The plan is 8 to 10 days in November (yes, I'm planning in advance) with 9 year old and gramps and me (granny). He is a very focused kid and we are all very excited.

I know I want to start in Cairo (seeing all the pyramids in the surroundings), Luxor, Aswan and Abel Simbel. I think a nile cruise would be good to acheive some of this.

What do you suggest? How can I made this work? Pre planned Guides or pick up ones on sites?

I would appreciate all your thoughts and information!!

I prefer to take an independent trip but thinking if I could find a tour (especailly if it included airfare from LAX) that was cheap with a good reputation that would be great!

We took a tour and it was just right for us. Although both of us have much past and recent experience with independent travel, we felt that in the time frame it was better to let others do all the work and sit back and enjoy. Also, we found that having a really well trained guide we got so much more out of what he was able to show and explain to us. We used Insight Vacations, which is a UK company but has recently been marketing in the USA, and we were more than very happy with them. We did both Egypt and Turkey with them and their prices (then, 2009, don't know about now) were very reasonable. I highly recommend them.

But I am just fascinated that your 9 year old grandson is so eager to go to Egypt! I think that is just wonderful, and that it could really have a tremendous impact on his life! He will most certainly end up being the youngest one on a tour, but he will have a ball because the people who go on tours, for the most part, are loads of fun and very smart! It really depends on how long you want to spend there and what's important to you.

Thanks, Tiny for your suggestions. First, let me say the 9 year old is amazing...He is so bright it's kinda scary and the kid is a such a social butterfly. When he was 7.5 he said Egypt was his dream destination. The deal was...good grades and a good son and we see the pyramids together. When he was 8 he called to tell us he got straight A's and added "It looks like I'm on the path to Egypt" I asked him if he wanted to change his dream to Africa. He said "Egypt is in Africa". "Oops, I meant to say safari in Africa", I said. He gave me a sad face and said "what happened to Egypt?"
Any Way, (sorry, I when off there)
Can you give me the web site of Insight? Many different sites can up when I did a search? Thanks Again!

Okay - I'm going to make a REALLY cheesy suggestion....for a young man that age - I would suggest starting your Cairo time at the Pharonic Village. Yes - it is like "Disney-on-a-budget does Egypt" - but for kids, it is a good intro.

I went there with a friend (4 children between us, in 1 - 5th grades) and even tho the kids had lived in Egypt for 2 years....the loved it! It's a good, kid-friendly introduction to all the gods and goddesses - along with the meaning behind the temples, village life, and a recreation of what King Tut's tomb looked like when it was found. To be honest, even my friend and I enjoyed the visit. The boat ride along the canals (off the Nile) were relaxing and we learned a great deal.

http://www.pharaonicvillage.com/index.html

Just a suggestion....

Oh - and even if you grandson is familiar with all the Pharonic history (and my kids had had 2 years of Egyptian Culture in school) - I still think he will enjoy it.

How fortunate your grandson is to have grandpatents like you!

I would contact STI-Travel and look into a customized package from New York that includes a cruise. Let them know up front the ages of the travel party. You have more freedom that way and it doesn't cost much more, if any, than a tour.

Pat

We are very independent travelers, but everything we read made us believe that having someone to take us around would be very valuable in Egypt -- it's just that much more difficult to do it on your own there than it is in other places you might have been. Anyway, there were 6 of us, so we did a private tour. We arranged ours through Lady Egypt (many people on Fodor's have used them) -- they are very reputable, and the service was excellent.

Before you book with a US package tour operator, at least get the same itinerary priced with Lady Egypt or another Cairo-based operator, as the prices I'm told can be quite different. We did all the arrangements via email (our rep was Mohamed Kamel, others here have used Amanda, whose last name I can't recall at the moment). They did all the bookings (hotels, intra-Egypt transportation), arranged guides and drivers for Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. Everytime we arrived at a new hotel, we just walked in and waited, while they handled our luggage and got us checked in. They even got us checked in at airports.

They were very flexible -- when arriving flights were cancelled or changed, they still picked us up, even though it was the middle of the night....Because we were on a private tour, we could change the order of doing things, the amount of time we spent wherever we were, when we would eat and stop for drinks or snacks, etc.

I don't usually travel that way, but for Egypt, it worked!

The emails are flying now!!
Disney-on-a-budget does Egypt looks like a definite possibility..Thanks!

I'm looking at STI-Travel web site now and will email them. Thank you!

Lady Egypt does seem to be mentioned and used by many....I"m off to check out their web site. Thank you

Lady Egypt is very good indeed, I used them in December 2007 for my Egypt/Jordan trip.

I think it's so cool that a 9-year-old has an interest in Egypt. If I didn't know better I would think this is my long lost son.

Lady Egypt should be your choice-almost $800USD cheaper than most of the guides recommended on this board for the same trip.I was shocked!Ask for Amanda as your rep-she is wonderful.

Fly Delta LAX to JFK and then nonstop on Delta to Cairo-use miles or plan early.Egypt air and Delta are the only two airlines that fly nonstop from the US I believe? We flew them into Cairo and out of Amman Jordan nonstop back to the states.
Perhaps the grandparents would like to add an extra trip to Petra,Dead Sea,etc.?Fabulous!

Saving $$ is always good, and Lady Egypt seems to be mentioned positively on this site all the time, but here is Insight Vacations web site just fyi:

http://www.insightvacations.com/au/

I would contact 3-5 different operators with emails telling them what you want and see what they say when they get back to you. I think you will be able to narrow the field somewhat based on how they answer your enquiry. Something will click with some, and just not be there with others.

I somehow have the feeling your grandson may already be on the internet reading about Egypt!

I think taking this particular child to Egypt will make your trip more amazing too!

<<<Fly Delta LAX to JFK and then nonstop on Delta to Cairo-use miles or plan early.Egypt air and Delta are the only two airlines that fly nonstop from the US I believe? We flew them into Cairo and out of Amman Jordan nonstop back to the states. >>>

I think that is correct, but when you're flying from the west coast anyway, the "non-stop from the US" part doesn't really matter. You can fly United/Lufthansa non-stop to Frankfurt, for example, and then non-stop Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Cairo.

P_M, I'd love to take credit for such a wonderful kid but truth is he's my the son of my stepdaughter who is a Mom that I'm in awe of... The mom molds the kids, right?
Duty Free, thanks for the confirmation on Lady Egypt. We've been to Jordan loved it and would love to take "the kid" further and longer but time does not permit.ahhh
Tiny Dancer, thanks for the follow up and I'm for sure going to take your advice.
sf7307 I appreicate your clarifaction. Because, I not only want to find the cheapest route but the most direct.

One day I will learn to proof read:
is he's my the son of my stepdaughter who is a Mom that I'm in awe of..
Means: He is the son of my stepdaughter

I wanted to see the sights of Egypt at his age, but I ended up being in my late 30's when I eventually went to Egypt. He is a lucky boy! I would presume that your grandson has a knowledge of ancient Egypt and a thirst for the experience. However being just a youg boy he would probably enjoy going to the "Pharonic Village". This is a little cheesy but as a grown up we really enjoyed the reconstuction of King Tut's tomb. I would reccomend a guide in Cairo contact [email protected] The guides in Cairo can be a little bit hit and miss. This guide will tend to your needs. Any other information that you will require will be given by him. I would reccomend that you take a 7 day Nile cruise. This will take you from Luxor to Aswan and back again to Luxor. You will get to see many sights with an excellent guide. I would reccomend the "Emelio Domina Prestige" cruise boat as the service is friedly and the food is good. If you want to go to Abu Simbel then you will have to take an extra excursion from the cruise boat when is stays in Aswan, this may cost you an extra £70 each and means that you will have to get up at around 3am to travel 3 hours by coach into the Sahara desert. You will be pleased of the early start due to the heat of the sun. Abu Simbel is not to be missed, as it is spectacular.

Thanks DAVE for your input and info. I defintely want to go to Abu Simbel. He will be here with us this week and I'm looking for DVD's to watch. Any suggestions?