Heading out to Egypt in November.

We've narrowed our search down from over two dozen companies to the following: Bliss Tours, Livingstone Tours, Royal Egypt Tours and Touch Egypt.

Does anyone have experience with any of them? All comments welcome. (I've already searched the threads.)

How do the packages differ???
Price? Itininerary? Accomodation?

The only difference is in price. There is about $800 between the lowest and highest. That is how I managed to eliminate so many as they would not quote to the itinerary/hotels/cruise boat I requested but would substitute or say "or similar". Even with a second email asking them to give me a price for just what I had written, I either received no response, or still with the "or similar," or a substitution. And not just the cheapest quotes, either--both ends of the range. Originally the range was $2,000. Bliss, Livingstone, Royal Egypt and Touch Egypt were about in the middle of the price range.

I wanted to compare apples to apples, and these four companies are the only ones who would do that. I figure if the others can't or won't accommodate my requests now, what will it be like when we get there.

I just asked for quotes for the basic itinerary; can add in the "optionals" next.

Here is the schedule:
Day 1: Arrive late afternoon. Stay at Mena House.
Day 2: Cairo on our own. Overnight at Mena House.
Day 3: Late p.m. to train station. Sleeper train to Aswan.
Day 4: Arrive Aswan. Overnight at Old Cataract Hotel.
Day 5: Transfer to Nile cruise ship
Day 6: Nile cruise
Day 7: Nile cruise
Day 8: Nile cruise
Day 9: Disembark. Fly from Luxor to Cairo. City center hotel.
Day 10: To Bahariya Oasis. Overnight at Hot Spring Hotel.
Day 11: Camp overnight in White Desert.
Day 12: Back to Cairo. City center hotel. Cairo on our own.
26 Cairo on our own. City center hotel.
27 Early p.m. to airport.

Ooops, sorry. Accidentally hit the Post my Reply button.

Let's try it again:

Day 1: Arrive late afternoon. Stay at Mena House.
Day 2: Cairo on our own. Overnight at Mena House.
Day 3: Late p.m. to train station. Sleeper train to Aswan.
Day 4: Arrive Aswan. Overnight at Old Cataract Hotel.
Day 5: Transfer to Nile cruise ship
Day 6: Nile cruise
Day 7: Nile cruise
Day 8: Nile cruise
Day 9: Disembark. Fly from Luxor to Cairo. City center hotel.
Day 10: To Bahariya Oasis. Overnight at Hot Spring Hotel.
Day 11: Camp overnight in White Desert.
Day 12: Back to Cairo. City center hotel. Cairo on our own.
Day 13: Cairo on our own. City center hotel.
Day 14: Early p.m. to airport.

We will be using Debbie Senters of Casual Cairo Detours for the Cairo portions of the trip.

Requested Sonesta for the cruise ship.

They all quoted the same hotel on our return to Cairo.

So what I really need to know (the most difficult part!) is which one to choose. If any of these have not done such a good job for someone, that will help me in making a decision.

Good to hear that Debbie Senters is handling your Cairo portion. Great choice. May I suggest you inquire of Debbie what she knows of the tour operators you are considering. If these are all Cairo-based, she probably knows a few of them and can provide input; know the particular Nile Cruise boats, the Sonestas for certain. But there are lots of newer boats that may actually be better. Ask, all she can say is "I don't know."