Just booked RT tickets to Egypt. I'm wondering if I can just figure stuff out upon arrival. I'd like to have a daily Driver/Guide and would love any recommendations. I don't like tours, buffets, or feeling trapped. I'm considering just renting a car and going where I want. A driver would be easier but I can't seem to find just a driver.
A Nile cruise seems the easiest, but I don't think I can do buffet food and being stuck with the same people for 4 days, all day.
I am usually not a big fan of tours, but Egypt is a country I wouldn't want to do on my own. The language, cultural and security considerations are pretty substantial.
I have traveled twice with Djed Egypt Travel, an Egyptian company, and I would travel with them again in a heartbeat. There has been a fair amount of discussion about Djed in earlier threads here, and so I won't repeat what has already been said except to say that all of their arrangements are custom. My friend and I had a private guide and driver each day.
If you do a Nile cruise, I highly recommend a dahabiya with a max of 10 passengers instead of a big cruise ship.
DO NOT try doing Egypt on your own. Half the people in that country live in homes with dirt floors. It is very poor and sanitation is not good at all.
Never eat in a restaurant that is not 4 star hotel or equivalent. Never eat street food or drink liquids that are in bottles already opened. Never drink tap water. Also, for security, when you take a taxi, take it from your hotel and have the hotel register the taxi driver.
Tours are the way to go. DO NOT drive in Egypt, I have visited that country twice. You have no idea how aggressive the locals drive. The infrastructure is not very good and traffic is terrible.
The nile cruise is the way to go for southern Egypt (Luxor and Aswan). Most river cruises have meals that are not buffets, but you can inquire before you book. We had great food on ours.
I am serious, I lived in the Middle East for five years and had Egyptian friends. Egypt is not like going to Europe at all.
On the other hand, if you go and see the wonderful sites, it is amazing.
Also, the best time to go to Egypt is in the Winter. Never go in the Summer. January is a good time to go. Even in January is is 90 degrees in Daytime.
Take a wide brimmed hat and wear long sleeves, the sun can be brutal. For exposed skin, take sun block.
Stay-ce, I echo the advice not to do Egypt on your own. I just returned from two weeks in Egypt a few weeks ago, and booked my trip (for three people) with Djed Egypt Travel. Their website is djedegypt.com. They arrange private tours, with private drivers, and the Nile cruise part of the trip was on a small - but very well appointed - boat with only a few guests. The food was not buffet; it was served "family style" at one table. Here is a link to my travel report: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/two-wonderful-weeks-in-egypt-a-travel-report. There have been a number of people on this forum also reporting on their trips and asking similar questions to yours. You might find a lot of good ideas by going to the "Search" function at the top of this page, and putting in "Egypt" and choosing filters for "forum" and within the past few months. Marie and slbdaisy are some of the other posters who come to mind whose posts helped me when planning. Good luck!!
Also, Stay-ce, I hope hope hope that you did not book your trip to take place during summer months. Highs everywhere can be 120F - no exaggeration. You can check out historical temps on timeanddate.com. I went in late January/early February and they were having unseasonably cold weather; I was glad for my puffer jacket. March-April and Oct-Nov-Dec are likely the best weather months. I avoided December/early January because of how many tourists they get at that time.
We are going in April. My plan is to have our hotels pick us up from the airport and have the hotels book private drivers for the day for us.
I have hitch hiked in China alone. Driven in Romania for 2 weeks alone. Did Morocco with my daughter using public transportation. I drive in Thailand everywhere alone. So Egypt with my husband seems doable.
I'm hoping that someone who has a driver or a personal tour guide that they recommend.
My Egyptian friend has strongly suggested having hotels prebooked before arrival or they will ask for higher price if you arrive at the door. Also, he said the hotel (if you use one) can get a driver for you. You can also ask a driver to be available for the day for a set price. That's what he does when he goes home. If he will be someplace for a couple hours, he tells them when they need to be back and available and that way they can still work when he doesn't need them.
