You're better off without a tour package
Written: Mar 25 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fabulous cultural sites, much more impressive than the picture books show
Cons: Wish I'd done this tour on my own, not with a group
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| SueMosher's Full Review: Egypt |
I was anxious about going to Egypt for the first time for our one-week Feb 2000 family vacation, so I booked a package tour that included one day of escorted sight-seeing in Cairo, one day there on our own and a 4-day, 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Now I wish I'd done the whole trip all as independent travelers. The tour company had lousy guides, worse accommodations and spent a huge amount of effort trying to hustle us into stores from which they doubtless received a kickback.
When I go back (and we do want to go back someday), I'll follow these lessons learned:
* Book a brand-name hotel near the attractions you want to see. The "4-star" rating given by the state tourist authority is a joke.
* When you want to go sight-seeing, either walk to the location (if you got a convenient hotel) or take a cab. If you want to see several places, ask the hotel to book a cab driver who will take you and wait. The convenience and avoiding the need to renegotiate the price for each taxi trip are well worth it.
* Book a Nile cruise on one of the boats that has staterooms with big sliding glass doors. Make sure you check the actual amount of time you'll spend on the river. Some do most of the cruising at night, giving you little chance to enjoy the river itself (it's wonderful!).
* At most of the cruise destinations, you can walk to the local temples or get a cab or carriage. Temple admission prices are posted in English.
* Skip the shopping, unless you want a gold cartouche necklace. You can usually buy those on the boat. I didn't see anything else the whole trip that I'd actually want to take home. (Granted, I already have a house full of African and Russian crafts.)
* Take a good guide book. You don't need to hire a guide. They often can only prattle a set speech, not answer your questions.
* Allow a good half day to visit the Pyramids and Sphinx, so that you have time to go inside one of the pyramids.
* Allow a half day for Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple when you visit Luxor. They're a good ways away and it's hot in the desert. Take your time.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
SueMosher
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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