Egypt is a bizarre place. let's be honest here - however, the one thing that annoys me is the attitude towards travelling on your own mettal. You can do it -you might have to bargain, barter and negotiate, but it's half the price of the tours you often find. Pay no more than $500 per person, per tour. That should include Cairo to Abu Simbel. If anyone else wants info on how you can travel Egypt, contact me....
I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
David
Re: Egypt - wipe away the myth
Simply put, yes, anyone can travel anywhere they wish alone and if they do their homework, might get along just fine.
However, if you want to visit a new country, without unnecessary hassles..... if you want to spend your time enjoying the country and let someone else do the worrying, then a tour office is where you should start. Believe me, these people earn their money. Surely you don't expect them to do all this for you for free.
As I have said in other threads, I have travelled with I.T. and have travelled alone, once my destination was a very familiar place. BUT for those of you (the general public) who:
1) Wants a vacation they can fully enjoy;
2) Is traveling to a new country for the 1st (or 2nd) time;
3) Doesn't want to spend more than half their time arguing with someone whose 2nd or 3rd language is English/German/whatever,
4) Is a female or females.
5) Prefer to sleep in a safe environment.
6) Has regard for their social, physical or mental health.
... I STRONGLY recommend that you go with a group.
I.T. is known for conducting small, friendly groups and their rates are amazingly reasonable. They know the hotels which are safe, clean, and very reasonably priced, you won't. They know where it is safe to eat, you won't. They know how to handle money matters, deal with hotel management, waiters, merchants, tour guides, and you won't.
Alone, there are thousands of men who are earning their livings in Egypt by telling people they are "tour guides" when they are not. The entire population wants to either sell you something, take you somewhere or talk to you - all for a price. With a tour, you avoid most of these situations.
You made the statement that one should pay no more than $500 per tour. That is a pretty broad statement. Sure you can go for this amount, but the difference is all in the details. I travel often, and have found out that you get what you pay for. When you are going to be in a foreign country such as Egypt, your health and safety is worth "something."
BTW, please remember that this forum is provided by our host, Imaginative Traveller. You sound like an agent trying to solicit clients, which I find disrespectful for this company and forum. OR, you have gained considerable experience and knowledge since October 8, when you asked this group for advice on this very subject for which you now offer your expertise. Just my opinion.
[This message has been edited by Baraka (edited October 13, 2000).]
Re: Egypt - wipe away the myth
Hi David,
You hold no secret David as the web is littered with sites that supply the lowest cost hotels to the cheapest way to get from A to B in Egypt and beyond. Lonely planets forums are by far the most popular for backpacking around the world.
They provide a service which you and many others may find useful for your chosen style of travel.
We provide a service that has been proven to suit a particular type of traveller who has no interest in spending their days looking for the next hotel, finding a guide who can communicate etc etc. And, who want to travel with like minded individuals.
Don't berate others because they may only have two weeks vacation a year and want no hassles while visiting Third World countries. You do your thing and enjoy it.
Cheers
Marty
Re: Egypt - wipe away the myth
Hey Cushla, or David, or whoever you are,
Are you schizophrenic or what?
On October 8 you posted a question asking for tips on traveling to Egypt alone because you and your partner couldn't get onto a tour.
Then on October 13 you post again saying that tours are a rip off and it's easy to travel on your own and that anyone who wants to know how should contact you.
How'd you get to be the instant expert man? Have a vision or something?
Tom
Re: Egypt - wipe away the myth
This has reminded me of my first trip to Egypt. I went with a tour (pre-Imaginative Traveller) and loved it so much that myself and two friends, Nancy and Andrej, decided to stay on for several more days. We were staying in the Nile Sheraton, right on the banks of the river. It was a GREAT hotel, reasonable rates, huge rooms, super food and service, and there was a balcony overlooking the Nile river. It was wonderful.
Nancy had met some archeologist, who had told her about a hotel or two that some of them used, which were extremely inexpensive. We figured we could move to one of those, save some money and enjoy some "local flavor."
We checked out of our beautiful hotel, and our local friend, Essam, who by the way had made the arrangements for our five star tour, picked us up and delivered us to the "ho-tel." (read that word carefully).
With bags in hand, we walked into the sleeziest place I have ever been in my life. There was a tiny reception with a cubby hole as a front desk. There was a "red" sofa against the wall that was black with filth and badly frayed. That was all the seating.
We checked in and turned over our passports to a "woman of the night" behind the desk. A rather strange young man swished ahead of us, leading us to the elevator. There was only room enough for three people to squeeze into the elevator with no room for luggage. Nancy and I packed ourselves in this filthy little enclosure with him and eventually, with a jerk, it took off leaving Andrej waiting with the luggage.
The "bell boy" led us to a door that was cracked open, pushed it back to reveal our room. The room was not as filthy as the rest of the place, but it was not a place I would want to sleep. The beds looked like cardboard, the floors wavy... well, it was just not something I had ever seen before, and I am no prude.
The final straw for me was the bathroom. A bucket of water stood by the toilet with a dipper. This was how you were to flush the toilet. Beside the toilet was a gaping hole in the floor.
After we were left in our quarters, the bell boy went down to fetch Andrej and show him to his room. It was then that we discovered that the door was open because it wouldn't shut! There was a little rope so you could tie it to the wall, leaving only a small crack. At this point, my nerves were getting prickly over the prospects of actually spending a night, or any time at all here.
After Andrej arrived, we all got a good, nervous laugh over the place, and speculated on what might crawl out of the walls when the lights were out. I was horrified over the fact that Nancy and Andrej tried to be good sports and agreed that they would stay if we all agreed.
Be the time Essam had returned for a last load of our luggage (was ALL overpacked), I had decided, good sport or not, that I could NOT stay in that place.
We checked out and were refused refund of the few pounds that was the cost of the room. We returned to our "castle in the sky."
By night fall, I had come down with what is referred to as the "Egyptian flu," a common tourist ailment, accompanied by high fever, and the works. I can assure you that I contacted this by touching something in that hotel. There is no doubt in my mind about this, especially since I have learned how to avoid these problems.
I spent that last week, the one I was going to enjoy exploring with my two friends, in my "nice" hotel room, hot with fever, and unable to even go downstairs. I thanked GOD that I wasn't spending it in that roach hotel.
The hotel that Imaginative Traveller uses, the Selma, is an inexpensive small hotel. It is not at all fancy, but it is friendly, clean, comfortable and you feel very safe there. The doors not only close, but they lock as well. You can touch the walls and eat the food without getting sick. I loved my quaint room at the Selma, and the trips with them is amoung my most enjoyable. It cost me MUCH less that my "five star" tour, and is every bit as enjoyable.
We have a local tourist company who does economy tours to Egypt and the holylands, and you should hear the horror stories that come back regarding their hotels, etc.
I believe in sticking with a good thing, and dollar for dollar, you just can't beat these folks! And - NO, I don't work for them - I live in America, and I am in no way affiliated with the tourist business.
I love to travel and with planning I can develop free air mileage and make a trip at least once a year. I save money with I.T., meet fabulous people, and with I.T., I go with small groups (unlike most other companies). As I have said, I have ultimately made friends in that country, so I no longer always go with a tour. I have returned to Egypt about nine times now, and will probably go again. Egypt and the middle east are wonderful, adventurous, friendly countries which I recommend to everyone, but you must use good sense if you are to really enjoy your trip.