eygpt

backdoor_rebel

can anyone offer advice on visiting here for the first time eg money, visas, brands of cigs, cruises, just anything this is my first visit going on a nile cruise for 7 days then staying in hunganda

redfox

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].


I've moved your thread over to the Travel Board where I'm sure somebody who has been to Egypt will be able to help you.

Tallymanjohn

Money: don't bother changing much, if any, before you get there - take a mixture of £GB, travellers cheques & dollars (as they are at a good rate). There are ATM machines in the larger towns - hotels etc. You'll need to pay for your visa on arrival in £GB - think it's still £10 per person but someone else will correct me if wrong. Nile cruises are brilliant - as it's a river there's always something to see on the banks & the excursions are well worth it. Drinks are fairly expensive, both on the ship & on land. Hotels are generally excellent quality. If you get a chance it's well worth taking the flight to Cairo for a couple of days - the city itself is a dump but seeing the pyramids, Sphinx & Cairo museum are not to be missed - hour's flight from Luxor. No idea on cigs as don't smoke. Stock up on generic medecines like Imodium while you're there - much cheaper than in the UK. Leather is cheap & good quality. Watch out for the horse-drawn taxis - they have a reputation for being dangerous & you're always being hassled into taking rides.

LittleRedDemon

backdoor_rebel wrote:

can anyone offer advice on visiting here for the first time eg money, visas, brands of cigs, cruises, just anything this is my first visit going on a nile cruise for 7 days then staying in hunganda

Just returned from Nabq Bay end of November.

Take £GB but only English notes, the Egyptians in the main will not accept Scottish notes. Every shop you pass have 'hasslemen' outside who invite you in to buy things. Usually a polite 'no thanks' works wonders.

Pyramids - We took a trip to the Pyramids of Giza, at Cairo. I say 'at' Cairo as that is the best way to describe it. We took a journey along the Cairo ring road, through an area that could only be described as a slum and the pyramids were there at the end of the road. One thing to have a look at is the Sphynx. On one side of the road you have the Sphynx, on the other side of the road you have KFC, PizzaHut and The Sphynx Guesthouse.

Never pay the asking price for anything... Always haggle. I managed to get a papyrus for under 20% of the asking price. The same one for sale in the 'official government shop' cost over £200 (GB).

Women - take money into the toilets. There is usually someone there issuing a small amount of paper (3 squares) and they expect you to pay for it, usually £1 Eqyptian (10p). Or buy wipes and take them in.

Have fun....

amc1

My family are looking to go on a Nile Cruise mid Feb - any advice on good deals / egypt travel websites.

Much appreciated.

saveapenny

amc1 wrote:

My family are looking to go on a Nile Cruise mid Feb - any advice on good deals / egypt travel websites.

Much appreciated.

keep an eye on the mytravel site go to last minute holidays then select all airports when the luxor option comes up click the AI option and they often have good deal on Nile Cruises on there
Check each week its expensive right now at 519 4* AI but it will come down

amc1

Can anyone offer a couple of pieces of advice on Egypt please ?

Are children (aged 9 and 11) welcome on the Nile Cruises - we've seen a couple of brochures stating children over 12 only.

What archaelogical attractions should be on our agenda - don't know much about all the Valley of Kings, Sphinx, Tutankhamen stuff. ie. which excursions and how to book them.

If we don't do a Nile Cruise where else is nice to stay in Egypt (where day trips to the attractions are possible). I have been looking at Sharma El Sheikh but don't know if we can do the attractions from here ?

Many thanks,

amc1

can anyone answer my queries please ???

thanks.

milkydrink

amc1 wrote:

Can anyone offer a couple of pieces of advice on Egypt please ?

Are children (aged 9 and 11) welcome on the Nile Cruises - we've seen a couple of brochures stating children over 12 only.

What archaelogical attractions should be on our agenda - don't know much about all the Valley of Kings, Sphinx, Tutankhamen stuff. ie. which excursions and how to book them.

If we don't do a Nile Cruise where else is nice to stay in Egypt (where day trips to the attractions are possible). I have been looking at Sharma El Sheikh but don't know if we can do the attractions from here ?

Many thanks,

If you go to Sharm I believe you can do a 1 day flight to Cairo, for the pyramids, sphinx & the Cairo museum. Those three are must sees in Cairo (well the pyramids & the Sphinx are together). You can pay a small amount & enter the middle pyramid (I've read loads saying its too small & steep inside, I didn't find it that bad). Don't go in June, July or August it will be too hot. Sharm is susposed to be great for novice divers (I want to go there & try). Try not to allow the sellers to make eye contact with you, they won't leave you alone if they think there is ANY chance of a sale. You will see small children selling postcards around the pyramids - I found that quite sad, but it's their way :-(
Before I book anywhere I type in the name of the hotel & resort on Google & search, any review sites with reviews on that place then come up there are loads.
My daughter was 13 when I took her to see the pyramids (& she has long red hair), she had males from 8-80 running after her shouting spice girl. No harm was intended, but a bit full on for such a young girl.

But it's still great, worth going to!

amc1

so you are still an hour away from the pyramids even on a Nile cruise ?

so it doesn't matter where you stay in Egypt (Nile cruise, Sharma, etc.) it is still a day trip out to see the pyramids, etc. - is that right ?

milkydrink

amc1 wrote:

so you are still an hour away from the pyramids even on a Nile cruise ? so it doesn't matter where you stay in Egypt (Nile cruise, Sharma, etc.) it is still a day trip out to see the pyramids, etc. - is that right ?

I don't know, I never went on a nile cruise. With young children I personally would look more at sharm than cruising, you can fly (or go overland, long journey) to Cairo for a day trip to the pyramids. Cairo is a mad crazy place & apart from those sights you probably wouldn't want to stay there.
Have a look at some holiday brocures, they may have time info. I traveled from Port Said to Cairo overland. Have a look on

http://holidayforums.co.uk/

You can post questions on there, loads of help.