Thank you so much for the Lady Egypt Recommendation I got from Fodors
Oct 7th, 2010, 02:20 AM
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Thank you so much for the Lady Egypt Recommendation I got from Fodors
I'm home from a fabulous trip to Egypt and Jordan. It was absolutely amazing to see such treasures thousands of years old. I definitely would not of been as prepared if I had not found this site with all the fabulous advice and information, as well as the recommendations to use Lady Egypt.
Lady Egypt and their rep Ahmed, and Guides Hamdi (Cairo), Aamer (Luxor & Aswan ) & Nasser (1 day in Cairo) were absolutely amazing. Nothing was an issue, they were flexible if we wanted to change something or do something extra. Hamdi was very knowledgeable and my husband enjoyed chats with him about politics, world views, western views on the middle east etc. I loved Aamer. He was so attentive and helpful.. just like having a 2nd husband! I think he enjoyed time with us as when we would see his guide friends he would introduce me as his "Australian wife". He called me "the Queen"! "queen are you ok, queen, do you want a drink, queen relax". I would get told to relax constantly as we walked along like Egyptians do... along the side of the road with the honking of cars around us!
We were thoroughly spoiled in Egypt by such fabulous people and services that we were a bit disappointed in Jordan. My husband had read how fabulous Wadi Rum was and was ready with his cameras to take fabulous snaps but was really disappointed. He said he had seen more magnificent rocks and mountains in Australia and he thought the hype didn't live up to it. Myself, I didn't like Jebel Rum Camp... I was whiney until we left and went back to our 5 star luxury! lol We were not that enamoured with our driver. He didn't say much as we drove along and had difficulty understanding us sometimes. Once or twice we asked similar questions and upon the second time asking a question he said "I told you that before". Hmm??? We would of liked a driver who was also more of a guide.
My highlight was Valley of the Kings and King Tuts Tomb. My husband's was Karnak Temple (it was huge!) Another memorable moment was with an interaction with a veiled woman. I looked at her eyes (all I could see) and thought how pretty she looked. She looked at me and smile... I could see it in her eyes and again thought what a beautiful smile even thought I could not see it.
I was pleased to see the bathrooms in Egypt were perfectly fine. Horror stories from guidebooks had me imaginging things one doesn't want to imagine! No toilet rated less than 8 out of 10 for cleanliness. Sometimes the only problem was water on the floor as the attendant was often seen mopping the floor. A couple of toilets in jordan were a bit gruesome!
In regards to "mummy tummy"... I don't think I really had a problem. It is hard for me to ascertain as I have some health issues that makes me sick from eating food. Once I had two trips to the bathroom within 30 mins with what was "mummy tummy" but 2 immodium later, I did not need any toilet trips for the rest of the day, however, I did feel a bit queasy and faint for the day. In the heat, I often did not feel like eating - e.g. our day in petra was a bit hard as I had had 1 meal in 2 days prior to Petra.
My husband however, ate and drank whatever he wanted, without a problem until the departure lounge - 1 month later! He needed a toilet visit every 2 hours or so but it wasn't an "extremely urgent toilet visit!". He accidentally drank tap water, ate at local restaurants (I didn't eat anytthing there), including 2 ones that looked really dicey, he drank mango juice & sugar cane juice with our guide at a roadside vendor, ate food samples handed to him - you name it, he did it! He just felt a bit queezy for the day.
I have written a detailed trip report. I wrote every day or two to keep a journal for myself so it might be too long for some! I have a couple of days to do and so far it is 50 pages (in Word)! I'll get it organised and post it!
Again, thank you to those who gave me lots of advice. It was so much appreciated.
Lady Egypt and their rep Ahmed, and Guides Hamdi (Cairo), Aamer (Luxor & Aswan ) & Nasser (1 day in Cairo) were absolutely amazing. Nothing was an issue, they were flexible if we wanted to change something or do something extra. Hamdi was very knowledgeable and my husband enjoyed chats with him about politics, world views, western views on the middle east etc. I loved Aamer. He was so attentive and helpful.. just like having a 2nd husband! I think he enjoyed time with us as when we would see his guide friends he would introduce me as his "Australian wife". He called me "the Queen"! "queen are you ok, queen, do you want a drink, queen relax". I would get told to relax constantly as we walked along like Egyptians do... along the side of the road with the honking of cars around us!
We were thoroughly spoiled in Egypt by such fabulous people and services that we were a bit disappointed in Jordan. My husband had read how fabulous Wadi Rum was and was ready with his cameras to take fabulous snaps but was really disappointed. He said he had seen more magnificent rocks and mountains in Australia and he thought the hype didn't live up to it. Myself, I didn't like Jebel Rum Camp... I was whiney until we left and went back to our 5 star luxury! lol We were not that enamoured with our driver. He didn't say much as we drove along and had difficulty understanding us sometimes. Once or twice we asked similar questions and upon the second time asking a question he said "I told you that before". Hmm??? We would of liked a driver who was also more of a guide.
My highlight was Valley of the Kings and King Tuts Tomb. My husband's was Karnak Temple (it was huge!) Another memorable moment was with an interaction with a veiled woman. I looked at her eyes (all I could see) and thought how pretty she looked. She looked at me and smile... I could see it in her eyes and again thought what a beautiful smile even thought I could not see it.
I was pleased to see the bathrooms in Egypt were perfectly fine. Horror stories from guidebooks had me imaginging things one doesn't want to imagine! No toilet rated less than 8 out of 10 for cleanliness. Sometimes the only problem was water on the floor as the attendant was often seen mopping the floor. A couple of toilets in jordan were a bit gruesome!
In regards to "mummy tummy"... I don't think I really had a problem. It is hard for me to ascertain as I have some health issues that makes me sick from eating food. Once I had two trips to the bathroom within 30 mins with what was "mummy tummy" but 2 immodium later, I did not need any toilet trips for the rest of the day, however, I did feel a bit queasy and faint for the day. In the heat, I often did not feel like eating - e.g. our day in petra was a bit hard as I had had 1 meal in 2 days prior to Petra.
My husband however, ate and drank whatever he wanted, without a problem until the departure lounge - 1 month later! He needed a toilet visit every 2 hours or so but it wasn't an "extremely urgent toilet visit!". He accidentally drank tap water, ate at local restaurants (I didn't eat anytthing there), including 2 ones that looked really dicey, he drank mango juice & sugar cane juice with our guide at a roadside vendor, ate food samples handed to him - you name it, he did it! He just felt a bit queezy for the day.
I have written a detailed trip report. I wrote every day or two to keep a journal for myself so it might be too long for some! I have a couple of days to do and so far it is 50 pages (in Word)! I'll get it organised and post it!
Again, thank you to those who gave me lots of advice. It was so much appreciated.
Oct 7th, 2010, 08:39 AM
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Glad to hear you had a happy and safe trip MissGreen.
I'd be interested to read what your Wadi Rum tour was like. I'm supposed to be there at around mid November. Maybe I can change what I see once I read what your tour was like.
I'd be interested to read what your Wadi Rum tour was like. I'm supposed to be there at around mid November. Maybe I can change what I see once I read what your tour was like.
Oct 7th, 2010, 09:09 AM
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<<<Another memorable moment was with an interaction with a veiled woman. I looked at her eyes (all I could see) and thought how pretty she looked. She looked at me and smile... I could see it in her eyes and again thought what a beautiful smile even thought I could not see it.>>>
MissGreen, please send me your email address - I want to send you a picture from my trip. We were at the Cairo Tower, and a woman in a lovely woman in conservative but at the same time very modern dress asked to take her picture with me! My new best friend
My email address is dm love 51 at gmail dot com. I'd post it here, but I don't know how to link to just one picture.
Glad you had a great trip!
MissGreen, please send me your email address - I want to send you a picture from my trip. We were at the Cairo Tower, and a woman in a lovely woman in conservative but at the same time very modern dress asked to take her picture with me! My new best friend
My email address is dm love 51 at gmail dot com. I'd post it here, but I don't know how to link to just one picture. Glad you had a great trip!
Oct 7th, 2010, 06:34 PM
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P67742. I stayed at the Mena House for 5 days, then a single day at the Cairo Marriot then 3 more days at the Cairo Marriot at the end of our journey.
We loved the Mena House - the facilities and the service. We did not like the atmosphere at the marriot the first time we were there however, on our second visit we enjoyed it far more. The room was lovely - overlooking the nile in the Gezira Tower. Our Rep said that often a lot of Arabs stay there and he said the hotel turns a blind eye to things (e.g. to quote what we were told...."room visitors") and as they will pay whatever the hotel wants to charge them the hotel and perhaps staff prefer dealing with them as they are bigger tippers. This explains the lack of service and disinterest by staff. I also did not feel totally comfortable there the first time. For our second visit, school had gone back and the clientele at the hotel changed which changed the atmosphere I feel.
I did not really like the pool area. That may not be important to you!
We loved the Mena House - the facilities and the service. We did not like the atmosphere at the marriot the first time we were there however, on our second visit we enjoyed it far more. The room was lovely - overlooking the nile in the Gezira Tower. Our Rep said that often a lot of Arabs stay there and he said the hotel turns a blind eye to things (e.g. to quote what we were told...."room visitors") and as they will pay whatever the hotel wants to charge them the hotel and perhaps staff prefer dealing with them as they are bigger tippers. This explains the lack of service and disinterest by staff. I also did not feel totally comfortable there the first time. For our second visit, school had gone back and the clientele at the hotel changed which changed the atmosphere I feel.
I did not really like the pool area. That may not be important to you!
Oct 7th, 2010, 11:06 PM
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The Gulf Arabs at the 5* hotels are very annoying. They ruin summer for most of us, but what can the hotels do? They will pay any amount of money to come to Egypt to behave badly..... drinking and gambling til ALL hours of the morning. LOL they can't do it at home unless they are part of the royalty - and they have to do it behind closed doors.
Oct 8th, 2010, 06:47 AM
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Thanks so much for the report. I am getting ready to leave on a Lady Egypt tour next week, and I would like to say Amanda has been great in terms of planning my trip. I have bothered her with a million questions, and she has consistently responded promptly and with helpful answers to my questions.
Oct 11th, 2010, 11:08 AM
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Welcome back, Miss Green! So happy to hear about your wonderful trip, and can't wait to read the full report. I, like jat, am happy to hear the glowing report on traveling with Lady Egypt; we will be visiting in December/january and I feel I bothered Amanda to death over the summer when I was in the planning stages.
Oct 12th, 2010, 12:29 PM
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Thank you so much for your trip report! We have a trip scheduled in a couple Months with LE and am glad everything was better than expected, as I too have read "toilet Horror" stories and lots of fear over mummy tummy. Our trip sounds about the same as we have 1 night in Wadi Rum, and hopefully will enjoy. Moving from nervous excitement to just excitement Thanks.
Thanks.
Oct 16th, 2010, 11:24 AM
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MissGreen, thanks for posting this. I enjoyed reading about your trip and will look forward to the detailed report when it is ready. We will be going soon ourselves so we appreciate the information.
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