Going to Egypt for the first time soon when I get a well paying job. I'm sure a few of you can offer some advice on my trip. Just wanted to pack in as much fun as I can. Any recommendations? Bout to go Indiana Jones up here!!!!
I was there exactly one month before all the uprising began. Some thoughts: 1. The pyramids are pretty incredible. Hire a guide to help you if you can afford it. 2. Cairo is extremely crowded and polluted and generally unsafe feeling. Probably even worse now. Not a pleasant place at all. 3. If you go with a woman, tell them you are married. Some taxi drivers and tour guides won't take you in their vehicle if you're not. I was married with my wife at the time so it wasn't an issue for us, but we were asked several times. 4. Some of the mosques in Cairo are quite beautiful. Worth a visit 5. Other than that, get the hell out of Cairo as soon as possible. 6. Sharm el Sheik is ok, not great. It's like a smaller, crappier, more foreign Cancun with beaches that aren't as nice. 7. You can cross the Sinai Peninsula and across the border into Eilat, Israel, rent a car and head up to the Dead Sea or Tel Aviv or Jerusalem in not too much time. Overall to me Egypt is only really good for the pyramids at Giza
If you are into it for historical/educational purposes and enjoy the Giza, there are tons of other places like Abu Simbel, Luxor, and the museums within Cairo that can be pretty good. The other thing is you'd probably want to go with someone who knows what and where everything is so you're just not looking at a pyramid and saying "yup, that's a big ass pyramid .... next", hunting for things to do, or going where you shouldn't be going alone. I was planning on going there on something like what Smithsonian Tours does until the "unrest" started : http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/...1&hs40=_BOG0KKB8cSo8sw&hs42=AF9EoP&hs43=egypt
Compared to my friends, I'm much more willing to travel to places that may be considered 'dangerous.' That being said, I would not book a trip to Egypt anytime soon. Why not go to Europe, Asia, or South America? They have just as much to see and do, and most places would be a safe option.
regarding whether you'll be safe in Egypt, I think some of the concerns may be overblown. No, I didn't feel 100% safe when I was there, but part of that was due to just how crowded it was and the fact that I didn't speak arabic and there were some differences in hotels like metal detectors. just so you know, there is NOT a US state dept travel advisory to Egypt. If you stay around Giza and the tourist sites you'll probably be fine. There are a tremendous number of Egyptians who are dependent upon the tourism industry and they won't put up with problem instigators in the tourist areas.
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