Splendour of Egypt 7-21/5/05 CAIRO

Advantages: See the wonders of the ancient world
Disadvantages: Cairo is a very busy and noisy city.

...for a sucker, just use common sense, use alot of good humour and always be polite. We went to Egypt last May (7-21 2005) for 15 glorious days travelling with Bales Worldwide on their 'Splendour of Egypt'* escorted group tour - there were twelve of us - (with a tour manager from travelling with you from London and Egyptian guide throughout); 3 nights in Cairo, 1 night at Abu Simbel, 7 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, back to Aswan for 2 nights and then 1 night in Cairo before flying home. *This year the tour has changed, there are 4 nights in Cairo, 7 night Nile cruise, 2 nights at Aswan and 1 night in Cairo. You are now met at Cairo Airport by your tour manager/guide. CAIRO We arrived in Cairo after a five hour flight and while I was busy dying (I am a poor flyer) my mother had enjoyed herself chatting to a really nice Egyptian man...

winimae 04.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of Cairo, Egypt (CAI)

Cairo, The Pyramids and The Cairo museum

Advantages: Obvious - The Pyramids, The Sphinx and the Cairo museum!
Disadvantages: Very busy and very polluted but don't let that put you off

...need of a holiday I began to think about fulfilling my dream and visiting the Pyramids. However, being a single woman, travelling to Egypt without a companion did not seem sensible and as most of my friends have young children finding a travel companion seemed unlikely so I began to dismiss the idea. Then a friend lent me "The Alchemist" by Paolo Coelho, a modern fable about following your dreams (I intend writing about the book in an article soon) and it inspired me to find a way. Then a work colleague, also a single woman who loves to travel to out of the way places, introduced me to a travel company called Explore (see my article Lone Traveller - you can see the world) and on 20 November 1999 I was on the plane to Cairo. Arriving in Cairo at midnight and being driven straight to the hotel, my first real sight of the city was early...

indychick_uk 23.02.2001 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Cairo - life after death

Advantages: the atmosphere and strangeness of the place
Disadvantages: don't go if you dislike heat, pollution and stench!

...I visited to Egypt in 1998 and stayed at the Luxor Hilton, travelling to Cairo on the overnight train which cost around £20 return per person at that time. The "sleeper" compartments of the train really just meant large reclining chairs and curtained windows! I remember it being comfortable enough though - one advantage being that you wake at around 8am having slept for most of the journey, and so feel somewhat refreshed - which is lucky because Cairo hits you right between the eyes! The almost suffocating choke of the city's pollution and dust was quite shocking after the relative peace of Luxor, which is still considered a "village" by many! The traffic is incredibly busy and crossing the road is to take your life in your hands! I took a taxi from the train station straight to the Giza Plateau to visit the Pyramids...

fallon005 17.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

The less glamerous side of Cairo

Advantages: Amazing history, sun,
Disadvantages: Very polluted and stuffy at times!

...and belif that it is worth fighting for a better life. Cairo is a fantastic place and cannot survive without tourisum. I recoment it to those who like more advertureous trips. It really is worth it leaving the tourist trail and discovering places like above where you see what Egypt is really like. If you get easily upset but poverty I advise you stay away or prepare yourself. But over all the acient city is well worth a look....

livelifeandsmile 24.07.2002 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Do it - but do it Quickly

Advantages: Famous History
Disadvantages: Heat, guns, poverty, filth and flies

...I had always wanted to see the famous sights of Egypt but I could never imagine myself actually booking a holiday there, I guess I was always a little anxious of the place and had heard far too many scary stories. However, in June last year (2005) my friend and me booked to go to Cyprus for a week. Whilst in Cyprus our Olympic rep advised us of the usual resort trips i.e. bar crawls, boat trips the usual stuff and there was also a day trip to Egypt. This seemed ideal - an early morning flight from Paphos to Cairo highlights including visits to the Pyramids, Sphinx, Lunch in a 5 star hotel, a visit to the famous museum with Tutankhamen's treasures, ending the day with a 2 hour cruise down the Nile, then a return flight to Paphos that same evening. The cost of the trip was around £250 including return flights and meals. The Trip...

hlmccarron 12.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Cairo - A must see experiance - ONCE!!!!!!

Advantages: Must see wonder of the world, Once in a Lifetime experiance
Disadvantages: Poverty, begging, Driving conditions.

...If you get the chance to go to Cairo you must! It is an experiance like no other......Never again........ We booked our day trip to Cairo through a reputable tour operator whilst staying in Hurgahda and I am very glad we did. It is a place I have always wanted to visit but had my reservations for various reasons. Because we booked through a reputable company we were allocated our own personal guide for myself , my husband and my 8 year old son. The guide was fantastic!! The best advice I could give would be to wear comfortable clothing and footwear ,the tour took 19 hours in total including a 50minute flight either way from Hurgahda. Your can wear shorts and T shirt there are no restrictions on dress even though its is in large a muslem city. The men in Cairo are OBSESSED with half dressed women so beware!!! they are not...

NickyTate 28.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

A city of extremes

Advantages: a mind blowing experience
Disadvantages: boisterous, polluted and often hard work

...from the Arabic Al Qahirah, it is Egypt's capital and is situated in the northern delta region of the river Nile at a location that marks the boundary of the ancient upper and lower kingdoms. It is a port city of around eighteen million inhabitants and due to the inhospitable nature of the country this constitutes a large percentage of the countries population. Cairo is the largest population centre in the Middle East, as well as the largest in the whole of Africa, Egypt being a country that overlaps two cultural and geographical zones. It is the administrative centre of the country and along with Alexandria is the cornerstone of the economy, which is based around textiles, food and tobacco products, chemicals, plastics, metals, and automobiles as well as tourism. Cairo is a melting pot of cultures all of which have left their mark...

steerpyke 08.01.2006 (17.01.2006) · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Blow Your Head Off City

Advantages: different,fantastic site seeing and history
Disadvantages: gut rot,crazy gun men,terroists threat

...Cairo is without doubt the most foreign place I have ever been and definitely stimulates all of the senses! As a dromomaniac (the compulsive urge to travel!)I am always seeking unique and slightly unerveing travel experiences and Cairo did not dissapoint. I made the five hour journey by road from Port Said along side the the Suez Canal accompanied by o.k cowboy gun weilding armed guards.....em you don't get this when you go to Frinton -on-sea? The Egyptian landscape was simply spectacular and still etched in my mind. Camels and oxen and children on horses,mud houses and women with babies strapped to their backs as they work the land. Like something out of "Jesus of Nazerath" unchanged by time. Nothing could have prepared me for the sights,sounds,tastes and feel of Cairo! It seems like the whole population of Egypt is...

janehammill 26.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Cairo - of course it's hot and dusty, it's not England you know!

Advantages: Magnificent views, cultural city, great weather - but not for the faint hearted
Disadvantages: Many people expect tips.

...Cairo is a beautiful and mezmerising city, full of wondrous places to visit and friendly people. However, don't mistake a lot of this so called friendliness. No matter where you go people will hassle you for tips. But can you blame them? There's is a culture of bargaining and many of the people are of limited means. Just be firm and say no. Don't be 'British' and feel that you cannot complain or refuse. Very often the people will get sick of trying to weasle money out of you and will leave you alone. It is hot and dusty, but if you wanted mild temperatures and a non-dusty atmosphere, head to boring Europe like everyone else. It is well worth the sweat and tears [just kidding] as you will see things of such magnificent beauty, that all your troubles will soon be forgotten. The Pyramids are a must. It is even possible to enter them...

mambono5 09.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Cairo (Egypt)

Comfortable Cairo

Advantages: good location, clean and comfortable
Disadvantages: none

...The Dutch Golden Tulip hotel chain has two hotels in Egypt. One in Cairo and the other is a resort hotel on the Red Sea. On a recent visit to Cairo, I stayed at the Cairo hotel. It is a four star hotel and rooms start at about EUR65 a night. The hotel is located in Zamalek, an island on the Nile in a fairly quiet area (by Egyptian standards) with lots of shaded avenues and 19th century buildings, including many homes of foreign dignitaries. Zamalek is a great location to be in as there are several western chain fast food restaurants nearby (Pizza Hut, McDonalds, etc.) and a supermarket just around the corner. The hotel also has its own bakery with very good pastries and breads. It is an area that is popular with a lot of foreigners, particularly Europeans. There is also an internet café just across the street. While there is no...

zainabm 31.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Golden Tulip Flamenco, Cairo