HI< We are planning to go on the Grand Tour of Egypt tour with Globus.We would really appreciate any tips or comments from anyone who has done this tour.
Thanks and have a nice day!

My husband and I just returned from Egypt in November. We went with Insight. I'm sure Globus will do a great trip but I wish I had been more prepared for Egypt in general. The first few days the haggling with vendors, beggars, etc. made me sad. The middle of our trip I started to get annoyed because I felt like I had to be on guard constantly. At the sites workers will volunteer to jump into your photo then get really ugly if you don't tip them. By the end of the trip I was just plain tired of it. Egyptian Air had ridiculous schedule delays and we spent several unexpected hours in airports within Egypt. Flying back into Cairo the last night of our trip we had delays and had to get directly on our flight back to the US. We flew or were in airports 21 hours. I came home a bit disenchanted. I'm now really glad I went to Egypt but I do wish I had known what to expect. I think I would have enjoyed it more.

Hello Deborah,
Thanks for your tips about Egypt. I have heard about what you said before but I am sure that when you expect a certain problem then it makes it easier.Thanks again!
Did you also take a cruise?

Our tour did include a three day Nile cruise. Also be prepared there!! Their first class cruise ships are more like a sub-standard cruise ships here. Since you know that the ship is not the greatest be prepare for scenery that is out of this world. I sat on the front of our ship each evening until the sun went completly down and was simply in heaven. I've learned that in order to see some of the sites I have seen and want to see I have to be a little flexible on accomodations!! Our rooms were clean and the bed was comfortable - getting to be actually on the Nile River watching the sun set beyond the desert - what more could you ask for!!! I highly recommend it. I don't know how the Yangtze River project has progress but that's another cruise that the ship are so-so but nothing can compare to the scenry in the gorges. We went to China the October after 9/11 and the project was just starting so the river was not showing any signs of change due to the power dam. By all means - take the Nile River Cruise if given the opportunity.

Thanks Deborah,
Your tips are great so I can know what to expect.
We are planning to go in May with our daughter.The cruise sounds just what I like. Is it worth paying the extra to Abu Simbel.?
A silly question.. ..Can we drink the water on the cruise or should we stick to bottled water there too?
Have a great day !

Yes - go to Abu Simbel. Although you'll see a lot of temples they are all unique in their own way. Our guide ask us if we minded if he rearranged our schedule based on his experience. We all agreed. We got up at 4:30 a.m and when we got to Abu Simbel at about 6:30 AM it was swealtering. I think timing is crucial to enjoy Egypt. To me it was very hot even in October -and I'm from the South!! When are you planning to go? I would definitely stick with bottle water - better safe than sorry!

Hi again,
We are planning to go in the beginning of May.I know it can be hot then but.. ..we come from Israel so we are used to this.(although we live in Germany now and its snowing all the time)
We have never done an escorted tour before .We always travel around alone and we like to decide what we want to do when WE want to do it.However I think that Egypt is better done in a group especially with a child.
Do you know how much it should cost to take a taxi from the airport to the city(although our hotel is near the Gizeh pyramids..so it will probably cost more.)
Have you ever travelled to Germany?
Bye for now

We took a private taxi from the airport to our motel, Sheraton Casino & Towers. It was between a 30 & 45 minute ride. We paid 120 pounds for the two of us - about $20. Then the next day we took a black and white all over town for a couple of dollars each. The private was nicer but I would have gone with the black & white had I known the difference. When they tell you a price that's tip and everything. If you have time on your own also go to the bazaar. It was pretty neat. Hope you have a wonderful time.

Thanks alot for all the useful tips!!!

I just came back from an Arts Boston tour of Egypt on Feb. 3. It was wonderful, but exhausting. What was said about the vendors is true. Don't make eye contact with them unless you want to buy. They will not leave you alone otherwise. Bring only American dollars. You can pay for everything with them. And be sure to bargain hard. I did a 7 day cruise down the Nile and the sights are amazing. Drink only bottled water - even for brushing your teeth. You can eat the salads on the cruise. Some people did get ill for a day or two. Our tour guide had medicine to fight the local bacteria and it worked well. The winter is the best time to go to avoid extreme heat. Actually, it was quite cool. I did pass up the trip to Abu Simbel and while I'm sure it was wonderful, it was expensive and another exhausting early morning flight.

I really appreciate all of these tips and comments.
Our tour is getting closer and we are excited but we just hope everything will be quiet and peaceful.. ..AND that no one gets ill!!
One question.. ..I understand it is important to have a lot of 1$ bills.Is it possible to ask for them at the exchange at the Cairo airport?

limar
i will be going on the tour in may maybe we are on the same tour

Hello,
Our trip to Egypt is approaching and I have some last minute questions.
1) Can we use our cellular phone from Germany everywhere in Egypt.
2) Someone told us that we should not bring our camera and/or video camera with us.What are your suggestions about that?
3) Is it possible to get small pound bills at the exchange at the airport?

I really do appreciate all the tips that I have been given.. ..and have a good day!

Sorry, I can't tell you anything about cell phone use but I can answer your other questions. You can convert money to Egyptian pounds in many locations. Most of the better hotels have exchange brokers as well as the airport. There are banks everywhere. They want our tourist dollars and make exchange as convenient for us as possible.

You asked earlier if Abu Simbal is worth the expense.. .. . absolutely!! I look on that as a high point of my trip.

What would a trip be without pictures to bring home? By all means, bring a camera. Be sure to pack all undeveloped film in your carry-on so it does not go through the large X-Ray machines at the airport. We didn't take a video camera simply because of the inconvenience of carrying it around.

It's a good idea to start on a broad-spectrum antibiotic a few days before departure & continue on it throughout the trip. My sister & I were among the few on our tour to avoid "Pharoh's Revenge" and I credit the antibiotic for that. We ate EVERYTHING but did drink only bottled water.

Have a wonderful time!!!