I plan to go to Egypt alone in November (I am 67) and have been "talking" with Lady Egypt. Anybody have experience with them? Would appreciate any information about Cairo hotels. Am thinking of staying at the Cairo Marriott in Zamalek..is there anything nearby? What about the Hilton Cairo Nile Hotel (is that the one near the Egyptian Museum)? I am planning one full free day in Luxor...is it worth the time? Anything to see/do besides what I will do on my tour? I want to spend at least one full day in Cairo at the end to shop. Hotel recommendations?

I believe sf7307 had a good experience wth Lady Egypt.

Can you give us a run-down of the itinerary you are working on with Lady Egypt? That would help us suggest things for you.

Good luck with your planning.

Grcxx3 is right, we had an excellent experience with Lady Egypt (as did P_M). We planned the entire trip in less than two months (extraneous circumstances...the very day I sent my first email out seeking information, my daughter broke her leg and needed surgery, and everything was put on hold, including whether we'd even go, but go we did). We worked with Mohammed Kamel, and our guide in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor was named Mahmoud sorry, I don't know his last name, but he was excellent! Not just a very good tour guide, but a nice guy, too. Mohammed and I did everything by email (many many of them). I didn't actually ever talk to him on the phone until we missed our connection in Frankfurt and I had to advise him so they could change the pickup time. Ours was a private tour, meaning just the six of us who were traveling together (my husband and I, son, daughter, son's girlfriend and son's other friend). The only negatives I can even think of....the air conditioning in van between Aswan and Luxor (we didn't take a Nile cruise) was not cold enough (we were there in late July and it was HOT!), and although our hotel in Cairo was nice (Le Meridien Pyramids), we would have preferred to be downtown than out at the pyramids. Everywhere we went we were accompanied by our guide, and also met by a Lady Egypt representative, who handled our luggage, passports, checking us into the hotels, checking us in for flights, etc. When the second flight (3 of us came from the US, and 3 from Ethiopia) came in at 2 a.m. instead of 2 p.m., they still picked them up and delivered them to the hotel without question. Obviously, I was very pleased with them. I don't, however, know anything about their more "public" tours.

The Cairo Marriott is my favorite hotel in Cairo. There are loads of things to do in the area. It is in Zamalek, and Zamalek is probably what you'd have to consider the Cultural Center of Cairo. It's got everything.

The Nile Hilton is no longer a Hilton. It is now just called the Nile Hotel. Pretty much it hasn't changed a lot yet except the back shopping mall and garden are a think of the past. Email [email protected] if you want to directly book anything there. As far as I know they are going to be closing up at the end of the year for the Ritz to come in and begin the remodel on the building. It will then become a Ritz Carlton.

I think an extra day in Luxor is nice, if for no other reason than to just relax. In November the weather will be decent and hanging around the pool could be quite nice. Beware of the knucklehead Egyptian boys in Luxor though that will try to chat you up and become your new boyfriend. They target women in their 40's, 50's, and 60's with the assumption there is $$$ there. Just tell them to go away and ignore them. That is the one down side to a free day in Luxor, unless of course you can use em and abuse em. LOL Have fun!

Debbie... aren't you feisty this morning? Just what I needed to start my day

Oh yes, we spent a whole day relaxing at the pool (Steigenberger Hotel) in Luxor and it was lovely. Even ate lunch at the pool, meaning we really never moved except between the chaise and the water!

This is what I have worked out so far with Lady Egypt.
Day 1: arrival, stay at Cairo Marriott Hotel, Zamalet
2. free day (my request) to rest or go out
3. Giza, Sakkara
4. Egyptian Museum, Islamic area, Soultan Hassan Mosque
5. Coptic area, St. Sergius, Khan el-Khalili, leave in evening on sleeper train for Aswan
6. Aswan, high dam, ferry to Philae Temple, overnight at Movenpick Hotel
7. fly to Abu Simbel, visit temples, overnight at Seti Abu Simbel Hotel
8. sunrise at temples, fly back to Aswan, felucca to Elephantine & Kitchner's Islands, to Nile cruise boat for 3 nights
9. Kom Ombo, Edfu
10. morning free, in afternoon East bank of Luxor
11. West bank of Luxor in morning; then to Hotel Steigenberger or Sonesta St. George in Luxor
12. Dandarah & Abydos temples
13. Free day in Luxor
14. Fly from Luxor to Cairo; back to Marriott
15. Free day in Cairo
16. Return to JFK

Am I missing anything? Really appreciate any suggestions.
I will be a group of "one", so I can pretty much do what I want. I plan to shop in Cairo at the end of the trip so I don't have to carry stuff around. And just learned that the sister of a young woman I knew from the mid-80's may be living in Cairo so I may be able to visit her.

Any suggestions for gifts to take. I live in Guatemala (an ex-pat for 22 years) and usually travel with a dozen pulseras (beaded bracelets) to give out to women I meet. Anything that Egyptians might appreciate?

SF7303: What about tipping the Lady Egypt employees?

Hi Judi

Your program sounds excellent.

In your last free day in Cairo, you can take a taxi to Al Azhar Park and have dinner at the Citadel View Restaurant there. This is a lovely park in the middle of crazy Cairo. You will see Egyptian families and couples enjoying themselves there. The park also offers a good view of Cairo and the Citadel with the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Try to make it there before sunset to catch the sunset.

For tour guides, the tip is recommended at 100 egyptian pounds per full day and 50 LE/day for the driver, if you are happy with their service.

Have a great trip. We love Egypt.

regards

Hi Judi,

This is only my second post on a Fodor forum...I hope it is a helpful one!

I second HappyMom's recommendation of dinner in Azhar Park - dinner at sunset near the lake or up on the hill is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening in Cairo. The view over Islamic Cairo is amazing, and the sounds of the call to the sunset prayer are mesmerizing. It is very close to the Khan al Khalili market, so it would be a good place to end an afternoon or evening of shopping.

I was surprised to see you're spending a full day at Abu Simbel AND staying overnight. If you want to go out that night, you might be better off returning to Aswan. The flight there is short, and if you go early enough the first day you could catch sunrise on your first day.

As for what Egyptians would appreciate, I believe any gift given sincerely would be graciously accepted. One caveat - I've seen plenty of beaded bracelets/key chains/necklaces in Egypt that might be similar to what you usually bring.

The Cairo Marriott IS a fabulous hotel in a fun but not touristy part of town. It is close to the Cairo Opera House (http://www.cairoopera.org/) and the Islamic Ceramics Museum (http://www.icm.gov.eg/E_introduction.html).

Rihla siyida (Happy Travels!)

Regarding tipping, our first morning (after a free day on arrival, which, coming from the West Coast of the US, was absolutely critical - we slept for an entire day!), the tour rep (who is different from the guide) met us at the hotel after breakfast and briefed us on our trip, both "substantive" and "procedural". Among other things, we were given the choice of handling all the tipping ourselves or giving them X pounds per person (I wish I could remember how much, but it was something like $40USD per person) and they would handle all the tipping. We decided to make it easy on ourselves and opt for the latter, and it was great!! They handled all the doormen, baggage handlers, busboys, tour guides, drivers, etc. The only tips we handled ourselves were when we were off by ourselves -- taxis, some individuals with their hands out at the tombs, that kind of thing, but for the most part, we just didn't have to deal with it and it was wonderful. Our tour rep was named "Ahmed", our guide "Mahmoud".

We used lady egypt for our last trip to egypt. I had been there before and had definite ideas. they were a pleasure.

some of my thoughts:

overnight in abu simbel is GREAT idea--be sure to walk around the town, which is small. very friendly. there is a small b&b there, cant think of name, but they are nubian, really great and have limited internet. you could stop by. very good english.

not a fan of the nile cruise. imo, too many boats. i think nile experience is important, though and you could go north from luxor for the day, can't think of the temple there , maybe dendor.not sure. MUCH less busy and only cruise boat we saw and no lock to go through.

i would take convoy between aswan and luxor, and they will stop at temples on the way.

this gives you time to add a day to cairo -- what you want to do is great, but I think you don't have enough time. there are 3 security lines at egyptian museum, etc.

sakara area is wonderful - don't miss it.

we also liked balloon ride in luxor (which I did not want to do at the time, having just been on one in Burma) but I am VERY glad I did.

if you can, add a day to cairo and one to west bank/luxor area.
Bonnie

Thanks for all the information! I have added one more free day in Cairo at the end of the trip. Any more ideas? Judi

shopping as long as it is NOT a Sunday

judi, this is a fantastic itinerary.

I have contacted Lady Egypt and haven't heard from them. As you know I am looking at an Insight tour. I too am travelling solo. Could you please let me know how LE compares costwise.

As for gifts to take from Guatemala (BTW, I was there two years ago and loved it, especially Tikal), the beaded bracelets are a good idea, there are small but can be heavy if you have alot of them (I think I bought about 25 to give as gifts). I think some of the fabric coin purses are good to keep handy too, these can be given to men and women. I loved the handicrafts in Guatemala, I bought a wooden puzzle box of the Tikal ruins and I proundly display this in my collection of souvenirs.

Judi, one tip: Be SURE to have lots of Egyptian pounds in small change for bathroom attendants, police, tomb caretakers, etc. Everyone in Egypt has their hand out.
Also, you will also be steered to lots of commission-paying tourist shops by guides. Your level of tolerance for this depends on your personality. Also, watch out for switcheroo pricing, where, say, you are quoted a price for a carriage ride in Luxor in the morning, but when the hour approaches the price doubles.

justshootme: I have added some free days and will have 7 nights total in Cairo at the Cairo Marriott Hotel and will have 17 nights total in Egypt. The final price is $2169 per person in double room; $3255 per person in a single. Maybe a bit more, but hey! I'm worth it!!!

Gracias, judi_in_guatemala. You are right you are worth it. Enjoy Egypt.

HOLA, Judi:
I'm writing from Spain. I go to Egypt next Friday and my Itinerary (16 days) is almost the same as yours, day by day. We are a group of five and I've arranged private transportation and guiding the whole trip.
We'll go to Mena House at Cairo, Movenpick at Aswan, Seti I at Abu Simbel and Steingenberger Nile Palace at Luxor, cruising with the Sonesta St. George. ¿Which cruise is yours?.

In the extra day at Luxor I've planned to visit the Luxor Museum, that looks great and also the Ramesseum, the temple of Seti I and Deir el Medina. At Aswan I'll also go to the Nubian museum that seems very nice.
If you go in November as you say you'll have time to read my trip review and get some hints.
Enjoy planning, as it is one of the best parts of any trip.
RECUERDOS DESDE ESPAÑA (regards from Spain)

Buenos Dias Andonius! My Nile cruise will be on the M/S Le Terace or the M/S Crown Empress. I making my deposit today and am SO excited. Let's keep in touch. Que tengas buen viaje!