| Author | Message | ||
     John Maurer (216.166.251.82) |
I'm a 22 year recent college grad and my buddy and I are both very interested in Egyptology and the pyramids. We've been discussing eventually going to Egypt and experiencing everything for ourselves. I have a couple questions: 1) How much should we expect to pay per person for a 7-8 day trip? 2) Are connecting flights via Europe generally cheaper 3) What time of the year is the best to go? 4) Heard rumors that Egyptians 'hate' Americans, but after reading these posts, they seem very friendly... 5) Does anyone have a travel journal or anything they could email me? I'd like to see where you left and the general route that has been experienced and enjoyed. On an off-note, I don't suppose anyone would know anything about Israel would they? We wanted to stop in Tel Aviv and go clubbing for a couple of days before heading into Egypt. (hey, as long as we're in the area...;) ) any help is much appreciated! lobo3@hotmail.com | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (63.252.172.26) |
To answer a few of your questions. On cost - it depends whether you are part of a tour (sounds like you don't intend that) and how nice a place you want to stay at. Air, top hotels-private room, guides, driver, food, site entries, misc stuff I have spent $2500 for a week in Egypt. Splitting room costs and stays at lesser hotels, you can probably get it down to $2000, maybe alittle less. The two major expenses are air and hotel. On the Egyptians hating Americans. On 5 trips to Egypt I cannot recall even one unpleasant experience with an Egyptian. In some cases they actually treated me nicer after finding out I was American. Even on a couple occasions when I was unpleasant with them - sometimes I get tired of being asked again if I want to get on their camel - they were always very nice in return. | ||
| Corinne (68.40.80.149) |
John, I usually go to Egypt in May, last year I went in June and it was a little too hot for me. As for my cost... the flight out of Detroit was around 1100 bucks, we had a connection in Italy. It is cheaper to fly out of New York. As far as spending money when you are there, you can find decent hotels for good prices. Remember the Egyptian pound is at like 4 pounds on the American dollar. I always buy tons of spices and touristy souviners which only sets me back about 100 bucks per trip. Everything is cheap there compared to what we are used to here. I could easily go to Egypt with 500 bucks spending money for a month. Egyptians don't hate Americans, and if there are a few that do hate Americans they are far too polite to let you know. Like Charlie said, they usually perk up when they know you are American. If you go to Israel before you go to Egypt you may have a problem getting in. You have to be aware of the tensions in the area. If I were you I'd go to Israel on the way home. I just finished my travel log (it's way too long), and I'm going to be working on putting it online realitivly soon (like maybe tomorrow if I get around to it). Hope that helps... Corinne | ||
| corinne (68.40.80.149) |
Okay... I just added my travel log to my web page. It's really long and I haven't even proof read it yet. If you see any mistakes let me know. www.angelfire.com/mi2/spacecowgirl/travellog.html I also have pictures on there... follow the link at the top. The pictures will load slow if you don't have a cable modem. I'm going to work on that. I'm also going to add some links to my travel log so you can see the pictures as I am explaining them. Corinne | ||
| J.D. Degreef (213.177.133.6) |
Corinne, Excellent ! I'm sure it'll bring back memories to all of us who went to Egypt, as it did with me ! Thank you for sharing your impressions . JD | ||
| Ellen (203.134.0.22) |
Hi Im going with a friend for the first time to Egypt in November 2002, I have a few question I hope you can help me with. 1) Is there a way to get from Siwa to Abu Simbel? 2) What is a good way to get to the site at Saqqara? 3) What is the situation like around Minya? Is it safe to travel to the local sites around there? ie Hermopolis, Tell al-Amarna etc. Thanks for your help | ||
| corinne (68.40.80.149) |
Ellen, the only question I can really answer for you is to get to Saqqara you can take a taxi. As far as Minya, I can only tell you what I've heard. There used to be problems in middle Egypt, due to some fundamentalists. From what I gather this is not as much of an issue now. You can always hire a local guide. They are still doing archeological work at Amarna durring certian months, and it's safe. corinne | ||
| Francesco Raffaele (Francesco) (62.98.182.37) |
Ellen There is a road through the oases from Siwa to Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga. But the Siwa-Bahariya is for Jeeps; and at Kharga one needs to go east to Esna and reach Aswan along the Nile. The Middle Egypt is much more unsafe, for fondamentalists presence, than UpperEgypt. Saqqara: the best way to go is to have a friend taxidriver; in the beginning they ll try to obtain hundred or more, but I went with my girlfriend and another girl to Saqqara from Cairo for 45 Eg Pounds (but this is almost a robbery of ourselves). The second time we gave him 60 Pounds, so 20 each one of us, and the Taxidriver brought us to Saqqara (in the various parts of this site which can't be visited all on feet) and to South Saqqara, (Memphis), Dahshur. Then he brought us back home in the afternoon; thus it's a good business to find one taxidriver who remains with you from the morning to the afternoon and 60-90 pounds are a good business (few more to arrive to Meidum). Francesco http://members.xoom.it/francescoraf/ | ||
| J.D. Degreef (213.177.133.82) |
About the Egyptian countryside, there's a revolt of peasants right now (under pressure of the IMF laws favorable to land tenants, once promulgated by Nasser, have been abolished, favoring the rich land owners). So one has to be careful. An Internet search with egypt +farmers or egypt +peasants will yield more data. JD | ||
| Sonny Stengle (Sonny_Stengle) (62.155.142.103) |
Ellen, The city of El Menia is open to tourists again. El Amarna still kind of closed for tourists, think it would be only possible to get there with a convoy or police guarded trip....there might be other ways and possibilities...more easy to find out when you are in the area. Road from Siwa to Abu Simbel... a fairly good road leading through the New Valley, but south to Kharga you will have to drive to the Nile Valley to Armant/Esna and then along the Nile to Aswan. Road from Aswan to Abu Simbel is open now. Problem is: leaving the New Valley to Armant/Esna is officially only possible in convoy, same from Esna to Aswan. But situation changes fast in Egypt, so everything might be possible. Think of using a plane! Sakkara: as mentioned in other message in here...easiest by taxi from Cairo. However, this all sounded to me like "See Europe in 10 days, Germany included". Wondering how much time you got planned for your trip? I havent managed in 14 years Abu Simbel or Siwa, still hooked on Luxor area. And I will be there again on 29th this month..... | ||
| JOHN LYNCH (159.134.156.8) |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW TO EGYPT IN APRIL. IS IT TRUE THAN I CAN GET MY VISA WHEN I ENTER EGYPT IS IT THE SAME FOR MY FRIEND WHO IS RUSSIAN | ||
| Sonny Stengle (Sonny_Stengle) (217.235.216.80) |
I would not know the costs of a flight from Moscow to Egypt. Check charter-airlines in the net. Visa will be given in Egypt as soon as you arrive at the airport. Before you pass the "boarder" to get your stamp in your passport you need to go to one of the bank offices where you usually change money and ask for visa stamps (looking like real stamps). At the moment it should be, if I remember correct, 40 Egyptian Pounds or 10 EURO. greetinx Sonny |
