We are working with a small tour operator out of Cairo for a 16-day tour of Egypt. Four nights will be in Luxor, the first of which will be on December 31, 2026. The original booking was for a resort on an island which we thought would restrict us from experiencing local restaurants. After agreeing to a new hotel on the east bank, near other restraurants, we are now told that the stay includes an obligatory New Year's Eve Gala dinnner for $185 per person. I'm a bit surprised that this is required part of the booking. We can afford to pay the price but I would rather spend that money on tips to Egyptians who are struggling to survive. Has anyone else seen such requirements in Luxor at this time of the year?
Posted by
New York
227 posts
Yes, when I was booking my room at the Hilton Luxor, on the hotel web site I saw a requirement for a paid Christmas dinner if your stay included Christmas. I cannot remember if the date in question was December 25 or January 7. My stay was for different days so it did not affect me.
Posted by
1 posts
Yes, this kind of compulsory New Year's Eve dinner is fairly common at larger hotels and resorts in Egypt, especially when the stay includes December 31. It is not always obvious at first quote stage, which is why it feels frustrating when it appears later.
If you otherwise like the hotel and the operator confirms the total package clearly, paying may be the easiest path. But if the whole reason you moved away from the island resort was to have more local flexibility, I would push back and ask for alternative lodging options.
In Luxor, the main accommodation question is not only "which hotel?" but "which bank?" East Bank gives you easier access to Luxor Temple, Karnak, restaurants, the Corniche, and the train/airport side. West Bank is quieter and closer to Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu, tombs, and balloon pickups. For four nights, either can work, but they give very different experiences.
For New Year's specifically, I would ask the operator:
Is the gala mandatory at every hotel they are quoting, or just this one?
Can they quote smaller/local properties without a compulsory dinner?
Are restaurants actually open nearby on NYE?
Will they arrange evening transport if you stay somewhere quieter?
Is the gala price commissionable/bundled into their package?
Are you hoping for a more local restaurant evening, or mainly trying to avoid the forced cost? Also, are your Luxor days mostly tomb/temple focused or do you want easy East Bank restaurant access every night? That would change where I would stay.