's secure page and the stay is confirmed at once. BlueKeys never sees or stores your card details. |
| Card payment link | For a request: once your dates are confirmed, the team sends a secure payment link on WhatsApp. |
| InstaPay | For a request, once your dates are confirmed. Tell the team on WhatsApp you'd like to pay by InstaPay. |
| Bank transfer (EGP or USD) | For a request, once your dates are confirmed. Tell the team on WhatsApp you'd like to pay by bank transfer, in EGP or USD. |
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.
- For a booking request, a real person confirms your dates with the operator before you pay; Instant booking homes are booked against the calendar synced with the operator.
- 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. A booking request doesn't charge any card. The team first checks your dates with the operator, and you pay only after they're confirmed. If you choose Instant booking instead, you pay by card at checkout and the stay is confirmed straight away.
What is Instant booking?
Homes marked Instant booking can be booked and paid by card on bluekeys.co. The stay is confirmed the moment the payment goes through, with no waiting for a reply. Every home can still be booked as a request if you'd rather pay another way.
Can I pay with InstaPay or in US dollars?
Yes. With Request to book, once your dates are confirmed you can pay by InstaPay, by bank transfer, or by card through a secure payment link, in EGP or USD. Prices on the site are shown in EGP.
What happens if the home isn't available?
With a request, you pay nothing: no card is charged until your dates are confirmed, so 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?
Bookings start on the website, either with Instant booking or with "Request to book"; for a request, the team then confirms your dates and arranges payment 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.