Egypt Trip Report - booking/traveling independently
Feb 7th, 2008, 10:30 PM
#21
Original Poster
Hi Karen - LOTS more to come - Richard was fussing that he didn't think his photos were very good - I think they look great and the Petra ones are stunning.
I don't think it's too early to start planning for October - I started about 7 months ahead although we were traveling in high season.
Next? That might depend upon the economy! But India is high on the list (in which case we'd probably go back to SE Asia as well - maybe Vietnam) or a Safari or Antarctica/South America.......or maybe we should do our home improvements!
I don't think it's too early to start planning for October - I started about 7 months ahead although we were traveling in high season.
Next? That might depend upon the economy! But India is high on the list (in which case we'd probably go back to SE Asia as well - maybe Vietnam) or a Safari or Antarctica/South America.......or maybe we should do our home improvements!
Feb 7th, 2008, 10:50 PM
#22
Original Poster
Some final trip report comments
Mummy Tummy
I had asked about this here and just wanted to follow up - as we have for the last 3 years before we traveled we took DUKORAL - an oral vaccine for E Coli. I don't think it's available in the States but I think you can order it from a Canadian internet pharmacy. Maybe it's just a placebo for us but I don't mind!.
Also morning and night while in Egypt and Jordan we took a Pepto Bismol tablet - supposed to act as a prophylactic (tablets are better because the liquid turns your tongue black!). We ate everything at our hotels, on the cruise and the restaurants Ahmed took us too including raw veggies/fruits and ice. No problems at all.
Security/Safety
Obviously this was something we thought about in advance of our trip - and it's certainly something our friends and family thought about ("You're going to the Middle East??!!!) . I'll admit to a great deal of ignorance about the issue and hope this post will help others thinking about a trip to Egypt and Jordan.
There is a lot of physical presence of security - all our hotels/the cruise had metal detectors and security guards/tourist police present. Also - the driveways of the hotels have gates, some have sniffer dogs and mirrors for under the vehicle. Tourist Police (armed with AK47s and the like) are evident at all the sights (again with xray and metal detectors) and apparently accompany large tour buses. In fact there were two armed police on the Oberoi Philae the whole time. Plus various checkpoints along the way.
You would think all of this would make one more nervous - but frankly I never thought once about our personal safety......you just get used to it.
(an ironic postscript to our relatives' concerns - while we were in Egypt 14 people were arrested for plotting a significant terror event in Barcelona - where we are now staying for 2 months!)
Touts/aggressive vendors
This was another thing I read alot about - in Cairo and area it was much less of a problem than I anticipated - perhaps because we were just 2 people with a guide (Ahmed would indicate we weren't interested) or perhaps it's just not as bad as some have written about? In Upper Egypt we found the vendors even more relaxed - certainly no different than other places we have visited. (however shopkeepers need to learn to leave you alone a little longer so you can look at their merchandise without a constant barrage of selling - we left a couple of shops where we might have otherwise made a purchase)
Cairo driving
It is unbelievable until you experience it - our driver (Ahmed #2) was a cross between a ballet dancer and Formula One driver - but we never once felt nervous - just laughed with him!
Mummy Tummy
I had asked about this here and just wanted to follow up - as we have for the last 3 years before we traveled we took DUKORAL - an oral vaccine for E Coli. I don't think it's available in the States but I think you can order it from a Canadian internet pharmacy. Maybe it's just a placebo for us but I don't mind!.
Also morning and night while in Egypt and Jordan we took a Pepto Bismol tablet - supposed to act as a prophylactic (tablets are better because the liquid turns your tongue black!). We ate everything at our hotels, on the cruise and the restaurants Ahmed took us too including raw veggies/fruits and ice. No problems at all.
Security/Safety
Obviously this was something we thought about in advance of our trip - and it's certainly something our friends and family thought about ("You're going to the Middle East??!!!) . I'll admit to a great deal of ignorance about the issue and hope this post will help others thinking about a trip to Egypt and Jordan.
There is a lot of physical presence of security - all our hotels/the cruise had metal detectors and security guards/tourist police present. Also - the driveways of the hotels have gates, some have sniffer dogs and mirrors for under the vehicle. Tourist Police (armed with AK47s and the like) are evident at all the sights (again with xray and metal detectors) and apparently accompany large tour buses. In fact there were two armed police on the Oberoi Philae the whole time. Plus various checkpoints along the way.
You would think all of this would make one more nervous - but frankly I never thought once about our personal safety......you just get used to it.
(an ironic postscript to our relatives' concerns - while we were in Egypt 14 people were arrested for plotting a significant terror event in Barcelona - where we are now staying for 2 months!)
Touts/aggressive vendors
This was another thing I read alot about - in Cairo and area it was much less of a problem than I anticipated - perhaps because we were just 2 people with a guide (Ahmed would indicate we weren't interested) or perhaps it's just not as bad as some have written about? In Upper Egypt we found the vendors even more relaxed - certainly no different than other places we have visited. (however shopkeepers need to learn to leave you alone a little longer so you can look at their merchandise without a constant barrage of selling - we left a couple of shops where we might have otherwise made a purchase)
Cairo driving
It is unbelievable until you experience it - our driver (Ahmed #2) was a cross between a ballet dancer and Formula One driver - but we never once felt nervous - just laughed with him!
Feb 8th, 2008, 02:36 PM
#23
Liz - thanks again. Ok, I'll keep watching your blog for more. I loved the profile mug shot of the camel with the skyline in the distance, also the ones at Abu Simbel (loved how they showed the scale), and quite a few others! Richard has a great eye, often catching an interesting perspective.
(India's high on my list, too - and Julie's also. I'll probably go on a trip with my sister next year, though, and China is her top choice, so we'll see!)
(India's high on my list, too - and Julie's also. I'll probably go on a trip with my sister next year, though, and China is her top choice, so we'll see!)
Feb 9th, 2008, 11:08 AM
#24
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Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful trip & your thoughtfully planned itinerary. Just wanted to tell you that I will be contacting Ahmed to discuss a possible OCT 08 trip to Egypt. I was also inspired by the 13 Perfect Days Article in CN Traveler. And now I have been hooked by your wonderful blog & report!
Many thanks,
Mary
Thank you for sharing this wonderful trip & your thoughtfully planned itinerary. Just wanted to tell you that I will be contacting Ahmed to discuss a possible OCT 08 trip to Egypt. I was also inspired by the 13 Perfect Days Article in CN Traveler. And now I have been hooked by your wonderful blog & report!
Many thanks,
Mary
Feb 9th, 2008, 11:59 PM
#25
Original Poster
Hi Mary - thanks! It's funny - as we wrapped up our trip last winter after seeing Angkor Wat, and knowing we were spending the winter in Spain this year, my husband and I decided we had to see the Pyramids since we would be so close.
Due to our ignorance at that time we thought we'd do a short 4 day trip to see the highlight - we were concerned about safety, concerned we couldn't do the trip ourselves - mainly just really uninformed.
Just after we got back I flew to Vancouver and picked up the May 07 CN magazine at the airport and - voila - found that article! It was a great foundation for our trip and convinced me we could do it by ourselves,, and do it right!
Lots more postings up on the blog this weekend - almost finished Egypt and then onto the Jordan entries - if you can try to go to Jordan as well.......it was a complete revelation. I'll post a brief trip report here today but the blog will show more detail.
Obviously we were very happy with Ahmed and I'm sure you will be too.
Best
Due to our ignorance at that time we thought we'd do a short 4 day trip to see the highlight - we were concerned about safety, concerned we couldn't do the trip ourselves - mainly just really uninformed.
Just after we got back I flew to Vancouver and picked up the May 07 CN magazine at the airport and - voila - found that article! It was a great foundation for our trip and convinced me we could do it by ourselves,, and do it right!
Lots more postings up on the blog this weekend - almost finished Egypt and then onto the Jordan entries - if you can try to go to Jordan as well.......it was a complete revelation. I'll post a brief trip report here today but the blog will show more detail.
Obviously we were very happy with Ahmed and I'm sure you will be too.
Best
Feb 13th, 2008, 11:06 AM
#26
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Dear Elizabeth S,
Do you mind if I emailed you directly to ask some more questions about your Egypt itinerary and Ahmed Hamed Yousif? I am thinking of contacting him and just wanted to get some more information. Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Thao
Do you mind if I emailed you directly to ask some more questions about your Egypt itinerary and Ahmed Hamed Yousif? I am thinking of contacting him and just wanted to get some more information. Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Thao
Feb 14th, 2008, 01:08 PM
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Hello Elisabeth 
You have written a wonderful report. Thank you!
We would like to go to Egypt January 2009, so I have been reading about tours until my eyes are crossed. Staying one night here, one night there is not for us. We have in mind to stay at least several nights each in Luxor and Aswan, as well as Cairo on each end.
What would you think about skipping the cruise? Aren't the sites seen on the cruise (well, except for the locks) accessible by non-cruisers?
Your recommendation for Ahmed is very timely. I will be in touch with him to see what he can put together for us.
You have written a wonderful report. Thank you!
We would like to go to Egypt January 2009, so I have been reading about tours until my eyes are crossed. Staying one night here, one night there is not for us. We have in mind to stay at least several nights each in Luxor and Aswan, as well as Cairo on each end.
What would you think about skipping the cruise? Aren't the sites seen on the cruise (well, except for the locks) accessible by non-cruisers?
Your recommendation for Ahmed is very timely. I will be in touch with him to see what he can put together for us.
Feb 15th, 2008, 12:50 PM
#29
Original Poster
swisshiker - interesting question you raise - the two main sites seen on the Luxor/Aswan (and vice versa) cruise are Edfu and Ko Ombo - both temples we enjoyed very much but not "the big guns" of Abu Simbel or the Valley of the Kings.....and going the lock wasn't really a big deal.
You can see Efu and Ko Ombo via private van/bus (and train maybe?) but I'm not sure I'd relish that.
If you told me I couldn't take a cruise I'd probably have stayed 3 nights in Aswan (we really liked Aswan - others might disagree) and 2 nights in Luxor - we stayed 4 nights in Cairo at the beginning of our trip and one night at the end.......that was good for us.
But there is something about the cruise - it satisfies your not wanting to move around alot as the boat basically is a hotel for 4 nights.......and drifting down the Nile was very nice.
Hope this helps!
You can see Efu and Ko Ombo via private van/bus (and train maybe?) but I'm not sure I'd relish that.
If you told me I couldn't take a cruise I'd probably have stayed 3 nights in Aswan (we really liked Aswan - others might disagree) and 2 nights in Luxor - we stayed 4 nights in Cairo at the beginning of our trip and one night at the end.......that was good for us.
But there is something about the cruise - it satisfies your not wanting to move around alot as the boat basically is a hotel for 4 nights.......and drifting down the Nile was very nice.
Hope this helps!
Feb 16th, 2008, 04:20 AM
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Thank you, Elizabeth.
I'm envisioning a trip something like 5 nights Cairo, 4 Aswan, 4 Luxor, and another few at Cairo at the end. A little more than 2 weeks in Egypt (not counting flying days). May be a lot for some, but we enjoy taking our time, wandering here and there, not feeling rushed. Don't know why, but there's something about those cruises that just makes me shiver inside. Maybe it's the stories I hear about them all lining up, although yours wasn't.
Food for thought. Thanks again.
I'm envisioning a trip something like 5 nights Cairo, 4 Aswan, 4 Luxor, and another few at Cairo at the end. A little more than 2 weeks in Egypt (not counting flying days). May be a lot for some, but we enjoy taking our time, wandering here and there, not feeling rushed. Don't know why, but there's something about those cruises that just makes me shiver inside. Maybe it's the stories I hear about them all lining up, although yours wasn't.
Food for thought. Thanks again.
Apr 16th, 2008, 03:21 PM
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Elizabeth,
Thanks for all the great info. I am thinking about a trip with my 14 yr old son in July. Do you think it is safe for a single mom and son? I am a bit hesitant with this trip. We went to London and Rome last year and had a great time, no problems. What do you think?? I, too, am "obsessive" about planning our travel itinerary but our safety is most important...Thanks again for the extensive amount of information!
Thanks for all the great info. I am thinking about a trip with my 14 yr old son in July. Do you think it is safe for a single mom and son? I am a bit hesitant with this trip. We went to London and Rome last year and had a great time, no problems. What do you think?? I, too, am "obsessive" about planning our travel itinerary but our safety is most important...Thanks again for the extensive amount of information!
Apr 17th, 2008, 04:22 AM
#32
Original Poster
jamiec - I am not an expert on safety but can tell you we never felt concerned at all - I actually gave the whole issue more attention for the following two months in Barcelona, than I did in Egypt and Jordan!
One comment though - July is brutally hot - you might want to read a bit about traveling to the region at that time of year.
One comment though - July is brutally hot - you might want to read a bit about traveling to the region at that time of year.
May 11th, 2008, 08:05 AM
#33
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Elizabeth and swisshiker (and Elizabeth, I hope you don't mind, but I am going to email you a few questions), I have some itinerary questions -- Elizabeth, you said your trip was 2 weeks, but I count 4 days Cairo, 4 days cruise and 2 days Aswan/Abu Simbel. Where did you spend the other 4 days? And swisshiker, in your planned itinerary, you included 4 days in Aswan -- what is there to do/see in the Aswan area that you would need 4 days?
We were thinking Cairo - possibly Alexandria - Valley of the Kings - Abu Simbel - Sharm El Sheikh (for the divers in the group) and are trying to figure out how long the trip should be. Elizabeth, if you hadn't taken a day trip to Alexandria, how long would you have needed/wanted in Cairo?
Thanks much.
We were thinking Cairo - possibly Alexandria - Valley of the Kings - Abu Simbel - Sharm El Sheikh (for the divers in the group) and are trying to figure out how long the trip should be. Elizabeth, if you hadn't taken a day trip to Alexandria, how long would you have needed/wanted in Cairo?
Thanks much.
May 11th, 2008, 02:57 PM
#34
Original Poster
Hi - I used 2 weeks loosely as we went onto Jordan - we were 4 nights in Cairo, 1 night in Aswan, 4 nights on the cruise, one night in Luxor and one night back in Cairo.
If we hadn't gone to Alexandria we could have comfortably left Cairo one day early but we are not shoppers - people who like to shop might have a different opinion.
Feel free to email me.
If we hadn't gone to Alexandria we could have comfortably left Cairo one day early but we are not shoppers - people who like to shop might have a different opinion.
Feel free to email me.
May 30th, 2008, 07:19 AM
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Hi Elizabeth-
I'm trying to decide what trips to make in this coming year (sabbatical from teaching) and I'm just now taking the first steps of weighing our options and choosing from a number of great destinations. Egypt has always been very high on my list and since my husband and I always travel independently, your posting and blog are a great source of info for us. But right now I'm just trying to figure out what we can afford and what seems best choices in this time of bad exchange rates and high airfares, etc.. Can you tell me approximately how much your independently booked two week trip cost in US$ excluding airfare or would Ahmed be able to give us a sense of costs?
I'm trying to decide what trips to make in this coming year (sabbatical from teaching) and I'm just now taking the first steps of weighing our options and choosing from a number of great destinations. Egypt has always been very high on my list and since my husband and I always travel independently, your posting and blog are a great source of info for us. But right now I'm just trying to figure out what we can afford and what seems best choices in this time of bad exchange rates and high airfares, etc.. Can you tell me approximately how much your independently booked two week trip cost in US$ excluding airfare or would Ahmed be able to give us a sense of costs?
