Heh Heh my friend and I went to Egypt for 19 nights we fly from Scotland to Heathrow by BMI think we paid about £80 return. We then flew from Heathrow to Cairo with British airways £260 return (booked these flights seperate on the net) when we arrived in Cairo we were met by our rep (from the touring club of Egypt) he met us at the airport and kept us right about our visa (mind pay in English pound or dollars for the visa)
from there we headed straight for our fist stay b+b at the Hilton Ramases hotel5 star, when we got there we paid our rep our money for all our hotels and internal flights (we paid in egyptian and he wasnt very happy we had to show recipts for all our money etc... before he would take it) tip stuff taking egyptian money just take loads of English youll have to settle any hotel bill in Engish anyway or you will have to start showing your recipts and they dont like that.
Anyway all that out the way we stayed there for 3 nights as we were straight across the road from the Cairo museum take note when I say straight across the road im not kidding but getting across the road mmm another story. It took us 15 mins on the first attempt, anyway the Egyptians felt sorry for us and they would take us bye the hand across in no time. The
museum is good but you'll have to pay for vidoe cameras and photo cameras if you want to take them in also if you want to see any of the mummys you'll have to pay again inside the museum as they are kept seperate along with the mask of king tutankamun.
GO EARLY dont get caught up with the tour coatches you wont get moving anywhere, I recogmend you hire a guide to go around with you its alot better and you learn alot more.
the hotel was fine as it goes but on appearance it just a massive concrete buiding with no appearance, inside is nice, and the rooms are ok but you cant get a good reception on the tv we were looking for a music channel. you can also smell and taste the pollution there too.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP thats what you here soon as you step outside or open your veranda door. Its a city after all.
From there we got a taxi £3 english or 30 Egyptian to the Menahouse Oberoi in the Giza area we wanted to be next to the pyramids and next to them we were, This hotel is very calonial its very very smart, staff are nice the rooms are basic but you get a fruit bowl on arrival along with slippers and a bath robe. Sitting watching over you at the pool is the pyramids what a view, we went to the sound and light show at night (watch when you go or what time at night you go because they do diffrent luangues ok check first we didnt and had to wait an hour for the Japaneese on to finish) Its worth it but because your next to the desert take a light cardi its a cool breeze there. That was really good.
We only stayed there 2 nights b+b too ( 5 star) as we left early for our flight they gave us a breakfast box to takeaway. We got a taxi back to Cairo airport £5 and flew from there to Luxor where we stayed at the isis 4 star b+b. This hotel is lovely it has beautiful gardens and sits on the bank of the nile it has two swimming pools, Our room was a suit with the best view possible. the staff are really nice here, and they looked after us the best we really did get spoiled here, we stayed here 9 nights it was great soon as you step foot outside the hotel you will hear "taxi taxi" and "Kalesh Kalesh" it didnt bother me you get used to it.
We enjoyed Luxor the best I think it was because we got down with the locals, we would jump off and on the bus (it like a mini bus with the door jammed open) all you do is stick out your hand and tell them where your going and jump on it will cost you 25pestras about 12p. we had a great laugh on them the locals used to just laugh at us.
If your going shopping just Haggle if they say a price half it, you just have to HAGGLE HAGGLE HAGGLE they are so money mad. We would just walk out the shop if we thought their price was to deer and youll find they will call you back.
We went to an Egyptian party and had a brilliant time (mind and cover your arms and legs tho)its polite
We ate in a restarant GEMS every night the food it brilliant the staff are brilliant and to top it everytime you go back they give you a discount the price is very cheap to eat there too. Its neat the shedion hotel but its worth a visit. youll get hassle from Kalesh drivers all the time (they will even shout up to the window if need be)
We went to the Karnack sound and light show, we got a Kalesh driver from our hotel to karnack made him wait for us to finish and take us back and we paid him 20 egptian (£2) and he waited and hour for us (dont pay him untill your return trip ok) The sound and light show was really good but you will walk so mind wear flat shoes and be careful you dont trip we got our tickets ther and I think it worked out about £3 each.
we went on the hotair ballon £40 which was cheap if you look after the egyptains they will look after you, and I dont mean that in a bad or naught sort of way, we got treated with respect all the time.
we didnt make it to the vally of the kings and queens as we didnt want to go to all the tombs just too (means i have to go back) hehe
The view of the west bank is spectacular its so biblical and you see falukas (boat) going up and down the nile, but beware if you get on one agree the price and also tell them that encludes getting off to ok I was told this before I went and its true.
The discos are good but I enjoyed going to the local parties instead.
After our stay in Luxor we flew from ther to Sharm el shiek to the Hyatt Recenacey 5 star delux (what a hotel) I felt like I was ritch and famous you wont get any hassle here I can tell you that. The manager is Scottish and he made us very welcome,
The staff dont bother you infact they dont even talk to you they have been warned, if your looking for somewhere with a hastle free hotel THIS IS THE ONE.
The grounds are amazing its got a water slide and a lazy river and about three pool areas plus sauna, masure etc like the other hotels bot alot posher.
Its got its own private beatch but its more shingle than sand. You can do water stuff eh snorkling scuba diving etc.... the thingy parachute thing etc you get what I mean, Its the red sea so the fishes are brilliant all sorts of colours and size (mind dont feed the fish you'll get into bother and dont stand on the coral either you'll do it damage)
If you go to Naana bay be prepaired to Pose,pose, pose oh and pose.
there is alot of Russians, canadians, Americans and Italians mmmm.
The Hyatt puts on a free bus to Naana bay mind check the times at reception for the coming and going.
If you have missed the last bus and want to get a taxi dont pay more than 10 Egyptian they think cause your staying in the Hyatt your loaded.
We moved on after our 5 nights b+b there back to Cairo for our last night in preparation for our flight home.
all the food in the hotels was brilliant, we even ate with the locals in Cairo some rice pasta sauce spice thing dish looks yuck but was brilliant so was the Kababs.
I dont recogment Kanel Kaneli phew what a place I couldnt wait to get back to the hotel...... if you go cover every part of your body I wore a pair of combat trousers and a t-shirt and I still got my bum and my boobs felt and I wouldnt stay I was busty nor had a big bum. So be careful where you tread dont stray from the beaten track or youll be sold for camels.
Our trip cost us £620 through the touring club of Egypt we had to book our flights from scotland to London and frpm London to Cairo seperate though. but all our internal flight about Egypt was included.
We go 10 Egyptian to 1 British Pound We Haggled Haggled Haggled and got alot of things very cheap
When go go shopping stop and have a cuppa with them I like Hybiscus tea its sort of fruity but take it with 1 sugar and mmmmmyum its nice
I hope you find this helpful and I enjoyed my stay and hope to return again for longer
A warm welcome to ciao. Some good advice has already been given about what information to add to your review. Just in case you don't know how there is an edit button in the left hand corner under the advantages/disadvantages section as you look at your review. Let me know when you have added more information and I will return to re-read it. Fionaxx
Ryan74 26.10.2003 01:58
Welcome! Nice first op, I was amused by what you said about haggling.
feeble_albatross 25.10.2003 23:45
egypt is cool. their daily budget is a bargain! Olivia :)
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Oct 25th, 2003
(Oct 29th, 2003)
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