Anyone here been to Egypt?

JohnCleary

OK here's the situation. Myself and the GF (Both 21) are getting away on a holiday no matter what next year. We plan on going at the end of May for 2 weeks. We want heat, but to go somewhere different. Budget isin't TOO strict, but we're students so nothing OTT

My father mentioned Egypt, lots of things to see etc.

I scuba dive and would like to see some interesting things like the pyrimids, the GF doesn't mind where she is as long as she's near a beach and gets a good tan! We are going on a holiday, rather than travelling, so we want somewhere with stuff to do, but not be on the move 100% of the time!

IF anyone has any suggestions let me know! Thanks!

blue banana

It's been about 8 years since I was in Egypt. I'm sure if you wanted to travel independently there would be no problem doing it. But at the time we did a 2 centre holiday with Budget Travel, considering the standard of the hotels we stayed in, I thought it was so cheap. We were only out of college so didn't have a lot to spend.

We spent a week in Luxor which is a great base to get in lots of sites, valley of the Kings, valley of the Queens etc, we also did a day trip cruise on the Nile from there. We then spent 5 or 6 nights on the Red Sea, can't remember the name of the place, but beaches and scuba diving is what you do here, not much of the culture side of things around here from what I can remember. You will have to go to Cairo to see the Pyramids. Contrary to popular opinion, pyramids are not located all over Egypt. We spent a night or two in Cairo before flying home. Visited the Cairo museum and the Sphinx which is located near the Pyramids.

We were there in September and it has been the hottest weather I have ever expereinced in my life. It was about 40c. It was quite oppressive at times, especially visiteng the archaeological sites because of the amount of stone.

I hope this of some.

JohnCleary

Cheers blue. Was that a package, as in travel/accom in the different places done for you? Or did you do it yourself independently? I'm well capable of organising things and have done before, but I just want to lie back and enjoy this time!

Ludo

Spent a week there 8 years ago also. Loved it. It was a weeks cruise on the Nile. Started with two days in Cairo doing all the usual stuff and including a half day to wonder around ourselves...quite an experience!!!

Then off down the Nile on the boat as far as Aswan stopping at all the usual places. Excellent trip. No scuba diving though obviously as this is not what we were looking for. I would recommend it to anyone.

JohnCleary

Ludo, you're reading my mind (apart from the diving which im not all that bothered about)... I know it was 8 years ago, but was it expensive back then?

blue banana

JohnCleary wrote:

Cheers blue. Was that a package, as in travel/accom in the different places done for you? Or did you do it yourself independently? I'm well capable of organising things and have done before, but I just want to lie back and enjoy this time!

Yep, that was a package with Budget Travel (ie flights/ accomodation/ transfers were all included) but I think it would have been easy enough to do it independently.

Forgot to say, the biggest pain in the a** about Egypt is the hawkers, they'd try to sell you anything. I used to reply to them as Gaeilge and then they'd eventually leave me alone. Nightlife in Luxor at the time was pretty non-existent, eating out and drinking in the hotel bars was about it. But the Red Sea was better in this regard.

bleary

You can get cheap charter holidays/flights with a number of irish operators
For the best diving/beaches the sinai region is usually recommended
You can get a flight direct from dublin to sharm el sheikh
http://www.falconholidays.ie have some
Budget Travel flies to Luxor where you can cruise on the nile see valley of the kings etc.you could then bus it to hurghada 4+ hours and go diving there -I wasnt crazy on it huge resort with loads of dodgy mafia types .Very built up
Dahab in the sinai region is supposed to be lovely and much less hassle than the rest of Egypt
In sinai you can climb Mt sinai and take a few days to cairo to see the pyramids .
Dahab did have a bomb attack last year -Unfortunately I couldnt get there because of it but a lot of people have been since and enjoyed it.

Hopefully ill get to go again in the next few years and get to see it as its meant to be great
I flew from london for less than 200 euros and it was really cheap over there.

davidoco

I suggest you do not travel (holiday) with any of the travel operators to Egypt unless you have a very healthy budget and want to know what it's like to be a sheep for two weeks. My sister in law was over there in September on a package and it took them 8 hours to get her to the hotel which should have only taken 4 hours.

I went over in 2003 for three weeks. Booked flights from London to Cairo with British Airways - watch out for deals as I think our flights were GB£70 each way and we got an upgrade to World Trav on the way back.

Booked a hotel in Cairo (max $80 per night 4*) for the first three nights through an agency who picked me up from the airport for $20 - the guy met us at passport control and then went off to get our bags from baggage reclaim - nice.

Lots to see in Cairo. We then took the overnight train down to Aswan to chill out for two days (you could fly). Train back to Luxor (4 hours) - see the sights and get outta there (one night). Bus to Hurgarda (4 hours) and then a hydrofoil across the Red Sea to Sharm. Bus to Dahab (2 hours) and then the best 10 days of diving and good value ever. Accomodation $30 per night. Food max €15 for two.

Go for it

yadayada

I stayed in Luxor for a week about two years ago, really cool place to base yourself out of for the trips etc, maybe then second week you could go to one of the beach resorts? anyways it was 500euro each for the week..it would have only cost an extra 100 or so for the second week, would normally book things myself but as its egypt I would recommend going with a travel agent, Budget Travel are the cheapest.

blue banana

davidoco wrote:

I suggest you do not travel (holiday) with any of the travel operators to Egypt unless you have a very healthy budget and want to know what it's like to be a sheep for two weeks.

As it's been a long time since I was there things may have changed alot, but with Budget we got transfers. Apart from that any of the day trips we did, we went with local guys in Luxor etc, they were much more personal, a fraction of the cost of Budget Travel and they allowed us (with guidance to make up our own itinerary) which was great.

Even though it's been a long time since I've gone on a package holiday (the internet makes it so much easier to travel independently now) it's up to the individual how many of the day tours they want to take with the particular travel operator. With Budget Travel they were optional extras. It's up to the individual if they wanted to be hearded around like sheep for two weeks.

foxy06

Can anyone recommend a site with some information on Luxor. Parents are going in March and would like some info. Something with maps and sightseeing ect.
Thanks:)

daiixi

Depending wher eyou go you still can't easily travel on your own.