Holiday thoughts - anybody been to Egypt?

[RMCF]

Always wanted to visit Egypt, especially a Nile cruise rather than one of the resorts, but am put off slightly about how much I hear that you get hassled over there.

Is it that bad or can you just ignore it?

[coluigi]

I went to Egypt this Summer. Loved it, amazing place, amazing people and a totally different way of life. Stayed in Luxor as oppose to a Nile Cruise. My boss lived in Egypt for a couple of years (between Aswan and Luxor) and said Cairo is good but not as good as Luxor (obviously this is just his opinion, I personally would like to visit Cairo). Plenty to do and see, plenty of nice places to stay and not really an expensive holiday.

However, whilst I loved it, it's not a holiday I'd instantly recommend to someone like my parents, you do get hassled a lot and there's a lot of generally trickery, people talking at you, hard selling stuff like that - but bear in mind it's a pain but they're not mean or aggressive about it - but it's a constant nuisance. I got used to it and after a few days you gain a thick skin to it all, but it can put a downer on a day out not being to walk anywhere without being hassled. Inside your hotel though you'll be fine.

If you go out after sundown generally it's a lot quieter and most shops are still open and because the locals have been out in the sun all day they're normally too shattered to hassle you.

All in all it's a great place, you do get hassled but you can live with it.

[nikonkid]

A friend of mine went to Egypt and said you do get bothered a lot,but not in an aggresive way.

Many years ago I went to Morroco and was so peeved off with bag sellers, I bought 2 and then bothered the locals trying to sell them "you buy bag you buy bag,very good quality."

got a few laughs.

[neilios]

Yes you do get hassled but its not that bad ,but you must go scuba diving ,that for me was the highlight of the holiday ,it really is breath taking .

[Jammyb]

I went on a Nile cruise about a year ago. 7 days, full board, about £300 each including flights. There are some amazing deals if you go last minute. This was on a 4 star (more like a 2 or 3 tbh) Nile Legend, on Presidential Nile Cruises. Booked on Last Minute.

It's a great way to see the Nile. My parents have been to Egypt on the sharm el shiek side and done the tours. You have to spend half the day on the coach, quick look round the temple, then back on the coach. Whereas on the Nile Cruises the boat take you really close to the site and you either walk or have a short coach ride. Then back on for afternoon tea. It's a very civilised way to see all the temples and stuff.

The optional sound and light shows are worth doing, the Nubian village was good as well.

The staff on the boats are amazing, nothing is too much trouble. When the boat parks up by a temple, sometimes they're about 10 abreast, so you walk through lots of other cruise ships to get to the shore, ours was definitely the scruffiest boat, but that didn't really matter.

You have a tour guide with you 90% of the time you're off the boat, which stops them bothering you. The only time we really got hassled was when we went round Aswan market on our own, but as long as you're forceful and know how to haggle you'll be fine.

Top Tip: Wash your hands before putting ANYTHING in your mouth, after handling money especially, or you will be *cough* eye of a needle etc.

There are a lot of negative reviews of egyptian hotels and cruises on the net because people were unwell, but most of the time they are not to blame IMO.

[loz]

Yes, you do get hassled in some places, but they are easily ignored. Say "Imshi, imshi" and wave them away...

At the actual sites of antiquity it isn't a problem - because they will be on the outside. It's just the walk from the bus to the entrance....

It is an absolutely fantastic place though. Well worth the effort.

[CDphobe]

I have to agree with the previous replies. I went to Egypt a couple of years ago, Sharm for a week's diving (liveaboard), ferry across to Hurghada, overland to Safaga for a couple of night, overland to Luxor for a couple of nights, overnight train to Cairo for a couple of nights and then home again. It's a fantastic place and puts our "historic" buildings into perspective.

Yes, there are a lot of beggars and a degree of hassle, but you can just ignore it if you choose to. It's at its worst in the markets, epscially the tourist ones, but entirely manageable and with a cruise I would imagine that you'll be isolated from this in any case for most of the time. It's a truly magical place though, and I'll be heading back again fairly soon to get to some of the places I missed (I'd really like to spend a night out in the desert, and to see some of the places a little further south and off the beaten track).

Al

[andykn]

I'd say go for the cruise. We were on the Sonesta St George and met a freelance brochure writer who told us that it was the best boat on the nile apart from the ones that do suites only.

We saw into one of the crew only area once in the bow where the ropes and anchors were stored and it was spotless - I expect you could do surgery in the kitchens.

You will get much less hassle on a boat trip.