We have a friend who has been to Egypt 2 or 3 times and she suggested either of these two trips:
Beyond the Pyramids
or
Nile Valley & Red Sea
It looks like with the first you travel in feluccas for 2 days, whereas with the 2nd you travel on a cruise boat for 4. She said with the 2nd trip you spend a lot of time just travelling whereas with teh first you have more free time. She also said that Dahab is a city I must visit, which is only in the first.
There are many more comparisons. The first trip doesn't include entry fees, and you stay in simple hotels. The 2nd includes entry fees, and you stay in tourist hotels.
Can anyone offer advice on which to take? They are 15 and 16 day trips. I would like to know which is preferred: cruise or felucca, and if there is a major difference between simple and tourist hotels.
Any thoughts?
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Are you set on choosing only from those 2?
I chose [url=http://www.imaginative-traveller.com/tours/itineraries/itin.php?code=ETJW08&lid=ETJW08&lpos=moreinfo-link&PHPSESSID=960fa8bcb4c90614cae4f5f90e4a5f65]Jewels of Egypt[/url] and when I booked, my travel agent said she gets a lot of bookings for that one and that everyone loves it.
When are you planning on going?
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
No we're not set on just those two, those are just the ones she suggested.
We'd like to start the tour on September 27th or 28th. We only have until October 13th - have to be back to work on the 14th.
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I did Beyond the Pyramids as a first trip and enjoyed it on the whole, but can't offer any advice for comparison purposes really as I haven't done any other tours and I probably wouldn't do Egypt again (I loved it and saw some amazing things, but don't think that the 'wow' factor would ever be the same as the first time....)
BTW, Dahab isn't a city it's a small beach resort. It was nice and the snorkelling was superb but otherwise it wasn't the best part of the trip in my opinion.
The budget (adventurer) hotels were one of the real downsides, esp in Dahab where the hotel was rank, there was no water pressure in the shower and we didn't get towels until 6pm on the second day!
I probably wouldn't use Imtrav again, TBH, because I thought the hotels really let them down, but on any tour I would check first that the hotels were going to be vaguely decent. I don't really see the point in staying in a rubbish hotel in the kind of country like Egypt where 1 or 2 GBP would buy something more decent!
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I chose Jewels of Egypt as it had everything I wanted to do generally but it also included Alexandria. Being a book loving nut I have to go to the place where the legendary Alexandria Library once was. I also chose Jewels of Egypt because of all the rave reviews on the forum regarding the tour. Read through the forum on all the different trips and you'll be able to choose the one that's right for you.
It's all about personal choice, if you like doing snorkelling etc, try to focus on the trips that have time in places like Dahab but if you are interested in the more cultural/" behind the scenes" type tourism then there are plenty of options.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
The best way to not leave the tour disappointed is to go into it with an open-mind, happy and adventurous mindframe.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I just have to say something in regards to GinFizzy's comments - PLEASE remember that Egypt is a [b]developing country[/b]... you cannot/shouldn't expect hotels to be perfect - just remember how much you would pay for the equivalent accomodation in your home country...
Sure you're going to get some uncomfortable beds, water systems that don't work - but hotel staff are always willing to help with what they can..
I honestly feel that Im Trav use the best hotels for the money you pay and availability, and I've been in 15+ hotels in Egypt
You go to Egypt for the experience the worst thing you could do is let accomodation spoil that!
Like K8T_C said.. you need to keep an open mind and heart when you visit Egypt.
And I would suggest you have a look at Jewels of Egypt also... Dahab has got nice snorkelling, but that's about it..
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Hi
I'd agree with the last post, also would add that when I was on an Imaginative tour in Egypt and had a problem in my hotel (leaky toilet cistern) I told the tour leader and they just sorted it out on the spot and moved me to another room which was totally fine. I found it was always best to say something so they could solve the problem instead of moaning about it later (like some people did!). It meant anything I was worried about was just sorted out, and I could just relax and enjoy myself!
You have to take Egypt as it is - a developing country as Loza says, and you will enjoy the experience more than if you continually compare it to other places you've been to. I don't know about others, but after my first visit to Egypt I knew I would go back - and have done so a couple of times since.
I've also been with Imaginative on another tour to Africa and it was AMAZING. Just hard to decide where next....
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Thank you all!
Don't get me wrong - I realize that the trips aren't going to have glamorous hotels - I'm fine with that![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I just wanted to know was the difference between "simple" and "tourist" hotels. I bought a book on Egypt and the two of us are going to sit down with it and decide what we really want to see, and then pick a tour that fits as much of it in as possible. Part of the decision is choosing between a cruise and a felucca as well...I haven't seen too many comments about feluccas - just lots about the cruise.
It looks like many people return to Egypt after their first trip. The best trip for us would be one where we could see as much as we wanted on the first trip, so that we could feel good about leaving and go somewhere else next time![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Hello Kozy,
I have let others reply to your post before adding my own comments. This is mainly due to the fact that I often wonder if people get a bit tired of my own thoughts/experiences of Egypt.
What you also need to remember is: once you have experienced Egypt you either love it or HATE it, there is no in between. Egypt either touches your soul or leaves you cold!!!
Due to my age, I prefer a bit of comfort when Im on holiday. I also prefer to join a tour with more inclusions, so that I don't have to worry so much about $$ when Im in holiday mode.
Even if you do join up with a tour that includes 3 days onboard Melodie, you will still enjoy a felucca cruise at Aswan. This has happened on each tour I have taken in Egypt, that goes to Aswan. By the way the Nile River at Aswan is like a spiritual event, it has to be seen to be appreciated!
I haven't done either of the 2 tours you mentioned, so I can't comment on them. However you do get what you pay for. If you pay for a "grassroots" tour that's what you get. Likewise if you pay for a luxury tour!! I have done both ends of the scale.
The Hotels in Egypt are rated on a much different scale to our own. So long as the toilet/shower works & there are fresh sheets/towels & the rooms are clean..........what's the problem?
Just my own thoughts, of course. All the best.........Debbie
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I recently Travelled on the Jewels of Egypt Trip, and I could not reccommend it enough. The whole trip was a wonderful experience. The Melodie was a beautiful cruise boat and the journey on the nile itself was worth going for.
We had some ups and downs on the trips. Tummy bug which only lasted for a day really. and one of the days the bus broke down. But it was all sorted and ready to continue again within 30 mins. To be honestit was a nice break to get oft the bus and stretch our fett and chat to the rest of the Group.
The Hotels were all clean and respectable. and There was barely any time spent in the rooms as it was any. there was always something to be doing and seeing.
Hope this helps
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I am well aware that Egypt is a developing country and wasn't expecting 5* treatment, but think it is faior to post an alternative view. In my experience some of the hotels were not the best value for money that were available in the areas for the price that the tour cost. I huess it is the luck of the draw.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Hi Kozy,
Thought I would give you my opionion of the felucca cruise. I did the Western Desert and Nile trip which included 3 days, 2 nights on the felucca which I enjoyed very much. It was extremely relaxing and a lot of fun. However if you are not a 'camping' type person the felucca is not for you. There are no toilet facilities on the boat, when you need to do your businesss you tell the captain and he pulls over to the shore and you go behind a bush, not a lot of privacy, also no showers until you are back in Luxor. If you don't mind roughing it, then the felucca is a great experience.
Joanne
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Thank you everyone! I think we've decided![[Smile]](smile.gif)
We're hoping to book by March 26 so that we can take advantage of the 5% discount...just have to double check with our employers to make sure we can have the time off.
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
Which tour did you decide Kozy?
Re: First trip to Egypt - which is best?
I'm very certain we're going to choose the Beyond the Pyramids tour, IF we're able to go at all. Our bedroom ceiling/roof just kinda sorta gave in (lots of leaking and rotting, etc.) and will need thousands in repairs. We'll see what our budget can handle!