abby97

How exciting! Now it's official! Good call on getting some small Egyptian bills/change for tipping. I know some people have been successful getting small denominations in Egypt, but for some reason, we really had problems with it, even at the big hotels.

MissGreen

DoctorJohn.... I too am going with Lady Egypt...I have paid 25% of my deposit.. I have the remaining 25% to pay in Feb, then the balance before my trip. As I am in Australia, the tour is in US dollars, the "real price" could fluctuate depending on when I make my payment. The Aussie dollar has gone up 2 cents since I made my first payment so the next 25% might save me $50 bucks or so!!! lol

I too wanted to know if I could change my itinerary and I am glad I can. In fact, I have just added 9 extra days to my 15 days already booked and will spend 7 of those in Jordan. Amanda is just working out my itinerary at the moment for those changes. Yeah!

I'd like some Egyptian money, and I guess now Dinars (I think thats it) in my purse before I go. I won't feel "organised" if I don't have some currency for the country I am visiting.

I think I am "wearing out google" as I view the same websites over and over again... Mena House website, Lady Egypt site, etc.. oh and of course Fodors! Love this website!

doctorjohn

Miss Green...i know what you mean by the currency exchange. I live in Canada. I decided to pay 50% because our dollar was almost on par with the USD.

I must be driving Amanda nuts because I email her daily regarding changes to my itinerary. I, too, am a "google whore" and I am constantly checking out different hotel accomodations, attractions, and guides. I may even go to Israel now. Thankfully, Amanda has been very helpful and quick to check on things for me.

I wonder if she reads these boards...

sf7307

<<<I must be driving Amanda nuts because I email her daily regarding changes to my itinerary.>>>

I thought the same thing when I planned my itinerary! All by email. I didn't talk by phone to anyone at LadyEgypt until we missed our connection in Frankfurt and had to call to let them know what flight we'd be on instead.

By the way, although I understand why you want the "small bills", we went without Egyptian money and had no problem. Paid for our visas in USD, got in the LadyEgypt van, went to the hotel, and changed money at the money exchange in the hotel.

justshootme

Okay, fellow fodorites I must be in good company, I had thought I was the only person who had driven my Lady Egypt rep, Mohammed nuts. Mohammed has been extremely helpful and has responded to all my inquires.

For those of you who have already travelled, do you actually met Amanda or Mohammed once you are in Egypt?

dutyfree

I actually talked to Amanda on the phone on Christmas Eve day but never met her in person. These guided tours have you under someone's supervision all of the time(if you so desire) so that is why I never understood why you would need to buy a phone? You just use the guide's phone if there would be a problem or a need to contact someone.

sf7307

justshootme, Mohammed was our agent also, but no, we never met him. As I said I talked to him a few times once we were in Egypt, but didn't get to meet him in person.

judi_in_guatemala

If you mean Mohamed Kamel at Lady Egypt, I did meet him in November. They arranged a room for me at a hotel to wait for the evening sleeper train to Aswan. The room was pretty dull, so I waited in the hotel lobby and asked the desk clerk if the Lady Egypt office was nearby. It was next door and the bellhop walked me to it. Mohamed was still at work; the office was nice, neat, and very professional.

I changed $20 in the airport then at the bank in the Cairo Marriott; always asked for 1 pound coins which they gave me if available. Also went to a bank on a side street in Luxor or Aswan and the clerk gave me a whole roll of coins. I kept my tipping coins and bills in a small shoulder bag so I wouldn't have to open my handbag and dig into my wallet for tips.

sf7307

<<<If you mean Mohamed Kamel at Lady Egypt, I did meet him in November. They arranged a room for me at a hotel to wait for the evening sleeper train to Aswan. The room was pretty dull, so I waited in the hotel lobby and asked the desk clerk if the Lady Egypt office was nearby. It was next door and the bellhop walked me to it. Mohamed was still at work; the office was nice, neat, and very professional.>>>

Judi, we also spent a few hours at that hotel (in the bar area) while waiting for the sleeper train. We went next door to see if Mohamed was there, but he was not (I think they have a downtown office, too, he must have been there). The hotel wasn't someplace I'd want to stay (the rest of my family stayed there one night before leaving for London, but my DD and I were in Madrid at that point, and they said "[I] wouldn't have been happy "). But we did enjoy getting to spend some time in a very different neighborhood from Giza and downtown Cairo.

doctorjohn

Hey,

If anyone is in Egypt from March 5-12 and you see a big hawaiin looking dude (i'm not really hawaiin) by himself or with a guide, please feel free to come up to me and mention fodors forums.

I would love to meet any and all when there!!

doc

Lollie14

doctorjohn

I'll be there in spirit!

MissGreen

I'm a September Egypter!! Wish I was a March one though! I just harassed Amanda today - because my flight is a super special one, the booking is cancelled every 24 hours if you don't book it (apparently)... so the travel agent emailed me today and said... "slight problem" instead of arriving on the 8th, you now arrive on the 9th... I said it is a huge problem for poor Amanda who now has to work everything out. I made a suggestion - moving a rest day from mid trip to near end trip, so we could still go on our Nile cruise on the Monday depature (think it was Monday).

I am also going to Jordan and asked Amanda about the bathrooms... I am paranoid about being sick and having to visit a horrid bathroom. Anyway, she sent me a pic of her at Wadi Rum... I figured it was her.... So I have seen her but not spoken to her.

I guess the changes we all make are a bother, but we ARE spending our money there so I guess we're not wasting her time. They probably get lots of "I wish" clients who do itineraries and have no hope of actually going.. now that would be frustrating.

Axel2DP

This topic and everyone's posts have been most helpful. I'm thinking about hitting Egypt and Jordan(Petra) in May. I'll be going solo, and I think I'll hit up Lady Egypt and try to have a guide for at least a portion of the trip.

Lollie14,

I enjoyed your pictures. The sky behind the steps pyramid in your pics does look amazing. It was as if there was a natural polarized lens place over it.

doctorjohn

I'll be leaving on my excursion in 11 days!! Gonna spend a few days in Vancouver taking in the Olympics then its off to London, Tanzania, then Egypt and Jordan.

I will post how it goes with Lady Egypt. I don't foresee any problems...hopefully.

Axel2DP

doctorjohn,

Please do post your experiences with Lady Egypt when you get the chance. It'll be greatly appreciated . I'd also be curious to know if you will be able to tailor your trip to get the most desirable light for photographing the ruins and monuments.

Lucky you to be attending the Olympics also. Have a great trip.

raelond

I've used Lady Egypt for our trip in four weeks time. I live in the Vancouver area and you can expect unusually balmy weather here.

TravelTrio

This is so encouraging! I am working with Amanda at LadyEgypt and she's been just great. I felt badly for asking for changes to her first suggested itinerary, but after reading this, I don't feel so bad. Can I get your feedback on my proposed itinerary? There is a separate post asking for this, so please give me your advice. Just look under my name, TravelTrio, and you will find it. Thanks in advance for any advice or comments!

dutyfree

Amanda at Lady Egypt is very good at listening to what you want to include and changing things around if she can-even at the last minute.Trust me- she is used to all of us calling or emailing and changing as the weeks get closer to the trip.

BeniciaChris

Miss Green-we are also Sept Egypters.
Ahmed/Lady Egypt has us booked for 3 different nights at the Fairmont-close to airports. I just got a Mariott Loyalty #-Maybe i should get a Fairmont # can anyone give me a # for this-Thanks Chris
Also if anyone will be in Egypt/Jordan Sept 29/October 25th holler & if we are at the same place same time lets have a drink.

MissGreen

BenicaChris.. I arrive in Cairo on 8th September.. head to Jordan on the 24th Sept then arrive back in Cairo on 30th September. We leave Cairo on 1st October to go to Kuala Lumpur for 5 days. Hopefully there will be room left in the suitcase by then!!