cheriegal

We are 4 ladies interested in a tour to Egypt in Feb 2008. I found a company call Global Gate Vacations that does a 16 day trip including a 7 day cruise with Oberoi Cruise lines and stays in 5 star hotels - including the 4 Seasons. Has anyone used this tour company. I did a search on this board and couldn't find anything on them. We are looking for a tour with a nice cruise and good hotels. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks

cheriegal

ttt

Casual_Cairo

My only question and comment is WHY do a 7 day Nile cruise? That is at least 3 more nights than necessary, and 4 more nights than you'd have to spend on the boat. While it is OK, what you do is travel between Luxor and Aswan for 3/4 nights, and then turn around and go back for the other 3/4 nights. How repetitive is that? If this is your first time in Egypt there are many more places to spend your time than sitting on the same boat, seeing the same sites for those extra 3/4 nights. If all you want to do is hang around and relax, why not get to the sea and enjoy a different view for those 3/4 nights? We have some of the best snorkeling/diving in the world in Egypt. World class golf corses. Fantastic oasis experiences. There is a lot to do with those 3/4 nights rather than repeat an experience you just lived through, in my opinion.

Everything else on the trip sounds lovely, but 7 days on the same Nile cruise is too much in my minds eye.

If there are any Nile cruise companies reading this that would like me to stop posting comments like this that want to put me on their boat for 7 nights to prove me wrong - WELCOME - I'd give it a go.

BillsDaddy

Eight of us are booked for an eight-day "affordable Egypt" tour with Global leaving in two weeks. Will try to post an opinion on our return. They are rated a "T.O.P." member of ASTA which has certain quality requirements. The one hotel into which we're booked, e Meridien Pyramids, is top rated as is the Beau Soleil, the Nile cruiser on which we spend three nights. They were very accommodating in putting us into a hotel at the airport on the return so we'd be close for a 5:30 AM flight (not atypical).Seems like much importance in your planning should be devoted to type of clothing, good walking shoes and how to carry a water supply.

zengeos

Bills,

Please do let us know how the trip goes. I looked at Gate 1 an several other clearinghouse companies like it but didn't see a tour I liked. They all seemed too restrictive in optional trips.

Luckily, I've got almost 9 months to plan the trip and make further adjustments to the itinerary.

BillsDaddy

Were VERY impressed with Global Gate's Egypt affiliate. Their rep met us before customs with visa stickers ready to affix into our passports. An extremely knowledgeable guide accompanied us for the whole trip, Cairo, internal flights, cruise ship. By week's end, she was like family. Hotels were excellent as was the boat. We had our own van at each stop. At journey's end, their rep picked us up at 3AM, got boxed breakfasts from the hotel, went to the airport and suggested we sit while he handled boarding passes, luggage tags, etc. Nice not to stand in line, especially at that hour.

The Cairo van driver was especially impressive. Imagine, if you will, city of 22 million with no traffic lights. Yet he navigated with a cool skill even New York cabbies lack.

Take plenty of small bills with you as you'll be hounded at every turn for "backsheesh", Egyptian for tip. The carriage driver at Edfu even tried to have us tip his horse! And if you are led to the camel rides near the Giza Pyramids (almost all are) make sure you know the price BEFORE mounting a camel. These guys will take you for every cent they can and consider all tourists wealthy enough to share with them whatever they can extract.

Our eight day event kept us moving but don't think we missed any thing of consequence other than Abu-Simbel.

I think you'll be pleased if you use Global Gate. We were.

travelrookie

BillsDaddy,

We are considering globalgate for a Christmas trip to Egypt and have some questions.
did globalgate book the airfare for you? how many transfer stops were there and how long did it take to get there from the US? did you have a long wait between transfers?
do they have different travel guides each day?
thank you

BillsDaddy

Yes, Global Gate booked the air part of the tour. We had a choice of a non-stop Egylt Air from JFK (at a $40 premium)or Lufthansa with a stop in Frankfurt. We chose the latter to give the four teenagers a break and so some of the group could get the FF miles.

BillsDaddy

Forgot to answer question about travel guide. Our group of 8 had a guide who went with us the entire trip: flew to Aswan, cruised the Nile with us; ate with us, etc. The elapsed time, Ny to Cairo, with the change is bout 14 hours.

PamR

Casual Cairo, Boy do I disagree with you! I once took the Nile cruise from Cairo to Aswan - it was 10 days or so. It was wonderful. As I understand it, the longer cruises make different stops on each leg (for example skipping Kom Ombo going to Aswan and stopping it on the return). They don't go to the same places twice as you said. For someone who wants to cruise, I think that would be great. I've heard great things about the Oberoi cruises, too. (You can do a search of this talk group and see what they say.) I love Egypt, have been there 5 times and am going back in February. As I said, I love cruising the Nile. But everyone is different. Some folks might prefer golf or snorkeling. That would NOT be me! It might be you. Only these ladies know what suits them best.

cheriegal

My question if for BillsDaddy. WE are are 4 ladies who orginally asked about Global Gate. They have been wonderful to talk to while planning and we have decided to book with them after your high praise on this board. I'm not excited about Egypt Air - which airline did you fly? Also - there will be 4 of us and one has arthritis in her hands and can't handle luggage very well - do they take care of that? What about the meals - I know only breakfast and a few lunches are included - was food expensive in Egypt? Did they advise you on good places to eat? Thanks so much for your help.

Casual_Cairo

There haven't been any cruises going from Cairo to Aswan in at least ten years. Pam R, when was the last time you were here?

Pretty much now, Aswan-Luxor, Luxor-Aswan, either way it's pretty much a repeat.

Anyone that's been on one more recently know different?