Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Cairo

Advantages: The Peace and Quiet
Disadvantages: Having to come back home

...the free hotel shuttle bus leaving on the hour every hour, or you could get a taxi that costs around £2. We used a taxi but came back on a Felucca, a sail boat with a two man crew costing a mere £3.50 + a baksheesh, (a tip). You could hire these boats for the day or just for half an hour. Trips and guides also can be organised through the tour operators or through the hotel itself, which is a lot cheaper, and you could go and see the tombs of the boy king, Tutankamun, Ramesses the Great and Hatshepsut the female pharaoh and many others at The valley of the Kings and The valley of the Queens. These two valleys are on the West bank. Luxor was built on the 4000 year old ruins of Thebes and Karnak temple is the largest temple complex in the world. There is Luxor museum which is the next biggest after the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo. Every... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: See the wonders of the ancient world
Disadvantages: Cairo is a very busy and noisy city.

...to get our luggage ourselves and bring it back to him. From then on the only time we had to deal with our luggage was to unpack or pack our belongings in our hotel room/cabin. (A tip - make sure your luggage is distinct, my trolley case was a bright baby pink and my mother's was lilac. They got to be markers letting the rest of the group know their luggage was on the way!) We were staying at the Nile Hilton (see my seperate review) in the centre of Cairo right next door to the famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The hotel room was first class and really clean - I work for a Local Authority in Environmental Services so I was more than a little interested in the accommodation we would be staying at and food we would be eating on our trip. Up early the next morning (no lying in bed on this holiday, all the visits are done early morning... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Better than my dream, romance, culture
Disadvantages: The troubled Middle East

...of our group we bought an entry ticket for three tombs, including the then newly opened Tutankhamun. The knowledge that Tutankhamun lay undisturbed for over 3000 years until the tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922 and that the Pharaoh’s remains are still in the coffin is unbelievable. The full impact of the discovery Carter made was yet to hit us when we were to visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where we would see thousands of treasures and antiquities that were buried with the young Pharaoh, giving evidence of the culture, sophistication, social life and the belief the Ancient Egyptians had in the afterlife from 3500 thousand years ago. As we had lost our return coach trip to Luxor, we hired a taxi from one of the ever entrepreneurial local drivers waiting for business, parked in the middle of the desert, from people like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: See everything in one day.
Disadvantages: Do not go in August as the weather is too humid.

...star hotel called the Meridan hotel where we sat and had a four course lunch. The food was excellent. Some excellent Egyptian spreads were laid out for us. Afterwards, we visited the Papyrus Institute and shopping at oriental bazaar, where I bought an Egyptian 18 carat gold chain and pendant with my name written on it in Egyptian. I also bought an Egyptian painting scroll with my name written on it in Egyptian again. Next, we visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities where our Guide Rep gave us a tour. We saw Tutankhuman and we visited the Mummy room. The Mummy room is not to be missed. The history and look of these Mummies are very unique. The next trip was the Cruise on the Nile with folkloric presentation, belly dancing, cold sandwiches, cookies, coffee / tea and a complimentary glass of champayne. This was the best part of all... Read review

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Advantages: so much to see
Disadvantages: Pollution

...The heat, dust, density and pollution of Cairo can make life difficult, but the sights and people make up for it. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, at the edge of the city where the slums meet the desert, are everything you have ever dreamed. The Museum of Antiquities is a jewel and a trip to the Citadel, with its views over the city,one I certainly recommend - especially at the dusk call to prayer. Don't miss the Islamic quarter. Otherwise, just soak up the streetlife. The covered bazaar is a beauty, the mosques are a haven. Taxis are the easiest way to get around, but the buses go everywhere and a metro serves some parts. All in all very different very hot but not to be missed for a holiday with a differance . The flight from the uk is about 5 hours... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: It's an experience of a lifetime
Disadvantages: It's dirty, noisy and polluted

...the streets of Cairo. Things that you should definitely do while you are in Egypt: Rent a traditional Egyptian taxi just for the experience – it’s and absolute blast. Pyramids (make sure that you arrange this through your hotel, it’s by far the cheaper and safer option and you get to see more than you would with one of the local “tour guides”.) The Egyptian market is not for everyone but if you enjoy bargaining and haggling for the best price, the market is for you, and unless you have a cast iron stomach don’t buy the food, you will regret it later on. Visit the Egyptian museum and make sure that you actually pay the right people for the tickets and not one of the peddlers on the street, their tickets are cheaper but they are expired, when you finally realize this they are nowhere to be found and you have to buy more tickets from the ticket... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful