Egypt Luxury Vacation Review: Cairo, Luxor, Tombs, Pyramids, Museums, Velley of the Kings, 5-Day Trip

I was connected to the travel agency through Zicasso. We've done Europe several times without using a travel agency, no problem, but Egypt is a place even the most travel-savvy American will want some guidance with. I connected with Amr for help to plan a guided tour for five adults for five days. Unfortunately, we had a limited five days in Egypt due to it being a last stop, add-on country after touring elsewhere for several weeks. Although Amr highly recommended we needed more time there, he kindly worked within our short timeframe and budget to see some of the best sites in Egypt. 

Everything was outstanding! We had constant great in-country assistance, phenomenal Egyptologist tour guides (one of them was the best and highly respected everywhere we went), good van drivers, excellent hotels (both right on the Nile with amazing views), perfect unique restaurants (one overlooking the Great Pyramids), and all of the famous tombs, pyramids, mummies, museums, temples, mosques, etc., in Cairo and Luxor. I truly recommend this travel company! I can't stress that enough. We were so impressed and felt like we were treated like royalty from arrival to departure in Egypt.

Just a few suggestions for travelers or the trip planners:

1) Get change for plenty of small Egyptian pounds. Tipping is expected everywhere (bathrooms, guards in the tombs, basically after every service, where it is not typically expected in the USA). It can be very annoying. Follow the tipping guide provided by the agency to tip your personal numerous assistants, guides, drivers, etc. I did not mind tipping our own team, they earned it.

2) Ask the guide to "call off" all of the pushy vendors at the gift shops. They can be very persistent and will hang with you for a distance as you walk by.

3) Unless you just really want the sales pitch and demonstration, tell the guide you do not want to stop at the carpet school, the alabaster shop, Al-Fayad perfume shop, and papyrus store. These were "surprise" stops that were not on the already packed itinerary. Although interesting, you feel put on the spot and obligated to purchase. We did purchase some items and probably paid way too much, but hey, hopefully we helped an Egyptian family. Use this travel company if you travel to Egypt!