I've noticed that Lady Egypt tours are recommended on several forums, and was wondering if anyone has had recent experience with them. I'm trying to get a quote and itinerary set up with them, but find the response time quite long, usually three days. The reason I had wanted to work with them versus other tour companies was I could basically choose what I wanted to do and when, but quite frankly with such a long response time, I'm having my doubts. So if anyone has worked with them in the past year, would you please respond with your experience. Thank you

Here is a thread on this topic. There are many people here who have used Lady Egypt and been quite pleased.

In addition to keeping in mind the time difference, just be aware that "Egyptian time" is not the same as "regular time." Things DO get done....just not necessarily in the swift and efficient manner we are used to!

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...n-business.cfm

Many people here have complained of long response times from Lady Egypt but eventually get through. It's a large company. I had inquired about a Luxor 2-day tour with them off a cruise ship, but they wanted 100% money up front--I wouldn't do that--and they weren't very felxible in a number of ways. So I went with GAT tours, which took a 50% deposit and were happily accommodated last minute changes and some complications.
GAT's licensed guide was fine, the van comfortable. With these big companies you get the standard tours, nothing intimate or special but entertaining and a basic education for first-time Egypt goers, and with the usual steering towards shops, restaurants and the like (where they get kickbacks). In Egypt that's par for the course.

I am leaving with Lady Egypt next week for 16 days doing Egypt and Jordan and have loved working with Amanda Whitmore there.
She is very quick to respond and also easy to work with.
Her email is: [email protected]

The first time I wrote them it took a few days but once I got hooked up to her it has been very postive. I just booked this trip during the last month and Amanda is very good at suggesting or changing anything that you want to do differently.The prices were reasonable compared to other guides and I am hoping when I get back to let everyone know who has helped me how the trip went!

FYI-payment is half down once you decide what you want to do so that they can secure reservations and then the rest is right before you leave.
I would definitely request Amanda-have heard that she is an expat New Zealander and she really understands what the client is wanting.You can tell them if you want a 5 star hotel in one place or a 3 start hotel in another-nothing is in stone till you decide.
Because we are a family of four going-we have our own A/C van with guide/driver and Egyptologist to sites. I like that better than being herded with 50 of my other "best friends"!

Lorla, like dutyfree, I too have booked a tour with Lady Egypt and my "planner" is Amanda. I like the fact that she is a New Zealander and understands the culture differences and what I, as an Australian, would find acceptable/not acceptable so I am open to her suggestions. When I first started to question her, I would receive a response instantly. I now am asking more "in depth" things which perhaps take a bit of research, and sometimes I wait a day or two - which I don't mind. I too found the prices VERY VERY reasonable, compared to ScenicTours (5 stars) who I had originally planned to go with. I was a bit hesitant at paying a big deposit upfront to a company that might not be so reputable or large, but Lady Egypt appears to be a very big organisation.

If Amanda isn't available, I worked with Mohamed Kamel and found him very easy to work with. He was very accommodating and responsive (all by email until we missed our connection in Frankfurt and I called him). True, sometimes a few days go by between contacts, but first of all there's a huge time difference, second they need to actually do the legwork in between, and third, they are closed on Friday (the Egyptian Holy Day). I wouldn't refrain from using them because of a 3-day wait, but of course, that's up to you.

Thanks everyone, and dutyfree have a wonderful trip, can't wait to hear how it went.

<i><b>"3-days"<b></i>

How impatient we've become. Remember when you had to send a letter! Or a telegram! Even if you could call overseas, there were those time differences.

3/days is quite reasonable.