I Have Five Days In Egypt - What Do I Do?

[MEL_Traveller]

The visa on arrival is a 2 minute process …
No questions asked
You just gotta pay in US$ at one of the ‘banks’ adjacent the immigration “exit desks”

It’s very simple

Can confirm. The ‘visa’ is a pure transactional matter. Pay $$, get visa.

 

[RSD]

Can confirm. The ‘visa’ is a pure transactional matter. Pay $$, get visa.

Assuming @Sprucegoose is of one of the eligible nationalities then yes - need the US$ notes and you will be fine. You come down a long concourse and then turn right into the immigration hall - the bank booths are on the right wall.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Assuming @Sprucegoose is of one of the eligible nationalities then yes - need the US$ notes and you will be fine. You come down a long concourse and then turn right into the immigration hall - the bank booths are on the right wall.

Spruce is OZ. I read that they are the bank booths. $25?

 

[Sprucegoose]

if you have the time, visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation

Yes, @RooFlyer , I have seen this advertised, and it looks interesting.

Is there a standout tour company I should use for the day and overnight stuff?

 

[RooFlyer]

Is there a standout tour company I should use for the day and overnight stuff?

Not that I could say. I booked my day trip to Saqqara pyramids though the Conrad I was staying at and was only just. @boomy was there just before me IIRC - he may have some ideas. All the rest of my touring was part of larger tour, or on work. Viator probably a good start eg https://www.viator.com/Cairo/d782-ttd

Unless you are very fond of camels, resist the ride at the pyramids. Takes time that could be used elsewhere.

I think no matter who you book with, it'll be a individual subbie who takes you, so luck of the draw. Make sure that they will take you to ALL the places you want or arranged to see. Confirm at the start, and half way through. Check what's covered in their fee - entrance fees/photo fees etc. I know you've been around a lot, but here its all a bit ... fluid.

Most of Cairo attractions you can do by yourself, via Uber. A guide would be good, but not essential. Most of it is overwhelming, without the detail. Same for Luxor. Valley of the Kings - you have to go across the Nile, then from memory, 30mins on road to the entrance gate. See my TR on the Nile re ticket types/combos. Strictly, you could get there by Uber/'helper' but a tour might be useful for logistics.

Just be prepared for craziness.

 

[RSD]

Spruce is OZ. I read that they are the bank booths.

The e-visa website says US$25 - but I would take probably US$50 in a mix of 5 and 10's just to be safe - I know that resident visa fees have increased recently.

 

[RSD]

Yes, @RooFlyer , I have seen this advertised, and it looks interesting.

Is there a standout tour company I should use for the day and overnight stuff?

That museum is also good - I probably wouldn't skip the Khan, El-Moez Street for this museum if you are short of time - and after visiting the GEM you will probably be all museumed out.

Would recommend booking something for the pyramids etc, but you really only need Uber for the museums, the Khan, Al-Azhar mosque (on the other side of the road from the Khan), and El-Moez Street is just a short Uber ride from the Khan - or use google maps on your phone and walk to it from the Khan - or probably given that the Khan is best seen late in the afternoon and evening - Uber to El-Moez St then walk or Uber to Al-Azhar mosque then stroll around the Khan.

 

[RSD]

Spruce is OZ. I read that they are the bank booths. $25?

Weather update for you - https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsCo...cts-moderate-rain,-strong-winds-this-wee.aspx

One other thing to remember when reading weather reports etc - when they refer to Upper Egypt - that is the south - most people automatically think that it is the north, but it is essentially based on going upriver (of the Nile) and so is the south. I don't call Egypt "the land of camels and chaos" for no good reason. Hopefully you won't have a need during your trip to discover that it can also be the land of camels and cluster...ks too!

 

[RSD]

Well I hope @Sprucegoose believed me when I said it can even snow in Egypt at this time of year - a friend has just sent me these pics of Cairo taken last night -

 

[craven morehead]

Hi, I am trying out the venerated Al Safwa Lounge in DOH - then heading to Egypt. I have never been to Egypt before, and I would be interested in any advice for this first-time traveller. First night I will stay at the InterCon Semiramis in Cairo and open after that.

Thanks Spruce.

Take a bucket and spade

 

[Sprucegoose]

Would certainly recommend a hotel car if you are arriving late in the day.

I ended up negotiating with this bloke who tracked me down inside the terminal - a tout if you like. I kept him honest, and he did the job. $20.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Take a bucket and spade

A bucket and spade would be good advice CM.

The IHG in Cairo was not an outstanding property. However, the check-in guy gave me a great room and was extremely efficient. The property itself is run down and in urgent need of a renovation, which I am advised will commence this year.

 

[RSD]

I ended up negotiating with this bloke who tracked me down inside the terminal - a tout if you like. I kept him honest, and he did the job. $20.

You must have worked overtime - usually those blokes insist on taking you for a tour to their mate's tourist trinket shop, and to check out another mate's hotel as he is sure that you will like that one better.

 

[Sprucegoose]

You must have worked overtime - usually those blokes insist on taking you for a tour to their mate's tourist trinket shop, and to check out another mate's hotel as he is sure that you will like that one better.

Yeah, we went through all that, but I cut it all out. It was a straightforward deal. You perform today, and there will be tomorrow.

 

[RSD]

A bucket and spade would be good advice CM.

The IHG in Cairo was not an outstanding property. However, the check-in guy gave me a great room and was extremely efficient. The property itself is run down and in urgent need of a renovation, which I am advised will commence this year.

Ramses Hilton is my go-to choice in Cairo - but you do need to take a good dose of bravery pills before trying to cross El-Galaa St out the front of the hotel - the traffic there doesn't take prisoners. With Uber being so cheap in Cairo it is often better to get an Uber from the hotel to somewhere like Talaat Haab Square - feels ridiculous getting Uber for a 600 metre trip but once you have seen what the traffic is like on El-Galaa you will understand!

 

[RSD]

Yeah, we went through all that, but I cut it all out. It was a straightforward deal. You perform today, and there will be tomorrow.

You certainly have to be firm with them - after nearly 24 hours travelling from Oz to Cairo I usually am too tired for that stuff and so I grab an Uber. Being able to speak the lingo helps heaps.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Ramses Hilton is my go-to choice in Cairo - but you do need to take a good dose of bravery pills before trying to cross El-Galaa St out the front of the hotel - the traffic there doesn't take prisoners. With Uber being so cheap in Cairo it is often better to get an Uber from the hotel to somewhere like Talaat Haab Square - feels ridiculous getting Uber for a 600 metre trip but once you have seen what the traffic is like on El-Galaa you will understand!

I saw it.! While crossing the road, I bought an original Ani's Judgement Papyrus of Ani for 200 pounds!

​

 

[Sprucegoose]

You certainly have to be firm with them - after nearly 24 hours travelling from Oz to Cairo I usually am too tired for that stuff and so I grab an Uber. Being able to speak the lingo helps heaps.

Thats a huge bonus - I only know a few international one-liners.....................I guess it helps focus you, like having a Messerschmidt up your butt over London in the Battle of Britain.

 

[RSD]

Thats a huge bonus - I only know a few international one-liners.....................I guess it helps focus you, like having a Messerschmidt up your butt over London in the Battle of Britain.

Really only need to speak the local lingo if you go somewhere where tourists aren't normally found - and even then google translate or finding a picture of what you are looking for using google images will usually get you through. Trying to find what you want over there can be a very frustrating and time consuming thing - hardware stores are usually no bigger than about 4 x 5 metres - so you have to visit about a dozen different ones just to gather the things you need for even a small project - you lose hours and hours of time trying to find things - and once you find a store that has something you mark it on your google maps so as you can find it again next time.

 

[RSD]

Thats a huge bonus - I only know a few international one-liners.....................I guess it helps focus you, like having a Messerschmidt up your butt over London in the Battle of Britain.

So did you enjoy your time there, and get to see everything that you had planned to in the limited amount of time you had?