eygpt

karren

enjoy your holiday it sounds fantastic

saveapenny

if you go on a nile cruise its a lot more than 1 hour by land Luxor to Cairo you would have to fly

amc1

Couldn't do the Nile Cruise cos the kids are too young so we have booked a Thomson Red Sea cruise - much bigger ship and probably much more for the kids to do. Not a bad price either but I still have to pay for the excursions which I'm sure will set me back a tidy sum.

saveapenny

Found this on Holiday Truths several people have used http://www.memphistours.com/ to book the excursions and got a much better deal and a better trip
I still cant decide between the Red Sea cruise and staying in Hurghada If I go for the cruise I will use Memphis tours because it seems more flexiable and not rushed and I want to go to Saqqara and not Cairo (been)
Go to HolidayTruths Cruise forum loads there on the Red Sea
When you booked for?

amc1

Booked for mid Feb - kids half term.

There would seem to be three main excursions from the Red Sea Cruise :-

1. Petra temples etc. (Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade...) - 2hrs from port
2. Cairo pyramids and museum.
3. Valley of the Kings/Luxor - 3.5 hrs from port

From Thomson, I don't expect too much change from £250 for trips 1 & 3 (ie. £500 in total) for a family of four.

saveapenny

I think the Cairo alone is £70 per adult and 40 for kids.
Have a good look at memphis tours and e-mail them what you want a get a price . In the mean time I will see if I can hunt out the list my sister gave me last year of the costs

Petra last year was £65 per person (extra £10 pp if you dont want to walk for 3-4 miles to the opening)

Luxor last year was £68 pp

found upto date price
Petra Departs 7.30 approx 11hrs Adult £70 child £35
Luxor Departs 6.30 - approx 15hrs adult £70 child £35
Cairo Departs 6.30 13hrs Adult £75 child £40

Total £650

I have heard that Memphis trips only take 1 1/2 hours to get to Cairo were Thomsons take 3 hours so it might be worth thinking about with the children if it shortens the day for them and shortens the cost for you

amc1

Thanks for your help.

Do you know if you pay for the memphistours trips before you go and where do you connect with them ie. do you wait near the ship ?

Did your sister do all three - if so which were the best in numbered order ? And did she do them with memphistours or with Thomsons.

saveapenny

my sister didnt do Luxor because she spent a week there the year before but she thought Petra was the best. Personaly I cant see anything that would beat Cairo and Luxor.
With Memphis Tours you pick the time and they pick you up at the ship.
She did Petra through Thomsons I have only heard of Memphis through HolidayTruths but they get a glowing report on there

amc1

can I ask when you pay for the memphistours (before u go or when u meet them), how much you should tip and what currencies are required ?

saveapenny

You pay before you go on booking
Tipping ...what feels right to the servcie you have had