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I found a MASSIVELY cheap hotel/hostle (private rooms starting at 15$ US a night and steps away from the Cairo musuem) but as a single female, I wasn't sure about traveling to Egypt - I mean, it's freaking CAIRO! A dream trip!!
Anyone got any tips? Suggestions? Yes, that also includes 'don't do it alone' - come one guys!!
Ok--I'm sorry to be so pointed--but may I ask your age--approx is ok--I just don't quite get the hostel idea for amyone over 30 with airline privs. I have been to several Arabic countries and I personally would not be comfortable alone as an American female. MHO. You can get nearly free rooms with affinity cards like starwood etc by amassing points or even using the interline discounts on hotels like hilton etc. I would sooner spend $50 than $15 for what might be a horrid place--sorry, but my idea of critters in a hostel bed is not my idea of accommodations...bed bugs--no way--besides all the other critters that may go with the location. Do you know what else is near the Museum? steps away?? how any steps? oooh--I'd be vewy vewy caaful...
PS-- I've been to CAI 2X 1995--not the best for terrorism issues..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ May 29 2009, 10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>I would be more cautious as an American, but not overly cautious. Just make sure you know the local customs, i.e. make sure you cover your arms and legs and wear appropriate clothing. I saw a lady in Alexandria wearing a mini skirt which is not only very rude, but also asking for trouble.Quote:
I found a MASSIVELY cheap hotel/hostle (private rooms starting at 15$ US a night and steps away from the Cairo musuem) but as a single female, I wasn't sure about traveling to Egypt - I mean, it's freaking CAIRO! A dream trip!!
Anyone got any tips? Suggestions? Yes, that also includes 'don't do it alone' - come one guys!![/b]
I did Cairo/Luxor/Alexandria in Jan this year, email me for some tips...
Oh and Cairo museum isn't too bad a location... right near the metro. But the nicest area I found was near Cairo Tower - very leafy and green, I think that was Doqqir or Gezira. Zamalek is a good area too, lots of restaurants and the like.
Regardless Cairo Museum is close to all these places... see http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/africa/egypt/cairo/
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to stay in Giza where the pyramids are like I did. Great rate, and not far from the metro but this is like LA, distance is measured in traffic rather than miles. It took 30mins to the metro then 10 to town each day.
Oh and make sure you hire a cab for a day (don't pay more than 200-250le for the half day) and visit the pyramids at Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur.
Well I'm 'old enough' to want a private room, and this one has them, plus free airport transfers if you stay for three nights. Will probably wait until I have a male traveling companion, and wouldn't dream if wearing something so 'culturally vulgar' as a mini skirt in a muslim country. In fact, I'd probably go as far as getting a head covering, go the whole route as it's actually more comfortable too.
Outta curiosity do you have a link for the hostel? I really wanna go back one day.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ May 28 2009, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Give me a buddy pass and cover the costs of it (unfortunately, I can't even afford that right now http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif ) and I'd be happy to be a companion http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gifQuote:
Well I'm 'old enough' to want a private room, and this one has them, plus free airport transfers if you stay for three nights. Will probably wait until I have a male traveling companion, and wouldn't dream if wearing something so 'culturally vulgar' as a mini skirt in a muslim country. In fact, I'd probably go as far as getting a head covering, go the whole route as it's actually more comfortable too.[/b]
Actually, in all seriousness, if you can do it some weekend in the Fall, I'll be in Spain and was thinking of something like CAI if regular fares aren't too bad. Otherwise, Morocco is pretty decent.
EDIT: Wait, I forgot about the December part in the subject line. If you can make it early December, I might consider it for a weekend (again, if fares are good). Of course, that'd depend on if you'd feel any more comfortable with a 21-year-old that you've never met in person, though I have met people from the internet in-person before (mostly male, but some female) and I'm sure they'd all tell you that I'm not creepy or anything http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif
I guess we all have our quirks--I can tell you in 95, I really liked the Egyptians. Yeah, the kids swarm on tourists but I was not particularly uncomfortable (except when the lights went out in Aswan market and vendors took us into their booth. femmes in our 40's)
I was very uncomfortable in Fes last year. I was pawed a few times and many of the men were horrible---lairs, cheats w/taxis, guides--it was very difficult to deal with it. my husband didn't care if there were other sights in Morocco--Fes was enuff.
I would not go back to Morocco for any reason.
We're going to CAI sometimes between Nov and Apr just for 3 nights and Nick is right--do not miss Saqqara and Dashour. I would have stayed in the city, but we won an auction for 3 nights at airport Fairmont Towers. We'll go back for Nile cruise next trip.
Nick--what was your impression of Alexandria? Worth a side trip--or go another time?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spongebue @ May 29 2009, 01:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Quote:
If you can make it early December, I might consider it for a weekend (again, if fares are good). Of course, that'd depend on if you'd feel any more comfortable with a 21-year-old that you've never met in person, though I have met people from the internet in-person before (mostly male, but some female) and I'm sure they'd all tell you that I'm not creepy or anything http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif[/b]
Well, you're a fellow red-tail, that's a plus! http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif
Yes, I'm looking at Dec as I can't really afford to travel at the moment (and saving for BA in August)
http://www.hostelbookers.com/property/inde...stination=Cairo
If the link is too long, it's http://www.hostelbookers.com in Cairo - they offer airport transfers inclusive if you stay for a couple nights...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ May 29 2009, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Alexandria was interesting and definately worth a side trip for a day or two max- to be honest I didn't get as much time there as I would have liked. My travel partner got up late, so we didn't make it to Alexandria until 1600 and had to leave at 2200. We got the bus there from Cairo, but took Train back as buses aren't so safe at night with the lack of headlights and spectacular crashes etc.Quote:
Nick--what was your impression of Alexandria? Worth a side trip--or go another time?[/b]
Although the guide books seem to imply one could spend days here (maybe if you have your SCUBA?), I could have done a day trip (provided we got there at 9am instead of 4pm!!) and been satisfied. The museums etc are great to see, the ice cream and shisha/hookah are great on the corniche and cheaper than the touristy areas of Cairo. You must eat at Qaddoura along the Corniche... select your own fish or squid etc from the ice and they serve with humous and salads etc. - best meal I had in Egypt and the cheapest. The people watching along the Corniche is also quite interesting, young couples courting etc - it was a different feel to Cairo.
Plenty to see past the corniche i'm sure, but sadly I didn't get a time to pound the pavement.
My only regrets in Egypt are bothering to go to Sharm (what a waste), not getting to Khan el-Khalili in Cairo, not getting enough time in Alexandria, and not taking a cruise along the Nile.
And if you haven't been there, i'd highly recommend Luxor - and I know a quality local guide person at a very good price.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spongebue @ May 29 2009, 03:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Argh I wish I was in Nth America and in the position to do weekend trips to Egypt!!! It was such an effort for me to get there. MEL-HKG-LHR, take tube to friends house at 5am, leave at 4pm, arrive CAI on BA at 11pm!! No agreement with MS.Quote:
EDIT: Wait, I forgot about the December part in the subject line. If you can make it early December, I might consider it for a weekend (again, if fares are good).[/b]
Then go SSH-LGW on Easyjet, trains are down for MX, take cab to friends house, get 4hrs sleep, make oversold flights LHR-HKG-MEL and still get Economy class even though it's oversold and i'm 4th in line for Business http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e..._DIR#>/dry.gif
If I go again, definately going MEL-SIN-CAI on an SQ ZED.
we'll do the Luxor/Aswan cruise later. We like to make the short trips on days off and save the vacation wks for longer stuff like Asia etc. I will be happy for the Luxor guide referral, tho. I could sepnd days at Luxor temple and VOK.
My husband is Padi cert so Alexandria could be a sep trip, too. I liked your take on their corniche and the Qaddoura is making my taste buds jump for joy--that sounds sooo good!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nick @ May 29 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Actually, I'll be in Spain, not North America, so my real limitation is the fact that I have no non-rev abilities whatsoever, (not current) interline or otherwise http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e..._DIR#>/sad.gifQuote:
Argh I wish I was in Nth America and in the position to do weekend trips to Egypt!!![/b]
Heh, I almost wonder how the ZED system works in the background... I have access to the sites still, if only I could try booking http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ May 30 2009, 03:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>EDIT - here are some of my Alexandria pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7849...mp;l=62abb131d8Quote:
we'll do the Luxor/Aswan cruise later. We like to make the short trips on days off and save the vacation wks for longer stuff like Asia etc. I will be happy for the Luxor guide referral, tho. I could sepnd days at Luxor temple and VOK.
My husband is Padi cert so Alexandria could be a sep trip, too. I liked your take on their corniche and the Qaddoura is making my taste buds jump for joy--that sounds sooo good![/b]
The guides name is Mina Botros - www.englishtour.co.cc / minabotrosguide@yahoo.com and he speaks quite good English.
I wouldn't book direct though, I booked him through ourexplorer: http://www.ourexplorer.com/tour-guid...ares-1740.aspx
You pay a few dollars on your credit card to the website to secure, then pay rest in cash when you meet him. Much safer this way, as if a guide no shows or is dodgy you can rate them and people can steer clear of them. If he no shows, the small amount you paid goes to charity.
He has jacked his rates to around USD$27/person/day (he was far too cheap before), but this guy will meet you at the train at 5am and not leave you till 7pm -with an air conditioned cab and driver included in the price. He organised a hot air balloon for us for around USD$56, but being Egyptian National Railways our train was quite late so we missed it. But seeing as we weren't going to pay for it until upfront, there was no cancel fee or anything.
He took us to all the temples, an alabaster factory (great to see how they make it), went on a felucca along the Nile (extra - and advised us how much to pay and not to pay more than x etc), lunch on the Nile (extra but cheap), to a museum or two, cafe for shisha - all over the place.
One thing i've learned lately is there is nothing like a local guide (even if just for the 1st day), and nothing like a bicycle tour to help you get to know a city... except a Nth American city... don't wanna be riding no bikes there.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spongebue @ May 30 2009, 03:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>If you made it back to London cheapest way in (but hassle +) would be Easyjet to SSH or HGH then a lengthy bus convoy to Cairo. BA were charging rev pax a MINT to get there from LHR, something around 600 pounds one way!!!Quote:
Actually, I'll be in Spain, not North America, so my real limitation is the fact that I have no non-rev abilities whatsoever, (not current) interline or otherwise http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e..._DIR#>/sad.gif
Heh, I almost wonder how the ZED system works in the background... I have access to the sites still, if only I could try booking http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif[/b]
Don't know what rate Iberia are flogging to CAI from MAD though...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ May 30 2009, 02:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>Wow that is a good deal!!
And it has more positive reviews than the 5 star place I stayed in in the middle of nowhere! http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif
I've really gotta give hostels a chance...
I'd love to go backpacking but need a wingman/woman haha
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nick @ May 29 2009, 10:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>I'll be in SVQ, but MAD wouldn't be too awful to get to. $700-something RT with 2 connections from SVQ for a December weekend, $500 nonstop from MAD. Might go down a bit when it's not over 6 months away, though...Quote:
If you made it back to London cheapest way in (but hassle +) would be Easyjet to SSH or HGH then a lengthy bus convoy to Cairo. BA were charging rev pax a MINT to get there from LHR, something around 600 pounds one way!!!
Don't know what rate Iberia are flogging to CAI from MAD though...[/b]
Cairo is fine, even for a single woman.
I never once felt unsafe there, even walking around late into the night, by myself.
I stayed at the Sara Inn Hostel and highly recommend it. It was near the museum.
I have said before that hostels are not for everyone but I love them. You get to meet some great people there.
I could have had a hotel with an airline discount in Cairo for about $100 but I had my hostel for $8.
For me, a bed is a bed. I am there to see the city anyway and not sit in the room.
I have stayed in a hostel about 10 times and never did get bed bugs, nor did I experience any other issues.
I'm like that - I want a bed, a place to store my rollybag (I'f I'm there for more than a day) and a place to shower.
A lot of hostels (like that one) DO have private rooms if you pay a bit extra which I'm fine with...
y'all still planning on going, Jumper?
I am - just not sure *When* - Maybe next november, but I do tent o get hung up on my UK trips home...