A friend and I are travelling to Egypt and Jordan Feb 13 - 27 and looking for a reputable travel agent to help us coordinate. We are looking for someone to help us with authentic travel experiences, including climbing Mt. Sinai. Here's the itinerary (not set in stone at this point, but we think it looks good). Any info on a great travel agent (we are looking for nice hotels but they don't have to be 5 star). Unfortunately the first travel agent recommded only does 5 star hotels and hence the trip was too expensive.

Feb 14 - Arrival Cairo
Feb 15 - Cairo sightseeing (Full day pyramids - or we can do half day)
Feb 16 - Cairo sightseeing (Islamic/Egyptian Museum
Feb 17 - Flight from Cairo to Abu Simbel, then back to Aswan for cruise embarkation, this afternoon you can do a lazy felucca sailtrek or even a one hour camel trek to St. Simeon's Monastery. overnight Aswan
Feb 18 - Kom Ombo/Edfu on cruise
Feb 19 - East Bank AND West Bank of Luxor on cruise (Valley of Kings, Hatchepsut, and Karnak would be nice)
Feb 20 - Early morning non-stop flight to Sharm, transfer to Dahab (arrival time approx 09:30) - full day rest/relax/snorkeling (Because you really need a day to rest in between the sites and the ascent)
Feb 21 - St. Katherine/Mt. Sinai trekking/ascent (9-10am departure from Dahab and 7-8pm return - sunrise, not touristy ascent)
Feb 22 - Free morning Dahab, Sharm-Amman direct flight, Arrive at 4pm, Overnight Amman
Feb 23 - Jerash and transfer to Petra for Petra by Night Experience, Overnight Petra
Feb 24 - Petra, Overnight Petra
Feb 25 - Transfer to Dead Sea for some relaxation, Overnight Dead Sea

Feb 26 - Transfer to Madaba via Baptism site, visit sights in Madaba, hotel in Madaba until flight, Transfer to airport

We traveled to Jordan and Lebanon in 2006, and we used Petra Moon Tourism Services (www.petramoon.com)for our travel within Jordan and to/from Lebanon. We could not have been more pleased with the service we received. The company is owned by Wendy, who is originally from Texas. We did an independent tour with a driver and a guide. She made all of our hotel arrangements. I think she would also be able to make arrangements for Egypt.

Petra Moon is indeed excellent. But I will note the minor points that Wendy is not an owner (unless she earned a share recently) and they do not do Egypt (but will be able to recommend someone equally as reputable )and I you make contact and they do, please let us know!)).

I am going to Egypt in December and booked through an Egyptian guide named Ahmed Hamed Yousif. His contact info is [email protected]. He gave us an all-inclusive package price for a private tour that covers pretty much everything other than international airfare and includes a private guide and transportation for all the sites (including a private guide on the cruise). He also booked our cruise and all of our hotels. He is able to work with a variety of budgets and preferences and was very responsive, and I found his quotes to be extremely reasonable. You will see multiple recommendations for him on this board. I believe he can also help with arrangments for Jordan.

Good luck adventurers

We are leaving in two week for Egypt and Jordan. I ended up going with Lady Egypt tours using Amanda Whitmore and cannot say enough about how patient and helpful she has been to us.She changed hotels for us when I did not want to do 5 star:included other things that I wanted to see and do,etc.The company is well regarded and ALOT cheaper than some of those listed above.
Ironically, there are some guides on this board who actually use Lady Egypt to plan the trip and then take their cut to guide you as it is their own trip.
We are a family of 4 so all of our touring with the exception of the Nile Cruise is in a private a/c min van with guide and or driver.