| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/10/2009 5:52:21 PM | | This is my first time out of the country. I'm taking a 2 week excursion through egypt going to all the major sites except for Alexandria and another week in Jordan going over land to Petra. Has anyone gone on a trip like this & can you give me any advice? Places to go, things to see...restaurants, markets, photo ops, etc. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/10/2009 8:23:53 PM | Are you starting out in Cairo?
The first thing I would suggest is that you buy yourself a good travel book on Egypt (I find Lonely Planet books excellent resources.)
Go through it researching each area and noting down what you'd like to see in each one. Do some other research as well. I bought a really good book on Ancient Egypt before I left and also read up on the history. When I got there, I had a better working knowledge of the things I was able to see.
How will you be traveling while in Egypt? Down the Nile by boat, by train? Plane? Combinations?
Are you going alone? Taking a tour in some regions? Keeping it flexible?
Tips off the top of my head:
*Before you get into a taxi, make sure you settle on a price. You can talk it down. I think the best I did was a fee offer of 30 EP's that I got down to 8 EP's in Cairo, at the train station.
*Like any other place, watch your belongings and where you keep your money particularly in the train station (common sense stuff.)
*Bring eye drops like Artificial Tears....the air is so dry, it will really help. I used them constantly.
*When at the bazaars, you can negotiate prices easily with vendors
*In certain places it is better to have a guide to assist you (not expensive to have this arranged)
*Do not drink the water....don't brush your teeth with the water....keep your mouth shut while showering. Bottled water is very inexpensive so don't worry about cost. I think a large quart bottle cost me around 3 EP (less than 50 cents at the time.)
*Bring a cotton scarf of some sort that you can wrap around your lower face - when in the desert, it will help keep the sand particles in the air, out of your mouth when it gets a little windy (or buy one there, very cheaply. They're everywhere.)
My plan is to go back to Egypt this coming summer for a few weeks. I just love it there. Lucky lucky you! You'll have a great time! | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/10/2009 8:46:35 PM | | Thanks for the info. I'm taking a trip in a group of 16 people with our own "egyptologist" guide...I don't know what level of scholar the guide will be but a friend took this same trip before & said it was really quite fabulous. We start in Cairo, see the city & nearby sites...then cruise down the nile stopping at all the sites along the river, hot air balloon ride over luxor, visit a children's school, go to a monastery or two, have dinner at somebody's private home, take tea with a Nubian family, see locations around the Aswan dam, take a short plane ride to a place called Abu Simbel near the Sudanese border. The only areas it doesn't go to are what's north of Cairo and far out in the desert. I'd really like more info on things that won't be on the standard tour...something I can explore for on my own...perhaps a cool place in Cairo...I'll have a lot of free time there. But I have periods of free time all along the tour, too. In Jordan, we'll be spending a couple of days around Amman and then travel over land for a couple of days seeing sights and visiting the Dead Sea before spending a couple of days in and around Petra, which from the photos I've seen is absolutely gorgeous. Any other specifics I should know about? What about a camera angle or photo opportunity I might miss? I kind of know what a lot of these places look like already but I don't know how I'm going to begin taking photos until I get there. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/11/2009 8:40:16 PM | I did a similar trip about a year ago starting in Cairo and going eventually ending in Amman, Jordan. I started in Giza and went to Luxor by train from there I went to Hurghada by bus. From there I took a ferry across the Red Sea to Sharm-el-Shiek and took a bus to Nueweiba. From there took another ferry into Jordan, took a car into Petra and then took another car into Amman, while stopping by the Dead Sea and Mount Neba.
There are somethings that you should be warned about before hand. You will find a lot of people asking you for money in Egypt. If someone helps you with your bag, they will usually want money. If someone gives you directions, they will usually want some money. It is a tourist based economy and there are many people who are not doing well in this worldwide recession. Pack light and get a price before entering a cab or having anyone do anything for you. If they tell you it is not a problem, insist on getting a price first. No matter what the original price is, argue it. This is part of the culture. They always start with the highest price and you can counter with something about 25%-33% of the original price. Haggling is also acceptable for any merchandise you might want to buy as well. Do not think about how much things would cost at home, think about how much the local economy charges. Jordan, on the other hand, was different. While I had sellers trying to get me to buy things, they were not so much in my face about it and were in general much more honest.
I suggest looking at Amazon and reading the reviews of guidebooks along with when the book was published. If you get an older copy, usually the information is outdated. I personally prefer Rough Guides over Lonely Planet. The writers for RG seem to have a more keen sense of local customs in my opinion.
As far as what to see... The Pyramids of Giza are incredible with the sun setting behind them. Riding a camel around the area is OK, but I later discovered most were badly abused. Memphis was interesting. I personally like the Mausoleum of Muhammed Ali's family which is not highly frequented by tourists but I enjoyed going there for that reason. Go into some of the Mosques in Cairo. The designs are incredible and most clerics are actually very friendly to visitors. Both banks of Luxor were incredible, but expect to hassled a lot no matter where you go there. Hurghada was a resort town void of anything except for the beach and was a waste of a day in my opinion, although PJ's Pub was very nice. Nuweiba was incredible. I got a nice room in a resort with its own private beach for $20. There were only 4 rooms booked at the time and I got a sweet deal. It was also the best night of sleep I have had in about 10 years! Petra is incredible but expensive. Plan to spend at least 2 days there unless you are an incredible hiker and can do it all in one. I wish I had the time to go to Wadi Rum, but no such luck. Mount Nebo is good for a few hours and the Dead Sea is interesting. Amman is a very friendly town and although being somewhat conservative, I had a good time there just running around the city.
I hoped I helped you a bit. If you have any questions please feel free to write me a message. I am heading out in a few days to spend a few weeks in Japan. It is my first time in Japan but I will be taking along my laptop and will respond when time permits. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/14/2009 4:51:20 PM | Egypt
1. If u are allergic pls buy some pills because there are too much pollution and dust.
2. Go to the pyramids and take some funny pics there
3. Go to Alabastro Mesquit
4. Go to the Egyptian Museum. You will learn a lot about their history
5. Pls. just drink water in bottles.
6. Take a tour for the city
7. Go to the papiro's museum and frangance places
8. Try to go to Sharm El Sheik. there are a nice hotel called Nubia HOtel... and there are nice places around.
8. Try to go to Suez Government part and dessert.
Jordain
1. Petra is so nice... eat just at the end of the way... and have some money for taking a cammell or donkey if u get tired of walking because there are too much hours walking
2. it takes a lot of walking so buy at least one big bottle of water.
3. you can go to Madaba and see the Orthodox church in which is the biggest and old map of medio oriente
4. Go on ferri since Egypt to Jordain.. that is really nice.
5. Go to mount Nebo.
Hihihihi... well try to see as much as possible.. I'm sure you will enjoy your trip.. i had such a nice guide guys that explain me a lot about every place...
wish u luck | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/15/2009 7:42:59 PM | Well, If there is a female in your life do some research on perfumes. Alot of the ones that cost an arm and leg here are cheap there. Back in the day when opium perfume was $300 an oz. here I bought there for $5 an oz.
Alot of shops and people there are like going to a yard sale. Don't ever give the asking price, they expect you to****r with them. The more you walk away the cheaper the price gets.
Oh, and don't expect to enter a place of business...order a coke and get it cold. It will be room temperature.
When you go to the peramids there will be people there wanting to give you a camel ride. Take it and get your picture but don't forget to****r the price, they will start alot higher than they will take.
One last thing, check out there laws, what's legal here may not be there and you need to know where you stand. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 1/15/2009 10:39:57 PM | June? If you plan on visiting all the major sites in Egypt including the Pyramids or anywhere close to the desert, make sure to keep yourself hydrated at all times. Sunscreen, a hat, and a wet towel should help out. It gets really really hot, I kid you not. Light clothing would be really good.
Amman, Jordan is gorgeous. Jordan isn't as hot as Egypt, but still very hot during the summer and I would do the same when outside of the city, especially if you're going to be visiting Petra.
Besides the ancient sites and tourist attractions, the cities and the people, the sites and sounds are all exciting aspects. If you get a chance, visit a traditional souk, and make sure you bargain your ass off if you can. Thats the whole point of the Bazaars and alot of tourists miss out on that, dont be rude, but be firm and you'll be able to get what you want for a reasonable price.
Have a safe trip! :) | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 2/9/2009 8:42:51 PM | Egypt
Remember that the price they quote you for merchindise is not actually an official price. They seriously jack up the price once you know you're a foreigner (they assume money grows on trees in North America, which is relatively true considering their shi tty economic situation). In any case, make sure you haggle the price down as much as you can. They hate to see you leave without buying something. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 2/25/2009 12:39:28 AM | i agree with mrcalgary. brush up on your bartering skills. Dont like the price but like the item? dont seem interested. tell them that the price is way too much and walk away- they'll pursue. They'll ask what you want for it, quote for half the price and then barter up from there. Keep in mind too that 1USD is = 5 egyptian pound. don't pinch your pennies too much, what seems a little to us is alot to them. Especially with the price of grain rising there, well.. remember that people are trying to get by.
Don't be afraid to walk away. you'll likely find it somewhere else. Basheek is arguable too- know the going prices. Basheek is usually $1US. Don't want to pay Basheek? act like you know where you're going, tell them "la chakran" and be on your way.
Learn some arabic. Knowing the language will help you out, especally in a tour group. If your tour guide is non egyptian, expect to be harassed and taken advantage of alot. Vendors will ask if your guide is egyptian, they'll use it to gauge how much they can take you for. Knowing a few words of the language comes in handy in these situations- i actually met several nice vendors this way.
Do NOT show the bottoms of your feet, don't hit anyone with your shoes, take them off if you're invited into a local's house. its a big sign of disrespect.
If you want to buy one of those headscarfs in Jordan, they will take you for everything. For low quality, you should be paying 1-2 JD max. the good quality that the locals wear are 5-6JD if i remember correctly. Madaba is a good place to pick up souvineers as it's not a high tourist destination. You generally won't have to haggle in Jordan- shopkeepers will announce when you walk in if there's a discount.
You're going to have an amazing time. Go up to the Monastery at Petra! The views alone are stunning. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 5/9/2009 12:27:37 AM | The Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids of Giza is awesome.
I am a member on a travel web-site that has great forums and member profiles with personal pics and tips. Let me know if you would like the link. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 5/12/2009 6:03:30 AM | Did a tour of Jordan and Egypt last May.
Best advice? Be prepared for the heat. It hit 47c when we in Luxor.
Don't worry about haggling too much, just know how much you want to spend or not and walk away if it doesn't meet your designs. The people in both Egypt and Jordan were amazingly friendly, so you should have no troubles there. If you're going with a significant other, keep the displays of PDA to a minimum. Both countries are more liberal than if you went further east, but still nothing like the rest of Europe. Make sure you bring a pair of pants as when you visit some temples or mosques you must have your knees covered to show respect. Other than that, have fun. It was amazing to see Petra, the Pyramids, Abu Simel and 2000+ years of other history. There really is nothing that can compare in the States or Canada.
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 11/4/2009 12:11:58 PM | | I didn't find Amman particularly beautiful. But the Graeco-Roman ruins at Jerash were EXTRAORDINARY! Petra was one of the most fantastic sites I have visited so far. Definitely spend more than one day there. Wadi Rum stole my heart. I was only there for a few hours. If there is a next time, I will spend more hours in Wadi Rum and then sleep at Aqaba. Others sleep in desert camps, but that's not my style. I missed the Dead Sea on this trip. So I have a few reasons to go back. I would never go there in the summer though. As it was, in late September, I still was struck with heat stroke during my day tour of Jerash, etc. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 11/13/2009 3:03:25 PM |
5. Pls. just drink water in bottles.
AND be sure the bottles haven't been opened and refilled before you buy them.
Man did I make that mistake.
I enjoyed taking public transport - the windowless trains, crowed buses and ferries with goats. It was a good way to meet real people.
I hated the flies. Damn things fly right into your eye and stick there. | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 11/15/2009 10:50:30 AM | My God! Why would you choose to go to Egypt in JUNE????? Do you realize how HOT hot can be?
I would say never travel to the Middle East or Northern Africa between April and September. Eeeeks.
Drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, bring a hat.
Oh, and wear PANTS. Not only will it keep you hydrated, it's highly insulting to wear shorts in the countries you're going to. It's IMPROPER for women and for men, ONLY CHILDREN WEAR THEM! -- don't embarrass yourself (and the USA / Canada) by wearing shorts.
Have fun... plan your sight-seeing from 5am to 10am.
James, Seattle | |
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| I'm travelling to Egypt and Jordan in June, any advice?
Posted: 11/16/2009 4:10:06 AM | Was In Egypt this year at the same time.
Expect temps of 40+ degrees C every day, with temps of 35 at night. The hottest it got was 47.5 at the Whale bone oasis just outside Cairo.
Tips?
1) Take your sunscreen WITH you! I found it very hard to buy any while there, as the Egyptians don't generally wear it.
When I did find it, a small bottle of 150-200ml would cost between $15-$20....
2) Shorts offensive??? What rubbish! Our Egyptian tour leader was wearing 3/4 shorts for most of our trip. Longish regular shorts are more than acceptable in all the touristy places (girls and guys). Girls can wear shirts that cover their shoulders, and don't show any cleavage. You must cover up when entering religious or other sacred sites, but general walking around isn't an issue.
3) Take a lot of $US. Petra is costly to get into, from memory the entry needs to be paid in advance, and only in $US (I didn't go to Petra, but my tour did and was talking about it prior to my departure).
4) Get as much local advice as possible on what items cost. This will save you 80% easy on market stuff.
5) Take very little. My checked in bag was 9kg going there, and 21kg returning home. You will need a lot of light shorts and shirts, (5-6 sets) the kind that you don't mind throwing away as things do get very dirty and you will find yourself changing / showering 2-3 times a day if you are a heavy sweater.
Oh... if you are joining a tour, and your starting point is a certain hotel, ask around semi loudly "Hey, anyone else going to XXXXX hotel??" while in the line at immigration.
A lot of the tour companies use the same hotel as a starting point. I got a taxi on my own only to see the girl that was in the line in front of me at immigration get out just before me, then another few faces that were next to me on the plane walk in to reception moments later.
You will love it,
Cheers :) | |
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