bacooking

I'm planning a trip to Egypt over Xmas break this year since our oldest son will be at college, we decided a xmas break trip will be the best time spend together as a family. There are 5 of us and the kids will be 18, 15 and 13. We have done lots of traveling with them so Egypt has always been one of the places we have wanted to go. We tend to cover a lot of ground when we travel so a busy itinerary is not a problem for us.
Egypt decided like a good place for a 10 day trip so here's my intial look at an itinerary. I do not want to be in a tour group so I hope to plan this trip on our own.

Day 1-2:NY-Cairo overnight flight and arrive Cairo late next day. Should we stay at hotel near pyramids (any suggestions - would like to see pyramids so is Mena House good place to stay or does someone recommend someplace else?
Day 3/4: Tour Cairo and Pyramids
Old Part of Cairo
Camel Market
Shopping at Market
Egyptian Museum
Any other suggestions with kids?
Is 2 days right amount in Cairo?
Day 5: Depart for Desert Oasis
Is Bahariya best place to go?
Does anyone know best way to arrange this overnight in desert?
Day 6: Return to Cairo and fly to Aswan
Day 7/8/9: Should be then go on a Nile Cruise for 3 nights or just plan to visit sites between Aswan and Luxor? Anysuggestions on which way we should visit this area would be appreciated?
Day 10 Luxor - should we stay at Jolie Ville Movenpick? Other suggestions?
Day 11 Depart Luxor, flight back to Cairo/Home

So I please welcome suggestions. I had hoped we could get over the Red Sea for snorkeling but not sure we can swing that. I'm most interested in advice on the Aswan/Luxor segment as to whether we hire driver and go between cities or do the Nile Cruise. Please help me with that? Perhaps the cruise is a better home base for that area? I plan to contact Debbie Senters for help but wanted to seek advice here first. Thanks again in advance for suggestions.

Grcxx3

WOW! You certainly have your time booked! A couple of thoughts...

-There are several hotels near the pyramids, and while the Mena House may not be the most elegant (depending on what wing you're in), the view is spectacular and that's where I would want to be.

-Not sure when the camel market operates. I don't think it's every day - so that might be something to check into IF it is a top priority.

-I think with kids (even teens), 2 days is about right for Cairo. I could spend more time, but 2 days will hit the main things.

- Okay - the desert....Bahariya is the jumping off point for the White Desert, but it's pretty far away. The folks I knew usually drove to Bahariya (about 7-8 hours, I think), spent the night, then went out to the desert for 2 or so nights of camping, then came back to Bahariya for a night and THEN drove back to Cairo. I could be wrong here (had to cancel our trip 3 different times!) - so others may have more accurate info.

- If you want to see some of the desert, maybe a day trip to Whale Valley (I don't konw if Debbie Senters can arrange this or not). Gives you a taste of the desert, you can see some neat fossils, but is easily done is a day from Cairo.

-I think a Nile Cruise would work out better for you. Get to see all the sights, but also give you some down-time. SOmething about cruising along the river, watching the scenery, that just takes you back 2000 years! It's wonderful!

- If you decide to stay in Luxor and see sights there (rather than the cruise), then the Movenpick is a good choice. Lots of open space for the kids to wander around. We loved it there.

HLester3

Hi. We were in Cairo for 2 days last Sept. before our trip to Kenya. We just hit the three biggies for us, the Pyramids, Museum, Bazarr and Hard Rock Cafe for my husband, since he collects the shirts from our vacations. We were traveling with our 5 year olds. They really enjoyed it. My son still talks about going into one of the pyramids.

I Could not believe how cheap the food was at the hard rock cafe, which is in the Hyatt hotel in Cairo. We had 5 people at lunch and it cost us only around $35. Instead of the pulled pork sandwich they have everywhere else, they had a pulled lamb sandwich on the menu.

We stayed at the LeMeridian Pyramids, which is very close to pyramids. We arrived at 2:30 a.m. in the morning and were very surprised the next morning when I woke up and opened the curtains to see a great view of the pyramids right out the window. You cannot walk to the pyramids from this hotel because there is way too much traffic. We stayed here because it was only around $110 for a pyramid view room in a very nice hotel, much like a Shereton or Marriot. They also have a very nice pool which has a good view of the pyramids. We had Debbie as our guide and she was great. I was feeling a little under the weather from our 24 hour flight, and she was very understanding. Make sure she arranges your airport pick up, the man who picked us up had a special license so that he could meet us at the gate as we came off the plane. He then helped us get our visas and our luggage. It was very interesting just driving around from our hotel into Cairo and from the airport.

Debbie was also very helpful for us in negotiating at the Bazarr and helping us to get the best price. I highly recommend her.

Guidedog

My family and I were in Egypt this past November. I would HIGHLY recommend sending an email to Debbie at Casual Cairo tours and ask her to send you a sample of her tours. We really believe that we got to really see and experience Egypt because of her. We saw everything that is a must...the pyramids, camel ride, bazaar, great food, etc. We didn't have to worry about a cab, worry about a tour packed with others, worry about where to eat or where to sleep. This is what we did: Booked air egypt into Cairo. The taxi took us to Hotel Longchamps which is where all the embassasies are located. Now, when we first pulled up, I thought to myself, what the heck did I get my family into especially because my husband is blind. What you eventually learn is that there are absolutely no buildings in Egypt that look nice. They all look like they need major repairs or are already under construction. People hang their laundry out the windows everywhere you go. The reason for the unfunished look to everything is that homeowners are heavily taxed for completed homes and receive tax breaks if their building is under construction.
Anyway, once you go up the dinky elevator you are in an oasis. The owner is just amazing and the hotel was her childhood home. The rooms are gigantic and the breakfast is fantastic. Each evening there is music playing and candles everywhere. So, so beautiful. Staying in a hotel would never, ever have given us the opportunity to really meet residents and experience Egyptian life.
Anyway, that evening Debbie picked us up at the hotel and we went on a boat ride. She brought along all kinds of food and drinks. P.S. We didn't get sick once during our trip. There is a Hardee's down the road from the hotel along with a Pizza Hut if you start missing US food. By the way, the hamburger at Hardee's was the best burger ever. We had a day trip to Alexandria, saw the Cairo museum, took a cruise boat around the Nile and had the best fish dinner ever. We didn't fly to Luxor; we took the night train. Your kids would love it. Again, really experiencing the country and the people. Debbie arranged for a tour guide to take us to the Valley of the Kings and all the other great sites. Don't get too excited about Luxor and where to stay because it's the place where cruise boats dock. I walked around and it's just total smog and car fumes. We stayed at a small hotel that cost $36 a night and included breakfast. The Longchamps was $68 a night and also included breakfast.
I absolutely loved Egypt. The people are so beautiful and you never, ever have to worry about your safety. There are tourist police everywhere. The dollar is incredibly strong and you will be able to afford quite a bit. You will have the very best time ever!!! My daughter is a senior in high school and absolutely loved every moment of her vacation.

longhorn55

I would definitely recommend taking a Nile cruise. It was the highlight of our trip to Egypt. It was a relaxing way to travel and it was fascinating to watch the scenery from the boat--temples, fields, etc. Since the Nile is such an important part of the history (and current life) of Egypt, it would be a shame for you to miss spending some time traveling on it.

mowmow

Just got back from an OAT tour of Egypt. I took my 13 year old daughter with me and we had a great time. We went with a group tour since it was just the two of us. I would recommend traveling Egypt with an adult male in your group.

If your kids are animal lovers I'd skip the camel market. They are abusive to animals in Egypt, you'll see them hobbled and slaughtered and the kids will NOT enjoy it. Go see camels somewhere else.

In Aswan we took a boat across the river then a 15 min. camel ride to St. Simeon monastery. Then another 45 min. on the camels over the sand dunes to the Nubian village. You should be able to have somebody arrange this for you. It was lots of fun. My daughter got a henna tattoo from one of the women at the Nubian village, and she can't stop talking about the camel ride.

We did the cruise from Luxor to Aswan and she loved it. Sat out in the sun, played in the pool, great food, tea time, time to read and watch a movie... perfect for a teen. Give them money to buy something tossed up onto the boat in Esna; it's great fun. The boat will stop in Edfu and Kom Ombo so you can tour the temples there.

At the pyramids, there is a tomb of a priest, and a small pyramid next to it. Go inside that one. It's a steep downhill entrance, bent over, and the ceiling inside is those big cantilevered blocks, and it's decorated inside, with the sarcophagus still there. It was really nice and there was no line at all. There's nothing inside the big pyramid, it's underwhelming inside, and you have to make a run to get one of the 100 or so tickets for it sold twice a day.

I'd recommend 3 days in Cairo: Pyramids &Saqqara one day, old Cairo (Coptic stuff, Citadel, bazaar, etc) another day, Egyptian museum at least another 1/2 day. You can cram it into 2 days but you'll be exhausted. Going out to Saqqara was great. We could see the bent and red pyramid from there as well.

The overnight train to Luxor would save you the travel time to the airports and the kids will like it. You need at least 2 days in Luxor, I would have preferred three.

Skip the desert thing, you just don't have time.

Days 1/2/3 Cairo: museum, pyramids, old Cairo, bazaar
Overnight train to Luxor:
Days 4/5 Valley Kings/Queens, Karnak, Luxor temples, Luxor museum
Days 6/7/8 Nile Cruise
Edfu temple
Kom Ombo temple
Days 9/10 Aswan: Philae temple
Camel ride
Nubian museum
Abu Simbel?
Train/fly back to Cairo

Or: Fly straight on to Aswan or Luxor and start there, taking cruise, then back to Cairo at the end.

Staying out at the Pyramid hotels is convenient to see them, but very inconvenient for the museum, the old Coptic or Islamic areas, and 35 minutes to the airport at 0500, 60 minutes minimum during the day.

Get Debbie or another good tour operator to book guides, etc. for you. You don't need to be in a group, but you should try to have a guide/driver most days. Otherwise it will be a hassle getting around, and you'll be bombarded constantly by "guides" everywhere. A decent Egyptologist will be able to explain what you're looking at and make it more enjoyable as well.
Cairo you can do totally on your own with taxis, but would be more relaxing with a guide and driver.

Have lots of fun!

huladolphin

If you do want to do the desert thing, it can easily be done in two days. I just took a trip out to the White Desert last weekend. You leave early in the morning, around 8 or so, drive four hours (it's not more than that) to Baharayia, usually in a mini bus if you charter one, meet up with your tour company, eat lunch, and head for the White Desert, stopping in the Black Desert on the way. IMO, the White Desert is absolutely gorgeous and worth the time. You spend the night camping, see more of the desert and several of the springs the next day, and be back in Cairo around 8 the next evening.


Laura