Anyone been to Egypt?

We're thinking of going this summer, but I don't know much about it.

I need some direction!

No, but my co-worker is going at the end of the month for 2 weeks. I'm so jealous!

Hi, I'm not at all helpful.

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Posted by TwoBugs

Hi, I'm not at all helpful.

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Posted by TwoBugs

Hi, I'm not at all helpful.

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That's okay THanks!

I personally have not... (though I'm dying to!)
We recently were talking to friends of the family who have gone, and they went while on a cruise. The ship docked right near the pyramids. They raved about they didn't have to stay in an 'unknown' place and they liked the comfort of the ship.
DH and I talked about how we wanted to do the same. We'd feel more comfortable on a cruise ship... knowing the food was safe and all.

My in- laws went a few years ago.
They also did the cruise thing. They stayed in a hotel first (cairo maybe?)
They reccomend booking through a travel agent & booking a tour, don't just book a flight & wander around.

They were escorted by armed security guards at all times, but they said the local people were really nice & it was really hot.
My MIL had to stay on the boat 1 day, due to heat exhaustion.

ETA: they went in April. They were going to go in the summer, so DH could go with them ( he was in grad school at the time) but the tour they booked didnt' go in the summer, due to the extreme heat.

Oh! Oh! One of my roommates in grad school spent 2 years teaching English there! Duh!

The only thing I remember about her experience is the day she went for a walk in town. She passed the local market, where weeks before she had ordered an Egypt-voltage iron b/c she brought her American one, which did no good. As she was walking by, the owner of the store shouted 'You refrigerator! You refrigerator!' at her, and chased her down the block. Poor thing was SO terrified by what appeared to be an anti-American hostile hurling derogatory remarks about her weight.

Turns out he wanted to tell her that her iron had come in, but he didn't know the English word for any appliance other than refrigerator.

...And again I'm back to being not very helpful.

My BIL took his family and went to Egypt. He said he didn't worry because he isn't American (well, he became a citizen, but was born and raised in Poland and lives in Slovakia now)

I think his kids enjoyed it.

DH's (now mine, I guess) nephew is 5 years old and has been to 8 different countries...nice life...

Twobugs, can you please continue to be unhelpful....the stories are fantatsic!!

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Posted by TwoBugs

Oh! Oh! One of my roommates in grad school spent 2 years teaching English there! Duh!

The only thing I remember about her experience is the day she went for a walk in town. She passed the local market, where weeks before she had ordered an Egypt-voltage iron b/c she brought her American one, which did no good. As she was walking by, the owner of the store shouted 'You refrigerator! You refrigerator!' at her, and chased her down the block. Poor thing was SO terrified by what appeared to be an anti-American hostile hurling derogatory remarks about her weight.

Turns out he wanted to tell her that her iron had come in, but he didn't know the English word for any appliance other than refrigerator.

...And again I'm back to being not very helpful.

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My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I went in July 2001. It was amazing! In the summertime, it is considered low season. It was definitely hot but you get used to it and you avoid being out in mid day. You will need to book your tour with travel agents - we worked directly with travel agents in Egypt - I think my husband found them over the internet. We had our own personal guide during our stay in Cairo who took us to all the sites and explained all the history to us.

We stayed at the famous Mena House in Giza by the Pyramids:


We also took the boat cruise on the Nile River. Because it was low season the boat was like 1/4 full and we shared one guide with one other family. You would sail and stop at various cities along the way to visit historical sites. Here's the Luxor Temple:



Here's picture inside the Tomb of Rames III:



At the last leg of our 2 1/2 week trip, we also visited the beach resort of Sharm El Sheik by the Red Sea. Here's a picture from our hotel:



If you have the opportunity to go, do it. If you have particular questions, feel free to ask.