Egypt

personaltrainer

Hi all,

Going to Egypt in three weeks with my boyfriend stayin in Sharm el Sheikh. Can anyone give me any information at all....money wise (where do we get it?, do ATM cards work) places to go, things to bring....

Cheers

Meathlass

Your bank cards and credit cards should work no problem but check with your bank that they will. It will be very hot over there, plenty of sunscreen (maybe cheaper to buy over there, can't remember, sorry). How long are you going for? Are you based in Sharm the whole time with accomodation already paid for? I recommend going to St. Katherine's and climbing Mt. Sinai but it might be too hot this time of year for that. Plenty of scuba diving and snorkling options in Sharm. I'm sure hotels all do the Beduoin thing as well. The thing is that Sharm is very much a purpose built tourist resort, you can probably stay in your hotel by the pool and not realise you're in Egypt. If you're there for long enough I recommend really trying to go to Cairo and/or Luxor. You'll probably be stuck with a guide though and they are very long day trips (Luxor probably be overnight)

What are you into? Is it a sun holiday you want, just some rest and relaxation? Do you want to see some archaeological sites?

personaltrainer

We are staying in the Radisson (any opinion on what its like??) and just for the one week, we want to book a day trip to Cairo by plane but cannot seem to find a good reliable website to do it!! we will be snorkelling scuba diving and we want to go to cleopark as well as a few days of just lying in the sun....

RxQueen

personaltrainer wrote: »

We are staying in the Radisson (any opinion on what its like??) and just for the one week, we want to book a day trip to Cairo by plane but cannot seem to find a good reliable website to do it!! we will be snorkelling scuba diving and we want to go to cleopark as well as a few days of just lying in the sun....

had very good reports on the Radisson, the Cairo trip you can book that when your over there via your rep, if its a package holiday, its around 150 - 180 euro.

personaltrainer

Cheers emo....just not keen on giving my credit card details through an e-mail like all the sites seem to want !! Also not keen on bringing a huge amount of money so hope pass machines take AIB debit card..

Meathlass

personaltrainer wrote: »

We are staying in the Radisson (any opinion on what its like??) and just for the one week, we want to book a day trip to Cairo by plane but cannot seem to find a good reliable website to do it!! we will be snorkelling scuba diving and we want to go to cleopark as well as a few days of just lying in the sun....

As Emo said you can book Cairo trip over there. Just out of interest what's 'cleopark', haven't heard of it. I didn't go to Sharm though ... couldn't afford it at the time

tea

I find it best to book internal flights on Egyptair.com as they're usually insanely cheap (like, about EUR25 each way Sharm to Cairo), and if you try to book through an agent there they'll usually make up reasons to charge you at least twice that for the same ticket 'Courier charges' to collect the ticket etc.), although at an egyptair office you'll usually get a good deal, even booking same day.

Usually need to book online a few days in advance - got caught with that last time and had to pay the ripoff agent charge for one of my flights.

Myself, I'd be inclined to 'roll my own' Cairo trip. It probably won't be any cheaper, but it's a great city to hang out for a day. Hire a taxi for the day (make sure he speaks great english) at the airport for about 200 Egypt pounds and go see Giza, the museum and whatever else you want. He should even take you somewhere interesting for lunch (that will pay him commission..). Bit hit and miss finding good drivers, but it'll be an adventure . Just don't let him take you anywhere you don't want to go (camel rides, alabaster 'museums' etc.)

Edit: Actually, if they're charging 150 Euro per person for a package deal, it will be drastically cheaper to do it yourself, in addition to being far more fun.

personaltrainer

its a water park with slides and stuff.....gotta let the kid inside me out:D

Meathlass

personaltrainer wrote: »

its a water park with slides and stuff.....gotta let the kid inside me out:D

Thanks, will have to go there next time!

Lil' Smiler

Check out this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055266104

a couple from boards were there a while ago and did a review of it