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Would it be better to stay at Le Meridien Hotel or to stay at Mena House Hotel in Cairo?

IMHO - having been in Le Meridien and having stayed at the Mena House - you should not miss the opportunity to stay at the Mena House. For my full report, please see my post in this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1486840

Is it better option to take a dinner in the Oberoi Mena house restaurant(with pyramid view) and which one, or just to go to the pyramids and watch there the show?

Hi Cruiseby, when I returned from Egypt, I posted my review of the Mena House here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1486840

We chose to dine at the Mena House over the light show or Nile cruise.

Different strokes ... we had dinner at Mena House before the Ramses van picked us up for the drive to the Sphinx. Enjoyed both, but in retrospect the kitschy sound and light show stands out as unique and memorable. Mena House Oberoi is a truly grand hotel, but it is finally just another hotel.

... as you say, Mikewrit, different strokes ...

I respectfully disagree about the Mena House. It is a former palace of the Khedive Ismail and is one of only 8 famed Oberoi hotels; renowned for their beauty and high level of service.

I found it unique in every aspect and it boasts (and lives up to) the high level of service of Oberoi hotels. It is situated on 40 acres of gardens unlike any you will find in Cairo or Giza, filled with ornate reflecting pools, flowering hibiscus trees and alabaster fountains. Even though we were in Egypt to see its treasures of antiquity, we consider our stay at Mena House to be a highlight.

There's no doubt that I would not exchange my only visit to the Pyramids for a stay at Mena House but if you can do both, it is my fervent opinion that it is well worth it.

Is it better option to take a dinner in the Oberoi Mena house restaurant (with pyramid view) and which one, or just to go to the pyramids and watch there the show?

You will not be able to see most of the light show from the restaurants at the Mena House and you certainly can't hear the narrative that accompanies it.

If you are only spending one evening in Cairo, you will have to choose between attending the S&L show or spending some quality time enjoying the very ample amenities and fine dining at the Mena House. Many would say that your short time would be best spent in the presence of the Sphinx, even if the show is a bit 'cheesy'. We chose instead to enjoy a fantastic meal in the Moghul Room and wander through the Mena House and its sumptuous gardens in the moonlight.

Hi,

 

Apparently you had a nice time in Ephesus. This summer I will be visiting Ephesus with a cruise ship. I have pretty much time in Kusadasi. I need your suggestion. I have not been to Ephesus before and I would like to have a good time. I love history and antiquity. Could you please recommend me which places are must-see ?

On the 'must see' list: Ephesus, including the Terrace Houses; a long, wandering stroll through Kusadasi.

On the should see list: The House of the Virgin Mary (whether you are a Christian or not, it is on a beautiful site and certainly on most people's list); the Temple of Artemis (aka The Artemision); Basilica of St. John; Isa Bey Mosque (built from the stones of the Temple of Artemis)

To see more, visit: http://www.*************/info/top_places_to_visit_in_kusadasi.htm

We are trying to decide where to stay for our overnight. Would it be better to stay at the Oberoi Mena House or to stay at Fairmont Nile City Hotel in Cairo:confused:

It depends on where you want to be. If you want to be close to the center of Cairo and perhaps have a Nile River view, then choose the Fairmont. If you want to have closer access to the Pyramids, Sakkara and Dahshur, and perhaps a Pyramid view room, then choose the Mena House. I did not stay in Cairo, so I can't tell you much about what the pluses and minuses are. But I did stay in 2 places in Giza, one being the Mena House and can tell you that I may not choose anywhere else to stay when I return to Cairo. It was that good.

For a full report and links to other reports check out this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1563179

Looking forward to our next cruise! :)

 

We're working with Ahmed from Ramses Tours (ramsestours <dot> com) on an overnight in Cairo. I think we have everything locked down - from our camel ride in Sakkarra & 4x4'ing in the desert to visiting Memphis (day 1), Cairo/Giza (day 1) and Alexandria (day 2).

 

I need people's opinion on Dahshur... If we are short on time, would people suggest skipping Memphis and seeing Dahshur? Just curious. I would love to see both, but don't want to feel rushed. So we're down to Ramses statue & alabaster sphinx vs. Red Pyramid.

IMHO, the Red Pyramid ... without a doubt. In Memphis, apart from the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx, there is not a lot to see - mind you, though, they are usually on the checklist of many visitors.

It's a hard call, not knowing what you're most interested in seeing but judging from your planned 4x4 excursion in the desert, you are adventurous. So I think you'll enjoy going inside the Red Pyramid. The climb to the entrance gives a great vantage point for a view to Saqqara and beyond - I'm told that on a clear day, you can see to the Pyramids at Giza. The climb down to the interior isn't too difficult (go down backwards) and the interior chambers are as interesting as those in any pyramid, with high-vaulted chambers and corbelled ceilings.

The Bent Pyramid rounds off your visit in Dahshur and it's quite interesting to see, as it is quite different from the Red and Giza Pyramids. You'll also see the Black Tower, nearby - it's an almost completely collapsed Pyramid.

The bonus is that there are usually very few people at Dahshur, making your walk around these Pyramids and the visit to the interior of the Red quite unique, unlike the crowded visit usually experienced at Giza.

If you do go inside the Red Pyramid, don't be too put off by the strong smell of ammonia that you'll notice right away as you enter. It is a remaining smell from the time when bats were present in the past. You quickly get used to it.

Have fun!

I have been in touch with a friend over there and he tells me that the elections are completed and the Muslim Brotherhood has a majority

Yes, quite right. The majority of candidates that were elected are representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Muslims. The young liberal candidates that were representative of the young revolutionaries that filled the squares during the revolution were much less organized for the election than the winning parties.

To many western eyes, that may seem to indicate that Egypt will now be less likely to form a government that will be more 'open' and progressive, as we westerners would like to put it. But the Muslim Brotherhood has often stated in its manifesto that the party is driven by the same thirst for freedom and justice that drove the young revolutionaries. Certainly, though, it means that there may not be official separation of religion and state in Egypt's government. That will disappoint those who wanted to see Egypt become more 'western' in both practices and appearance.

With regard to tourism, however, it is unlikely that Egypt will adopt any policies that will hurt the tourist industry, as it represents fully 12% of Egypt's GDP. For the people who will visit Egypt, there will probably be little change in the short term with regard to security and hopefully, less unrest in the long term, if the new government can provide better justice for the Egyptian people.

We are cruising on NCL Jade in Nov 2012 and in the process of collecting quotes, comments, recommendations, etc. for our excursions in Egypt. There are mixed comments on the internet regarding Ramses and Nile Blue and for the time being Nile Blue offers a better price (there are 4 of us in the party and Nile Blue offer discount for party >3 but Ramses charges the same for 2-4 persons). I hope I can get more fellow travellers together for the bulk savings but the roll call board is a bit stale at the moment. Thank you for your valuable comments and would be nice if someone recently returned from the trip could give me some insights on what to expect from them.

The rules are that we are not supposed to recommend tour companies without being asked to specifically comment on them. You are asking about Ramses and Nile Blue, which are both well recommended companies on this site. After much communication and research with these two and others, I chose another company for both the economy and the communication they offered, not to mention a great reputation and long history in the business. Take a look at my other posts to see which company. I'd be glad to answer any questions.

I just wanted to ask any of you that took the overnight with Ramses about what time did you reach your hotel in the evening? I am hoping to stay at the Oberoi Mena House and it says we need reservations for the Indian restaurant for dinner? We are really looking forward to staying there and just soaking it all in. Especially after the great day I know we are going to have on the tour with Ramses after reading all the great reviews.

Thank you!

On the first part of your question, I'm sorry I don't know for sure what time Ramses will get you back to the Mena House but I can tell you that many clients get back to the Hotel and then go out to the Sound & Light Show or Nile cruise. So, I presume that would be somewhere before 7pm. However, as you are choosing the itinerary with Ramses, you can be the one to decide on the time.

The Moghul Room doesn't open until 7pm, and they close at 11pm. When we were there in June, there were no more than 4 or 5 tables occupied simply because the tourists had not yet begun to go back to Egypt in numbers but, no matter, you would be wise to make a reservation because it is one of the best restaurants in Cairo.

We are in the Greek Islands now and wonder if Ramses accepts credit cards for payment.

When I was booking an excursion with them, they said that the final payment was in cash, USD preferably.

Did you use ephesus-turkey or find out any other info on them? I have been searching for reviews of them.

The company I was writing about earlier in this thread is e-Ephesus. They can be found at: triple w dot e-ephesus dot com. We had a great tour.

Does anyone who has taken an overnight tour with Ramses have thoughts on hotels? Do you think it makes sense to get an upgraded hotel?

I have written a few posts on this question and here's a couple of them:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1452430

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1464800

Hope they help.

Hi!

 

I have read on the forums that it is cheaper to do everything 'by yourself' but will we have problems finding a guide who can speak Spanish???

 

Any advice is welcome.

I happened upon this video that shows at the 7 minute mark Spanish tourists touring with Memphis Tours: http://www.youtube.com/user/toursinegypt

I toured with them in June and it was an amazing tour.

Thanks for that - sounds a good plan!

Must get some US$ before I go.

I paid by credit card on arrival because I was paying off the balance of a six day tour. I had to go online after arriving at the hotel using the company website.

I don't know how your company intends on getting a card payment because they certainly don't carry around a card swiper with them, so it will probably be a lot easier and less time consuming to pay with cash in USD.

We will be in Ephesus next May 2012 and I am looking into booking tours now. I sent an email to the Company you suggested for information/costs. Could you tell us what to expect for the tour rates and tipping? Another site someone suggested was $100 + entrance fee, for a 4-5 hour tour

Thanks

Sherry

Certainly. Our itinerary was, as I wrote, with E-Ephesus Tours (contact Patricia at info@**************) and it included the House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus and the Terrace Houses, the Temple of Artemis. It was to be a 4-5 hour private tour for two people, all entrance fees and parking, and the cost was $68 USD, in an air-conditioned van. Our guide took us to visit the Isabey Mosque, as well, even though it was not on the itinerary. Payment was to be in cash or credit card (we paid cash) at the end of the tour. We gave our driver a $20 tip and our tour guide $50, because we enjoyed it. I read online that the 'usual' tip was $20-$30/person for the guide and $20 for the driver.

The original itinerary offered was: Ephesus, the Virgin Mary's house, Temple of Artemis, St. Johns Basilica, Isabey mosque and Ephesus museum, all for $58.

Our guide's name was Mehmet and he was an excellent tour guide, who I highly recommend.

Dear All, We're going to be on the 20 Sept sailing and have recently requested/received current bus info (as of 4 July 2011) from Chania's Antonis Konstantoudakis as follows: "The bus takes you from the cruise ship to terminal at Chania Central (very close to the old harbor) so you don’t need to worry about the bus stop at Souda or the departure time. The return is also very well organized. The departure point from Chania to Souda is outside the old market which is at Chania Central. The bus fare is 1.50 € Souda – Chania Central and 3,00€ including return. You can purchase tickets outside of the cruise ship from our kiosks".

Have a great time in Chania!

Regards, Zeke

Hi everyone, my wife and I just returned from our cruise and Chania was a real highlight of the trip.

I couldn't get much information before leaving so I figured it would be our day at the beach on this cruise. When we got into Chania (the shuttle buses from Souda are frequent and very inexpensive) we were blown away by its beauty.

Chania harbour is breathtaking. It was a crystal clear, sunny day with a stiff breeze blowing. Despite being on a cruise, the Mediterranean was as we had never seen it all week: azure blue and turquoise - gorgeous! The Venetian harbour is a pleasure to stroll through and the town is thoroughly enchanting.

We had lunch at the Lithos restaurant - apparently the oldest building in the harbour (600 yrs old) - because the owner charmed us into coming in. It was a very good decision. The food was rustic and delightful, the restaurant authentically Greek. We sat with that gorgeous view in front of us, the sound of a bouzouki playing somewhere ... and made a dreamy memory.

At the end of our meal, the owner sent two very large ouzos our way and my wife, not the biggest drinker, surprised me with an "Opa" and downed it in one fell swoop.

As it turned out, Chania harbour was our favourite stop and the most beautiful sight we saw in the Mediterranean, on a cruise that included Rome, Sicily, Athens and Ephesus ... Oh, and we never did get to the beach ...

Have fun!

Several years ago we visited Turkey on a Renaissance Cruise itinerary. We arranged a private Ephesus tour. However, upon arrival, we found that our tour guide had made alternate arrangements for us as he was injured in accident. We are returning to Turkey next summer and would love to find either one of these guides. Hoping they might read this post or someone will have contact information. Our guide for the day was a woman named Eti (correct spelling??) I believe she was an art historian involved in the restoration of Ephesus. Does this ring a bell with anyone?? Would love any inforamtion.

 

Thanks!!

 

Sorry, I can't help you to find that specific guide but I just thought I might put in a word for a company and guide we hired for our tour of Ephesus at Kusadasi, two weeks ago. The company is E-Ephesus tours and the guide we had is a fine, young gentleman named Mehmet.

Even though I could not find more than one other review, which was a very positive review, I decided to hire E-Ephesus, mainly because they were so much cheaper than other companies. Now, I know that is usually not the best idea - to hire a tour company because they're less expensive - but in this case, all of my queries and requests were dealt with promptly and efficiently. They understood that I wanted no shopping stops and that a lunch stop would be a decision made on the inspiration of the moment. That impressed me.

Our tour was to include Ephesus, with the Terrace Houses, the House of the Virgin Mary and a photo stop at the temple of Artemis. Our tour guide, Mehmet, was waiting for us at the pier and quickly got us into the air-conditioned van so that we could get to the House of the Virgin Mary before the tour buses from the ship arrived. It was an excellent plan.

Our visit to the House of the Virgin Mary was a highlight simply because we arrived on a beautiful, sunny morning, there were only two other people there, the birdsong that filled the air was heavenly and the gardens were a delight. We were virtually in solitude for over a half-hour. It was a sublimely peaceful place and memorable for all the reasons one would expect it to be. The hordes began to arrive as we were leaving and the character of the gardens changed dramatically. Mehmet knew what he was doing.

Our tour of Ephesus and the Terrace Houses was equally memorable. Mehmet was very knowledgeable, deferential and quite charming. The tour was exhaustive and could not have been at a better pace. Perfect for us.

When we drove to Selcuk for the photo op at the Temple of Artemis - because there is not really much to see there - Mehmet asked if we wanted for him to take us to see the Isabey Mosque as we passed by, even though this was not on our itinerary. We were very glad he did as it was a beautiful de-sanctified mosque, with an interesting history - built in 1375 from the very stones of the Temple of Artemis and the city of Ephesus. We were very glad for his initiative.

When the tour was about to end, Mehmet gently offered to take us both to lunch and a carpet making factory, in case we had changed our minds. We said that we preferred to spend what little time we had left exploring the port of Kusadasi and the subject was dropped; no pressure at all.

All in all, it was a wonderful tour.

I hope you find Eti and I hope you also have a wonderful tour, but if you don't find her, you should consider E-Ephesus. They were great.

Happy travels!

hi dog

thanks for your concern and giving much of your time

I just got back yesterday from touring Egypt with Memphis Tours, and I am happy to report that I never felt a moment of unease the whole time I was there. In fact, quite to the contrary, because the sites are so much less crowded, I certainly was very much aware of the constant presence of police and guards everywhere I visited.

For a more complete answer see this post: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1432334

Hope this helps!

Hi!

 

I was wondering if at most of the tourist sites it is easy to find a guide who can explain everything to you????

 

I have read on other forums that it is cheaper to do everything 'by yourself' but will we have problems finding a guide who can speak Spanish???

 

Any advice is welcome

Thank you in advance.

I agree with Grannycb. At the best of times, Cairo would be difficult to negotiate on your own and at this time, since the revolution, the police are still not "up to speed" so to speak.

It is definitely the recommendation of seasoned travelers, here and at other sites, to get a guided tour to anywhere in Egypt, but especially around Cairo.

Any of the tour companies that are recommended on this forum could find you a Spanish-speaking tour guide.

Best of luck.

We were in Souda and Chania, Crete on 5/20. They outdid themselves with hospitality. We were quite impressed.

 

Literally as we walked off the ship in the morning, there is a huge tented reception area with free Greek pastries, juice, and bottled water.

 

Then, a few feet away are 3 ticket booths that sell the roundtrip public bus tickets to Chania for 6Euros per person roundtrip. The buses are continuous, and I mean another bus is waiting to load while the one in front of it is loading up. They have a coordinator both at the pier and in the center of Chania (at the "agora" park) helping passengers on and off.

 

When we returned they had a guest satisfaction survey for us to fill out, and then gave us a goodie bag as a thank you. Post cards, and orange, and a bottled drink.

 

Chania was a lovely, especially the old waterfront area with shops and restaurants. The views of the sea were beautiful. The old fort was interesting, too, and walking up there was worth the views!!!

Thanks for the info, Peggy. I came to this post in the winter and saw that few cruises had visited Chania in the past. I'm really looking forward to it now.

So sorry to hear that you may not get to visit Egypt. But, for those who do get to stop there, don't forget about touring Alexandria. It's a beautiful and very interesting city. :)

Not to worry, Binky&Jane, a couple of days after that post, I found an RCI cruise that basically had the same itinerary, minus Alexandria, and was shorter by five days. So, I cancelled the original cruise, booked the seven day cruise and then booked a five-day overland tour that will take me to Cairo and Luxor ... and the whole package - cruise, tour and flights - was going to cost less than the original cruise.

I leave at the beginning of June. Unfortunately, I won't get to Alexandria, but I want to leave that for a return trip in the future. ;)

do ramses tour go to luxor?

Yes, Ramses offers two excursions from Alexandria to Luxor, with overnight in Luxor, and flight to either Aswan OR Cairo in the morning, and finally, return to Alexandria that day.

In order for that excursion to run, though, they require that a minimum of 40 people sign up.

RAMSES EXTRAS

 

 

ALL PRICES APROX

 

 

Mena House $30 + $80 for a pyramid view room p/p

You should be aware that the Palace section of the Mena House Oberoi Hotel is closed for renovations beginning in June. the garden section (with pyramid view rooms) remains open