Egypt Travel Advice?

I'm so excited because we just booked tickets to visit Egypt!!  We'll be there 27 December through 5 January and most likely visiting Cairo and Luxor.  Does anyone have any advice...must-see (or must-avoid) sites, recommended hotels, etc?  Thanks. 

Also, I'm confused on the currency.  I've heard that both U.S. dollars and the Egyptian pound are accepted most places, which currency would I be better off using? 

OOH I love when I can contribute something helpful!  \  (sorry if this is a long answer!)

We just went to Egypt this past August, so only a few months ago. First of all, let me just say that you will LOVE it there! We could not believe that after seeing photos of things and the pyramids and all that we were actually standing in front of them!

We only went to Cairo so I can only offer advice about there. Of course, in Cairo, the must-see sites are the Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum. The Pyramids are amazing. You can buy additional tickets to actually enter the pyramids, but they only allow so many people per day and if you are at all claustrophobic it is pretty cramped and musty with lots of people. The large pyramid is the main one many people like to go into, but once inside you only see a small empty room. There's nothing in there. At night, there is a sound and light show on the pyramids that is popular, although we opted not to go.

I would definitely recommend taking the time to go to the Pyramids of Saqqara. They are the oldest in the world and it's a bit less touristy there. You can enter a tomb there for no additional cost and actually see the colored hieroglyphs! In that area, you can also stop by Memphis. All that is there is a giant Ramses statue and a few other things, but worth it!

Of course the museum is just amazing, and you can see the actual pharaoh mummies and King Tut's burial pieces!

We used our hotel to find a driver service to take us around the days we were there. That was very helpful as the drivers spoke English and watched out for us at the sites. There are a lot of people who will ask you to show them your tickets, etc. who are just out for a quick buck and not official guides or workers. Just be a smart traveler and ignore them and you'll be fine.

I think you'd be better of using the Egyptian pound because most people and shops used that...although I'm sure they'd take US dollars.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more specific questions! We really researched a lot before we went so I'm sure I could offer any other advice/recommendations! Check out www.virtualtourist.com for specifics on getting around/money/sites/safety.

We stayed at the Le Meridien Pyramids...great price, great food, great service(drivers), and great views--your balcony looks out to the pyramids and at night you can see them lit up!

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!   

I just realised it is almost 6 years since I went to Egypt!

When you go to Luxor take the ferry out to Philae Island & see the temple there, it's beautiful (but beware we saw snake trails in the sand!). I took US$ and changed them there, you will need Egyptian pounds for the markets and suchlike.

I went with a group of friends on a tight budget so our hotel in Cairo was very basic but the people there were lovely and put a driver at our disposal the entire time which was fantastic because he was able to get us good deals everywhere we went.  We had the Rough Guide to Egypt which was great, we found all out hotels through it and it has loads of info on the main sights.

You will have a fantastic time!!

I've done one package tour in my life and that was to Egypt. I am a hard core do it yourselfer (even through Africa) but I have to admit I did like the arranged airport transfers, driver tour guide and cruise on the Nile. 

Have a look at tour packages and you can get an idea of what is popular to see. They are pretty much the same route.

http://www.discoveregypt.co.uk/nile-cruise-itinerary.php

My friends a week later did a drive package with Thomas Cook also for pretty cheap.

Absolutely get a guide to show you around and tell you history. Guidebooks are good but real life guides are even better!!

The pyramids are a must of course as well as the market for the smells, sounds and colors. You can take an overnight train to Luxor and see the temples of Karnak and Luxor plus a day trip out to the Valley of the Kings and Queens. On the cruise, short stops are made at Edfu and Esna and finally Aswan where you can go out an about to the quarry to see an unfinish obelisk... still lying in stone. All sorts of side trips too... out to Kom Ombo or a Nubian Village.

The tourist part of Egypt is super touristy (that's way USD are accepted most places) and locals will try get a little baksheesh for everything... or bring you to their uncle, cousin, sister's jewelry/papyrus/perfume shop.

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/baksheesh.htm

But I felt safe and awed about my surroundings in the city... the smells!!

Try a flavored hookah or to my friend's delight... cigarettes were like Pez and everyone offered them up even if they just met you!

My favorite were the markets. Try some hibiscus tea (better yet bring some back!!) or mint tea or coffee. Loads of McD's, KFC, Subway, TGI Friday's etc though!

We also went out to Hurghadah on the Red Sea (on our own, no guide) but I really wanted to go up to Alexandria and one day to the Sinai Peninsula. (one day I really want to go to Israel, but that's a whole other trip I am planning next year!!)

All I have to say is, just because a donkey ride sounds like a nice, no pain way of seeing the Valley of the Kings doesn't mean it actually is!!!  I think my a$$  (pun intended) still aches just thinking about this! 

June

All I have to say is, just because a donkey ride sounds like a nice, no pain way of seeing the Valley of the Kings doesn't mean it actually is!!!  I think my a$$  (pun intended) still aches just thinking about this! 

June

oh you poor soul!! I think we passed you on our air conditioned bus thinking "glad that's NOT us!!" 

oh you poor soul!! I think we passed you on our air conditioned bus thinking "glad that's NOT us!!" 

Quite probably!  I ended up telling the donkey guy to get lost just as we arrived at the Colossi of Memon and hired a taxi the rest of the day!

June

Did you go to the Colossi of Memnon 1st?? Hope so because we saw that AFTER the Kings and Queens and we were knackered just sitting on the bus!

I did, the road from Luxor comes in through there.

and hired a taxi the rest of the day!

good move then!! 

Thank you so much for all the helpful advice! 

Do you need a visa to travel there?  I was told you need to go to the Eyptian embassy in London to get a visitor's visa.

Yes you will need a visa on a US or GB passport.

Do you need a visa to travel there?  I was told you need to go to the Eyptian embassy in London to get a visitor's visa.

EGYPT ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  A passport and visa are required.  Travelers can obtain a renewable, 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport for a $15 fee, payable in U.S. dollars.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

EGYPT ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  A passport and visa are required.  Travelers can obtain a renewable, 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport for a $15 fee, payable in U.S. dollars.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

That's exactly what I did.