Holiday to Egypt?

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fisherman

The Nile cruise is very good i ve done this 3 times now I have been all inclusive for this and all your site seeing trips are included there extra trips available that the holiday company offer.
If its the sea sharm is very good

Wise Heart

I recommend you 5 Stars Nile cruise (7 nights) starting from Luxor. If you can visit Cairo you may need 2 or 3 days in Cairo and 1 day to Alexandria.
Welcome to Egypt

Ginny Jin

I would highly recommend the Taba region. You will have the opportunity to go on side trips to Jordan and Israel. There is a huge selection of hotels. My holiday was booked at the last minute and was very cheap (and I stayed in a 5 star hotel).

I've been to over 70 countries and have learned to shop around when I travel. Regarding people who say the locals pester you, what do you expect? It is part of being a tourist in many countries. They are usually friendly with it. Take them some gifts. People who complain are often the ones who want things to be exactly the same as when they are at home.

If you're planning on doing alot of sightseeing, then the half board option is better.

Duncan B

Sharm El Sheikh is great if you want a cheap All Inclusive Holiday with guaranteed sunshine. I went with my wife in June last year for Â£1100 for two weeks and didn't see a cloud. If you're a sun lover then this is great. The trips are relatively expensive if you wanna go to see the pyramids or the nile but if you just want to sun bathe and relax then this is ideal. It also saves you money coz you don't need to pay for a visa to go outside of Sharm. The sea is crystal clear and you can go on cheap boat trips and more often than not you'll have dolphins swimming around the boat. I would definately recommend All Inclusive coz you don't need to worry about carrying cash and the vast majority of AI hotels in Egypt do not accept Cash, you have to charge everything to your room. If you do wanna go out Naama Bay is close with loadsa shops but you'll get hassled by locals trying to get you into their shops and restaurants but then it's the same everywhere. Taxi's are cheap but some are death traps so be careful to get a decent cab and agree the price before you get in and make sure he knows where he's going.

manchester fan

I highly recommend that you book all your tours through a reputable agent from your hotel, go for an organized tour by an air conditioned bus, which will include a professionally trained tour guide for the full experience

1-If it is your first time in Cairo and you are interested in history and culture, you should book at least 3 hours for the Egyptian museum in Tahrir square, to enjoy many historical artifacts and statues from different eras including Tutâ€™s mask, and his golden furniture. While there Donâ€™t miss the jeweler rooms and mummy room which requires an extra ticket that you can buy once inside the museum.

Of course you should also visit the Pyramids area, sphinx and if you are lucky you can go inside one of the pyramids if it is open for public visits this year. There is also a very interesting open air sound and light show around the pyramids and sphinx that you should book in advance taking into consideration your language of choice which plays in different dates each week, so book early.

Reserve one day for the old Islamic/Coptic Cairo and Khan Elkhalily bazaar.( you will feel like you are in an Aladin movie)

Other options would include Saqqara pyramid and Harranieya Wessa Wasef village for handmade rugs and terra cotta vases. Also the pharonic village theme park where you sail in a boat to see a replica of an ancient Egyptian village.
If you are into shopping (like most women :-), I recommend the First Mall in Giza, CarreFour and City Stars or City Center in Nasr City.

For authentic Egyptian food, go for Felfella in down town (for Egyptian Falafel), and Andrea (BBQ chicken) in Haram, you can also eat excellent fish in Khresto in Haram, and Omda for Koshary in downtown, Abu Shakra (Kebab and Kofta). At night go for Abul Seed in Zamalek for a classy but expensive authentic food in a nice atmosphere.

You can also go for a traditional Felouka boat ride on the Nile before sunset, or take one of the 4 star air-conditioned boats on the Nile; Topaz, Nile Pharao comes to mind. (some of those boats are also in front of First Mall.

If you are into music you can check the Opera house for open air Jazz concerts or cultural shows in the big theater.

2- Luxor has some incredible temples, as Karnakâ€™s. then, going through the Nileâ€™s road, there are some interesting other temples. There is one of an ancient queen Hatshepsut, that is very inetresting because it was then censored because they didnâ€™t want it to be known that women could actually govern. There is Kom Ombo, the Temple of the crocodile god, very well conserved in the middle of a desrted land, which is quite impressive. One of my favorite places is Assuan, because at this point, the Nile becomes very large, like a big lake, with many beautiful islands, including one dedicated to a botanic garden. Near Assuan you also should visit the nubian village, which is something very different from the rest, because you meet the people living there and they are very nice . And well, if you take the plane from this point, you can also visit the reconstructed temple of Abu Simbel
3-Egypt is great all year round if you go to the Red Sea. There is a lovely sea breeze in the summer so its nowhere near as hot as inland. Definately donâ€™t miss swimming with wild dolphins at Marsa Alam on the south Red Sea coast

3- if you wanna go near the med sea go to Alexandria, or Al-Sahel AlShamali. if you stay there alone you will never get bored and never forget ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY

as for the hotels:
the best in cairo are :

MIRAGE CITY ( 7 stars)
SHERATON HELIOPOLIS( 5stars)
OBEROI MENA HOUSE ( 5 stars)
PYRAMIS SUITE HOTEL ( 5 stars)

turkmermaid

October is a great time to visit Egypt but it is a high season. I am there now and maybe there then. contact me and I can help you a lot I guess.

so many options if you wanna learn about the History ? or Enjoy Sea sports ? or Desert Safari ? so many options you have, and you have time to do a good plan..... but I would not recommend last minute booking at all.

stylishbabe

I booked 1 week in advance - stayed in Hyatt hotel in Taba - think it was 4 or 5 star, half board - absolutely excellent. Would thoroughly recommend it! So cheap too!

TheAnonyte

no idea. i'm sure you won't miss the weather, or the buildings & all that. All I wanna say is don't miss the food. Find a few restaurants and find the markets too.

simonjohnlaw

luxor

fieldmouse

do a few days on the beaches (I think at either Shark's Bay or nama bay you can see tropical fish just by walking out to sea and snorkelling which saves all the faff of driving off to a boat and sailing out on the boat to see some fish) and a few days looking at the pyramids and temples - particularly round Luxor which makes a good base for ancient sites.

Near to Luxor the masive temple complex of Karnak is pretty good, both in daytime and for the son et lumiere (sound and light) show at night-time.

St Katherine's monastry (1,600 year old biblical site of the burning bush in the Sinai desert) is worth seeing as a day trip from Shark's bay/Nama bay area, but I would pass on the rest of the day trips from there.

You can sit on a beach anywhere, but the ancient monuments in Egypt are out of this world. Go to Luxor if nowhere else.

Just read the other posts - yeah the valley of the kings near Luxor is incredible. Five thousand years old, underground tombs with long, wide, spacious, gently sloping corridors covered in pastel-painted carvings. Yes - five thousand years old. Mindblowing.

curly wurly

The best resorts is Sham El sheik on the red sea go fully inclusive , the exchange rate at the moment for Egyptian Pounds is 11 Egyptian pounds to 1 pound sterling , prices vary but in October the prices are better they will have excursions to Cairo , Luxor and probably a cruise down the Nile it is an experience you will never forget definitely go to Cairo its like no other city. I have been there three times. have fun enjoy

Maid Angela

We have been there three times and we think it is great. Our first Nile Cruise was one of the best holidays we had ever had. The kids like ball point pens and the last time we took a box full and gave them to the kids in the street

kawaiisuzakuwarrior

I know of people who have been there, done that. They recommend taking the Nile Cruise. You'll get a real taste of Egyptian night life - if you go at night. =)

As for the specifics [prices, etc.] I suggest you check out your local travel agency. ^__^ Have fun~! ^_^

laylafletcher

Sharm el shiek I think its spelt or any red sea resorts

**tracey**

Cairo - pyramids
Luxor - Valley of kings/Luxor temple
Hurgharda - Red sea (beach)
I visited Egypt about 14 years ago - lovely place
enjoy!!!!

TAN

Go for a nile cruise with excursions incuded and 100% go all inclusive, it will pay for its self. Last minute fares are not always the cheapest.

The Real Mrs Incredible

I went all inclusive last year to the Sinai penninsula..and I def would NEVER do it again.

You have to be really careful. The resort was ok but the food was absolutely awful. we ended up eating out (which turned out to be very cheap) for most of the holiday and me and the kids were very sick. The alcohol at the resort may have been free but it was absolutely vile - tho we did drink it lol!

I am not berating all of egypt or all all inclusives, but be careful. We were told by the tour guides and 'locals' that the sinai penninsula was not considered egypt at all and they there wouldnt be anythign there if it wasnt for the tourists....

The reefs and snorklign was fab...the best bit of the holiday, but you can see the degredation that is goin on because of tourism and its really sad.

The other thing to remember is that you must be careful when you go not to go into shops on your own...a friend of mine went in with her husband and they wouldnt let them out til they had bought a Â£50 painting! You will get offered gifts left right and centre, just watch yourself and if you do go into the shop be firm and friendly.

Next time I go I am creating m y own holiday and am def not getting full board or all inclusive and I wont be going the tour operator that we went with.

Shop around and listen to different options, cheaper is not always better especially if you end up out of pocket and with food poisioning!!!

Best of luck

gorgeousfluffpot

depends on what you want really, culture or seaside. How about trying a fortnight's 2-centre holiday, starting off in Luxor where the tombs are. The tombs are far more interesting than the pyramids, which are mostly in Cairo and, once you have seen one, they're a bit all the same. The Valley of the Kings, however, in Luxor is quite amazing and really worth a visit. There you can take a one-day cruise down the Nile, or go for a few days and get your fix of culture. Then head off down to the Red Sea - Sharm El Sheikh is the most popular although some of the hotels and the beaches are very crowded and a bit tatty - further up the coast, north of Sharm, are some very exclusive hotels like the Hyatt Regency which sounds posh but has some very good prices and excellent pools, and has a diving and snorkelling reef right on its beach. If clear water and snorkelling/scuba are your thing then that's a great place to stay. Perhaps on the return you could fly back to Cairo and stay over one night, just to see the Pyramids if you really want, although the rest of Cairo is rather dusty and smelly and the Egyptian Museum - whilst holding some fabulous treasures - is rather dusty and disorganised and badly lit.
I wouldn't go all inclusive, since this normally means breakfast, morning cake, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner plus most soft drinks. Realistically you can go half board and do as I did, stuff yourself at breakfast and sneak a few rolls off the buffet, and that will tide you over until the evening meal. Drink only bottled water, and know that if you buy it from the hotel then it will be expensive but there are often supermarkets, within walking distance of the hotels, that sell bottled water for a fraction of the hotel's price. Fruit should be washed in bottled water before eating, or buy fruit that you have to peel like oranges and bananas. Never eat watermelon unless it's from the hotel, as vendors often inject river water into the watermelon to bump up its weight for sale. If you're buying from a street vendor then oranges and bananas only.
Oh, and you will get hassled for small change - it's the way of life in Egypt, 'baksheesh' they call it. Everyone who opens a door or hands you a sheet of loo paper will hold out their hand for a coin and children will run after you in the street - that's the Egyptian way. Take out a handful of those cheap plastic Lottery or betting shop or Argos biros in your luggage and hand them out to the kids, or buy a bag of boiled wrapped sweets and give those out. For the adults, just carry lots of vlery small change and insist the hotel or bureau de change gives you very small change when you change up your money.
Anyway, hope I haven't put you off. Egypt is a fascinating country but if you're away from the hotel then carry some loo paper or loo wipes and remember about the food hygiene if you're not in a hotel. But most of all, enjoy it, you're bound to make some lovely memories for the future!

jimbob

Don't know, never been, never wanted to go. A friend of mine went on a cruise up the Nile last month, and he said it was very hot, in the 80's. He been about 8 times, he loves it!

lady of oxford moved!

Hurghada, Sea Gull Hotel is good (five stars).

Better choose all inclusive option, it's, well, safer if you eat in the hotel than somewhere outside.

I suppose it's better if you book as soon as possible, prices will raise...
you can always find a fitting 'last minute', though.

Oh, and if you want to go sightseeing (Cairo, Giza, Luxor) choose Hurghada: it's closer to all the attractions than Sharm el Sheikh.

glittershelly

i went to egypt 2 years ago for christmas, and we stayed in ahotel in cairo, but we were out of the city centre, as its really noisy and really busy, we went round the pyramids on christmas day on horseback, be aware, th elolacs will try to get as much money out of you as they can, we ended up spending a fortune on giving tips, and they do not take no for an answer, we thought they were just helping us, then they would put there hand out for money. try and get a travel guide with a reputable company through the estate agents, otherwise they will take you to places where you have to spend money.

we went on the sleeping train overnight and went to visit luxor, the weather was so much warmer and far more quiet, yet still great sites, the people were friendlier, so in all i reccommend you stay in luxor, and if you want to visit cairo you can to see the pyramids and the sound and light show.

if you are a fussy eater like i was, then there really isnt any hope, but if you dont mind really what you eat, then you can eat the local food.

also when you go to your travel agent, make sure you get the highest starred hotel, because what they class over there as a fout star hotel, id like a one star here, so make sure you check out the local hotels on a place called tripadvisor, that way you can get reviews from people who have stayed there.

in all it wasnt a bad holiday, but i am very picky naturally, so my byf enjoyed it more than i did, its great just to see the sites, everything else wasnt that good, hope you have a good time wherever you go. x!x

stockholmsyndrome

Sharm el Sheikh is best. Although you can get good deals last minute, i prefer to book as early as poss as you can get great 'early booking' discounts

JENNIFER B

just been on a Nile cruise, was a wonderful experience. it was all inclusive which makes everything so easy, just get your self a drink when you like, whether it's alchol or tea's & coffee's. Luxor is an eye open, full of big hotels, and plenty of history. valley of the kings, luxor temple and many more sights all well worth seeing.

PAULA K

Having always dreamed of travelling to Egypt I finally got my wish last August. We left it to the last minute and got a bargain for a 4 star hotel - flights are always pricey though.

I travelled with my family to Luxor and did all the usual sights - just ignore anything you read about terroism and tourist attacks - as the majority of Egypt's economy is Tourism - every monument we visited had it's own secutiry and you feel totally safe.

The only downside was being hassled as soon as you step out of your hotel by vendors - our guide told us how to say 'No thank you' in Egyptian and that totally throws them - works perfect.

The beach resorts like Sharm el Sheikh are good for relaxing and diving - but if you get bored easily - that would not be for you.

With regards to Half Board against all inclusive - I think Half Board is better as the hotel's food can get a bit boring - we found Macdonalds and Pizza Hut in Luxor for a very cheap lunch - loads cheaper than here! All inclusive is good for the free drinks - especially bottled water if you go when it's very hot.

I'm going to do Cairo next - nothing in Luxor has deterred me from travelling again.

Vulture38

Sharm is not the real Egypt. Its a bit like Blackpool. Tacky.

And get some antibacterial tablets for your stomach before you go.

All inclusive is good, but beware of the spirits they are all very low grade. Check out your hotel restaurant thoroughly.

Clint

still rather dangerous-check foreign office latest warnings

me again

if you do go. go with these people we went with a big tour company, when we got back home i saw a program on egypt
and we had not seen half the stuff on it, so we had to make a big decision whether to go back after all the hassle we had on our first trip.the company we went with was myegypt and the things we saw and did with them was out of this world a real holiday of a lifetime, nile cruise the oasis, see for yourself on the website, and all was in one payment on the first day.
it was half of what we paid thomsons by the time you see the sites and pay for tours here and there it gets very expensive.

ksn_2003

If you are looking for a new place to see and you are interested in history its a beautiful place to go to!! u will see some amazing sights , however the things which made me really down was that hotels ,restuarants etc weren't as hygenic as i was expecting them to be !!! otherwise I really recommend you to go there

angelinyourdreams99_us

i say sharm el sheikh, as far as i know its the best resort to go to in egypt. taba is far too quiet. i went there last year sharm i mean, we went bed and breakfast, i would go all inclusive though saying that i found egypt quite cheap

greatmambo

this is an answer from some one who travelled all over egypt.

every city in egypt has its own manner and a way of living and all are different in history and ppl living now and their culture.
you can make a trip for 15 days or more and to visit as much places as you can.

that you cant be in egypt without being in the bussiest city in Africa and the middle east" Cairo" and see how that city never sleeps, "Alexandria" the mermaid of the mideterainean and the city built by Alexander the great and the how the new city is with its fantastic climate, also upper Egypt "luxur" the city that contains one third of the world monuments that every where there are monuments even in streets, "the red sea" where you will sea things never seen before enjoy corals and dolphines swimming beside you and many more cities you can be in if you have time

but remember: that Egypt is one of the very attractive destinations in the world, i would say that you may think that you dont want get back to your country, enjoy your time here and dont forget your own camera

yours,Mahmoud
if you need any help here in egypt you can call me
(002)0120830688 i offer you and your boy friend a free help for anything here in my country

elsie1912

I went to Sharm el Sheik in November. It was the most relaxing holiday I've ever had. The old town is the quiet area, old shops with one larger modern shopping mall. Beautiful gifts and I have never met such friendly people. Yes they do come up to you and ask you into have a look at their shops, but that is their culture and if you say a polite no then then accept that.
If you do go into a shop, they are the most helpful and kind people. If you are offered a "karkaday" tea from them, accept it. it is made from the hibiscus plant and can be drunk hot or cold...its lovely. the goods are cheap and gift shops wel stocked.
we went all inclusive for Â£532 for two weeks, and going back to the same hotel this year as they were so friendly. I went on a day trip on the "Almira" boat. we went snorkeling and had as much to drink as we wanted then a two course buffet. we dived twice and you wouldnt believe the fish out there....its like swimming with Nemo. we played ball on a sand bank that was six feet by 40 feet. like a wee desert island minus the tree.
If you are into upperclass hotels then book at Namma Bay which is just a ten minute taxi ride from sharm . they have a huge shopping centre and most of the bars and clubs.
we chose Sharm as it is quiet but just a hop away from the night life.
there are trips to Bedoin camps. they let you on a camel and feed you in their tent....this is a bus tour.......you stay there till dark and then star gaze....its amazing....the tour doesnt start till 3pm
there are also submarines, hot air balloons and scuba diving.....im trying it this year.
i also have never had my room cleaned as well as i did by the ~Egyptian man who did ours......we even came home one day and found a towel folded into the shape of a swan and petals on the bed.
and of course the weather is hot...and thats in november. i dont think i could go in the summer as it would be too hot.
dont buy your holiday out of a brochure...go to the travel agent and ask them to find a holiday for your specifications. its cheaper that way

have a great time where ever you go

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