Just returned from Jordan, Israel, Egypt high end trip. Any questions?
Oct 3rd, 2000, 07:09 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just returned from Jordan, Israel, Egypt high end trip. Any questions?
Just returned from my trip to Jordan, Israel, Egypt. We did the trip fairly high end, and had a FANTASTIC time. A truly amazing part of the world!!! Any questions? You may also email me directly.
Oct 3rd, 2000, 08:52 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Kiersten,
In Egypt did you go to the sound and light show in Giza and/or Karnak/ If so, was one better than the other? I am also curious to know if you ( or any other Fodorite) took a Nile dinner cruise and if that is recommended.
Were you on your own or with a group?Any restaurant recommendations in Egypt?
Thanks,
Michele (going in April)
In Egypt did you go to the sound and light show in Giza and/or Karnak/ If so, was one better than the other? I am also curious to know if you ( or any other Fodorite) took a Nile dinner cruise and if that is recommended.
Were you on your own or with a group?Any restaurant recommendations in Egypt?
Thanks,
Michele (going in April)
Oct 3rd, 2000, 04:44 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
k-
i am planning on hitting egypt the 1st 2 weeks of december and i dont really know much about what to see or do besides giza. i will take any suggestions and tips on lodging, culture, sights, etc. i plan on doing as much as i can so dont hold back.
cant wait to hear back.
i am planning on hitting egypt the 1st 2 weeks of december and i dont really know much about what to see or do besides giza. i will take any suggestions and tips on lodging, culture, sights, etc. i plan on doing as much as i can so dont hold back.
cant wait to hear back.
Oct 4th, 2000, 05:49 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Michele:
We went to the Karnak S&L show, which was recommended as being the better one. The show will be very crowded when you go, but worth it. I really enjoyed seeing the temple @ night, while my husband found the narration boring(may be due to our day starting @ 4AM!) We did not take a Nile dinner cruise- but we saw all of the boats departing. We were on our own in Egypt, with a private car and driver every day. As for restaurants, we stuck with very main stream restarants @ hotels, and managed to dodge the food poisining bullet. My favorite was not very Egyptian, but VERY nice. The Four Seasons in Cairo overlooking the Nile. Hope this all helps.
Pete:
You will be there during peak season, so it may take you longer to see the sights than it did for us(we were before season started)While staying in Cairo see The Pyramids @ Giza, the Sphinx, The Boat Pit Museum, The Step Pyramid, Saqqara, and Memphis (took us one day). We were also brought to the Papyrus and Rug "schools" by our guide-ugh. These you can miss, basically tourist traps-but my husband found it interesting up until the hard sell. On another day allow about 3-4 hours for the Antiquities Museum, and get a guide so that you are not overwhelmed.
While staying in Luxor you can see the East Bank (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple), and Valley of the Kings and Queens(W Bank) in one very full day. We saw the East and West Bank in two days. We would have prefered to combine the two- however we were misguided into believing we needed two days. Lodging is relatively inexpensive(we are from NYC), and I would recommend to stay as high end as you can to have really nice accomodations to return home to after a long, dusty day of site-seeing(If you are into that sort of thing). We stayed @ the Four Seasons in Cairo-FABULOUS, and the Old Winter Palace in Luxor which was suitable.(more people seemed to be staying at the adjoining New Winter Palace-why?)
I would also recommend visiting Jordan while you are all the way over in the part of the world. Petra and Jerash left a REALLY strong impression on us.
Feel free to email me directly with more specific questions on food lodging, guides, cameras, film, the armed guards...etc, this is already getting long- so I am stopping.
K
We went to the Karnak S&L show, which was recommended as being the better one. The show will be very crowded when you go, but worth it. I really enjoyed seeing the temple @ night, while my husband found the narration boring(may be due to our day starting @ 4AM!) We did not take a Nile dinner cruise- but we saw all of the boats departing. We were on our own in Egypt, with a private car and driver every day. As for restaurants, we stuck with very main stream restarants @ hotels, and managed to dodge the food poisining bullet. My favorite was not very Egyptian, but VERY nice. The Four Seasons in Cairo overlooking the Nile. Hope this all helps.
Pete:
You will be there during peak season, so it may take you longer to see the sights than it did for us(we were before season started)While staying in Cairo see The Pyramids @ Giza, the Sphinx, The Boat Pit Museum, The Step Pyramid, Saqqara, and Memphis (took us one day). We were also brought to the Papyrus and Rug "schools" by our guide-ugh. These you can miss, basically tourist traps-but my husband found it interesting up until the hard sell. On another day allow about 3-4 hours for the Antiquities Museum, and get a guide so that you are not overwhelmed.
While staying in Luxor you can see the East Bank (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple), and Valley of the Kings and Queens(W Bank) in one very full day. We saw the East and West Bank in two days. We would have prefered to combine the two- however we were misguided into believing we needed two days. Lodging is relatively inexpensive(we are from NYC), and I would recommend to stay as high end as you can to have really nice accomodations to return home to after a long, dusty day of site-seeing(If you are into that sort of thing). We stayed @ the Four Seasons in Cairo-FABULOUS, and the Old Winter Palace in Luxor which was suitable.(more people seemed to be staying at the adjoining New Winter Palace-why?)
I would also recommend visiting Jordan while you are all the way over in the part of the world. Petra and Jerash left a REALLY strong impression on us.
Feel free to email me directly with more specific questions on food lodging, guides, cameras, film, the armed guards...etc, this is already getting long- so I am stopping.
K
Oct 4th, 2000, 07:38 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
We were actually in Ramalla, Jericho, and Dome of The Rock the day before all of the violence broke out. So, it was fine when we were there- got out just in time. One thing to keep in mind is all of these places are very close together, and violence in one can effect another nearby.
Good luck- perhaps things will sort out before you go. If I had a trip planned for right now I would definately cancel.
Good luck- perhaps things will sort out before you go. If I had a trip planned for right now I would definately cancel.
Oct 4th, 2000, 02:51 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Kiersten, Your trip to Egypt was apparently in Sept-and you stated that Dec. is getting crowded. Do you know when the crowds start getting bad? I really want to go in the winter months because of the heat but I sure would like to avoid the biggest crowds. Don't know if that's possible. Someone suggested Oct.!?
Oct 5th, 2000, 02:46 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ginger,
Why don't you put your email address- then I could answer you directly?
Not a problem anyway. We were there in Sept, the heat was not bad, and there were almost no crowds. You have to decide which is more important to you- staying relatively cool, or avoiding the masses.
We were told after the first week in Oct it starts getting really busy. Cairo was only in the high 80's and Luxor was 90-110. Yes, that is hot- but we did our Luxor touring in the morning while the deesrt cool was still hanging on from the night (high 60's-70).
The sun did not seem that strong after all of the horror stories I had heard. The flies were worse than the sun.(did not use much lotion or hat, and did not burn) Any time you go it will be fantastic!
Why don't you put your email address- then I could answer you directly?
Not a problem anyway. We were there in Sept, the heat was not bad, and there were almost no crowds. You have to decide which is more important to you- staying relatively cool, or avoiding the masses.
We were told after the first week in Oct it starts getting really busy. Cairo was only in the high 80's and Luxor was 90-110. Yes, that is hot- but we did our Luxor touring in the morning while the deesrt cool was still hanging on from the night (high 60's-70).
The sun did not seem that strong after all of the horror stories I had heard. The flies were worse than the sun.(did not use much lotion or hat, and did not burn) Any time you go it will be fantastic!
Oct 6th, 2000, 09:19 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Pete,
We stayed at the Mena Palace Hotel in Giza. It was a ten minute walk from there to the pyramids. A luxurious hotel. Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat held the peace talks there, and many world dignitaries always stay there. In Luxor, we stayed at the Jolie Ville, situated on the banks of the Nile (on Crocodile Island). In the evening, a full piece orchestra plays Bach while the sun sets over the Nile. It's awe-inspiring. If you get all the way south to Aswan, stay at the Aswan Oberoi on Elephantine Island. There is so much to see and do in Egypt that there isn't room enough in this space to tell all. Hope this helped.
We stayed at the Mena Palace Hotel in Giza. It was a ten minute walk from there to the pyramids. A luxurious hotel. Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat held the peace talks there, and many world dignitaries always stay there. In Luxor, we stayed at the Jolie Ville, situated on the banks of the Nile (on Crocodile Island). In the evening, a full piece orchestra plays Bach while the sun sets over the Nile. It's awe-inspiring. If you get all the way south to Aswan, stay at the Aswan Oberoi on Elephantine Island. There is so much to see and do in Egypt that there isn't room enough in this space to tell all. Hope this helped.
Oct 12th, 2000, 05:23 AM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi!
would like to know how you visited Petra--how long was your visit there and did you stay overnight? where/how much? How did you travel there? Did you get your visas in advance?
Also, same questions basically for Jerusalem.
My email is [email protected].
Thanks!
would like to know how you visited Petra--how long was your visit there and did you stay overnight? where/how much? How did you travel there? Did you get your visas in advance?
Also, same questions basically for Jerusalem.
My email is [email protected].
Thanks!
Oct 12th, 2000, 01:17 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
HI!
We traveled to Petra in an unusual way- by helicopter. This was a great way to cut down the drive. We were ther for 1 day, however there are a few hotels in the area, and you can eaily soend more time there. We have friends who drove from Amman and said it was not a bad ride. They also drove from Jordan to Jerusalem, and had to go through a check point. I am sure the security situation btwn Jordan and Israel is a little different now,. One of the check points we went through from a Palestinian Authority was recently the site of 2 Israeli murders.
There was no visa for Jerusalem, just A LOT of questions from El Al. The visa for Jordan was handled by someone else in advance. Sorry I can't be more helpful re: the visa.
We traveled to Petra in an unusual way- by helicopter. This was a great way to cut down the drive. We were ther for 1 day, however there are a few hotels in the area, and you can eaily soend more time there. We have friends who drove from Amman and said it was not a bad ride. They also drove from Jordan to Jerusalem, and had to go through a check point. I am sure the security situation btwn Jordan and Israel is a little different now,. One of the check points we went through from a Palestinian Authority was recently the site of 2 Israeli murders.
There was no visa for Jerusalem, just A LOT of questions from El Al. The visa for Jordan was handled by someone else in advance. Sorry I can't be more helpful re: the visa.
Oct 28th, 2000, 11:44 AM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi! Do you have any opinions about an operator to use for a Nile Dinner cruise? Is the Cairo Tower revolving restaurant worth going to for dinner? Do you have a recommendation for a one day tour operator to the Pyramids & Sphinx? We are staying at the Marriott for just two days before continuing to Sharm El Sheik, thus the need for one day operators.
Thanks very much!
Sarah
Thanks very much!
Sarah
Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:17 AM
#18
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Kirsten, a question about language and local culture. Were there any problems with communication, language especially in Jordan? We’d like to experience Israel and Jordan from a local point of view and not so much as tourists and we’d prefer accommodation and restaurants that locals would go to. We’ll be there in January. Any suggestions?
Jul 22nd, 2008, 05:03 PM
#19
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 24,597
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ematthew, I replied to your post on another thread, but I would like to remind you once again to please notice the date of the original posting. You are asking a question to someone who posted this thread 8 years ago. Maybe that person is still a member of this board, maybe not. You will have a lot more success on this board if you post your own threads instead of piggy-backing threads from 8 years ago.
This board is a great resource and if you use it properly you will get a tremendous amount of help. Good luck.
This board is a great resource and if you use it properly you will get a tremendous amount of help. Good luck.
