Egypt package back on LL

[[email protected]]

I noticed the 7 nights at the Mena Hotel in Cario is back on LL - I am wondering if the climate in Egypt is stable enough for travel there - saw on the news that the Islamic party won the majority in the elections.
Any thoughts?

[LL_Travelfan]

We would like to do a Nile Cruise and spend a few nights in Cairo with friends but have held off because of the political climate at the moment. There is still too much unrest for our comfort level and who knows what the Islamic Party in power will do. We also heard a news cast stating Spain is booming with tourism this year, because most tourists are avoiding north African countries, like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, etc.

[kyshel]

Having been to Cairo 3 times (only one recently) I can't imagine staying 7 days there EVER! The Mena House is lovely but Giza is not that easy to access for the city nor outlying diversions like Fayoum or desert areas. Repeated visits back into Cairo could take alot out of a traveler--heavy pollution and congested traffic. In my opinion, 3 (maybe 4 if you had a pool day) nights would suffice.
The places you want to spend time would be Luxor for multiple trips to Valley of Kings and Karnak Temple and side trips downriver. Also Aswan deserves a few extra days to take in the beauty of that part of the Nile, with a side trip to Abu Simbel, a must-do in my book!

We're hoping to return as soon as Delta does, or possibly connect thru Athens or even combine with trip to Dubai, so I can take my husband on a cruise--SO SPECIAL!! (PS--MY TIP is buy the BEST boat cruise you can afford--they vary from dogs to divas!)

I agree that the political climate in general is hardly favorable for tourism. I'm not so sure how much it effects places like Luxor or Aswan, tho. I understand the Europeans are still flocking to the seaside resorts but not in the usual numbers. Those are vacationers, not travelers, so their goal is beach holiday, not touring or sightseeing.

[[email protected]]

I was also thinking that 7 nights in Cairo would be too much - was waiting to see if the cruise comes back up. Although the hubby is leaning more to the OE Cambodia/Laos package as a something special trip ;-)

[kyshel]

I was also thinking that 7 nights in Cairo would be too much - was waiting to see if the cruise comes back up. Although the hubby is leaning more to the OE Cambodia/Laos package as a something special trip ;-)

I think I'd do Cambodia/Laos first. There may be significant changes in Asia before Egypt. I read that Luang Prabang is already starting to get over-touristed and I'm sure Angkor Wat is getting there, too. (it's just a much bigger area) I dream of river cruises and I could kick myself for not being able to do a last-minute one on the Mekong 2 years ago.

[[email protected]]

K,
Since you seem to have traveled in Asia many times:
1. How easy is it to get from country to country - for example, Laos to Cambodia and then maybe to Myanmar or Thailand? I did notice that the OE package to Cambodia & Laos does not include transportation between the 2 places although they did include pick up at the airports
2. Is our winter a good time to go since we usually try to take our 2 weeks in Feb or March?

[kyshel]

I'll post reply in Asia so we don't dilute this one or morph it into Asiafrica