Insider's Guide to Egypt: What to Do and Not to Miss
- Emma Hamrick
- Dec 31, 2023
- 22 min read
Updated: Mar 30
A WORD FROM YOUR GUIDE
I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d visit Egypt. My “Top 10 Destinations” list includes far more common (and admittedly basic) destinations. Years ago, I’d resigned that seeing The Great Pyramids wouldn’t happen in my lifetime and assured myself that National Geographic specials and stock imagery would be enough. But that all changed this past summer.
In June, my father expressed interest in diving the Red Sea on a liveaboard program and mentioned that he planned to spend a few days before his departure exploring Cairo. Having dedicated my 2023 to traveling as much as humanly possible, I jumped at the chance to cross off not only my first “world wonder,” but also a new continent off of my list!
Cut to a few weeks later as I traversed the Internet searching for accurate accounts of traveling to Egypt as a young woman in 2023. There were so many questions that my Google history looked a little bit like this:
Is it safe to travel to Egypt as a woman 2023?
What is the Cairo airport like?
Can a woman fly alone in and out of Egypt?
What to wear to Egypt in October?
Best private tour guides in Egypt
I read things that interested me, and I read things that confused me, and I even read things that made me consider canceling the trip altogether.
Now that I’m a few weeks removed from the trip, I’ve had time to collect my thoughts and have a lot to share. So here I am, typing thousands of words into the ether in hopes of helping someone (anyone) plan their trip to Egypt! So welcome to my very tiny corner of the Internet! I’m glad you’re here (And hi Nathaniel, Mom & Dad… You might be the only ones here)!
It goes without saying that the views and opinions expressed here are based on my personal experience and written without malicious intent. This trip was adventurous, challenging, incredible and exhausting all-in-one, and I couldn’t recommend visiting Egypt enough. Without further ado, here’s everything I did/learned/wore/ate/and explored during my time in Egypt!
BIRD’S EYE VIEW (MY ITINERARY)
As mentioned, this was a father/daughter trip with my “land” portion of the trip added onto my dad’s planned diving exploration in the Red Sea. This blog will only cover my portion of the experience.
We built our itinerary to maximize seeing as much as possible in a limited time. The trip was by no means “leisurely,” and I’d describe it more as an “adventure” than a “vacation.” It bears mentioning that I built an additional travel day into my schedule to fly into Detroit to meet up with my dad before heading to Cairo.
DAY 1: Travel from Los Angeles to Detroit to meet up with my dad
DAY 2: Travel from Detroit to Amman, Jordan
DAY 3: Travel from Amman, Jordan to Cairo and see the Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids
DAY 4: Tour of the Great Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
DAY 5: Day trip to Alexandria
DAY 6: Day trip to Luxor
DAY 7: Tour of the Great Pyramids, Sakkara and Dasher
Day 8: Travel from Cairo, through Paris, to Los Angeles
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Due to my 3 am departure from the Cairo airport, we opted to split our stay across two hotels; one located in downtown Cairo and another attached to the airport. Here’s my take on both locations:
LOCATION:
The InterContinental is in the thick of downtown Cairo. It’s right on the Nile River with a view of the Cairo Tower in the distance. The hotel is about half an hour from both the Giza pyramids and the Cairo International Airport, but right across the street from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Being right in the middle of the action means there is quite a bit of road noise from the bustling Cairo streets below. The horn honking overnight is near constant and we also heard loud music from the Nile River cruises into the early morning hours. The prayer calls begin at 5 am and last until around 10 pm on a sporadic basis. Despite some of the environmental noise, we found this hotel very centrally located for our day tours.
OUR ROOM:
Our room was on the 15th floor and was non-smoking. The room wasn’t quite ready as we walked in for the first time and we found the cleaning crew hard at work making sure the room was spotless. They did a great job as the room was sparkling clean. The furniture felt plush, albeit slightly dated. The furnishings were nearly identical to the InterContinental that I stayed at in NYC this past spring. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the bathroom was large with good water pressure and consistently warm water. We especially enjoyed our large balcony with a view of the pool as well as the Nile River. We had no issues with noises from the hallway or neighbors and enjoyed this room overall.
AMENITIES:
Wifi was great and extended up into our room with no issue. We took advantage of the hotel pool deck several times and enjoyed our time there. The water was a bit cool, but the pool was deep and the surrounding area was very clean. We didn’t go inside the gym area, but it looked large with multiple cardio and weight machines.
FOOD OPTIONS:
We became very familiar with the coffee cafe and bar located in the lobby called Cafe Cornish. The cafe was open 24 hours and we had some wonderful sandwiches prepared to order on two of our mornings. This was also a great stop for a sweet treat, coffee, or a glass of wine. Overall, the cafe offered a convenient and reliable spot!
We had lunch at the Nile Terrace poolside restaurant which was just okay. The Shish Taouk was a bit dry, but we enjoyed our hummus and the view at this restaurant. We did have a slight language barrier with our server, but he was kind and the service was efficient.
We also tried The Grille, the hotel's French restaurant, for dinner and ordered steaks. The meal was hearty and tasty. It was by no means the best steak of our lives, but the meal was filling, the service was elevated, and we loved our seats with a beautiful view of the Nile.
SERVICE:
The attendants outside the hotel and at the cafe were a bit pushy and aggressive. Not sure if it was just the chaos of the city, but it was the only drawback I experienced in service. The front desk staff was kind and sent a nice tray of fruit and pastries to our room for being IHG members. The staff in most of the restaurants were efficient and patient with us. Outside of the drop-off loop/lobby staff, we had great interactions.
FINAL NOTES:
I enjoyed this hotel overall. One thing to note for American tourists is that there is smoking at all of the restaurants and in the common areas (pool, lobby, etc.). This was a bit unexpected but wasn’t an issue for us as we distanced ourselves from it.
LOCATION:
When they say this hotel is located at the airport, they literally mean at the airport! There’s a sky bridge connecting this hotel to Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport. We found it very convenient to walk from the hotel to Terminals 2 and 3 during our stay. Despite the proximity to the airport, both the room and pool area were quiet (even more quiet than our other accommodations in downtown Cairo!). Getting Ubers in and out of the hotel was not a problem and we even had tour guides pick us up and drop us off easily. Honestly, the location cannot be beaten, especially if you’re only spending a day or two in Cairo.
OUR ROOM:
Upon check-in, we were upgraded to a standard room on the fifth floor with a view of Terminal 2 in the distance. The fixtures were modern and luxurious with ample storage space and clean finishes. The bathroom was a bit larger than a usual hotel bathroom with a nice rainfall shower with very hot water. The queen-size beds were a bit firm for my liking, but suitable.
AMENITIES:
We spent a bit of time by the pool in the late afternoon. The pool area and spa cabanas looked comfortable and well-appointed. The water in the pool was a tad bit too chilly to enjoy (granted it was October and beginning to cool off outside during our stay). Some flies around the pool area cut my time outside short, but that may have been a one-off incident. Wifi was great and extended up into our room with no issue. We didn’t take advantage of the spa this go around, although I was tempted to!
FOOD OPTIONS:
The massive breakfast buffet was a pleasant surprise with an omelet station, endless breakfast pastries, and a hearty round-up of warm and cool breakfast sides. It was moderately priced at around USD 30 per person (Not entirely unheard of for a hotel of this category, but much more expensive than traditional Egyptian options). Compared to other breakfasts on our trip, this was by far our favorite.
We ate dinner at the Westernized sports bar adjacent to the pool. The menu offered familiar American fare of hamburgers, salads, and other traditional bar bites. After eating chicken and hummus nearly everywhere, the sports bar offered a nice change of pace. Service was a bit slower than expected, but not a major issue.
A walk-up lobby bar and cafe were also available. We were told the cafe would take 30 minutes to make sandwiches which was a bit of a bummer when we were in a pinch for a quick bite. But the lobby bar offered a robust selection of beverages which we purchased and took back to the room to enjoy.
SERVICE:
All of the employees here were extremely accommodating. We dropped our bags off at 4 am before our check-in time due to a planned all-day excursion and the team was extremely helpful and held our luggage for us free of charge. The service staff at the restaurants were kind as well.
FINAL NOTES:
I’d absolutely stay here again if I returned to Cairo. I strongly preferred staying here over our downtown hotel accommodations and feel this is a great location, especially if you are planning to hop around to other locations in Egypt like Luxor or Hurghada.
بالهنا والشفا (BON APPETITE)
The Grill Restaurant & Lounge
Located inside the InterContinental Semiramis, The Grill Restaurant & Lounge is situated along the Nile River. With floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping panoramic views of the water, this French steakhouse is tucked away on the hotel’s third floor. The hotel location puts a comfortable distance between diners and the hustle and bustle of downtown Cairo. We were thankful to be seated in the corner right by the window and enjoyed watching the Nile River party boats light up the water.
The menu consists of traditional French fare with Middle Eastern twists, as well as a steak selection. Both of us opted for the US Filet. I enjoyed my sides of potatoes and roasted vegetables (Familiar flavors after having enjoyed plenty of Egyptian food). The steak was fine, served at the appropriate temperature, but nothing to write home about. I enjoyed a glass of Egyptian Pinot Noir with the meal and appreciated the dessert offered at the end of the service.
Our waiter was polite and efficient during the meal service. But overall, this meal was just okay. If you get tired of Egyptian food as we did during our trip, and you’re staying in the adjoined hotel, this might be a place to stop for an elevated and familiar dinner. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here again and wouldn’t recommend it to non-hotel guests.
CRIMSON BAR
This swanky restaurant felt like I’d been transported to an LA rooftop bar. With greenery on the walls, earthy wood furniture and a sweeping view of the Nile, the vibes here were perfect for an evening dinner. We were able to walk in and snag a table on the outdoor patio where we enjoyed the evening ambiance as the sun set.
The meal started on high notes. A delicious bread service with pesto, olive oil, and butter accompaniments arrived alongside our Egyptian wine selections. The cocktail menu looked incredible, but I opted for a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc. My father enjoyed the French Onion Soup and said it was one of the better iterations of the dish he’d had. I loved the Goat Cheese Salad as an appetizer; the cheese was plentiful and creamy, and the vegetables were fresh, pairing well with a bright dressing. I wish I would’ve ended my meal there.
For a main, I’d ordered Fettuccine Al Aragosta, billed as a fettuccini pasta with fresh lobster in a creamy sauce. I hate to admit it, but this was one of the worst pasta dishes I’ve had in my life. The tomato-based sauce wasn’t anywhere near “creamy” and had so much spice that my mouth burned as I tried to eat. Even worse was the lobster which, while plentiful, was bizarrely rock-hard and tough to chew through. I’m not sure if this was an exceptionally off night, or if the chef called in sick, but my goodness I cannot advise against this dish more.
My father kindly offered a taste of his Filet Mignon and he won the evening. The steak was juicy, tender, and delicious.
While I can’t give this restaurant my full vote of confidence, I do think it might be worth a shot. Just stay clear of the lobster pasta!
DO OR DIE
A few tips and tricks I learned from my trip!
DO: BOOK PRIVATE TOURS
Time and time again, I watched as tourists on big bus tours hobbled out of their vehicles and stood in massive crowds straining to hear their guides share the history surrounding them. I cannot emphasize enough how greatly our private guide positively impacted our experience. Our guides shielded us from scams, pushed us to the front of crowded lines, took as many pictures as we needed, and answered every question (even the dumb ones we wouldn’t have asked in a big group). Our guides were also open to our feedback and suggestions which allowed us to spend more time at certain locations or skip over things we’d already seen in other tours.
Private guides in Egypt were ridiculously affordable. We’re talking USD 60 or so for full-day tours of the pyramids with admission to the sites, the car with a driver, and a guide all day. We of course provided tips on top of this, but the value cannot be understated. I wouldn’t do Egypt any other way! I booked all of my tours through EmoTours on TripAdvisor!
DO: TAKE THE DAY TRIP TO LUXOR
Our day trip to Luxor was the unexpected highlight of the trip. I booked the experience through TripAdvisor which included round-trip flights to the city, admission to all of the major sites, and our guide and driver for the day. The richness of the history and magnitude of the temples and tombs cannot be missed. The temples of Karnak and Luxor were enormous with incredible artistry and rich history. Walking through the Valley of the Kings and spending time in King Tut’s tomb with his body was an experience I’ll never forget.
I won’t lie; it was an exceptionally long day of travel and tours (We left our hotel at 4 am and returned at 12:30 am the next morning). But the tour was worth some sleep deprivation and the very affordable price we paid. I fell in love with Luxor so much that if I ever return to Egypt, I might stay an extra day to spend more time exploring the temples, taking a hot air balloon ride, and visiting the Valley of the Queens.
DO: UBER WHEN NEEDED
Our 30-minute Uber from the airport to downtown Cairo was $7. If that’s not evidence enough that Uber is the way to go, I don’t know what is.
Using Uber in Egypt was super easy and not much different than using it in the US. Many of the drivers we encountered did not speak English, but the app was able to translate chats from drivers in real-time.
I’d heard horror stories about taxis taking advantage of tourists through price gouging and surprise fees, so I avoided them altogether. I only briefly encountered taxi drivers at the Cairo airport and felt uncomfortable with their pushy sales tactics. This gives Uber even more points in my book as set prices and straightforward communication provided a much-needed piece of mind.
I cannot stress enough that renting a car in Cairo is NOT a good idea. Driving in Egypt is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Drivers throw the rules of the road out the window; lanes don’t exist and horns constantly blare as drivers cut one another off. As an American, I feel it's incredibly unsafe to attempt to drive in Egypt.
DO: TRAVEL SAFELY
We just so happened to be traveling to Egypt at the start of the Israel and Palestine conflict. With uncertainty lurking, I realized I wasn’t prepared for this kind of situation while on our trip. I immediately registered for the US STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). This alerts the US Embassy and State Department of travel plans and ensures you will receive timely communication regarding changes to safety at your travel destination.
Here are a few other recommended tips to stay safe during international travel:
Be alert of your surroundings at all times. When sleeping on planes, protect your belongings by locking them in TSA-approved suitcases and keeping items on your person.
Have a photocopy of your passport and any other important travel documents
Carry your passport at all times
Keep money spread across multiple locations
Use bags that are pick-pocket deterrent (I swear by my Lululemon Belt Bag which I wear across my chest)
Keep valuables locked in safes while visiting hotels
Travel with all valuables and essentials in carry-on bags
Designate an emergency contact back home
If you have an iPhone, set up a Medical ID
Talk to your doctor before departing for international travel to assess any needed medications or vaccinations
DON’T: FALL FOR SCAMS
I read online countless horror stories about scams on tourists traveling to Egypt, especially those visiting without guides. Our guides did an incredible job of helping us avoid major scams. That said, hustling is part of Egyptian culture and even our guides led us into a few prickly situations at “government-sponsored” souvenir stores. At the end of the day, you need to have a backbone and be willing to say “no” to salespeople and street vendors.
It’s not uncommon to end up in a perfume or papyrus store to be offered some “Egyptian hospitality” of free beverages and a “demonstration” of goods available. Then, salespeople will put the pressure on to make a sale by bundling products together or commanding high rates for products. Prepare to negotiate for what you’re willing to pay. And if you’re unhappy with the deal being offered, walk out the door (I say this in hindsight as someone who unfortunately did not walk out the door…).
DON’T: LEAVE WITHOUT SMALL BILLS
Before leaving for Egypt, I visited the bank and requested $700 with significant amounts of $1’s, $5’s and $10’s. Having small bills available to exchange or give away in a pinch proved to be worth the trip to the bank.
It’s also important to exchange dollars for EGP upon arrival into the country. Small bills in EGP can be difficult to come by and need to be acquired through transactions in stores or by exchanging with a hotel counter or tour guide. We struggled to find bills under 200 EGP from Egyptian ATMs.
Credit cards could be used in most high-dollar shops and hotel restaurants, but the more authentic Egyptian eateries seemed to deal in cash for the most part. Cash was also needed for tipping guides, restroom attendants, and buying souvenirs from vendors.
DON’T: ARRIVE WITHOUT A PLAN
Let me be perfectly honest: The streets of Egypt are NOT a place to go out on your own. Do your research (If you’re reading this, you’re on the right track!). Make an itinerary with daily plans. Pick a hotel with food options inside or nearby. Plan tours (Trip Advisor was INCREDIBLY HELPFUL). The most unsafe thing you can do is arrive without a plan.
ALL IN THE DETAILS
The questions I couldn't find answers to when I was planning my trip to Egypt.
WHAT SHOULD I SEE IN CAIRO? SHOULD I GO TO LUXOR? WHAT IS THE SAFEST WAY TO SEE ALL OF THE TOP SIGHTS IN EGYPT?
Learn more about guided tours and must-see destinations in my blog post. I've linked all of our tours and provided helpful reviews. A guide is a MUST-HAVE wherever you go in Egypt to make sure you have a safe and optimal experience.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR IN EGYPT?
Glad you asked! Check out my packing list and learn more about what to wear in my article.
IS THE WATER SAFE IN EGYPT?
It is not recommended to drink the water in Egypt from the tap. We stuck to bottled water for all consumption. In our experience, hotels provided two or three bottles per person free of charge in the room. Water on tours or at restaurants was available in bottles at a reasonable cost (50 EGP or about $1.50 for large-size bottles). Some tour guides also provide water as part of the tour fee, but inquire with your tour operator if you are unsure.
WHAT ARE PUBLIC BATHROOMS LIKE IN EGYPT?
Public restrooms in Egypt are very hit-and-miss. Most of the time, there will be a bathroom attendant that you must tip to receive toilet paper. We ran into this inside the Cairo and Luxor airports as well. Tips around 5 to 10 EGP (USD 0.15 - USD 0.30) were enough to get by in most places, but some attendants were pushy when they realized I was American and asked for USD 1. There were several instances where I ran into a restroom without an attendant or toilet paper at all. The worst offense was at the Luxor airport later in the evening after a flight delay where I went to the restroom only to find no paper products whatsoever. I carried small Kleenex packets in my purse which came in handy several times and I would recommend anyone traveling do the same. Feminine hygiene products were nowhere to be found in public restrooms in my experience, so plan accordingly.
WILL I GET SCAMMED IN EGYPT? WHAT ARE COMMON SCAMS IN EGYPT?
You will get hustled in Egypt. There’s no way around it. Just embrace it as part of the experience. Here are a few things to watch out for that we encountered during our trip:
Anyone around the historic sites selling anything will jack up the prices on their wares. Just decline and keep walking and defer to a guide to help find the souvenirs you are looking for.
Tour guides will take you to “government-sponsored” papyrus, perfume, spice, tea, and alabaster shops. This will be a “no pressure tour” to see the process of how things are made, but these salespeople WILL try to sell you things. They’ll provide you with a free drink and show you various items until you express interest in something. Then, they will do everything in their power to sell it to you. NEGOTIATE and do not take the first offer. They’ll also try to “bundle and sell” multiple products, even if you don’t want them. IT’S OKAY TO SAY NO and walk out the door.
“Guards” and “tour guides” will approach you and ask you where you are from inside certain temples. They will also ask to take photos for you. Say no and move on. If you do interact, provide a small tip of EGP10 - 20 (USD 0.30 - 0.60). We saw this most frequently at the Valley of the Kings.
Taxi drivers and stands at the airport will be extremely pushy. Uber will always be cheaper, so unless you want to negotiate, stick to the app.
There were a few moments at the Pyramids of Giza that felt like pickpocket attempts. Keep valuables secure.
WHAT CURRENCY OR CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED IN EGYPT?
Egyptian pounds (EGP) are the main form of currency in Egypt. I’d recommend purchasing small goods in cash using EGP. EGP can be extracted from ATMs in Egypt. We found the ATMs in our hotels to be safe and convenient. ATMs typically dispense 200 EGP as the lowest denomination. We worked with hotel staff and our tour guides to swap large bills for smaller ones in order to provide tips in bathrooms and to purchase small goods like beverages at restaurants.
The USD is recognized at the airport. We also tipped our guides in USD. At the time of our trip, the Egyptian pound was slipping in value significantly which made the power of the USD incredibly strong, so we found our guides appreciated the tips in USD. Bathroom attendants typically preferred USD as well, but from a dollar and cents perspective, $1 is a very high tip for using the restroom based on the local currency.
We were able to use our credit cards without major foreign transaction fees. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. We had trouble finding locations to accept Discover or AMEX. Contactless payment/Apple Pay was available at a few locations. I’d highly recommend having a Visa or Mastercard available for use. I did not alert my bank or any credit card companies of my travel ahead of departure. My Apple Card (Mastercard) was flagged for fraud after I tried to pay for an Uber using the card. I was able to quickly clear this flag without any issues.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SOUVENIRS TO GET IN EGYPT?
Some popular souvenirs in Egypt include:
Papyrus
Perfume / Oils
Spices
Tea
Alabaster and other stone sculpture/pottery
Gold Jewelry
Our tours included stops at “government-sponsored” stores for all of the above, except jewelry. That said, if jewelry is of interest, I’d recommend asking a guide to escort you to a store to ensure you’re getting the real thing (They’ll be happy to oblige in hopes of getting a commission for taking you there). We took this approach in Luxor.
Be sure to haggle for deals in Egypt as sales prices will be inflated, especially if you’re an American paying in USD.
WHAT IS THE CAIRO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIKE?
The Cairo International Airport is made up of three terminals. Our international flights on Royal Jordanian and Air France arrived and departed out of Terminal 2 while our regional flights on Egypt Air and Air Cairo departed and arrived in Terminal 1.
Upon international arrival, a visa must be purchased for USD 25 (cash only and exact change recommended). The visas were sold at the “Health Inspection” stand and were difficult for us to find. Visas should be purchased before standing in line for customs (or, if you miss the visa stand like us, you’ll get sent back to purchase the visa after standing in line for customs).
There were around six large baggage carousels in Terminal 2. Our checked bags were ready and available on the carousel by the time we got through customs. After retrieving baggage, bags are scanned by Cairo Airport security. This was a bit of a cluster with 200+ people trying to form a single line to exit the building. When security saw our US passports, we were waived around this checkpoint to exit the airport.
As soon as you exit the baggage claim area, there are lots of taxi drivers calling out asking if you need a ride. We’d read Uber was cheaper online and opted to use Uber. However, we also had a question to ask the hotel desk at the Le Meridian, where we were staying for the second half of the trip. We walked to the Le Meridian, which is connected via sky bridge to Terminal 3. It took a bit of convincing to let the airport security allow us inside the Terminal 3 exit, but we managed to do so and were able to easily walk to the hotel within about 10 minutes. We took an Uber downtown from the Le Meridian without issue. I’d imagine finding an Uber in the crowd of drivers at the terminal might be a challenge, so this solution worked well for us (but might be frowned upon for non-hotel guests).
Security during airport departures from Cairo was thorough. We went through metal detectors and baggage scanners two or three times for each departure. Women and men are separated in line and everyone receives pat-downs from gender-appropriate security agents. The security process took around 15 minutes for a domestic departure and 25 minutes for an International departure.
I’d read online that airport security guards ask for tips in exchange for expedited security or to avoid uncomfortable pat-downs. While departing the Cairo airport for a domestic flight to Luxor, a security guard did move me forward in line and said “Tips and money” while putting my bag on the conveyor belt for the x-ray scanner. I declined and did not see any negative repercussions. My dad, who was traveling with scuba diving equipment, paid 50 EGP to skip a second security check at the Luxor airport simply to avoid having his bag picked apart (which happened at just about every security checkpoint since his scuba gear surprised some of the security agents).
When departing Egypt for an international destination, be ready to fill out a declaration sheet before leaving the country. Before walking through emigration, there is a section of tables to fill out the sheets, but no pens are available for use. Make sure to have one at the ready, or be prepared to make a friend with a pen!
Food at both the Cairo and Luxor airports was fairly limited with sad pre-packaged sandwiches and bagged snacks being about the only option for lunch/dinner. We were able to find some pastries and breakfast sandwiches for our morning departures. I didn’t have any issue finding open food counters for water at 1 am for my 3 am departure. The vendors at the airport did recognize USD for purchases.
IS THERE HOTEL SECURITY IN CAIRO?
An unexpected reality of Cairo hotels is constant hotel security. Don’t be alarmed by having to walk through metal detectors and place baggage on x-ray machines to enter your hotel. Even more surprising to me was that when Ubers or car services approach hotels, guards must scan drivers’ licenses, inspect the trunk of the vehicle, and have dogs sniff for unwanted goods. While the volume of security felt a little daunting at first, I felt at peace knowing that everyone in the vicinity of the hotel had been thoroughly inspected.
HINDSIGHT 20/20
No trip is perfect, so here are a few things I would’ve done differently (or WILL do differently if/when I get a chance to go back!):
SPEND MORE TIME IN LUXOR
Luxor was by far and away my favorite part of the trip… And we were only there for a day! I would love to spend more time at all the sights just to steep myself even further in history. I’d also love to visit the Valley of the Queens or take a hot air balloon ride over the city.
While visiting, we drove past the Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor which looks incredible. A Four Seasons is also under construction right across the street along the Nile. I have both saved in my travel journal as “places I need to stay one day.”
VISIT THE COAST
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked whether I was visiting Sharm Al Sheikh or Hurghada… I’d probably have enough for a nice dinner on the coast at one of those locations. With my trip being as short as it was, time to explore these destinations wasn’t an option. But judging by the disappointment of everyone who heard it wasn’t on my itinerary, it sounds like a trip to the coast is a must-do in Egypt.
EXPLORE MORE EATERIES
I’m once again using the short trip length as a justification for skipping out on trying more of the local cuisine. That said, if I had another day in Cairo, I likely would’ve sought out some kind of food tour to experience all the local dishes had to offer. I admittedly played it pretty safe during our visits to Egyptian restaurants and ate chicken and hummus or beef kofta at most of the locations. But with the right guide or a local recommendation, I might’ve been bold enough to try local delicacies like pigeon or camel.
VISIT MORE MUSEUMS
Unbeknownst to me, there were very few mummies in the Cairo Museum of Egyptian History. Turns out many of the mummies, including notables Ramses II, Thutmose I, and Seti I, are located in the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Civilization. I also would’ve loved to have had more time in Luxor to visit the Luxor Museum and the Museum of Mummification. If I returned on a more leisurely trip, I’d do my best to include all three of these stops.
PICK UP SOME OF THE SIGHTS I MISSED
There were a few major archaeological and natural sights that I missed on my trip that I’d try my best to pick up upon return. Some of the top locations included:
TRY ANOTHER HOTEL
I wish the Marriot Mena House would’ve had availability during our desired dates. The architecture, proximity to the pyramids, and history of the location simply cannot compare to any of the other hotels in the area. I will say this hotel can be a bit pricey, but for a night or two, I think this one might be worth the splurge. With the upcoming relocation of the treasures from the Egyptian Museum of Cairo to the new museum located at Giza, I'd recommend looking for lodging in the Giza area as opposed to downtown Cairo.