Luxor/Cairo, Egypt advice and recommendations?

[Psy-Blade]

Hey guys,

Well, I've been telling my gf we'd go on holiday last summer, then this summer and well, I finally had to stop buying pc components and book something to make up for the missed summer chances.

So I've just booked (last-minute-ish) a holiday to Luxor, Egypt . We'll be staying at the Sontesta St George (http://www.sonesta.com/luxor/) in Luxor, and planning a 1 day excursion trip to Cairo.

more to the point of this post : It'd be silly for me not to tap into the wealth of experience here and see if anyone has any suggestions for things to do and see in either location, as well as any tips on Egypt in general.

We're looking for a semi-lazy yet semi activity based holiday (read: drinking and quad biking in the sand).

Any comments welcome

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

Egypt is a nice place and the weather is hot bit not humid/sticky.

Be prepared to have belly cramp and the runs for the entire duration. I sure as hell did. When you get there go to a Pharmacy and get some tablets that are the Egyptian equivalent of Immodium.

I really wish I was making this up, but I am not. This is coming from someone who had never ever had the runs (as far back as I can remember myself).

Also watch out for tips - Every single person ever wants tips! The cabbage who put my bags onto the coach after landing in Egypt demanded £2! - I am talking taking it 2 metres then putting it onto the coach!

 

[Psy-Blade]

Be prepared to have belly cramp and the runs for the entire duration. I sure as hell did. !

Haha this is one of the first things that came up on google. I'm Indian and used to get this on trips to India when I was younger, not so much anymore. Hoping to avoid it but it looks like it is an inevitability for everyone that goes.

Hm thanks for the heads up about the tips, I might put aside some budget to take that into account. Obviously I'm not going to tip numptys who do nothing like in your example!

 

[Papa_Benjie]

I can second the belly problems . Made the mistake of having ice in a drink.

We did a cruise down the Nile but spent a couple of days in Luxor. I recommend seeing both temples if you are interested in a bit of history. Our tour guides were supplied in the holiday package though.
The museum is supposed to be good but we didn't get to see that.

A tip we found was to let the female handle the money. The Egyptians love to haggle, it seems to be a national sport to them and will try to sell you anything, but they aren't keen to do so with women.

Tipping is a bit thing out there, it seems that is how they make most of their money.

Last thing, have an English £10 note each when you land, they will want that for your visa.

 

[Pipe & Slippers]

Take a load of US dollars in singles 'cos you'll be dishing them out fairly regularly - it's not conventional tipping, it's making their salary up to a liveable wage. It's not just tourists that are expected to do it - locals (the richer ones anyway) are expected to as well

I assume the trip to Cairo will be the pyramids? The Egyptian Museum is worth it, but I don't know if you'd have time on a one day trip. We went inside the pyramid - not sure it was worth it (I'm a tight git though), but am glad we did since we won't be going back. If you do go in, leaving your camera outside is ok - it's not as dodgy as it looks

Dress appropriately, especially your gf, when you are not in the hotel compound or she'll attract unwanted attention ie. no bare shoulders and no hotpants/miniskirts....you'll see enough of those on the Russian women who look like they are touting for business. Most shocking of all, watch out for the Russian men....45+, overweight, speedos and camp sailors caps seem to be the uniform, along with high blood alcohol levels and vituperative comments to their young wives - you don't need to speak the lingo to understand - it's quite good entertainment actually

 

[Gilly]

1 day trip to Cairo for the lose

You'll spend the majority travelling and being miserable if the people we stayed with were anything to go by.

We did a 1.5 week Nile Cruise, 3 nights in Cairo and 7 nights to finish in Luxor. It cost but it was ace.

 

[a1ex2001]

1 day trip to Cairo for the lose

You'll spend the majority travelling and being miserable if the people we stayed with were anything to go by.

We did a 1.5 week Nile Cruise, 3 nights in Cairo and 7 nights to finish in Luxor. It cost but it was ace.

This, one day including travelling is not enough to do Cairo any justice you will be hot, stressed, tired and disapointed!


You should have planned better!

The number one cause of didgy tummy is the money, take some anti-bacterial gel and use it every time you touch any and before you eat anything avoid ice, salad and raw fruit. Don't touch the tap water except for washing and brush your teeth with bottled water. we managed 14 days with no ill effects.

 

[Gilly]

I had a bit of extra excitement during our stay. I was 15 years old and there with my parents. Entered the lift in the lobby on my own and pushed the button for our floor. Half way up the lift stopped and two massive guys in full Special Ops gear (inc. submachine guns) got into the lift with me, pressed the lift to go up another 3 flights and got out on that floor, making sure I was going past the two they were guarding. Some Saudi Sheikh had 3 floors of the Cairo Hilton booked out. Every time anyone got in the lift to go to or above those floors it stopped on the first, and the guards got into the lift and escorted them to a floor past the ones they were guarding.

I shudder to think how much that costs. Not just the hotel but the personal guard to watch 6 different lifts bi-directionally.