Haydee

Hi fodorists

I am planning a trip to Egypt April/07. Please look at my itinerary and tell me your opinions.

Day 1/5 - Giza (Mena House) (5 nights)
6 - Cairo-Aswan (Old Cataract)Excursion Abu Sinbel (Is it possible to do it in the same day of arrival???)
7/10 Nile Cruise Aswan-Luxor (4 nights-5days) Sonesta Moon Godess
11 Luxor St.George Sonesta Hotel
12 Luxor Free time
13/16 Luxor-Hurghada (Hotel suggestions????) (4 nights)
17- Hurghada-Cairo (Hotel???)

Is it worth while to stay in Luxor 2 additional days after the Nile cruise??

Thank in advance for your help.

LeighTravelClub

Yes, I think the extra days in Luxor are worth doing. There is so much to see and do.For me Luxor is the No1 destination in Egypt. As for Luxor hotel suggestions, look no further than Jolie Ville Movenpick, wonderful hotel.

Geelong2007

spend the extra days in Luxor and explore the sites yourself
I would stay at the New Winter Palace
quite classy

vineetha

five nights in cairo????i think its a bit too much. if you can cut it by two days and do abu simbel/ sharmel sheik...

harsha

You have to leave early- 5am for Abu Simble.Dont think you can do it same day you arrive aswan.4hs drive one way,with escort convoy.You'll be back by lunch time.

harsha

Safir in Hurgada is a good hotel.Ask for the main hotel(sea side) & not the annexe(across the road).
Vineetha,5 nights in Cairo sounds good to me.In effect its only 4 days.Not considering the day of arrival.

sandi

For Cairo/Aswan, you can arrange to fly with stop in Aswan before going onto Abu Simbel (some flights go direct to Abu Simbel. Here you board a but to the site, pick-up a guide, spend about 2/hrs, return on bus to terminal, board flight back to Aswan. Here you're met by your transfer personn to your Nile cruise boat. It's an early wake-up leaving Cairo for about a 7am flight, but believe this is the smoothest way to get it all done in one day.

For a 4-nt/5-day cruise, your last cruise day, docked in Luxor will be spent at the Valley or Kings/Queens in the early cooler morning and late afternoon visits to Luxor and Karnak Temples. We spend 1/extra day here which was quite sufficient. Don't think you need 2/days.

I'd also suggest the Movenpick Ville Jolie vs the St. George Sonesta. It's out of town on it's own Crocodile Island; they do have shuttle bus or you can take a taxi back/forth if not just enjoying this lovely resort.

Can't advise about Hurghada.

Haydee

Thanks to all of you I will take into account all your suggestions. I will post a trip report.

huladolphin

Reading your itinerary, I have a few more comments to make on top of all of the excellent ones above.
I would question staying at the Mena House for 5 nights; although it is a beautiful hotel, Giza is a bit far from most Cairo sites other than the pyramids, like Khan El-Khalili, the Citadel, all of the mosques, the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, etc. The Four Seasons Nile Plaza is nice and centrally located, as are most of the other major chains, like the Marriott, Intercontinential, Nile Hilton...

I did Cairo-Aswan and Abu Simbel in the same day, left Cairo in the middle of the night, arrived in Aswan early morning, and then drove to Abu Simbel, but I do know, like sandi said, that there are also flights direct to Abu Simbel.
About Hurghada, I think most of the resorts are nice, although be prepared for alot of Russians. I stayed at the Sofitel, and liked it, but there probably are nicer places.
Good luck planning!

Laura

Haydee

Hi Laura
We are staying 5 nights in the hotel Mena House because we will arrive very late the first day. So we have only 4 days to visit Cairo. I have read a lot of reviews and most of them prefer to stay in Giza rather than in Cairo. Now I am a bit confused.Haydee

huladolphin

Well,
The only thing is that Giza is a bit far from downtown. The Mena House has a pretty view, and it is probably quieter, but its location, in my opinion, is not great for touring Cairo, other than the pyramids, of course. If you plan on spending some of your time relaxing, then the Mena House should be fine, but if you want to see alot of Cairo, I would recommend one of the more downtown hotels. The drive between Giza and Cairo is a bit far, especially in the later part of the day when rush hour hits.
However, I may be one of the weird ones who likes the hustle and bustle of downtown, maybe someone else has another opinion?

sunshine007

There are some hotels in Giza that are not too far from the Nile, thus being closer to Cairo than Mena House. But I'd stay in a hotel along the Nile unless it doesn't fit into your budget.

PamR

Hi Haydee,
I just got back from a 3-week trip to Egypt and my trip had some of the components you are thinking of. (For the record, this was my 4th trip to Egypt, but I hadn't been there for 17 years.) I stayed at the Mena House previously and also this time. I like it very much and would choose it, too. People are correct that it's far from many of the sights, though. It was wonderfully convenient for the pyramids and sphinx and Sakkara. I feel that the Egyptian Museum is not to be missed, and was fortunate to see it twice during the end of my stay which was at a different hotel -- the Nile Hilton (located right down the street from the museum). But so what if it takes a while to get to the museum, Khan Khalili bazaar and other things you might want to do in Cairo? It's so wonderful to look out of your balcony and see the pyramids it is worth the other inconvenience. The Mena has nice grounds and good restaurants, too.
I also believe you can do the Abu Simbel excursion in one day, starting from Cairo. People I traveled with did an Aswan to Abu to Cairo trip in one day. So you just need to check this out and book before you go.
My cruise was on a new Sonesta boat, the Star Goddess. It was wonderful but too short. Years ago I took the long cruise from Cairo to Aswan, and that was a dream. Not offered any more, though.
I stayed at the Luxor St. George Sonesta. Nice hotel though it felt a bit out of town. Last time I was in Luxor it was a small town that pretty much ended at the Winter Palace. It now stretches beyond, where the Sonesta is. But you can easily walk, ride the bus or take a taxi to the Luxor Museum, Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple, my most preferred things to do in Luxor.
I agree there is much to see in Luxor and the West Bank. We stayed 5 days there and did not tap the surface, truly.
We stayed at the el-Quseir Movenpick (el-Quseir is reached by flying into Hurghada, then taking a bus about an hour and a half). Amazingly beautiful resort on the Red Sea. Highly recommend. If you like scuba or snorkeling, their dive center is supposed to be the best in the area according to the guide books I checked. The rooms you stay in resemble mud-brick huts though of course more luxurious. I had a view of the Red Sea - very lovely, and saw some great sunrises. They have 2 huge pools and beautiful grounds, horses, children's play area, etc.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great time. I know you will. Egypt is an amazing place.

Haydee

Thanks PamR, your information has been of great help. I will post a trip report when I come back. Since I know this web I organize our trip independently and with great success.
Best wishes.

PamR

Looking forward to your trip report! Have a wonderful time (I know you will

Haydee

Thanks.