Camel Rides
and Safari’s:
Can we do
a Camel Trek
or Safari?
Yes, we can arrange a
one-way trip from Giza to Sakkara.
It takes approximately 3 - 4 hours. It is usually better to do this
early
morning, before the sun gets too hot. After sightseeing in Sakkara, the
Van
will take you back to Cairo.
Other Treks can be done for 4 or 5 days
in Sinai
Camera Fees:
What are
‘Camera
Fees’
and how much are
they?
There
are
no longer any fees for camera or video camera use. However, many sites
will not
allow you to take them in, and you may have to check them in at the
entrance.
If they do allow them they must be set to museum mode as they will not
allow
regular flash. This damages the artifacts. The rules do change
regularly. If
cameras are not allowed and you see others using theirs, please do not
copy
suit. This destroys the heritage of Egypt and many sites such
as the
tomb of Nefertari have already been closed to the public as a result.
Cameras
and
Videos can be used in the outdoors.
It
is
advisable
to have your passport stamped on arrival if bringing in a Video Camera
or
expensive Camera as proof you brought it with you on departure.
Otherwise you
could be charged customs duties.
Costs to
Enter places:
How much
extra does the
Mummies room cost?
It
costs
approximately $10 US no guiding or cameras are allowed.
Dates and
Times:
When is the
next Aida
performance?
The
show takes place at the Giza Pyramid, during October. It has been
cancelled
since ‘911’, and we will inform you via our website, when it will begin
again.
What are
the Dates for
Ramadan and Feast of Ramadan?
In
2007,
Ramadan will start September 12, and each year following, will be
eleven days
earlier. The feast is 3 days after Ramadan. During Ramadan, all sites
close two
hours earlier than usual.
When does the lock at Esna close for
maintenance?
The
lock closes for
maintenance twice a year, usually sometime in early June and late
November or
early December. The only difference is the Cruises dock in Esna and
sightsee in Luxor
by
Vehicle.
Is the Tomb of
Nefertari Open?
The
tomb is closed indefinitely for restoration.
Daytrips:
When do our daytrips for sightseeing start ,
and end?
The usual time is
around 9am to 4 or 5pm. You can arrange these times directly with your
guide.
Can
we do a
daytrip from Sharm to Cairo, to see the Pyramids etc.?
Yes
it can be
done. As it is a 7 hour drive, to do it as a daytrip you will need to
fly each
way. We suggest you do it as an overnight, if possible, to get the most
benefit
from it.
Do Day
trips have
Single Supplements?
This
depends. If there is a group of 3 or 5, an odd number, there are no
supplements. If there is just 1 person traveling alone, yes we do
charge an
additional fee of $25 US, to cover the costs of the driver,
transportation and
guide.
Is there a
charge for
children age three?
We do
not
charge for Babies up to 2 years, when sharing the room with their
parents. As
there is no charge for them no services of any kind are provided for
them. Any
services required for your baby, such as a crib, milk, or, special
meals, will
need to be paid separately directly by you.
One
exception to the baby rule is flights. There is a charge for Babies for
any
internal flights.
Children
from 2-12 years enjoy a 40% discount as long as they share the same
room with
their parents. Children over 12 years are considered adult.
Feluccas:
What are
Feluccas?
Feluccas are small
bare bones sailing boats, no bedrooms, no washrooms, nothing, except a
few
seats and a sail.
Where can
you sail on a
Felucca?
You
can
sail on a Felucca in Luxor, Aswan
and in Cairo.
This is best as they are short sails of 2-3 hours. If there is no wind,
we
substitute a motor boat.
Do we have
a Felucca
program?
We do
not
do overnight, or longer, Felucca programs, just the short day sails.
These are
bare bones, sleeping on the deck or on the side of the Nile.
This is an adventure for outdoor enthusiasts. We do not book these
trips.
Ferries:
When does
the Ferry go
between Sharm El Sheik and Hurghada?
These
do
not leave every day, and, they take approximately 2 hours. Check the
current
timetable with Egypt
office.
When does
the Ferry go
between Egypt and Jordan?
The Cat Ferry
leaves Nuweiba on a daily basis at 3:00 PM, and arrives in Aqaba at
4:00 PM. It
leaves Aqaba on Daily Basis at 12:00 PM, and arrives in Nuweiba at 1:00
PM
The
ferry
times do change so it is always best to check before departing.
Reservations
are required to guarantee a space.
Flights:
When are the flights from Sharm El Sheik to Cairo?
There
are
several flights a day, but as with all internal flights in Egypt,
most
flights are early morning, or late night.
Can you
fly from Tel
Aviv to Cairo?
Yes
you
can. However, they do not fly daily, so check the schedules.
Can we fly
from Luxor
to Sharm El Sheik?
These
flights do not go daily. It is more advisable to go back through Cairo, so as not
to
interrupt your schedule, or go by Ferry via Hurghada.
Guide vs.
Independent Travel:
Can I
travel
independently without booking a tour package?
While
it is
possible to travel Egypt
as an independent traveler, it is recommended that you book a package
tour, or
private tour. Here's why:
You will
get much more out of your trip if you have a tour guide explaining
things at
the sites, and answering any questions on Egyptian culture and history.
Package
tours, most times, work out cheaper than booking the individual hotels,
boats,
transportation and admissions, on your own. Transportation without a
pre-booked
tour is hard to arrange on your own.
Special
permits, or, government escorts and convoys are required, to visit some
areas.
A tour operator can easily arrange this in advance. In addition, of
course,
language and cultural barriers can make getting around difficult, and
more
expensive.
Guides:
Will we
have one Guide
throughout our tour?
Guides
in Egypt
are all
licensed. Some are just licensed for their own city, some have licenses
that
permit them to guide in other cities. It will depend on the
availability of
guides at the time of your tour. Most guides are contracted by more
than one
company. We do have some guides that work permanently for us.
Can we
hire Guide
Services without booking hotels with you?
Yes
you
can. As day trips, or as a ‘complete package’ program.
Holiday Supplements:
What are Holiday Supplements?
Holiday supplements are the
price increases implemented by the
hotels, and other services, during their peak periods, Easter,
Christmas, and
New Years. We have no control over these supplements and do have to
pass them
onto the clients. Economy is usually around 15% more, Deluxe around
20%, and
Luxury around 25%.
Hot Air
Balloon Rides:
Can we
take a Hot Air Balloon
Ride?
Hot air balloon rides are
available only in Luxor
and will take you in the early morning, over the Valley of the Kings
etc. A wonderful experience, but very expensive. Prices fluctuate
around $200 US per person. They must be booked as an option, as it will
depend on weather conditions as to whether they will be available on
any particular day.
Hotels:
What are
your Hotel
Categories?
Economy –
basically tourist class – 3 & 4star
Deluxe –
The major chain hotels – 4 & 5 stars
Luxury
–
these are top of the line hotels such as the Mena House, Grand Hyatt
etc. and, are
priced as per each request.
Can
we
request a specific hotel or cruise?
If you request
a
specific hotel or cruise, we would have to request it and quote you.
Prices
fluctuate and we base our prices for the tours, on hotels’ where we
have
negotiated rates. We may not be able to get your special request at
negotiated
rates. The prices are likely to be higher.
What does
triple
accommodation mean?
These
could
be three twin beds, a double and single, a pullout bed or a cot. There
is no
set rule; it varies from hotel to hotel.
What about
hotels less
than 3 stars, are they cheaper?
Hotels
less
than 3 stars are often run down and dirty. We do not use, or book these
hotels,
as they do not meet western standards.
Are there
coffee and
tea facilities in the hotel rooms?
The
short
answer is no. You will need to take a portable kettle if you wish to
drink
coffee or tea in your room.
What does
half board
mean?
Half
board
means, two meals per day, breakfast and then either lunch or dinner.
Are there
gym
facilities in the Hotels?
Many
of the
hotels now have gym facilities. The higher end hotels are more likely
to have
these services, along with spa treatments.
Instruction:
Do you
arrange Belly
dancing lessons?
Sorry,
no,
we do not arrange lessons. There is belly dancing on the cruise and
dinner
cruise. Anything else, you will need to arrange directly, or sort out
with the
guide or hotel, on your arrival.
Internet:
Is the
Internet
available in Egypt?
‘Dial
up’
Internet access is available at most hotels. Some of the higher end
hotels have
cable access. If not, Internet cafes’ are everywhere. Your guide will
assist in
you finding them. Internet for dial up is a free local number, but you
pay for
the phone calls.
Locations:
Where is Upper Egypt?
Egypt is a little unusual. The
South part
of Egypt is Upper
Egypt and
the North part, is Lower Egypt. This
is
because the Nile flows from the higher lands in the South to the lower
delta in
the North, and out to the Mediterranean Sea.
Luggage:
Do we have
to carry our
own luggage?
With one exception,
we transport your luggage from the vehicles to your hotel, or cruise.
Bellboys
will move it from the lobby, to your room, for a small tip. You will
need to
carry your luggage onto the train if taking the overnight sleeper, but
again,
you can pay someone to carry it on and off for you. The cabin attendant
will
also assist in putting it up on the rack if you wish. We do suggest
using a
small overnight bag on the train, so you do not need to open your large
suitcase.
Is there a
place to
leave excess luggage we do not need for our trip?
Yes,
there
is a ‘left’ luggage department at the airport and it costs about $10 US
per
day, per suitcase. You can also leave luggage with your first hotel
concierge
and reclaim at the end. Of course, expect to tip them.
Marriage:
Can we get
married in Egypt?
Egypt is a Moslem country and
there are
no Ministers to marry you. In addition, many permits would be required,
and it
is expensive and time consuming to arrange. We suggest getting married
at home,
then having a reception or honeymoon in Egypt.
Money and
Credit Cards:
What is
the exchange
rate and local currency?
The
currency is LE pounds currently about 5 LE to $1 US. The rate changes
daily
against the US dollar.
Are there any legal restrictions or limits on
how much money I can take into Egypt?
There
are
no restrictions or limits on taking in money.
No,
but
there may be limits on what you can take out of your own country.
Unless you
are investing using cash, this should not be an issue.
How much
money do you
recommend we exchange into Egyptian Pounds?
$200
US per
person is the usual. We can arrange this for you on arrival.
Do we need
to have Egyptian Currency or should we take US dollars
with us?
US
dollars
or Euros are great for buying souvenirs and such, but for the small
items like
snacks, bottled water, washroom service, you need to have some one
pound
Egyptian bills.
Besides
hotel
incidentals, can we use US dollars for shopping?
Yes,
both
the US dollar and the Euro are accepted everywhere.
Can I use
MasterCard or
Amex instead of Visa to pay for my tour?
Yes
you
can, but it not recommended. Our accounts are Canadian therefore the
card
company will charge you the exchange rate, plus a fee, in addition to
the 3.5%
we charge. It is best to use Visa as we have a US Visa account and
there are no
additional fees over the 3.5%.
Museums:
How long
is the Egyptian
Museum
open?
The
Museum
is open until 8 pm.
New Years
Eve:
Does Egypt
celebrate
New Years Eve?
Yes,
in
fact most hotels throughout Egypt
have a compulsory dinner that evening, and on Christmas Eve. The higher
end
hotels will have parties and entertainment.
Nile Cruises:
When do Nile Cruises depart?
There are
a
few exceptions, but these are the main departures.
Departures
from Aswan, on Mondays and Fridays
Departures
from Luxor,
on Saturdays and Mondays
Where do
the Nile Cruises go from, and to?
Currently, they go
between Luxor and Aswan, or reverse. The occasional
cruise
between Luxor and Cairo is done when repositioning
after annual
maintenance. This type of Cruise requires long term planning.
What size are
the rooms on the Nile Cruise Ships?
Rooms are the same
size as on most cruise ships,
small and compact.
With a private bath, all have outside cabins. Most ships cannot
accommodate
triples or quads, as these ships only carry 100-200 passengers.
When do we
board the ship?
On
arrival
in Luxor or Aswan, you will drop off your luggage
on the
ship, and then proceed onto sightseeing. Previous guests need to depart
before
you can check into your rooms. Upon your return, around 1 -2pm, you
will join
the cruise for a late lunch, and, check into your room.
Do we have a
ship guide or our own guide?
It could
be
either, but usually, our guides are land based and will meet you at
each stop
for the sightseeing. On rare occasions
we use the ship guides.
Do we sleep
on the ship?
Yes. It
will be 3 or 4 nights on the ship, depending on cruise schedule.
Where do
the 7 night
Cruises go?
3 and 4
night cruises, from Aswan to Luxor have
actual sailing time of 1 night and
1day.
3 and 4 night cruises, from Luxor to Aswan have
actual sailing
time of 1night and 1day.
The rest of the time the cruise ship is a floating hotel dockside, and,
a base
for sightseeing in Luxor and Aswan. This
means, if you choose seven days,
you are simply reversing the same journey, duplicating the same stops
and sightseeing.
Can we get
a room on
the ship with a balcony?
There is
only one or two ships with balconies, owned, and operated, by a company
for
their own groups. Some other ships that have large windows that open,
like
French windows, but these are not balconies.
How
long does the ship
sail?
The
ship
only sails for one day and one night, the rest of the time they are
dockside in Luxor and Aswan,
docked alongside other ships. Sometimes as many as 6 deep. You will do
your
sightseeing while docked.
What are Lake Nasser
cruises?
Lake Nasser is south of
the High Dam in Aswan.
There are
several high end luxury
cruises that operate on Lake
Nasser.
Sightseeing
includes, Abu Simbul temples, and many other temples rescued from the
water
when building the High Dam.
Length
of time to
get
there and how long there:
How
long does it take to get to
Dandara & Abydos?
This
is a day trip, out of
Luxor,
and takes approx 4
hours each way, by convoy. The convoy controls the length of time at
each site,
but usually, there is plenty of time to see the temples.
How long
does a trip
take to Bhahariya Oasis, and, how much time do we need to spend there?
The
Bhahariya Oasis can be either, 2 days and 1 night, or, 3 days and 2
nights.
The drive
is about 5 hours from Cairo.
This is where they have recently found the Valley of the Golden Mummies.
How long
does it take
between Dahab and Sharm El Sheik?
Dahab to
Sharm is a 3 hour drive, each way.
How long
is the sound
and light show, and when does it start?
The Sound
and Light Show at Giza
lasts approximately 45 minutes. Start times vary, as they show is
presented in
various languages. They rotate the shows on different nights. For
instance, the
English version usually starts at 6.30 pm.
How
long does it take to travel from Aswan to Luxor or reverse?
It
takes approx 3-4 hours either by road or by train. Unless there is a
group of 5 or more it is more cost effective to travel by Train. There
are 2 stops on the train, and it leaves Luxor at
6am and 6pm.
How long
do we spend at
the Bazaar and is the guide with us?
We
normally
allocate 1 - 2 hours, depending on how much time we have free. The
guide is
with you, but it is impossible to keep everyone together due to the
narrow
crowded streets. The guide will normally allocate a set place for
everyone to
meet at a certain time.
Pyramids:
Can I
meditate or stay
overnight in the Great Pyramid?
This is
not
possible unless you have managed to negotiate a special permit with the
department of Antiquities. These are not regularly permitted and you
must have
a special reason for doing so. We cannot assist with these.
Red Sea:
What is the water
temperature of the Red Sea during
winter?
It is warm,
between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius during the winter time, which is
December to
February. It is much hotter during the rest of the year.
How long
do I have to
wait to fly after diving?
You
should
wait 24 hours to fly after diving.
Safety in Egypt:
How safe
is travel in Egypt?
Security
is
especially tight, and, all hotels have metal detectors, and Police, at
the
entrance. People are only allowed to come and go through one or two
entrances.
Media hype exaggerates what is happening. Egypt
is safer than most cities in the USA.
Tour
Operators are required to give your itinerary in, around and outside Cairo, to the
authorities.
In addition they have to provide a list of names, passport numbers and
nationalities for all individuals and groups. This allows the police to
secure
the areas they visit, beforehand.
Visas:
Can we get
a Visa on
arrival?
United States, Canada, Western
Europe, UK,
Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand,
and Japan
all can obtain a visa on arrival. Other countries need to check with
their
nearest Egyptian Embassy.
Do I need a
Visa if arriving by cruise ship for a short visit?
Permission
for foreigners arriving in Egypt
on board a cruise ship are granted a permission to visit the port of
arrival
for 24 hours. They must return to their ship at the same port. One may
have
permission to enter the country for a visit, not exceeding a period of
3 days,
before catching their ship at the port of arrival, or at any other
port.
Check
with
the Purser onboard your Cruise.
Is a Visa
required if I enter the country via Sharm El Sheik or Dahab?
If you
arrive, and depart, from Sharm El Sheik or Dahab, a 14 day Visa is
issued,
without charge, to visit Sharm El Sheik, Dahab, Taba, Nweibah, and
St.Catherine’s. If you wish to visit Cairo,
you must obtain a full paid Visa.
Info@americatoegypt.com
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