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-   -   Egypt on our own! No problems! (https://www.fodors.com/community/africa-and-the-middle-east/egypt-on-our-own-no-problems-128405/)

Joelle Jun 6th, 2001 04:53 AM

Egypt on our own! No problems!
 
We went in April to Cairo and Luxor for a ten day trip. This was a self organized, independent trip and things went pretty well. <BR>Some negotiations with cab drivers were sometimes required, but no worries.

Alice Jun 7th, 2001 12:08 PM

<BR> <BR>Now, Joelle, you can do better than that. You know how much people love to read trip reports before going off on their own journeys ESPECIALLY someone who has done an independent trip. <BR> <BR>What so many want to know is HOW you went about organizing your trip. Did you book things ahead or wing it when you got there? Did you take a Nile cruise, and, if so, how did you choose the boat? <BR> <BR>Come on - cough it up! We want to hear all the details!! (I get a lot of questions about traveling in Luxor and south and cannot answer them as I went on that leg of my journey with a tour group.) <BR> <BR>I know your input will be really appreciated.

michele Jun 7th, 2001 02:20 PM

Alice, <BR>We went to Egypt in April independently also and also had no problems. I booked it all here. After looking at various group offerings (every trip does about the same thing), I planned it out, booking a few extra days in Cairo. We stayed at the Semiramis; both of us like central locations and had enjoyed the Semiramis in Damascus.Took the Nile cruise on the Movenpick Radames 2 -excellent, great food, personable and informative guide. Based that on Movenpick's reputation. I bought Abu Simbel tickets here also. I didn't like the hotels in Luxor or Aswan,(poor locations), but the Old Winter Garden and Old Cataract were booked. <BR> <BR>M.

michele Jun 7th, 2001 02:34 PM

Forgot to add: In Cairo, the hotel ran interference for us with the taxi drivers (still, you often have the driver change the price upon arrival--just stay firm on the agreed upon price). This wasn't a big <BR>problem in Luxor or Aswan. EGYPT AIR to Luxor from Cairo: confirm, confirm, confirm.We arrived at the airport and were told there was no more room on the flight.We were sent to the main desk where we were told there wasn't any problem with our tickets and then just checked in. The flight wasn't even full.This did cause panic, as we were to pick-up the cruise in Luxor the next day. ABU SIMBEL: this is well organized and quite structured..no problems there.

Joelle Jun 8th, 2001 12:05 AM

For Alice, <BR>I did enjoy very much reading your extensive trip report on Egypt but my problem is: I do not have a computer at home... (typical "retardate" European person) so I can't spend hours at work writing the report... <BR>To make a summary, I booked in advance (two months ahead) flight tickets and hotels. Regarding visits, we did some on our own (Karnak and Luxor temples + museums) and we took guided tours from Thomas Cook at the hotels in Luxor where we had a very nice guide, Adel Abady, for three different tours (King & Queen Valleys, Abydos and Denderah, and the Ramesseum and Deir el Medinah temples). <BR>We stayed at the Sheraton in Luxor and the Sofitel Old Winter Palace. <BR>In Cairo, we stayed at the Conrad Cairo, did the Egyptian Museum on our own and took a day trip to Memphis, Saqqara and the Pyramids. <BR>I am afraid that I could not fill the Rants and Raves section, since the hotels we stayed at are not mentioned.

Dianne Jun 8th, 2001 06:23 AM

Was there any problem booking the Abydos tour? I really wanted to see it, but when I was in Egypt in 1996, we were told it was closed for security reasons. How would you compare it to the other temples you saw? We had an armed escort for our visit to Dendera. Are they still doing that? <BR> <BR>

LEANNA Jun 8th, 2001 07:34 PM

Yes! As of this April they were. We also traveled in Convoys from our boats to the temple in Dendera and then had to wait and return the same way. Also had an armed escort in Alexandria. And in Cairo we had an armed guard on our bus. But you know for all this....I never felt unsafe or scared or worried....just cared for and watched over. OH..I take that back..riding the camel....SCARED ME TO DEATH!!!! :):) But I did it!!!

Joelle Jun 10th, 2001 11:29 PM

For Diane, going to Abydos is a three hours drive to get there and back. We did it in a convoy with police and army... The tour also included the Denderah temple at the end of the day before going back to Luxor. Abydos is a magnificent temple, very magic, as it shows great paintings (still preserved) and wall carvings. The list carved on a wall of all pharaoes dynasties is also great.

Alice Jun 12th, 2001 08:41 PM

<BR> <BR>Joelle, I just did not make the connection with your posting here and the person I was writing to last week for advice on our trip to France. I'm glad your trip was so successful. (I can understand the difficulty of not being able to post a huge long trip report as you have only access at work.) <BR> <BR>Again, many thanks for the assist on the Travelers Check question. Got me going there especially as our automobile association (AAA) is no longer selling the FF TC's. (We got the last they had!) Guess it has much to do with the advent of the Euro. <BR> <BR>Again, Merci, Alice

Pam Jun 14th, 2001 12:41 PM

Joelle, <BR> <BR>How did you arrange a touir to Abydos? I would like to travel there and am having a hard time finding this information. <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>Pam

Joelle Jun 14th, 2001 11:35 PM

We just went to the Thomas Cook travel agency in Luxor and ordered it one or two days in advance. The tour is planned on a daily basis, as well as many others. The only problem is that this is a very long drive (3 hours to get there and 3 hours to go back) surrounded by army and police...

wagih Jun 16th, 2001 06:03 PM

Hi every one, <BR>i want to till you somthing about your talking concerning Abydos Tample. <BR>#1- the tour to go there with the Police only not Army as some of you said that. <BR>#-2it is one of the most important tamples in Egypt espicially the Greco Roman tamples. <BR>#-you can go there by just asking any travel agant there or asking that from any taxi driver or your tour comp. <BR> i am an Egyptian tour guide so that if any one is in need for more information about it so please send me an E MAIL.

noelle Jun 20th, 2001 06:35 PM

i am 21 american girl and trying to get information about trveling to egypt to meet my soon to be husband he is from sudan liveing in saudi arabia we are planning to meet in egypt marry then go to saudi i need to know the resticions for my passport and visa plz if any1 knows e-mail me


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