johanna

HI Everyone: We leave for our first trip to Egypt next week! Have been reading the
Egypt forums for the past six months. Most of touring planned with the help of Casual
Cairo. We will be in Luxor for 5 days touring and enjoying the Spa at the Luxor Hilton.
Will it be warm enough to swim? Bring bathing suits for Cairo and Luxor? Are bermuda
shorts acceptable in Luxor at the hotel/resort? Christmas Eve suggestions? I am sure the
hotel has festivities planned but would love to get some imput from everyone. Seems to
be in the 50's at night. Leather jacket too much? Leaving from JFK/NY. Trying to keep
packing to minimum....hardest part of planning our journey. Thanks everyone and
Happy Holidays. Johanna

Grcxx3

Whether it's warm enough for swimming kind of depends on where you're from. I always thought it was too cold (I'm from the South), but all my friends from Canada and Alaska thought it was just fine!

A leather jacket would be fine I think. I got a couple of leather jackets while living there and wore them often. But, if you are trying to lighten the suitcase, a lightweight jacket or sweater would also probably be fine.

Enjoy!!!!

MissGreen

And swimming depends on the pool. I was there in September and for example the Mena House pool was a perfect temperature, in fact the water could of been a little bit cooler... but the pool water at the Movenpick in Aswan was very cold. brrr

johanna

Thank you for the help. I am from FL and right now we are having a cool spell (50's) and it
would be too cool for me too if the water is not heated. The Movenpick is one of the hotel's
we are staying at. We are going to be at the Luxor Hilton Hotel for 5 days to enjoy the spa
so hopefully the water will be warmer. We will be there Christmas Eve too . In trying to keep
my suitcase lighter, I am trying to decide between a dressier dress and/or the bathing suit and
cover-up. Since we will be leaving out of JFK , I probably will need a warmer jacket. I am so excited. I have really enjoyed your report Miss Green and all the advice Grcxx3 gives. Debbie
told me that people wear bright colors in Egypt (which I do, living in FL) but friends here who have been, said to wear the black and beige (to not stand out). Thanks for all of your help. It will be interesting spending Christmas in Egypt. Have been to Cuba, Paris Hawaii and Singapore for Christmas, so this should add to the memories. Many thanks

Grcxx3

Personally, I wouldn't worry about what colors to wear. You'll see everything. I actually avoided wearing black (or any dark colors) because it showed the dirt/dust more!

MissGreen

Johanna, the Movenpick had a dress code for their restaurants. They wanted you to be a bit dressier than your usual t-shirt and shorts stuff. Not sure how strickly they enforced it but everyone I saw (and the hotel wasn't that busy) were dressed nicely. Hubbie and I were the only ones stuck. He had to go and buy a pair of sandals at the market as we'd left a suitcase with Lady Egypt in Cairo as I figured we would not need dressier stuff. I had no sandals but I had glittery casual thongs so they had to suffice for me. I wore long pants to cover them and whilst they didn't match exactly and I felt like I needed Rachael Zoe, we managed!!!

BeniciaChris

Johanna-you will love Movenpick-ask for room # 462-or on that side-quiet and peaceful. The AC wasn't working to top notch when we were there in Oct-but should be fine now. The GM-Dino is a gem. I could have spent more time in Aswan. Chris

MissGreen

Chris... I was like you. We could of spent ages in Aswan just lazing away and wandering down the quaint city streets.

Casual_Cairo

Don't get too excited about the hotels having anything special for Christmas in December. They might put up a few decorations for the tourists, but carols and special meals are not very common. Remember Christmas in Egypt for the Christians living here is Jan 7, and the Muslims are too bothered by any of it. The tours continue on Christmas as if it were any other work day, so if you want it to be special, bring your own stuff to make it special.

Have a good time!

Grcxx3

Excellent points, CC! From my experience - it's really just another day. Maybe a few decorations, but that's about it.

I guess the difference would be that cruise ships or some tour groups might arrange for something special, but that's about it. We were on a Lake Nasser cruise for Thanksgiving one year and the staff went all out to give us a great holiday meal - including turkey and decorations. BUT, it was a cruise dominated by US embassy families, so I am sure arrangements were made in advance.

johanna

Thanks, everyone for the help. Miss Green, I am bringing a black dress and heels for the evening. I was just thinking of bermudas for the Spa. BeniciaChris, We will certainly ask
for Room #452, Grcxx3, thanks for the note about the black. We just heard back from the
Luxor Hilton and both pools are heated. Also, they are having a special meal for Christmas,
Carol Singing by local children, an evening cocktail party, and a van to take people back
and forth to the local Catholic Church for Mass. It will be very interesting. Thank you
all for all of the help. Casual_Cairo, see you soon! Happy Holidays to all. Johanna

Casual_Cairo

I wonder if they are bringing in an English speaking priest for the Catholic Church? Kind of doubt it. Remember most churches here conduct their services in Arabic for the local population, not in English for tourists. In Cairo there are a few more churches with English speakers as there is a larger expat community here.

Maybe now the Brits have invaded Luxor enough to warrant English services there.

And Grcxx - I bet all those Thanksgiving goodies came directly from the American commissary if the cruise was full of Embassy people.... don't you spose? Egyptian gown cranberries are pretty much non-existant. LOL

Grcxx3

LOL! You're right C_C!

BeniciaChris

johanna-Its room 462. But any on that side should be peaceful. The AC wasn't working properly-but that was in Oct-DEc shouldn't be a problem. I hope you get to meet the GM-Dino-he is a gem-Tell him hi from Christine Storz if you see him. This hotel is first class