Tempo Tours - Egypt
May 28th, 2004, 10:43 PM
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Tempo Tours - Egypt
We are considering this Australian based tour group for our trip this coming September. This is about the only one I can find which fits into our 6 day time limit.
Has anyone used them??
I am a big dubious of booking a tour on the internet.
Has anyone used them??
I am a big dubious of booking a tour on the internet.
May 28th, 2004, 11:16 PM
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Don't know about Tempo Tours but we did use Abercrombie & Kent Australia for our Egypt tours. I think they can custom make a tour for any amount of days you want. Here's the link: http://www.abercrombiekent.com.au/
Beware that they are one of the most expensive tour company and you can probably find similar offerings much cheaper from the other companies.
Beware that they are one of the most expensive tour company and you can probably find similar offerings much cheaper from the other companies.
May 29th, 2004, 04:15 AM
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DebM -
Why not check out MISR (an official Egyptian tour operator) or egyptontheweb. Do a search to locate their exact websites. Both are in-country operators who can design an itinerary for the number of days you have, at very competitive prices.
If you do a search on this board you will find a number of threads referring to these companies and the very happy travelers who have used them.
Why not check out MISR (an official Egyptian tour operator) or egyptontheweb. Do a search to locate their exact websites. Both are in-country operators who can design an itinerary for the number of days you have, at very competitive prices.
If you do a search on this board you will find a number of threads referring to these companies and the very happy travelers who have used them.
May 29th, 2004, 07:05 AM
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While A&K does a good job,you can travel independently staying in the same or better hotels and hiring private guides for less money.For years I have followed A&K itineraries without schlepping around on buses to their timetable.
Jun 2nd, 2004, 07:11 AM
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mgmargate, schlepping around on an A & K bus is with only the small group you are in. My group in January was all of 14. It was a great schlepp! They will stop and go where the group wants to go. Their timetable is yours. They are the best and you definitely get what you pay for!
Jun 2nd, 2004, 07:40 AM
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MauiMAUI: Our schlepping is done in a Benz or bmw sedan or luxury van With a driver/guide of our own.I have priced over a dozen trips we've taken against A&K itineraries & we spend less$ for a lot better experience,it's a no brainer.
Jun 2nd, 2004, 10:42 AM
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In case anyone is interested we pay for a meet&assist at airport &car transfer to the hotel,we arrange for car&guide thru concierge&walking tour guides thru same.WE really go where we want not where 12 or 14 people & A&k decide.We stay in the same or better hotels than A&K and we eat ala carte where and when we choose.We do all this for less money than going on an A&K tour. If you don't believe me try it yourself,A&K is good for people who need structure but it does not make sense economically.
Jun 2nd, 2004, 01:07 PM
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I have also booked tours that copied an A&K itinerary, for far less money and with a much more intimate group. I have posted this elsewhere, but will repeat my experience on our first safari in August 1999.
As we began planning our first safari, we ordered A&K's Africa brochure, but we laughed when we saw the prices (we had an idea what the lodges charged, and almost choked when we calculated A&K's markup). But we did like A&K's itinerary, which we emailed to a Nairobi-based operator who was recommended by friends.
The operator was able to match the itinerary for less than 50% of A&K's quote, and we traveled in our own private group, in a brand new Land Rover, we took the same flights as the A&K group, stayed at the same lodges and at the same food, but for far less, in fact more than 50% less. Our only sacrifice -- we didn't receive the A&K hat.
We have done the same since. The only tour we have taken was last December's trip to the Galapagos, because that seemed to be more difficult and expensive to visit by private yacht. We booked passage on a larger boat and traveled with a group of 14. So, for the Galapagos, a group was the only realistic option.
But for Africa, in my view, its much less expensive and flexible to plan and book your own trip.
One poster on this site had kind words to say about her A&K trip, and she wrote that A&K would stop where the GROUP wanted. Well, she was very lucky the group reached a consensus, because with 14 people, not all related or friends, its not always possible to reach a consensus, which is much easier to do when traveling with family and friends.
To each his own. Afterall, A&K stays in business and judging by their recent full page ads in the New York Times, they are making lots of money, so they are not experiencing any shortage of clients.
As we began planning our first safari, we ordered A&K's Africa brochure, but we laughed when we saw the prices (we had an idea what the lodges charged, and almost choked when we calculated A&K's markup). But we did like A&K's itinerary, which we emailed to a Nairobi-based operator who was recommended by friends.
The operator was able to match the itinerary for less than 50% of A&K's quote, and we traveled in our own private group, in a brand new Land Rover, we took the same flights as the A&K group, stayed at the same lodges and at the same food, but for far less, in fact more than 50% less. Our only sacrifice -- we didn't receive the A&K hat.
We have done the same since. The only tour we have taken was last December's trip to the Galapagos, because that seemed to be more difficult and expensive to visit by private yacht. We booked passage on a larger boat and traveled with a group of 14. So, for the Galapagos, a group was the only realistic option.
But for Africa, in my view, its much less expensive and flexible to plan and book your own trip.
One poster on this site had kind words to say about her A&K trip, and she wrote that A&K would stop where the GROUP wanted. Well, she was very lucky the group reached a consensus, because with 14 people, not all related or friends, its not always possible to reach a consensus, which is much easier to do when traveling with family and friends.
To each his own. Afterall, A&K stays in business and judging by their recent full page ads in the New York Times, they are making lots of money, so they are not experiencing any shortage of clients.
Jun 2nd, 2004, 02:05 PM
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Thit cho
o i'm not the only one that laughs at A&K prices.I'm sure people who take A&K tours are happy with the experience,until they realize that people like me are funding their next vacation with the money I didn't pay A&K.We get personalised service not small (14people)guided tours.So take MauiMaui's advice with a grain of salt,He hasn't yet realized he's getting ripped.
o i'm not the only one that laughs at A&K prices.I'm sure people who take A&K tours are happy with the experience,until they realize that people like me are funding their next vacation with the money I didn't pay A&K.We get personalised service not small (14people)guided tours.So take MauiMaui's advice with a grain of salt,He hasn't yet realized he's getting ripped.
Jun 3rd, 2004, 01:48 PM
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I'll bet you all flew coach! And by the way mauimaui is a girl and I don't feel I'm being ripped off and I don't like structure, I just like first class travel at the best places not bargain stuff. I still say don't knock it if you haven't tried it! You may think you are getting the same trip for less money, but I know better.
Jun 3rd, 2004, 01:54 PM
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To tit cho, If I said A & K stopped where the group wanted, I said it incorrectly. One example of one day, out of the 14, 5 of us wanted to go to the Winter Palace for drinks, 5 wanted to go shopping and the other 4 wanted to go back to the hotel. We all got to do what we wanted.
Jun 3rd, 2004, 02:08 PM
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MM: If you want the truth go on the net,price the hotel,air,allow $200.00 a day for food,make allowance for car/guide,limo to&from the airport,total it all up and deduct it from what you paid. Start planning your next vacation with the difference.Your denial of what savvy travellers know rings hollow here.
Jun 3rd, 2004, 02:17 PM
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MM:you also don't seem to read too well,I copy A&K itineraries,but some of their hotels are not quite upto our standards and in those cases we substitute the better hotel.When I was at the pool of 4 seasons cairo I struck up a conversation with a BRIT at the pool he was going next day on tour with his group while my family in a benz with private guide were going to be doing the same.then we both were going south for nile cruise.When we compared costs he almost through up on his pool shoes.Don't knock it until you've tried it.
Jun 3rd, 2004, 09:25 PM
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Wow, I feel like a scmuck for booking an A&k tour. My husband and I travel frequently on our own (no tours), most recently 3 weeks to Peru and 3 weeks to Turkey. We decided to do a tour for the first time in Egypt because, due to time constraints (work), I don't have the luxury this time to do all the leg work required to plan a 3 week trip.
Jun 4th, 2004, 02:02 AM
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It doesn't require much work at all.Hand any A&K brochure to your T/A and they can book it for you independetely.When you get to your hotel see the concierge and arrange for your PRIVATE car and guide and your off.As long as you don't make the same mistake again chalk it up to a learning experience.Don't worry about MauiMaui's rants it's obvious she inherited her money because it's not probable someone whose reading comprehension is so demonstrably poor could have earned her money,she's just angry that we have pointed out how dumb it is(unless you enjoy wasting money)to book through A&K or Tauck etc. Who do they think are paying all those salaries,building mortages,etc.etc.She claims she goes first class and assumes we don't HA,my family and I have travelled extensively over 20 countries with 7&9 year olds,most recently over easter to Dubai& stayed at The BURJ AL ARAB hotel adjacent to WILD WADI WATER PARK,the smallest suite you can book in this all suite hotel is approx 1700 square feet.It's entirely possible MauiMaui is actually an A&K employee,probably lower level if you take into account her lame counter arguments.
Jun 4th, 2004, 06:16 AM
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oforparis - don't feel bad. Some people, depending on the country, feel more comfortable with an organized tour. I have done both and enjoyed both. You will not have to touch your pocketbook as everything will be included - meals, tips, entrance fees and all the bottled water you want. You will not have to touch your luggage. Enjoy your trip.
Jun 4th, 2004, 06:29 AM
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Louise:We don't touch our luggage either etc.etc.The difference is we travel better than these tours for at least 3o% less.IT'S A NO BRAINER FOLKS!!!IT's easy to prove, price it,the facts don't lie.
