TravelTrio

Just learned that our family of 4 will have 10 days (excluding travel, only 8 full days) in late March. We fly into Cairo, Egypt (3/27) and out of Amman, Jordan (4/6). I am doing research, and plan to do much, much more, but in the meantime, would appreciate some advice from forum experts to cram in as much as possible without totally sacrificing our sanity. I have always found wonderful help on Fodor's Forum and like to engage the forum experts as early as possible in the trip-planning process. Of course, Petra, Giza, etc. are essentials, but just can't figure out how to cover more and what we will simply have to miss. Please offer your thoughts.

I totally realize that this should be three weeks or longer, but unfortunately, this is all the time we have. (So, if you plan to simply scold me for thinking I can adequately see two countries in little more than a week, please don't bother. I already know! It's killing me that we don't have more time!) While we would hope to return to this part of the world again some day, who knows. Therefore, it's best to see and experience as much as possible on this trip.

A little useful background about us, so you can properly advise .....

Budget is flexible -- we can and will splurge on great experiences or unique accommodations (e.g., hot air balloon and cave hotel in Cappadocia, ryoksan on Mijyjima), but generally find that 5-star hotels keep us a little too removed from the culture. We will spring for flights if land travel takes too long. We will rent a car and drive if that's the only way to go (and can just hire a marriage counselor to repair damage later). Flights are free so we have a decent budget to work with.

We have traveled quite a bit with our kids (ages 13 and 15) and we all love adventure, history, and meeting new people. We handle travel and accompanying jet lag, hassles, etc. very well. We travel light (one backpack each) and have no trouble moving about. We'd rather lose a couple hours of sleep than drop a key site from our itinerary. We tend to need a bit longer than average in ruins and museums, and don't really shop. We like good food, but can survive if it's only passable. Kids have traveled this way since they were 6, and can handle heat, long rides, language difficulties, weird food, being touched and stared at, etc. better than any adult I know. So don't assume we need "kid-friendly" anything.

We much, much prefer independent travel, but have in the past worked into longer trips a one- or two-day package here and there, usually for price or convenience (e.g. Mekong Delta, Meteora, Troy, Stonehenge/Canturbury). We dislike the inevitable souvenier shopping stops, but can tolerate them if the package is otherwise excellent.

Generally, we like to prearrange local experts for accurate and in-depth knowlege of key historical sites (as opposed to finding someone at the gate). I've found that this forum is the best for identifying top local guides.

So, with all that, I turn it over to you the FF experts. Please, have at it!! Give me an outline to start and I promise to do the research. Appreciate your help!

sandi

Arriving CAR, departing AMM.

Have you checked flight schedules between CAI/AMM?
With this you'll know when/what day/time you depart CAI and arrive AMM.

If only visiting Petra, this can be done as a full day. So assuming flight arrives AMM from CAI mid-day, you'll need overnight AMM, next morning you can depart for full-day to Petra, returning at night. Then depending on when homebound flight departs AMM, might have time to visit Jerash and Amman. You can prearrange to have a guide/driver to Petra; also for visiting Jerash and Amman. So that comes to 3/days. Remaining would be 5/days in Egypt.

In Egypt, you don't have time for a Nile Cruise, but can spend a few days in CAI - Giza, pyramids, sphinx, museum, bazaar, old Cairo, etc. - then overnight train or flight to Luxor for a few days, with return flight to CAI for connecting to AMM.

pasqualino

Hello TravelTrio,

We are kindred spirits. I'm looking to do the same trip (one extra day) in mid March with my 12 and 17 year old sons. I'm set on Egypt - Cairo and Luxor. However, I'm debating on the Jordan part. We also are quite adept traveling with a packed itinerary, but I'm wondering if this exceeds our limits.

I wanted to share with you something I'm considering. It is the "Zuwar Stopover" with Royal Jordanian airlines. You can find more info about it from their web site.

BTY, I've read your Turkey/Greece forums with some interest. We're doing that trip in June!!

TravelTrio

Thanks to both of you for your comments. I have been working on the trip and have posted a proposed itinerary in a different thread. Sandi, I have relied on your advice, as you will see from the draft itinerary. And pasqualino, I am so happy for you to be going to Turkey/Greece in June. Fantastic trip -- please don't hesitate to contact me if you want more details. One of our very best ever, wouldn't change much if I did it again!

So, both of you, please look my draft itinerary for Egypt/Jordan and let me know your thoughts.

pasqualino

Hi,

Unfortunately, we put our Egypt/Jordon trip on hold until next year. We are set for Greece and Turkey in June though. But PLEASE tell me, how did you get from Ephesus area to Santorini?It's driving me insane. Every route is so circuitous and time consuming. Did you write a trip report? Thanks

TravelTrio

I'm embarrassed to say I did not write a trip report. But in response to your question, here is what we planned versus what we actually ended up doing.

Our plan was to spend about a week in Turkey (Istanbul, Troy, Cappadocia, Ephesus), followed by about a week in Greece. After Ephesus, we planned to take the 5 p.m. ferry from Kusadasi to Samos on 8 June. The plan was to stay the one night in Samos, then the next day take a 7am ferry to Mykonos, then a later ferry (there were 2 to choose from) on to Santorini. I spent hours and hours researching, agonizing, and sorting this out, and finally settled on what seemed like a good, workable plan.

Then, mid-morning on 8 June, the day we were supposed to start all this, while we were in the middle of touring Ephesus, we received an email that the 5:00 ferry was cancelled! According to the Turks, "those Greeks do stuff like this all the time." So, we scrambled, and with the help of our wonderful tour guide (hired only for the day) in Ephesus, we had someone drive us up to Cesme, where we took an evening ferry to Chios, and then later that night, boarded an overnight ferry to Athens. We arrived in Athens in the early morning, and then with my two young kids, took a cab and literally ran (pulling our backpacks on wheels) and barely caught the Athens to Santorini ferry. It all worked out, we got to Santorini the day we had planned (actually earlier) and I definely got a workout, but it seemed at first like a near disaster. My kids ended up loving the overnight ferry, but the route was certainly far from direct or efficient. After a few years, we can laugh about it, but Greece can be really hard on us obsessive planners. Things just have a way of happening.

That said, the Turks were some of the most friendly and helpful people I've encountered. They did everything they could to "fix" our disrupted travel plans, blaming and trashing the Greeks as frequently as possible. When we got to Greece, they trashed the Turks. But I know who my favorites were......

This was a wonderful trip. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything.

dutyfree

Are you in Chicago or a suburb of Chicago as I live up in one of the northwest suburbs if you want to discuss anything about your upcoming trip to Egypt.

pasqualino

Sorry I asked At least you can laugh about it now. I, too, am spending hours and hours researching, agonizing and sorting things out! There still doesn't seem to be a quick, easy way.

Thanks TravelTrio. Enjoy Egypt and Jordan!

TravelTrio

Yes, dutyfree, I am in Glen Ellyn. I'd love to hear as much info as you want to share. Anything from packing trips (we like to take as little as necessary) to photo tips to favorite hotel/restaurants. I love the trip-planning, so more is better!

pasqualino -- yes, we laugh about it. You are taking what has remained one of my favorite trips ever. We had the most wonderful time in Turkey and Greece! The ferrying between the countries seems almost deliberately difficult, but it ended up working out.