yrebeccalam

This is going to be a very long review because I want to make sure other people don't make the same mistakes as us. I also hope to provide some tips on Egpyt travel as it was hard for me to find good information when I was doing my research. We booked our 8 days Egypt private tour with Ahmed Fayez at Memphis tour through email and put down deposit 3 months before tour with agreement on the hotels and cruise. I tried to confirm all tour details 2 weeks prior but got no response. We got an email two days before leaving and noticed that all hotels and cruise were changed. Not having enough time, I was only able to change our last hotel so we can be closer to the airport and got free transport for dinner. It will later turn out to be the biggest problem of our tour. Advice: make sure you don't let them change your hotel/cruise last minute. Day 1 - we were met at Cairo airport by Memphis staff, Hassein, and got to the hotel smoothly, Sheraton Dream hotel. Hotel was good but too far, especially with the usual bad traffic (1.5hr from airport, 45min-1hr from pyramid, 1-2hr from downtown). We originally agree on a hotel next to the pyramid so we are not pleased on wasting so much time on traveling. For dinner, we wants to eat at "local" restaurant and pick Fish Market but was told it's too far. We ended up in a very tourist restaurant with no local at all, and food was cold and tasteless but not cheap. Later we actually pass by the restaurant and found out it's just 20 mins extra. Advice: don't ask for recommendation (bias due to commission) and trust tour book like lonely planet. Cairo traffic is bad, so stay close to downtown/Giza unless you have plenty of time. Day 2 - Our guide, Nazreed, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Driver was very courteous, professional, and make us feel safe in the mist of crazy Egyptian driving. The pyramids were magnificent and it's truly a once in a lifetime experience. At night, we insisted to go to a local restaurant we picked downtown Cairo, Estoril, and absolutely love it. We paid less for much better food. Great atmosphere and awesome local experience. Day 3 - Early morning flight and left hotel at 2am to catch a 5am flight to Luxor. Unfortunately, it's peak season and Egyptian Air (the only domestic airline in Egypt) overbooked their flight. Nine of us checked in together and only 5 got a boarding pass and arrived in Luxor first. Not accustomed to the Egyptian system, we thought they would just book the 4 people onto the next flight (every 30mins). Unfortunately, we don't have a tour agent with us at check-in and the airline just won't help us. Other people with their tour agent got on later flight but not us. People at airport had trouble finding our agent and people at Luxor were told everything were taken care of. One person managed to get on the plane but three were still waiting at the airport. In the end, at 1030, an agent showed up at the airport and tried to help. Finally, we were told there were no flight and they have to take the train overnight (seating, not sleeper, for 11 hours). The airline refunded the ticket plus $30 to Memphis. We appreciate Hassein taking the train with us and then back. Advice: you need an agent if you can't get on a flight. Day 4 - We love the Karnak temple and valley of the kings/Queens in Luxor. We finally all united and the cruise set sail. Only now we focus on the cruise ship, Shehrazad Nile Cruise. We had problem the day before with A/C not working and exhaust fume in the room. The toxic fume was so bad that some slept on the deck. We were told we can't switch room and it will get better once the ship sail. It didn't happen and the problem continued throughout the cruise. We even have soot coming out from the vent making our bag black. A/C was not working at different time and different rooms. Overall, this is a very old ship that is in horrible condition and needs some serious repairs. We walked through many other cruise ships during the trip and ours is one of the worst one. We tried to complain to Memphis but got an unpleasant email back. They basically told us it's a five star ship that was under reputable management in the PAST and they paid more for it. We can accept the ship being old but not TOXIC EXHAUST fume and non-working A/C! We have agreed on a 5 star DELUXE cruise initially and was only notified at the last minute. We didn't even have time to research on the new cruise and was just told it's good. We have booked many tours with other companies before and never have hotel or cruise ship changed like this. They should at least give us one month notice and pre-approval. This is the biggest problem we had with this company. The plane incident was somewhat unavoidable and actually make for great conversational piece. However, the cruise ship is a different story. Advice: 5 star ship is the basic class, they have 5*deluxe and 5*superior. Insist on getting what you paid for and don't settle. Make them change your ship if you have to (too bad we were too focus on our missing companions). Day 5 - Sail to Edfu and Kom Ombo. Our guide, El Tiab Amed, is a pleasant and excellent guide. Day 6 - Sail to Aswan. Visited the high dam, unfinished obelisk, temple of Philae. We walked from the cruise ship to the spice market on our own. We all LOVE it!! It's a very local market and love the interaction with the local. You can get your souvenir there without too much hassle, unlike other tourist places. At night, we went to a local cafe and smoke shisha with the local. By far, they are the best experience with the Egyptians. Advice: remember to bargain. You can probably paid 20-30% of what they ask for, or at least less than 50%, or walk away. Venture outside and interact with the locals on your own. They are really nice people unlike those you encounter in tourist place. Day 7 - Drive to Abu Simbel (3 hours) through the dessert. Amusing sight and 2/3 of us thought it's worth the long drive. The dinner arrangement and transportation to airport were very confusing and disorganized. We had 3 different staffs from the company and nobody know what's going on most of the time. Day 8 - Back to Cairo. Stay at Fairmont Heliopolis Hotel - very nice hotel. Visited the Egyptian museum - not too be missed. King tut room and mummy (100LE) room are the highlight. Other advice: Always check your beverage bill at restaurant (arranged by tour). They always tried to add 2-3 additional drinks to our bill. Buy water/beverage for your cruise ship- Much cheaper. Perhaps the cruise ship experience has skewed our view, we don't think the nile cruise is worth doing. If I would do it over, I would stay in Cairo downtown and see the pyramids. Enjoy dinner downtown. Fly to Luxor and see the west and east bank. Then, fly to Aswan if more time (see the dam and obelisk) and hang out with the locals. Take a Felucca boat and relax. Back to Cairo and see the museum and Bazaar. Understand the way Memphis tour work, they are basically the middle man coordinating all tour elements for you. It's a bit different from joining a tour. The tour company price is about in the middle range compared to others. It's flexible and private. Be aware of changes and be sure to get what you agree/paid for. More complications if your tour is longer and containing multiple locations. Be vocal if you are not happy. Print out your schedule/agreement. The staff sometimes don't have same info. You will have staff from the company accompanied you most of the time except during sightseeing. Your private tour guide is not associated with the company. Tip separately.