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Egypt

  • 09-02-2005 1:35am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭


    Always been a dream to see it,

    budget travel its for 750 each all in for 2 weeks in aug,

    question is, how safe is it at the moment?

    anyone been lately?


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭full forward


    Smithers wrote:
    Always been a dream to see it,

    budget travel its for 750 each all in for 2 weeks in aug,

    question is, how safe is it at the moment?

    anyone been lately?


    I was there for 15 days in 2002 less than a year after September 11. Travelled with Explore worldwide. It was a unique experience. Cairo is not a pleasant place so don’t spend any more time then necessary there.

    Explore

    Some sections around middle Egypt required an armed guard. In a town called El Fayyum we had about 20 cops with guns around us. The cops stand guard all night outside our hotel. We eventually convinced them to let us go for a walk so we could say hello to some locals. We found them friendly and welcoming. There was only 11 people in our group. Almost everybody got the diarrhoea except me for some reason.

    Highlights
    Hot air balloon over Valley of the Queens / Kings
    Donkey trek to Valley of the Kings.
    Abu Simbal.
    Nile Cruise very relaxing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,645 ✭✭✭Shrimp


    Definatly go, my dad and brother where there 2 weels age.. The said it was the best holiday of their lives..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    we would be staying in luxor, anyone got experiences of it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭davidoco


    Firstly Egypt is great and I'd go back in a flash.

    Secondly the sights in Luxor and one of the things you must see before you DIE.

    I found Luxor a nightmare compared to the rest of Egypt. It's the hassle factor. Everywhere you go in Egypt there is somebody offering you something and it can be trying at times but it sometimes is part of the fun.

    But Luxor beats them all in the hassle stakes. They have the Valley of the Kings, the Nile, Karnack, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and about a dozen more sites worth seeing. Three days is loads really. I stayed for a few nights in the Mercure and once you step outside the gates it's grief with the touts all the way. The authorities are even in on it, for example, to visit the Valley of the Kings you have to pass through a smaller valley with a carpark and a market filled with people selling tack. The carpark leads to the entrance but you have to backtrack to the start of the carpark and walk the 500 yards through the market. You will be accosted 495 of these yards by guys looking to sell you something. Then they have these little carriages to bring you to the Valley proper. You pay your money and jump on but the joke is that it is only around the bend literally 500 yards away but you can’t see that from where everyone gets on the carriages.

    I see you are thinking of booking all in which will more than likely be outside the town somewhere in a resort. Leave the place for a couple of days in the middle of the two weeks and head down independently to Aswan on the train (4 euro each for the 4 hour trip) – it’s really beautiful and peaceful and they understand when you say La (No!).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 443 ✭✭DBK


    Yeah, I've been there. Actually flew out the day after the twin towers plane crashes. I remember the pilot coming on the intercom to tell you the usual stuff about how high we are flying and speed and crap, then coming out with "and don't worry, we've sacked all the Egyptian pilots that fly into buildings" no $hit.

    But as a holiday, man, it was amazing. I'd go back there in a flash. I stayed in Luxor for nearly two weeks in the Winter palace hotel. Amazing and the people and stuff are really helpful. The only thing that pissed me off on the first day was those bloody "calesh" or however it's spelled. Man, they hound you if you say no or anything to them. We learned to just say nothing, don't even look at them and never got any hassle again. My girlfriend is blonde and they kept asking "how many camels would you except for her?" haha...Got a couple of million, but the deal fell thru. :( If you get a chance, the hotel can arrange a flight to Cairo to see the Pyramids. Do it big time. I'll say it again, amazing.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    thanks for the advice folks, whats it like price wise?

    click me

    thinking of staying here, and using it as a base to do trips, other days just relax by the pool,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 443 ✭✭DBK


    Don't really know where that place is. It looks nice though. If you have to get anywhere, the taxis are cheap (remember to haggle) and they'll also pick you up at whatever time you say. They also won't take money from you until they pick you up later. Very trusting.

    Oh, and the price of things over there is very cheap. Again remember to haggle. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭davidoco


    The Movenpick is on an Island so the hotel really have you by the balls when it comes to spending your money ie you'll spend it all in their hotel. The prices shouldn't be too inflated but you never know. Then you gotta take the boat back to the town which makes you a sitting duck for the hard sell.

    Despite this I would still go, Hotels like this can be really good value and the service will be exceptional.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,136 ✭✭✭Superman


    yeah i'd say you should go, i was there about a fortnight ago and it was really great, august is anok time of the year , slighly cooler than june/july.
    don't buy stuff in hotelsa you'll just end up paying irish prices while round the corner you will pay local prioces which are low.
    Always haggle, always suggest less than half the quoted price and you'll be fine.
    check out http://www.destinations.ie/ small broker but good value and itnery.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,609 ✭✭✭comet


    a very safe country, with cities much safer than any city in a western country, I highly recommend a visit. Oh yeah and its dirt cheap too :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    deffo going this year! booking in 2 weeks,

    is it expensive for food, trips ect?

    thinking of the sonesta hotel


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    im heading tomorrow, 2 days in cairo 3 in luxor then a week in sharm el sheik...anyone know what the dress code is like? especially for my girlfriend no body can seem to answer do we need to cover up or whats the traidtion:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    wll u post back and let me know prices ect?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    Ill try to when i get back ive a bad memory though!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    well dont!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    lol ill try not, drop me a email in 2 weeks if you want to remind me redjohno@eircom.net ....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    will do mate, enjoy ursmelf!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    are ya back Jonnno?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    Hello yes managed to getback alive :)
    Luxor was good some good sites where are you staying and for how long? its safe enough to walk the streets but you get hastled by everyone to come into there shops and but this buy that so we only went the once:)

    make sure youve plenty of activites booked and youll be fine. People are over friendly weather is just nice bit of a chill at night...if you want to know anything gimme a shout...i was there for 3 days and that was plenty!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    2 weeks mate, may as wel be there then spain!


    staying in a hotel beside the nile

    was beer and food and trips expensive?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    2 weeks is a long time bring a good book and a mp3 player and find out what you can do theres lots of activites just trying to find out what is the hard bit!

    Beer is prity much the same price as here food is cheaper alright but youll need a few hundred for 2 weeks food and drink and trips. Bring a grand worth you wont spend it all but you wont wanna get caught broke:)

    Which hotel was it I noticed most of them and mine was beside the nile too nice sun rise and sun down...tried to attach a pic but it wont work


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    thinking about here mate, erad alot of reviews and all were very positive,
    http://content.budgettravel.ie/html/browse/accom.php?r=EGLU40
    was there alot of tipping? howlong as the flight?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    that looks nice dont remember seeing it!

    Ye lots of tipping everyone trying to do something for u to get a tip. The rule is you tip anyone that does anything for you even room service you should leave a tip. 10egyptian is enough for any tip so make sure you have change:) there is bank in every hotel so they can break your notes (youll probably get lots of hundreds)

    Flight is ok I went to amsterdam then to cairo on day one about 5 hours from amsterdam to cairo its ok...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭Smithers


    sweet chaos, cheers for the info , appreciate it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭Chaos


    no worries id suggest no more than 5 days in luxor and perhaps head down to sharm el sheik for a week...I can recoment the hyatt :)


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