lyntay

Will be going to Egypt in July and would like to book guides. Should I book them once I get there or before I go? Do people use the same guide for each attraction or do they book a different guide for each one? What about a Nile Cruise? Should I book that when I get there and can anyone recommend a good company? As well, is it cheaper to book inter-Egypt flights once I get there or should I book those ahead of time?

sandi

Best to work with an in-country outfitter - Lady Egypt, gets good reviews. They can arrange: meet/greets, transfers, sightseeing with guides/vehicles, internal flights, Nile cruise, etc.

For sightseeing in Cairo, you can contact Debbie Senters of Casual Cairo at [email protected]... she also gets great reviews.

abby97

I am going to Egypt in December and planned the trip (about 4-5 months in advance, which was pretty short notice for high season) with Ahmed Hamed Yousif. His contact info is [email protected]. He gave us an all-inclusive package price for a private tour that covers pretty much everything other than international airfare (including airport meet-and-greet, all internal flights/transfers/transportation, some meals, private guides at all times including the cruise). He also booked our cruise and all of our hotels. He is able to work with a variety of budgets and preferences and was very responsive and easy to work with. I just didn't have time to make all the arrangements myself, and it was so easy letting Ahmed do everything.

To answer your question more directly, I think there are a lot of ways you can plan the trip -- lots of people use points/miles and book hotels themselves, and then hire a guide just for guiding purposes, rather than having the guide book the whole trip.
I would be really nervous about waiting until you get there to book things -- seems like that could be a hassle, when it's so easy to do it in advance. Since you're not going in high season, I guess it's possible, but I think your options would be more limited, and I'm guessing you'd pay more.

scotsgirl

Hi Lyntay

I would agree with the ladies above, it is much less stressful if you have it organised before you go, but preferrable to use an in-egypt agent as they can normally get you the best prices etc.

I recommend Egypt Quality Tours as they tailor the tour to suit exactly what you want, the accommodation to the star rating that you want, and the cruise boats they use are first class. they can give you Egyptologists (licenced and fully qualified) for private tours with private transportation for any location within Egypt so they could work it all out from A to B for you no problem.

The ladies above have recommeded a couple for you too, so no harm in trying all three and see what you get from them.

Either way, you will have a great time in Egypt I am sure, it is a wonderful experience.

Scotsgirl

BeniciaChris

I have heard the security is tight in Egypt. I too have been in contact with Ahmed Hamid Yousif. We are planning to use himas our guide next Sept/October. I like the idea of someone meeting us at the airport-getting us to our hotel and taking care of everything. From what other travelers have said he is quite reasonable. I don't have my prices yet-but Ihope so,. He does sound great. chris

Lollie14

abby97

We have something in common and I am hoping that you will email me at [email protected]. Ahmed has planned a trip for our family starting 12/28/09. I would like to communicate with you prior to departure. Look forward to hearing from you.

Lollie14

abby97

Hi Lollie -

I will definitely email you shortly!

Abby97

abby97

Lollie -

I sent you an email. Let me know if you didn't receive it.

Abby97

BeniciaChris

Hi-Since I last posted I have gotten our flights to & from. Cashed in American miles & we have 2 business class seats going to Egypt.Comming home I have Lufthansa-coach-BUT I spoke to United & when it is 330 days I can maybe upgrade the return-If not thats Ok-only one stop on way home/
I have contacted Ahmed-he is working on our itenary. i want everything secure before I leave-Everyone who has gone 7 is going thanks for trip reports-we who don't do trip reports take notes-Chris

Lollie14

Abby97

Hi! I did not receive your email...must have gone to my spam folder. Please re-send and I will check to make sure it doesn't end up in spam! I look forward to hearing from you...our departure date is fast approaching!

dutyfree

Our family of 4 is using Lady Egypt for our upcoming trip to Egypt and Jordan in two weeks. I found them (Amanda Whitmore) to be so helpful in offering suggestions and schedules and allowing us to change what we did or did not want-hotels,sites,etc. They took care of the land,air and Nile Cruise portions.
I normally do not use tour companies as our family travels independently but when I started adding up the prices of the hotels and air (even with my airline discounts) I couldn't come up with the price she did.They are sooooo much cheaper for the very same things then alot of the ones touted on this travel board so do shop around.

MissGreen

Dutyfree, Amanda is organising my trip too.

dutyfree

Miss Green-you got mail offline!

Kris_Mom

I just posted a trip report that gives details about the trip Ahmed Hamed Yousif planned for us. He took care of EVERY detail (even though I'm kind of a control freak!), and you will not be disappointed.

When I was first planning my trip, I was in touch with Debbie Senters of Casual Cairo tours. And even though I decided to go with Ahmed, I wanted to mention that Debbie was very helpful, and her web site helped me to figure out what I wanted to see while I was in Cairo.
- Kristen

lyntay

I'm not sure this is appropriate, but is it alright to ask what people paid for their trips with either Lady Egypt, Casual Cairo or with Ahmed?

Kris_Mom

Casual Cairo lists her prices right on her web site:
http://www.casualcairodetours.pyramids.net/prices.html. This is a very helpful site.

Elizabeth_S

lyntay - I am happy to share costs offline - I don't post here because posts stick around forever and prices change (up and down) - you can email me at

eseibertca AT yahoo DOT ca

We traveled with Ahmed in January/08 and were delighted with our trip - report here

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ependently.cfm

sf7307

I can also share costs offline - dmlove51 @ hotmail dot com (which is my "public" email address. We used Lady Egypt, and our trip was not quite as upscale as Elizabeth's (for example, she and her husband stayed at the Mena House, we stayed at Le Meridien Pyramids)), so it will give you an idea of various "levels".

Elizabeth_S

Hi D! I'm always skeptical when a group tour lists "Mena House OR Le Meridien Pyramids" due to the price differential between them - I think people often think they have an even chance of getting Mena House but I don't think so!

Liz

sf7307

Hi Elizabeth! That's the beauty of a "custom" tour, of course -- you get to pick where you stay, what you do, when you eat, how long you visit each place, etc!