Travel in Egypt

Hi folks! finally got around to posting more regarding getting around. We had a great private guide in Cairo (high recommend NOT doing city w.out one)
Abdo El Lahamy late 20's decent car--excellent driver--really knows his pyramids and nearby areas of interest (you can stress if you do or DO NOT want any shopping) Do a little homework of what you want to see first. You don't have to have a guide in the Cairo Museum but it really helps. Getting into city is a chore in itself. Personally I could skip the Citadel and Islamic/Coptic Cairo day altogether--likely because youll want to get to Aswan/Luxor.
Abdo can book cruises thru his friends' agency. We'll likely book ours for Aswan thru an interline program.
I just have don't history on that part of his service. but he did quote good prices.
abdo_eljoker@yahoo.com

We found that you can buy ID tkts (maybe you have zeds?) Be certain they are point to point. Make sure they take the correct part of your ticket. IF you can't get on one of MANY flts to either Aswan or Luxor, buy a ticket--they are relatively CHEAP--$150 one way or less CAI/LXR (we had biz class which means nice seats and preboard lounge) No bloody mary!! It's Egyptair--NA!!
We bought a total of 4( 2 pax) ID90 tkts CAI/LXR and CAI/ASW for $30 min each segment+taxes of $7 each. It was easier to ask for refund of only $30 flat fee each half RT ticket unused. The other RT tiks
were refunded MUCH faster than were issued. Do your homework before you ask you airline agent to do that horrible job!! It takes some time!!

We also had a guide in Luxor--he was Abdou and I booked him thru hassany488@hotmail.com. Hass is ful of himslef, so get past that because Abdou is quite the skilled guide/Egyptologist. BArgain with Hass and tip Abdou well. He's worth it!
Happy to assist w/hotel ideas for both CAI and LXR. As well as maybe advise on soem of the premium crusies on smaller boats called dahabiyas.When it comes to Nile cruises, spend the most you can afford, interline or not--there are some real stinker cheapies running the river--with clientele to match.
Alcohol--really really pricey--bring what you can carry. You can buy within 48 hrs of arrival at several duty-free stores--ck tripadvisor for website. Otherwise--bottle of cheap crappy local wine is $30US+. Their local beer and spirits really sphinx....

From all the postings I've seen on this board from you 76er, that's the first post I have ever heard you somewhat describing a trip you took. BUT. The admin person may have picked you as a winner but you won't get by me so easily. Sorry but I just didn't feel like I was there from your report here. I just noticed this post because they posted the WINNERS. Like what's the name of the pyramids you visited? At least one. Did you walk around? What's the local beer there called? Is it bitter, light, lager, pilsner? How far is Luxor from Cairo? Describe the city, the smell, the markets, the games they play, the smoke shops, the people. Try less ticket talk and hotel deals. We can figure those out on our own. We can figure out our own offline travel. What worked for you and your airline may not work for me. Try explaining more about what the trip was actually for and what you did. I want to feel like I'm there when you describe it. But thanks for posting.

The title says it all--tickets, getting here, there. I wrote my article because so many people asked about those things. Doesn't matter what airline you are with, Egyptair is the only choice--you have to either buy zed, or ID or their cheap confirmed seats. Getting to/from Egypt is your business. We obviously hired a guide and saw places--I gave contact info for ours--it's a daunting task finding good ones.
I'll be happy to write about Egypt itself. Ive been there 3 times, so I have plenty of pyramid stories and hotels and specifics about our actual trip. In the meantime, I am very pleased to be recognized for the article about travel in Egypt.

Sorry, but I'm not trying to really tell you how to write your articles, but in a way YES I AM. (Does that make any sense?) Let me see if I can better explain this. What you wrote is good information I suppose, but anyone can really look online and write about that. I was kind of looking more for the areas I talked about before on my posting above. For example. "I took a tour guide to Luxor where we saw some magnificant ruins, and particularily the pyramid of King JOE BLOW....designed by his greatest engineers. On the way back, we got a flat tire and some locals pulled over and gave us a bottle of pepsi cola."
But you know what? Don't listen to me. Maybe I am looking for quality prose for myself. And who am I? I don't send the checks.

Palms from your comments I'm thinking my decision to forgo posting judging criteria and not including judging comments along with the list of contest finalists might have been a little short-sighted.
Actually I thought my list of top finalists spoke for themselves.
All posts were judged on quality, content, coherence/clarity and usefulness to the nonrev (rookie & veteran) traveler. Be assured I reviewed every eligible post (all posts dated March 1-March 31, 2010) several times...whew!
I even listened to your Foo-Fighers song "Let It Die" all the way through. *wink*
Do bear in mind that the contest was for the best forum post, not article, and as such are short messages/discussions that answer questions, offer tips/advice, share travel experiences, or just stimulate an interesting discussion.
It is expected there would be follow-up posts where additional details, tips and opinions would be voiced.
After all, we're trying to draw traffic to the website, and trust me, the contest did just that.

I gotcha bro. Not criticizing the poster, just was trying to beat out some more travel details I felt was lacking. Ok, I see you are not judging based on articles. Hey, you make the rules, not trying to step on your toes here or anyone elses. (Sorry if I may have sounded like an A-hole in one.) So you liked the tune? I heard it a few times then I got tired of it. I thought it was pretty neat though. Kind of a fad for a day or two until it goes away from my mind.

Um, well, you were criticizing me as a poster, for my content, Palms. Not sure why you won't actually admit it.
You just don't seem to grasp that my post was not a trip report. It was in regard--read the title again, please-- not "My trip to Egypt", not "Sights and Sounds I Discovered in Egypt" or "My Journey to Follow the Pharaohs". Despite your vitriol, I think you're a smart guy and , yes, you write very descriptively and quite well. Verbosity may be your style; it's not mine. Suffice it to say, I'm glad you brought back some of your old stories of your travel memories. I enjoyed skimming thru them. Isn't it fascinating how the interests of non-revvers contrast so much?

Ok...I admit I was somewhat criticizing not so much on what you posted but rather, what you DIDN'T post (Which made me wonder if you actually travelled, which is why I asked you previously if you had made it to those countries.) But no malice nor demeaning nor anything negative intended. I enjoy reading all the post here, and your contribution here in this forum and willingness to assist others here is superb. I'm glad you enjoy some of my prose here, and its positive feedback like yours that keeps me writing. About Peru. I think you will be staying in a great area there in Miraflores. Yes, I would go up in that kite if I were you and It looks so neat. I didn't do it myself, but not because I'm scared, but rather, my wife would probably freak out. You can walk all around Miraflores. Check out the Sheraton at least the lobby for a margarita or Pisco Sour. Great staff and very fancy hotel. You can't miss it. It's right there. I would carry a little spare change for the beggars because you will get hit up alot and they are persistant. Go to downtown Lima like around the plaza, check out the buildings there, and please visit the museum of church of San Francisco. It's two bucks and very much worth the tour. You can walk to it but probably better to take a cab to get you right there. (From the Plaza De Armas to the church). From Miraflores its probably a 40 minute ride through the traffic to downtown.) You should pull up my peru trip I posted here back in around August or so, I had alot of information there. I know its quite a way from now when you go to Peru in June, but when you get back, remember this. Migflanker and I will grade you on your essay about your trip to Peru!!! PS. (I check for spelling too.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrs767er

Hi folks! finally got around to posting more regarding getting around. We had a great private guide in Cairo (high recommend NOT doing city w.out one)
Abdo El Lahamy late 20's decent car--excellent driver--really knows his pyramids and nearby areas of interest (you can stress if you do or DO NOT want any shopping) Do a little homework of what you want to see first. You don't have to have a guide in the Cairo Museum but it really helps. Getting into city is a chore in itself. Personally I could skip the Citadel and Islamic/Coptic Cairo day altogether--likely because youll want to get to Aswan/Luxor.

---

I'd agree, a guide in the Cairo Museum would be a great idea. I wish i'd done that myself... all the things are on display but it isn't like a typical western museum with big signs and explanations of everything. Instead there is just a small line that says what the item is, not what it did or what it contributed to.

I'd agree about Coptic Cairo too, we went for a quick walk there but it really wasn't that interesting at all. I didn't get to Khan al-Khali as we went to Coptic Cairo instead :/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrs767er

We also had a guide in Luxor--he was Abdou and I booked him thru hassany488@hotmail.com. Hass is ful of himslef, so get past that because Abdou is quite the skilled guide/Egyptologist. BArgain with Hass and tip Abdou well. He's worth it!

---

I'm confused! So was one the driver and the other the guide? What is the link between these two characters?

Another good place for egypt guides is Tour Guide and Private Tour Guides, Sightseeing Tours – OurExplorer City Tours - the site is rubbish for western nations ($500 a day for a guide to London? No thanks) but is great for places with developing tourism such as Thailand, Egypt etc. Basically the guide uploads his license and allows himself to be openly rated by people who have taken tours. You pay a 10% deposit by card (secure) then the balance to the guide in cash. If they no show, no money for them. I engaged Mina Botares (at a very good price)... his english could be a little rough at times, but I appreciated how he'd gone out there and started his own business and was using every resource available to him.
(for more developed nations try Global Greeter Network: Home for free tours in cities like Melbourne, Adelaide, Houston, New York, Lyon etc.)

Luxor is a definate must to see, I really wish i'd spent a few days there. And next time I really want to get to Aswan. We made the mistake of going to Sharm el Sheik instead... horrible place full of package tourists. SQ fly direct to CAI which I was really looking forward to, until I realised we only have an ID50 :(

I really want to do the Luxor/Aswan cruise next time. Who would you recommend mrs767?

Nick--to clarify Hassany and Abdou. I booked Abdou the egyptologist thru HAssany, an type of private agent who works thru tripadvisor and word-of-mouth. Hass does a very typical Arabic business thing: takes you to his "cafe", elevates himself to Donald Trump import while you all sip tea, then you practically beg him to get to the point of price and back to the hotel. It confirms you're overpaying him but we took good care of Abdou w/tip to reward his great job.
Well, Aswan is my favorite place to "feel" Egypt. I think that's from reading the WIlbur Smith books. I woudl recommend payng as much as you can. Now that you've been to SHarm, consider all those people on the low wend boats--black socks and sandals, flowered blouses and poly shorts...fanny pack and straw handbags...flaoting down the Nile. griping about the price of alcohol...
That said, Sonesta, Oberoi $$$, or Dahabiya (small capacity sailboats (some really don't sail)--they range from 5 cabin private hire or waaaay super pricey but all the trimmings/guides/private moorings etc. I will happily share sooem fo my sources. It woudl really be logical to go when it's summer offseason and HOT but rpices plummet on the luxury boats. The short trip[s are Aswan to Luxor since it's down river, up the Nile--3 night cruises. Stay in Aswan a day or two, relax, get the feel (the spcie market is the BEST I've ever seen!!) then cruise to Luxor.Most sights are included with last day of crusie on arrival in Luxor. Add a day ro two and see the other really good stuff like Dendera and ABydos (a few hours away)
i'm sure i'll think of more to add.