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sQ1=new Array();sQ1[1]=new Array("index.html","Luxor Travel Tips - Luxor visas, exchange, flights, holidays, weather and impartial advice","Impartial information about Luxor for first time and repeat visitors. Visas, currency exchange, weather, hotels, restaurants, shoping, sightseeing, maps and essential advice.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links In some other sections  Essentials Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Culture Electricity Entertainment Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Insects etc Language Luxor Market Money News Phoning Road Safety Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather Hotels Hotel details and reviews Eating & Drinking Alcohol Water and food safety Restaurant reviews Sights Trips in and from Luxor Entry fees Tour agents in Luxor Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Some photos Maps Central Luxor South Luxor Booking a holiday Booking a holiday Links Information Hotels Flights  Temperature in Luxor at local (Luxor) time: This is the temperature in Luxor now. Temperatures are measured in the shade. The actual temperature may be much higher in the sun. Click here for more about the weather, including a forecast. These are the sun and moon rising and setting times today.  Exchange rate now These are current exchange rates, provided by coinmill.com and updated constantly. (If the list does not appear, or has fewer than 5 currencies, it may be because the rates are being updated. Please come back to this page later). You are not likely to get these rates outside Egypt. For a better exchange rate, get your currency when you get there, not before you go. Click here to read more about money including other exchange rates Click here for a list of Visa cash machines in Luxor  Visas Most visitors need a visa to get into Luxor. Travel Agents often suggest you get one in advance. Read the page about visas to help you decide when to get yours. Don't buy your visa from a tour rep. Many of them take huge commission without even telling you. Save up to £10. Read more ... What to pack Light cottons for the day. A woolly or fleece for the evening if you are in Luxor between November and March or if you are going to Cairo on the overnight train. Beachwear is only appropriate within the hotel grounds or on a cruise ship. There is more about this on the What to Wear page. Skin care At the moment Avon have offers on sun creams and 'anti-insect' Skin So Soft body lotion. For more about caring for your skin in the sun see the Sun page. Travel insurance Insurance provided by credit card companies usually only covers you for personal accident whilst on the journey paid for using the card - not for illness or other accident whilst you are abroad. Check the terms with your card issuer. Most adults under 65 can get insurance for a week, including hot air ballooning, for around £8. See the insurance page for more. Airport formalities Read the item called arriving to take you step by step through what happens when you get to the airport. Gippy Tummy A lot of the problems are not caused by food, but when you pick up bugs on your hands (e.g. from dirty notes) and don't have chance to wash before touching your food or your face. It is best to take some anti-bacteria gel wherever you go and use it regularly. You can get it from most pharmacies or buy online at just over £2 for 50ml - click the picture for more details. The same people sell bigger ones and another that you can click to a belt. For more about tummy problems see the health page. Our sponsors We travel anonymously, pay all travelling costs etc ourselves and do not accept donations or advertising from anyone. This keeps us independent and neutral. We also do the web site design and management ourselves. We have to pay for web hosting (that enables you to access the site from anywhere in the world). These costs are subsidised by besthighstreet.com a web site that helps visitors to find internet shops and providers of a large range of services. Using besthighstreet.com helps us (a lot) to keep going. Where to stay Most kinds of accommodation are available, from tent pitches to 5 star hotels. Read the Hotels section for a review of some. Where to eat Descriptions and reviews of some restaurants and cafes are in the Eating section. What to see Luxor is probably best known for its decorated tombs, for its temples and as a start or finish point for Nile cruises. Luxor has all this to offer and a great deal more. For a hint of things to see, visit the sights page. Keep up to date! Ancient Egypt Magazine £24 for 12 months (6 issues) delivered free Getting around Read the page on getting around to find out about taxis, buses and the different boats that sail the Nile. Holidays The Holidays section has information about booking packages or just flights or hotels. Luggage The airlines are getting very fussy about weights. Worse still, there are reports of a scam at the Luxor end when you are charged at the check-in even when you are convinced that your luggage is not over weight. You can get a useful gadget for about £9 that includes a 22kg scale and a 1M tape so that you can check, and demonstrate if necessary, that your luggage is not overweight. Could save you a lot more than its cost in saved luggage supplements. Click on the image for more details. Reading in Luxor Many of the bigger hotels have libraries of English language novels you can borrow. Ask at reception. Magazines are more difficult to find in Luxor. If you prefer to read magazines it is best to take them with you. You can get trials of the 3 latest issues of some major magazines for £1. Balloons Following 3 serious accidents in 2009, balloon trips were stopped for several months but restarted on 26th October 2009. There are new rules limiting companies to one balloon each, and requiring new licensing and fees to various authorities. These things combined have caused prices to increase. For more see 'Hot air balloon' on the Sights page and insurance. New Ferries The National Ferry now has new boats operating across the Nile, but the cost for tourists has doubled from LE1 to LE2 each way. Read other news about improvements to the city and the facilities. Hotel changes The Mercure Inn (Coralia) became the Swiss Inn and has since been demolished. The Mercure Hotel (Etap) on the Corniche is now the El Luxor hotel. Emergency Numbers Police 122 Ambulance 123 Time Luxor is 2 hours ahead of GMT most of the time, but not all of the time. See more about time. Tipping This is often difficult. You don't want to overdo it, but you don't want to be mean. Read the tipping page for the latest guide. Electricity You will need a 2 pin continental type converter. This one provides two 13 amp outlets plus a nightlight and is around £8, delivered free, from a shop that also sells digital camera memory cards. You can also get it for about £7 from Just Sport and Leisure and around £8 from the travel section of Presents For Men. However, they both charge postage, so if you just want the socket, click the picture for the delivery free option. It is compatible with European sockets. You need the European one, not the US one. If you are unwell Most hotels have access to English speaking doctors. Most medicines are easily available and very cheap. Read about pharmacies on the health page. If the worst happens, Luxor has a large and quite modern hospital. Children's luggage Not many people take children to Luxor, but if you do, look out in luggage shops for Trunki, a ride-on child's suitcase. It costs around £30. If you can't find it locally, you can click on the picture for more details on the manufacturer's web site. Drink plenty It is extremely hot all year round. Dehydration is the greatest health risk. Always take plenty of water. It is cheap and easy to get safe bottled water. Keep it cool if you can, but don't drink it really cold as this may upset your stomach. If you don't want to hold a bottle this carrier may help (you can click on the image for more details). More about keeping well.  Further Reading Click on any cover to go straight to the bookseller's web site for more details. £10.87 (32% off) £10.87 (32% off) £11.55 (32% off) £8.81 (32% off) If it's blue- it clicks! Throughout this web site if any bright blue text turns to red when you point to it, you can click for more information Late Deals Click for examples of last minute holidays from UK airports to Luxor. Check availability (for Monarch flights) More about booking: flights accommodation package holidays New pages (Most recent first) Castello restaurant Ramadan Does it affect tourism? Sun Forecasts, protection Accessibility and mobility Getting to and around Luxor with mobility problems Alcohol Where to drink, where to buy, commonly available types of wine and beer Closed restaurants Restaurants that have closed or changed their name Food shopping How and where to buy Scams Common scams and how to avoid them Susanna hotel Updated pages (most recent first) Maps Sights Entry fees Joan's restaurant Snobs restaurant Lotus Hotel Maximes Photography allowed? Money Currency Children Getting Around Insurance Shopping Popular pages The most popular pages on LuxorTravelTips at the moment are: weather visas arriving maps sights holidays restaurants health hotels Your photos PhotoBox print your digital photos and despatch them on the same working day if you place your order before 4pm. Click here to register and they will give you at least 30 free prints (usually 40, sometimes even 50 - check their web site). You just pay about £1.50 postage. Truprint will give you at least 20 free prints for registering (sometimes 30 or 40) and only charge 99p postage but don't have such a good range of print sizes. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[2]=new Array("essentials/visas.htm","Visas for Luxor","Whether you need a visa for Luxor. When and how to get one. ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Do I need a visa to visit Luxor? A visa is required for visitors from most countries. Visas are available in advance but visitors from some countries, including the UK, the rest of Europe, the USA and Canada, can arrive without a visa and get one on arrival. Most tourists do this. Children need their own visa if they have their own passport. Children do not need a separate visa if they are on a parent's passport. It is one visa per passport, not one visa per person. Nationals of Iran, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq and Eritrea need clearance from authorities in Cairo before a visa can be issued. How to get a visa in advance You can get a visa in advance from your own country or from the country you visit before going to Egypt. To apply for a visa in advance you need to take the application form (it can be downloaded from the embassy or consulate web site), a passport photo of the applicant and the passport of the applicant, which must be valid a least 6 months beyond the date of issue of the visa. You also need the fee in cash or in a form acceptable to your national embassy or consulate. In the UK the acceptable alternative to cash is a postal order payable to 'The Egyptian Consulate'. Cheques and credit cards are not accepted. In some cases you may also need proof of your return from Egypt, such as the return half of an airline ticket. Check with your local embassy whether that applies to you - you do not need proof of return if you have a UK passport. If applying by post the same documents are required but the fee has to be sent by the alternative method (a postal order in the UK), not in cash. You will also need to add a return envelope, self addressed in block capitals, with sufficient postage for registered or recorded delivery. Cost of a tourist visa bought in advance For holders of UK, Canadian and most European passports, a single entry tourist visa in advance is £15. A multiple entry tourist visa, which allows any number of visits within a 6 month period, is £18. The multiple entry visa allows a maximum cumulative time in Egypt of 3 months within the 6 months validity. The cost of a single entry visa in advance for holders of USA, Russian, and some Scandinavian passports is £12 and a multiple entry visa is the same. German passport holders pay £13 for a single or multiple entry visa. South African nationals get one free. The cost of a tourist visa bought on arrival Buying a single entry visa on arrival at Luxor will cost 15 US dollars, which is usually between £8 and £12 depending on the US$ to £ exchange rate. For all UK, European and American passport holders this is cheaper than buying a single entry visa in advance (unless the value of £1 falls to become worth less than $1). However, if you are returning within 6 months it is cheaper to buy a multiple entry visa in advance than to buy single entry visas on arrival each time. Please read the TOP TIP on the 'arriving' page to avoid paying too much for your visa at the airport. If you are a national of a country other than Canada, Europe, or the USA, check with your local Egyptian embassy whether you are allowed to get a visa on arrival. Click here to read about what happens when you arrive at Luxor airport, including how to purchase a visa on arrival. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[3]=new Array("hotels/hotels.htm","Hotels in Luxor: an overview","Hotels in Luxor, Egypt. An overview.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hotels in Luxor - Location overview The Egyptian Hotels Association lists 45 hotels in Luxor, of which 8 are locally rated 5 star. Between them the 45 hotels provide 5751 rooms, so there is lots of capacity and plenty of choice. These hotels are essentially in six clumps: There are some on the West Bank, a few in the north, several tourist hotels in the city centre and backpacker hotels nearer the station. Most tourist hotels are in the south and one is further out, also to the south. 1. West Bank None of the hotels on the west bank is used by the major package tour companies as far as we are aware. These hotels tend to be used by people who are already familiar with Luxor, by backpackers and by archeological devotees. 2. To the north To the north of Luxor centre is the Hilton, about 5kms out of town, recently refurbished and aimed at the high end of the market. Still to the north, and even further out, is the Sofitel Karnak. 3. City Centre A bunch of hotels in the centre of Luxor include the famous Old Winter Palace, the adjoining Pavilion wing ( the rest of the New Winter Palace was demolished early in 2009), the Mercure Hotel, the Swiss Inn (previously the Mercure Inn) and the Iberotel. There are also several 2- 3 star hotels including the Emilio, Susanna, Philippe, Queens Valley and Tutotel. These hotels in the centre are all closest to the main East Bank attractions and to the main ferries to the West Bank. Within reasonable walking distance from these hotels are Luxor temple, Luxor museum, the mummification museum and the main market.  4. Backpacker hotels In the general city centre area, further back from the Nile than most of the major tourist hotels, are plenty of backpacker hotels. Most of them are in an area between the railway station, Television Street and Medina Street. 5. In the south About 8 minutes stroll from the centre, up a rather boring road starting at the roundabout by the Iberotel, is the beginning of a group of hotels to the south of the town. This is very much a tourist enclave with hotels, plenty of restaurants and tourist shops. The town centre is walkable or not more than LE10 in a taxi. This area has the Sonesta St George, Steigenberger Nile Palace, Club Med (French), Lotus, Isis, New Pola, St Joseph, Morris, Gaddis and, a little further out, the Sheraton. 6. Further to the south Beyond this group, further to the south, is the Maritim Jolie Ville (formerly the Mövenpick). This is too far out for most people to walk into town and being away from the centre and the tourist enclave, is much quieter. Like the Sofitel to the north, it is ideal for people who want to be able to get to the sights, but not too often, and prefer to be away from the busier part of Luxor. For an opinion about which hotel in each group may be best for you, have a look at the quality overview page. If you know where you want to stay, select the hotel name from the list on the left to find more detail and links to agencies that handle bookings for that hotel. Some hotels in the Southern part of Luxor, seen from the Nile Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[4]=new Array("eating/restaurantoverview.htm","Restaurants in Luxor, overview","Overview of restaurants and cafes in Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Restaurants in Luxor - overview Evening meal For a special occasion go to the 1886 restaurant in the Old Winter Palace. Men have to wear tie or jacket. Food and service are not faultless, but go early, enjoy the Victoria Lounge and Royal Bar as well as the meal for an evening of opulence. Go to Sofra, near the station, for a good, cheap egyptian meal in colonial surroundings or to Jewel of the Nile for an egyptian meal that is at least as good, using better quality ingredients, albeit without the Sofra's colonial character. For 'western' quality with economy Maximes and Ritz are hard to beat. For mid-range prices with international choices from several food cultures, including egyptian, and excellent presentation, we suggest King Tut: basement and quiet but a pleasant surprise when you are there. For a really good meal, without the opulence of the Old Winter Palace but with top class food and service, we choose Snobs, in El Roda El Sharefa St, opposite the Lotus hotel (just past the Sonesta).   The opinions in the restaurant reviews are shared in good faith. Please appreciate that they are based on experience and that experiences may vary. Let us know if you disagree with anything we say via the feedback page.  Lunch and snacks For a snack in town you have a choice of five Nile-side restaurants and a bowling club along the lower corniche, a few restaurants around the market and a group of restautants behind the temple. If you want a Nile-side meal on the East Bank we have a marginal preference for El Kababgy, opposite the Old Winter Palace, but none of them is particularly good or good value. We think it is worth crossing the Nile and trying a restaurant on the West Bank, such as the Abu Ali. For a better low cost snack on the East Bank, but without the Nile-side views, we prefer Hammes or Sindbad to the Nile side restaurants. They are next to each other, behind Luxor Temple, between McDonalds and the Swiss Inn (formerly the Mercure Inn). Fast food McDonalds is behind Luxor Temple in the centre of town. We prefer Snack Time, almost next door. More variety, excellent prices, more recently fitted out and excellent views. At the other end of town Pizza Hut and KFC are together by the roundabout just beyond the Isis hotel. There are plenty of other (many would say better) local pizza restaurants, especially along Television Street ( click for a map).  More For more details of these and other restaurants, click on the restaurant name in the menu on the left. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[5]=new Array("sights/sights.htm","Trips and Sightseeing in and from Luxor","Sightseeing and other trips in and from Luxor, Egypt.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Overview Brief summary of trips Entry fees Agents Photos Sights to see.   Brief summary of trips It can be cheaper to pay in £GB than to change money and pay in local currency   Children & young people There should be no charge for children up to 6 and about half price for young people 7-12. Students 13 or more will need a student card to get reduced prices. See the children page for more.  The prices listed are local agents' typical standard prices, taken from various agents' own printed price lists. Prices vary not only according to local cost changes but also between agencies and according to the current exchange rates because some of the trips are paid by the agents to the operators in US dollars. You may be able to haggle down, especially if you do more than one trip or if you are in a big group. This page lists trips available from Luxor. There are local agents selling trips like these all over Luxor. There are several along the Corniche on both sides of the Old Winter Palace and there are more amongst the hotels on the south side of town. European Package tour companies sell similar trips, but usually at much higher prices. For more detail see the ' Agents' page. Because the local agents tend to round the figures when converting between currencies, it may be cheaper to pay in £GB than to change money and pay in local currency. Trip Brief description Typical approximate local agency cost (per adult) in Egyptian pounds (LE) Length Meals Comments West Bank - standard Visit Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and a few tombs in each of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. The standard price does not include Tutankhamun's tomb. LE230 - 300 Half day None Some of the most famous tombs. A half-day is a bit rushed. If there are several of you it is cheaper to hire a taxi (on either side of the river) and go on your own, or in your own private group, at your own pace. A taxi from the West Bank should cost about £10 (LE100) (per taxi, not per person) for about 4 hours. If you do it on your own you will also need to add the cost of entry tickets. All tombs close at 5pm. Tutankhamun's Tomb and mummy This is an 'add on', once you are at the Valley of the Kings. You pay extra for access to this small tomb where you can see the original decorated burial chamber and now also the mummy of Tutankhamun, which is in a temperature and humidity-controlled case in an antechamber. LE100 on top of entry to the Valley of the Kings About an extra 30 minutes depending on the queue None This is very popular so visitors are moved on quite quickly. The number of visitors allowed into the tomb will be limited to 200 in the morning and 200 in the afternoon. It is closed between noon and 2pm. West Bank - different Less commonly visited tombs, temples and sights on the West Bank, such as the Valleys of the Nobles and the Workers, the temple at Medinet Habu and the site of the tomb builders' houses at Dier-El-Medina. LE200 - 300 Half day None There are group tours but get a local agent to arrange one privately for you. Tombs in the Valleys of the Nobles and the Workers (or artisans) are much less visited than those in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, but also more awkward to get to and to get around. Wear sensible shoes. The temple at Medinet Habu has more colour than Luxor Temple. East Bank Luxor and Karnak Temples LE170 - 200 Half day None Both temples at once is too much, especially on a hot day. Better and cheaper to go by taxi to each temple on a different day and hire a guide privately. Sound and light show At Karnak Temple. Usually several showings each night in different languages. LE150 - 160 2 hours None Find out when the show is in your language. It is cheaper to go to the temple by taxi and get your ticket at the gate. Hot air balloon Balloon ride over the West Bank, usually at dawn. Usually lasts about an hour, but can be more, or less, depending on weather conditions and on air traffic control. Very occasionally they go over the Nile and land on the East Bank - depending on wind direction and air traffic control. around LE600. Prices went up considerably in October 2009 for all sorts of reasons including new limits on the number of balloons flying, and new fees payable to several authorities. 3 hours total. 40-90 minutes in the air. Possibly small breakfast Check that the balloons are operating. They are stopped frequently by the authorities. There were three serious balloon accidents in 2009. The operators have since been subject to new rules and licensing, but you should be aware of the risks and make sure you have insurance that covers you for balloon flights (there is more about this on the insurance page). "Breakfast' is usually a hot drink and biscuits on the motor boat crossing to the west bank before the flight. Sea plane An aerial tour of the Nile and the two banks LE600 about 20 minutes in the air None Different! The plane is moored behind a restaurant not far from the Hilton. Horse, donkey or camel ride Usually on the West Bank. LE35 - 70 per hour 1-2 hours None Usually includes a boat to the West Bank and a ride along the west bank of the Nile. Typically tourist. Alternatively, pay a bit more to hire a donkey with guide to take you somewhere more meaningful, such as up the hills behind the tombs and Hatshepsut's temple. Felucca Sail on the Nile. You can probably arrange to get dropped off at your hotel if it is along the Nile Bank. LE35 - 70  LE100+ with a meal 1 hour   None. They might make you a cup of tea. It is cheaper to arrange a trip privately. Walk along the Nile and choose your boat and captain. See the article about feluccas on the ' Getting around' page Fellah's tent Go to a tent, not very far from town, in the grounds of the Maritim hotel, dress up, eat and drink. LE300 Evening Evening meal and drinks Luxor version of the inevitable package tour eat and drink evening. Fun if you like that sort of thing. Safari oasis Start about 7am, visit New Baris and reach the Baris Oasis in time for lunch. Watch the sunset. Stay in your choice of tent or hotel and return the next morning. LE600 - 800 2 days Full board Not a sand dune desert safari, but a safari over mainly rocky terrain to a hot spring oasis and later watch the sun set. Quad bike safari A recent addition to the tours available in Luxor. Ride a quad bike over a sandy / rocky terrain on the West Bank. LE215 - 300 2 hours none Check your travel insurance! It may not cover this kind of activity. Can get very dusty. Red Sea day trip Coach or minibus, usually to Hurghada or Safaga. Some trips include a boat trip on the red sea, snorkeling etc. LE300 - 350 1 long day Lunch An early start, three hours travelling each way. A long day. Red Sea overnight Similar to the day trip, but the travelling is spread over 2 days and you get a good hotel - usually 5 star - for a night. LE500 - 600 2 days (1 night) Two lunches Less exhausting than the day trip for not much more money. A better bet if you want to go to the Red Sea and you don't mind losing 2 days in Luxor. Aswan day trip Coach or minibus to the dam, the obelisk, Philae Temple and the town. LE400 - 500 1 long day Lunch There may also be visits to temples along the way, usually Edfu and Kom Ombo. Does not include Abu Simbel. A very long day, much of it in the coach. May return by train. Aswan and Abu Simbel Adds a night and a visit to Abu Simbel to the Aswan Day trip. LE1050 - 1300 2 days, 1 night Lunches Same visits as the day trip. Overnight in Aswan at a good hotel. Extremely early start on the 2nd day (e.g. 3.30am) to get to Abu Simbel. Usually return from Aswan to Luxor by train. Dendera and Abydos Temples By coach or minibus LE300 - 350 1 day Lunch If you just want Dendera, try the cruise instead Dendera cruise Leaves from the back of the Iberotel (used to be called the Novotel). LE350 1 day Lunch & tea Worth going for the cruise even if you don't want to get off the boat to visit the temple. Full day. Leaves at about 7am and returns about 7 pm. A good day cruise but many people think it is an hour or two too long. Short cruise Lunch or dinner cruise on the Lotus Boat. This does not go to Dendera. LE150 - 175 3 - 4 hours Lunch or dinner Pleasant trip and reasonable food. A taster for the Dendera trip. This dos not go to Dendera. Nile cruise Most durations and most standards of boat can be arranged. The Egyptian Hotels Association list 275 ships cruising the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, with more being built, so there is plenty of choice. About half of all Nile cruise ships are listed as 5 star. It takes a minimum of 2 days from Luxor to Aswan. If you book for less than about 6 days you usually go one way by cruise boat and the other by train. Varies according to standard. Good 5* boats are typically LE550 per person per night through local agents Minimum 2 days / nights, usually 3 days one way. 6 or 7 days for return trip. Full board Go for the best standard of boat you can afford. Actual sailing time, including stops, is about a day, but because of the timings, you will need at least 2 nights on board. You are booking nights on the boat, not necessarily nights sailing. Some nights may be spent in Luxor and/or Aswan. Two nights is enough to get to Aswan and return by train or the other way around. An extra day and night gives you more time in Aswan or Luxor, not more cruising. There are temples along the route. You can usually specify a tour including or excluding temple visits. To cruise both ways on the same boat you probably need to book at least 5, possibly 6 nights. 2 days ( or parts of 4 days totaling about 48 hours) will be spent sailing (one day each way). The rest of the time you will be berthed in Luxor or Aswan. Cairo by air Visit the pyramids, sphinx, museum, mosque and bazaar LE1250 - 1300 1 day Lunch A bit rushed but a good introduction to Cairo. Entrance to the site of the pyramids is usually included, but to go inside any of them (different ones are open from time to time) is extra. There is usually time for shopping before you catch the evening flight back. Cairo by train Overnight train. Arrive early next morning and visit the same sights as the trip by air. Return by overnight train. LE700 - 750 2 nights 1 day Lunch You have a booked seat on the train - not a sleeper at this price. The train is comfortable and air conditioned but can get very cold. Take a jumper! There may be quite a few hours in the evening between the end of the guided part of the tour and being picked up to get the train. Be prepared to explore on your own or take a book. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[6]=new Array("photography/allowed.htm","Photography - taking photos in Luxor - what is allowed?","Photography and taking photographs in Luxor, Egypt. Where is it allowed?","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Digital camera memory Photos Some of our photos Where is photography allowed in Luxor? Generally There are some absolute prohibitions. You cannot take photos on a military base, for example. Take care as there are military aircraft at Luxor airport, so heed the 'photography prohibited' signs. In Luxor itself there has been no problem taking pictures outside, in a non-military environment. This used to include the outside of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, where the major tombs are situated, but a new ban on all video and still cameras prevents any camera being taken into the Valley of the Kings. They have to be left outside the Valley, so you may as well leave them in the taxi or the tour bus. At the other sites (Queens, Nobles, Workers) there is nowhere to leave the cameras outside and you can take them in to the area, but see below about taking photos in the tombs. Tombs Nefertari's tomb (when it was open) and Tutankhamun's tomb have been photo-barred for some while. It used to be possible to take photos in the other tombs if you bought an extra camera ticket for about LE10. However, photography is no longer allowed in the tombs, even if you are prepared to pay extra. For a while after the rule was introduced it was quite easy to get round it by chatting up the guard and giving him something. The rules are being more firmly applied now and if you are found taking photos your camera will be confiscated. In our recent experience there are no naughty guards and neither a friendly chat nor a bribe will enable photography inside any of the tombs, with or without a flash. At the Valley of the Kings you have to leave your cameras etc at a kiosk by the entrance to the site. At the Valley of the Queens you leave the camera at the entrance to the tomb itself, although they will allow small cameras, camera phones etc to be taken in as long as they stay in your pocket or bag.  Museums As with the tombs, photography was once permitted in the museums. Now it is not. Cameras have to be left in a foyer and collected on departure. If you make a trip to Cairo, you will find the same restriction in the Cairo museum, so you will not be able to photograph Tutankhamun's mask. People Taking photographs of people is not as sensitive as it is in some other parts of the world. For obvious reasons it is courteous to ask first, if possible. Usually pointing to the camera and making a thumbs up sign is understood if the subject does not speak English. Children and older people with character-full faces usually appreciate a tip. Keep small value notes handy. It is not always possible to ask. From a cruise boat, for example, it is not possible to communicate with someone on the river banks. We have never had a problem taking photos from a boat of anything or anyone on a bank or on the Nile. In fact, many people, especially younger people tend to perform for the camera even though they are out of reach of a tip. Print your digital photos You go to a great deal of trouble to take photos. Don't forget to get prints. They are much easier to look at and to show others. PhotoBox offer free prints (usually 40) to new customers (you just pay £1.50 post) and they usually deliver next day. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[7]=new Array("maps/centralluxor.htm","Map of the Centre of Luxor (East Bank)","Map of central Luxor showing location of sights and amenities on the East Bank","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Maps Luxor central Luxor south Aerial view Luxor south hotels Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[8]=new Array("holidays/packageholidays.htm","Finding a package holiday to Luxor","Finding and booking a holiday to Luxor, Egypt, with links to travel companies","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Map Holidays Links Your browser is not configured to use inline frames. You may need to upgrade or reconfigure your browser. In the meantime, click here and a form will appear in a separate window, which you can close using the cross in the top right corner of the screen when you have finished.    Problem? If you are unable to complete the booking online: phone 01633 798733 at the times given and quote the holiday reference or click the tour operator's logo in the column on the right to go to their web site.    late deals   flight only   hotel only   transfer   packages (including Cosmos) (including Airtours, Manos, Panorama, MyTravel, Aspro)  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[9]=new Array("links/linkfrontpage.htm","Linking you to useful information outside Luxor Travel Tips","Links to other web sites and organisations that can offer help or advice","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Information Official and private bodies Flights, hotels and holidays Airport parking etc Flights Hotels Package holidays Other things Click here for links to Hamleys, Next, Currys, PCWorld, and hundreds of other well known and less well known shops Links to information. Click the heading to go to the web site Late holiday deals Click the heading for a short list of holidays to Luxor going in the next few days. Take some magazines to read! Top magazines 3 latest issues for £1. Some even less. One is free! Click the heading for a list. Egyptian Embassies in other countries Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 5400 London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 3304 Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 4931 Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6273 4437 Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 343 1590/1 Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 6566 Embassies in Egypt United States Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 797 3300 British Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 794 0852 Canadian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 794 3110 Australian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 575 0444 South African Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 359 4365 Irish Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 735 8264 New Zealand Consulate-General, Cairo: +20 (0)2 574 9360  UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office The FCO provides official UK government advice to UK citizens planning to travel abroad, with a focus on security and safety issues.  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Insurance Advice Official advice on getting insurance and the rinks if you don't.  British Embassy in Egypt  As well as British news, there are links to the Consulate and British Council web sites and information for Egyptian nationals wanting to visit Britain  Theban Mapping Project Masses of information about tombs and temples on the west bank, especially the Valley of the Kings, including maps of the tombs and detailed illustrations, aerial photos and videos.  Tour Egypt General information about Egypt, present and past, including the geography, customs and antiquities.  Luxor News A regular blog from Jane Akshar, an English lady who is married to an Egyptian, lives on the west bank and co-owns flats that are let to tourists. The blog is mostly about antiquities (news of recent finds, reports from lectures etc.) but also includes topical items affecting Luxor people today.  Dr Zahi Hawass The web site and blog of Dr Zahi Hawass, renowned Egyptologist and Secretary General of The Supreme Council of Antiquities. Check the site for the latest news on discoveries at Luxor and elsewhere in Egypt as well as information about Dr Hawass.  Islamic Calendar Explanation of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[10]=new Array("essentials/currency.htm","Currency in Luxor","Getting Egyptian currency. When and where: exchange rate.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Currency When and where to get cash You get a much better exchange rate in Egypt than you do if you change money before you go. You do not pay commission if you change your money in Egypt. We prefer to come with some English, Euro or USA currency (all very acceptable and easily changed) and to get Egyptian cash on arrival. You can change money at the visa offices in the airport arrival hall, so there is no need to come with any at all, even to pay for porters, taxi to the hotel etc. There are also ATM machines in the arrival hall at the airport. Officially, when you change or draw money you should be given a receipt, which you are told to keep for inspection or in case you need to change Egyptian notes back into another currency. We have never had a receipt checked, but if you get one it is best to hold on to it to cover the amount of Egyptian cash you have, just in case. When in Luxor For information about changing cash or drawing money when in Luxor, see the Money page. Credit Cards and travellers cheques Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. However, not all hotels or cruise boats will accept them for settling final bills.  We are not financial advisors The advice we offer about money, when and where to get it and about the exchange rate, is based on our own experience and on currency rates provided by banks and other foreign exchange bureaux. We are not financial advisors, we do not provide qualified financial advice and we have no links with any financial institutions.  Value of the Egyptian pound The Egyptian Pound (LE) has been worth between about 9p and 14p in recent years. Throughout 2007 and for most of 2008 the exchange rate was around 10 or 11 Egyptian pounds to one English pound but in 2009 fell to less than 8 Egyptian pounds to one English pound before recovering. (These are local rates, the pound fell to less than LE7 if you change currency in the UK). The pound is closely aligned to the dollar, so when the pound falls or rises against the dollar, it tends to fall or rise about as much against the Egyptian pound. For ease of calculation we usually work on the rough rule of thumb that LE10 is worth very roughly £1 sterling or LE1 is 10 pence (English), sometimes 2p more, sometimes 2p less, but it works as a quick rule of thumb for small-scale spending. Some examples of today's currency exchange rates appear below. These are commercial rates. You can expect to get very close to these rates if you draw or change money in Egypt and if you draw money from an ATM. You will usually get quite a lot less if you buy Egyptian pounds in another country before you go. This list is kept up to date and may change several times a day. It fetches today's currency rates from coinmill.com. You can also do a currency conversion between Egyptian Pounds and other major currencies by clicking here if you are connected to the internet. This will open a currency converter in another window. Close that window to return to Luxor Travel Tips. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[11]=new Array("essentials/vaccinations.htm","Vaccinations needed or recommended for trips to Luxor","Vaccinations required or recommended for tourists visiting Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Vaccinations (inoculations) (information from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population) Required Yellow fever (only if coming from an infected area) Certificate of vaccination required for travellers over 1 year old arriving from an infected area. Recommended Hepatitis B Recommended for travellers who may have intimate contact with local residents Polio Recommended for all travellers Rabies Recommended for travellers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care Tetanus Recommended. Booster required every 10 years Typhoid Recommended for all travellers Not specifically recommended Diphtheria Not recommended, but should be considered. Hepatitis A Not recommended, but should be considered Hepatitis E Not recommended but should be considered  Cholera Egypt is not currently listed as infected with cholera. A cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Egypt. However, sporadic cases of cholera have been reported. Medical opinion is divided on whether precautions should include vaccination. Most consider good hygiene and safe food and drink to be the best precautions.  Malaria Malaria was once widespread in Egypt, but a national malaria control programme has eradicated the disease in virtually the whole of Egypt. There is still a tiny risk between June and October in a small area, known as the Fayoum Governorate, about 50 miles south west of Cairo - so bear that in mind if you travel off the beaten track. However malaria is not a problem in Luxor, which is officially free of the disease. According to the World Health Organisation no cases of malaria have been reported in Egypt since 1998 and preventative medication is not recommended.  Unwell in Luxor? Have a look at the page on health so that you are prepared in case you have any tummy problems whilst you are away. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[12]=new Array("essentials/insurance.htm","Insurance for your trip to Luxor","Getting insurance for your trip to Luxor, even if you have pre-existing medical conditions","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Is it worth getting insurance? Insurance covers a range of risks. You may wish to take the risk that your luggage might be lost, stolen or irreparably damaged. If the risk does not pay off the most you forfeit is the value of your case and its contents. If you miss the flight out and there is no alternative, the most you lose is the holiday and whatever you paid for it. You may wish to take that risk. However, a really big risk is that something unforeseen will happen to you or to a member of your group whilst you are away. No matter how much care you take, accidents happen and health issues cannot always be predicted. Most insurance companies treat Egypt as part of Europe.  First Assist tell us that a transfer back from Luxor in an air ambulance with a doctor, to somewhere within the M25 area of the UK, would cost about £25,000 - more if you need to go further than the inner M25 or if you were further away from the airport than Luxor at the Egypt end. Even a medically escorted seat on a standard flight would cost £2,500, or £4,000 if you need a stretcher. The costs would be even higher if two medical escorts are needed and do not include fees to the people handling the arrangements. The insurance premium may not seem too much to pay to avoid that potential cost, even if you are prepared to take the other risks. We cannot give insurance advice or direct you to any specific policy. We would, however, say that going without insurance is a massive worry and a huge risk that is surely not worth taking. When getting quotes, check how the insurance company treats Egypt. Most treat Egypt as part of Europe. Insurance cover for Europe can be a great deal cheaper than worldwide cover. If you plan to take a balloon ride, check also whether the insurance company treat this as a hazardous sport that needs an extra premium. Some include hot air ballooning at no extra cost. Some give it a 'Grade 2' risk, which can double the premium. Others cover hot air ballooning but not for all personal accident or liability purposes. We are not financial advisers and therefore cannot make recommendations but we believe, for information purposes only, that Columbus treat Egypt as part of Europe (click the beside 'destination' to check) and that they cover hot air ballooning, as a passenger, at no extra cost (click the 'sports and activities' line in the Optional Extras section of the form to check). Single trip or annual policy? If you go abroad once a year, a single trip policy will probably be best value. If you have two holidays a year the cost comparison will probably be close. Three trips a year or more and it will usually be cheaper to get an annual policy. If you do at least two or three three trips a year (to anywhere) we suggest you check out a few single trip and annual policy premiums and at least give an annual policy some thought. Pre-existing medical conditions If you have a medical condition, are having medical investigations or are awaiting the results of medical tests, there are insurance implications. If you do not declare the condition you will still be covered for other medical and non-medical emergencies. However, if an issue arises that is related to a condition that you knew about, but have not declared, you will not be insured for that emergency and you will not be reimbursed or given any help by your insurance company. Having a medical condition does not necessarily mean that you cannot get insurance. Most insurance companies will still cover people who have medical conditions or are undergoing tests, but there will usually be an extra premium. These additional premiums can be very modest for some conditions (such as raised blood pressure that is under control with simple medication). If the condition is reasonably uncomplicated, you may even be able to arrange the insurance, including the medical cover, online. More involved conditions may need a phone call.  Some other travel insurance providers Official advice Click anywhere in this box to go to the web site offering official UK government advice on travel insurance. Important! We are not financial advisers. We have no affinity to the insurance industry or to any insurance company. We cannot give insurance advice or recommend specific policies. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[13]=new Array("essentials/accessibility.htm","Accessibility and mobility. Getting into and around Luxor if you have problems with mobility","Accessibility and mobility in Luxor. Getting into and around Luxor with a wheelchair, pushchair or walking aid.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Accessibility and mobility Getting from, and back to, the plane at Luxor From the plane At Luxor a dedicated wheelchair vehicle is attached to the front door of the plane. If you have asked for extra assistance, you will be directed to this door. Once inside the vehicle, you are given one of the airport's wheelchairs to sit in. The vehicle is then driven to the Arrivals Hall. The wheelchairs are lowered, individually, on a motorised platform at the rear of the vehicle. An airport porter then pushes each wheelchaired passenger into the Arrivals Hall and to the visa counters. The porters will normally ignore any queues. Once you have your visa, the porter will again ignore queues to take you quickly through passport control and to baggage reclaim. The porter, with the airport wheelchair, will not go further than baggage reclaim, but you will be able to collect your own wheelchair, or other mobility aid, with the rest of your luggage. The wheelchair porter will expect, and probably deserve, a tip for his efforts. LE20 - LE30 would be fair. There is no 'official' help with wheelchairs or other personal mobility assistance once you have left baggage reclaim. Nevertheless, other porters may be keen to assist with your bags. This may be welcome if you are on your own, but if you are travelling with a companion who is able to carry the luggage, and do not want additional help from porters, you will need to make this clear to would-be assistants. Frequently. Returning through the airport to the plane Coming back, there is a security point just inside the airport terminal. Wait at this point for the airport porter who will arrive with a wheelchair. The porter will take you to the check-in desk, probably ignoring any queues. He will stay with you as you complete the departure card and go through passport control, as far as the duty free shopping area. There is more general information about the departure procedure here. After this point, you can still make use of the wheelchair but the porter will not (understandably) wait with you. The duty free area and departure lounge are all on one level are quite chair-friendly until you go through the departure gate. When the flight is called, most airlines allow people needing assistance to board first. There is a lift from the departure gate to ground level. At ground level you will be directed to the dedicated mobility bus, which will take you back to the aircraft. You will be raised on the vehicle's platform to the front door of the plane. Leave the wheelchair in the mobility vehicle. Getting around Luxor If you have mobility problems, or if you have children in a pushchair, getting around Luxor is possible, but difficult. One of the not-so-bad footpaths The main problems are: the condition of many of the footpaths. the curbs (between the road and the footpath), which are ridiculously high. unnecessary obstacles. Condition of the pavements Most of the footpaths are surfaced with paviors (bricks) or slabs. When they are first laid they are usually fine, but they are not laid to last. Ground movement soon makes them uneven. If there is work to the footpath and the slabs have to be taken up, they are relaid, but not immediately, and not very well. Holes like this can remain unrepaired for months, or years Older footpaths may be larger slabs or concrete but when these are broken they can remain unrepaired for a very long time indeed. Some of the footpaths even have large holes which are not even marked. It is necessary to be very careful indeed when walking along the footpaths. Curbs The footpaths cross plenty of roads. On most journeys by footpath it is necessary to climb many curbs, and climb is not always an exaggeration. They are very high indeed. Unfortunately, there are few dropped curbs, so the footpaths are especially inaccessible to pushchairs and to people with walking or wheeled mobility aids. Obstacles A tree in the footpath Occasionally there is a reasonable run of fairly safe footpath. There seems to be a recent trend to plant bushes in the middle of any such path, making it impassible to wheelchairs, pushchairs or any but the slimmest of pedestrians. To make it even worse, some of the bushes have thorns which easily catch the clothing or skin of all passers-by. The solution The ideal solution would be for the Supreme Council to reverse some of the bush-planting and to spend some of the millions currently being invested in Luxor on making getting around, on foot or in a chair, less hazardous. In the meantime, most people who use wheelchairs or pushchairs, or who become exhausted from climbing high curbs, walk along the edge of the road. This might give rise to horn-sounding, but it is sometimes the only option if you do not wish to take a taxi. Tours and hotels We plan to include information here about the mobility-friendliness of hotels and how people with mobility problems manage on tours and visiting the sites. If you are able to help with first-hand information, please contact us. Thank you. Arriving by air There is general information about the arrivals procedure at the airport on the Arriving by air page. Babies and children For more information about a holiday in Luxor with babies and children, see the Children page. Getting Around There is information about transport in Luxor on the Getting Around page. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[14]=new Array("essentials/arriving.htm","Arriving at Luxor airport, Egypt","Arriving at Luxor airport. What happens from getting to the arrival hall, getting visas, through passport control, baggage collection and out of the terminal.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Arrival at Luxor airport Arrival hall On arrival at the airport, if you already have your visa, go straight to passport control. Look for the things that look like transparent ticket-booths on the right hand side of the arrival hall as you go in. If you have not bought your visa in advance, you will need to get it before you go to the passport control booths. Click here to read more about visas and whether to get one before you go. Keep reading this page to see how to get one on arrival (most people do). Airport facilities Arrival and departure facilities were improved immensely in May 2005, so if you have been to Luxor before 2005, but not since, you will notice a huge difference. Getting a visa Visas are available from the many bank kiosks in the arrival hall. They are next to each other along the left wall as you enter the airport terminal building. Visas bought on arrival cost 15 US dollars or the equivalent in another acceptable currency. British pounds, US dollars and Euros are acceptable but Egyptian pounds are not. The amount you have to pay in other currencies depends on the inter-bank exchange rate at the time. It depends on the value of your currency against the US dollar, not the value against the Egyptian pound. At the moment, the inter-bank (not tourist) rate according to coinmill.com is They will only accept notes, not coins, so you have to offer the next highest amount using notes. When the £ is worth more than $1.50, offering a British £10 note will get you a visa and possibly some change in egyptian currency. When the pound is worth less than $1.50 you will have to offer £15 each and get change from that. Visas used to be self-adhesive blue and orange stamps. Now you are more likely to get a large peel-and-stick 'label' with a hologram in the middle and $15 in the bottom right hand corner. If they run out of the new labels they may revert to the stamps. Whichever type you get, the bank clerk will stick them in your passport. Once you have your visa, queue at one of the passport control booths in the same hall. Several tour agents also sell visas. They may try to 'collect you' at the entrance to the terminal building and try to divert you away from the official visa bank kiosks and to their own desks instead. However, many charge more than the official fee, sometimes nearly twice the official rate. Do not buy your visa from a tour agent or package holiday company rep.  They may give you the visa stamp and tell you they will collect the money in the coach or at the hotel, but without telling you how much they will charge. We have heard of local handling agents for even the big companies, being involved in this scam. To avoid the risk that you will pay too much, we suggest you buy your visa direct from any one of the bank kiosks.  Passport Control & Baggage At passport control you hand over your passport and the landing card that you should have been given on the plane. It will speed things up if you open you passport at the page with the visa. The landing card is retained, your visa is rubber-stamped and your passport returned. A few yards beyond passport control someone else checks that your visa has been stamped! When you have been through passport control you emerge into the baggage reclaim hall, in an adjoining room. There is a board that tells you which luggage belt to go to, but it may change. The board may also not be working. There are only 3 belts and they are close together so finding the right one is not a problem. Duty Free Once you have your luggage, go through customs, which is only yards away, well signposted in English and easy to find. There are random luggage checks. The duty free allowance into Egypt is 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco; alcoholic beverages up to 1 litre; perfume for personal use plus 1 litre of eau de cologne and other goods for consumption to the value of ₤100. You have to pay duty on anything over those limits. You are not allowed to take drugs into Egypt. The maximum amount of Egyptian currency you can take into or out of Egypt is LE5000. When you are through customs there is a duty free shop, straight ahead, within the terminal building. You can stock up here on tobacco and alcohol if you wish, as it is more difficult to buy take-away alcohol in town, although there are a few off licences. See the Alcohol page.. Once you have left the terminal building you cannot go back in. Click here to read about the next stage - your transfer from the airport to your hotel or cruise ship. Police Registration Visitors from most countries are required to register with the local police within a week of arrival in Egypt. European, Canadian and USA nationals are not required to register. If you are from another country and do have to register, your hotel may do this for you. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[15]=new Array("essentials/transfer.htm","Arriving at Luxor airport. Luxor Travel Tips - advice for your holiday in Luxor Egypt","","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Getting to the hotel Package holidays Most package holidays include a free transfer from the airport to the hotel. If you have booked a package holiday very late or if you have booked your flight and hotel separately, you will probably have to pay for the transfer. The cost through an airline or package holiday company is typically a total of £15 - £20 per person, return (airport to hotel and hotel to airport). Hotel agency If you book accommodation through a hotel agency you will normally be able to arrange a transfer at the same time. This will generally be provided by Medhotels. The cost is about £3.50 per person each way (£7 return). The Medhotels service is similar to the one offered by the British package companies. You travel on a bus and people are dropped off at a series of hotels. The bus is usually a bit older than the ones used by the British companies and you are sometimes kept waiting a long time. We have heard of people arriving on one plane having to wait for passengers on the next plane before Medhotels filled their bus and left the airport for the hotel. It is the cheapest way to transfer if you are on your own, but if there are two or more of you a taxi or tour agency transfer is cheaper and more convenient.  Local Tour Agents Most of the Luxor tour agencies will pick you up from the airport and take you to a hotel for about LE80 for up to 3 people and a little more for larger groups. They will meet you at the exit of the terminal building holding a board with your name or the name of the agency. They will escort you to their car, which will be air conditioned and comfortable. They have mini busses for larger groups. You have to pre-arrange the pick-up but as long as you are happy to do that, this is the best way to transfer to your hotel. You can arrange with the same or another tour agency to take you back to the airport at the end of your holiday. There is a list of tour agencies in the sights section. Look at the phoning page to check on ways to make a cheap call to Egypt from Britain to arrange the pick-up. You can also make the arrangements by email, but some companies, especially those with head offices in other cities, are not very good at responding to emails. We have found Sunrise Tours to be good at replying to emails if you prefer to book this way.   Private Taxi Agency You can also book a taxi in advance through Holiday Taxis. It will be more expensive, but less hassle, than finding your own taxi at the airport. It will also probably be more expensive than a paid transfer through the travel company unless there are three or more in your group and more expensive than prearranging a transfer through a tour agency. Airport Taxi If you do not have a transfer as part of the package, and have not prearranged a transfer, you can get a taxi at the airport. To get to the taxis, leave the airport building and keep going in the same direction, straight ahead, past the package holiday coaches. The taxis are mostly Peugeot 504s, painted blue and white but there are an increasing number of similarly painted Asian saloon cars which are more modern and more comfortable if there are just two or three of you. Taxis are easy to find (a driver or 'agent' will probably find you). You must agree a price before you get in. The price is for the whole vehicle, not per person and do not pay extra for luggage. Taxi drivers often start to bargain at LE100. LE40 is reasonable. Don't forget you can get a 'meet-service' private transfer for LE80. During the journey to the hotel the driver will probably try to sell you trips for the rest of your stay. Take his card by all means, but unless you are an old-timer and know the going rates, it is best to check the agents in Luxor before agreeing to anything. Summary A package tour transfer is usually free if you book far enough ahead. It is a comfortably familiar option, but expensive, if you book close to the date of travel or if you are flight-only or do not get it free for another reason. A hotel agency transfer through Medhotels has nothing to recommend it unless you are on your own, want the cheapest and can't be bothered to haggle with a taxi driver. A taxi is cheap and you get straight to your destination, but you may have to put up with some hassle getting to the taxi. A tour agency transfer is not much more than a taxi, less hassle, more comfortable and recommended. The journey to the hotel will take about 15 minutes.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[16]=new Array("essentials/departing.htm","Leaving Luxor, getting through the airport formalities","Leaving Luxor via Luxor airport, including the checking-in procedure and duty free.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Leaving Luxor Improvements at the airport that were completed in May 2005 include a new and substantially better departure terminal. There are now ample check-in desks with modern information screens, although the information on the screen does not necessarily relate to the desk beneath it. If a tour rep or other guide tells you that Gatwick checks in beneath the screen that says 'Manchester', and that Manchester books in beneath 'Birmingham', believe the guide, not the board. There seems to be little flexibility on weight and what flexibility there is appears to be a bit arbitrary. Depending on the airline, and especially if your hold luggage is close to your allowance, hand luggage will probably be weighed and the weight added to your hold luggage to see if you are overweight overall. You may well be asked to pay for excess baggage. There are frequent suggestions that some baggage handlers at the check-in overstate the weight and try to charge for excess baggage even where travellers are convinced that their luggage is within the allowance. Many people take their own mini scales to combat this practice. Departure cards are now issued with the boarding card by the check-in clerk. The departure card, similar to the landing card that you handed in on arrival, has to be completed before you go through passport control. If you are hungry, consider having a snack at the bakery near the check-in desks before you go through to the departure lounge. The prices are marginally lower here than they are after passport control and the seats are more comfortable. After check-in and completing your departure card, go to the passport control kiosks, where the visa in your passport will be stamped and your departure card will be retained. There is no 'exit tax'. By the time you leave you will have seen the beautiful city of Luxor. You will probably have seen its beautiful children too. You will have noticed that many of them need help and support that their own families cannot provide. Little Stars sponsors supportive projects to help give Luxor's children the sort of chances we take for granted. Click their logo (above) to read more about Little Stars. Once through passport control you go upstairs to a new (opened May 2005) departure lounge. You can get there by stairs, lifts or escalators. If the escalators appear not to be moving it does not necessarily mean they are out of order. They have sensors to detect someone approaching and only then do they move. The departure lounge has a few duty-free shops where you can buy tobacco, liquor, perfumes, cottons, leather, books, gifts and refreshments. Except for the refreshments, which are priced in Egyptian Pounds, other shop prices are marked in US dollars, but they do accept Egyptian currency as well as British pounds, American dollars, Euros and Swiss francs. Refreshments available include the usual soft and hot drinks and beer, pizza, fish & chips, ices and sweets. The prices of refreshments at the airport are closer to the prices in London airports than Luxor town. Prices in the book and gift shop are also very high, typically 40% higher than in Luxor town, but the prices of traditional duty free goods, such as tobacco and spirits, are on a par with duty free shops at other airports. For example, 200 local cigarettes (such as 'Cleopatra') were $5 in February 2009, 200 Marlborough were $19 and Silk Cut, Rothmans and B&H were $18. A litre of White Grants whisky was $15, Teachers $16, Beefeater gin $15 and Cinzano $11. This is a link to duty-free allowances for passengers returning to the UK from Egypt. Departure gate The duty free area is kept very clean although there are few seats, other than in the eating area, until you get to the departure gate. The toilets are well cleaned and are better than at many British airports. They are also well supervised and the attendants don't always see the large notices prohibiting tips. The duty free lounge has an ATM and a postbox. Overall the airport has become very sophisticated., clean and efficient. Luggage Airlines can be very fussy about the weight of bags. Worse still, there are reports of a scam at the Luxor end when you are charged at the check-in even when you are convinced that your luggage is not over weight. You can get a useful gadget for about £8 that includes a 22kg scale and a 1M tape so that you can check, and demonstrate if necessary, that your luggage is not overweight. Could save you a lot more than its cost in saved luggage supplements. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[17]=new Array("essentials/caleche.htm","Caleches in Luxor - also known as horse carriages and hantours","Caleches (horse carriages or hantours) in Luxor. What to pay and cautions.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Caleche (horse drawn carriage - hantour) Caleche Caleches, also known locally as 'hantours' are plentiful. You will be offered rides by drivers and touts - constantly. They will even drive beside you as you walk down the road, trying to persuade you to buy a ride. They will offer to take you to the market and give the impression that it is a special market or that the market is only open that day (the main big market is open every day, all day). Despite the efforts of local animal charities, and although the position has improved in recent years and is still improving, few of the horses appear to be well looked after. The drivers tend to gallop the horses and use their whips unnecessarily. Rarely do you see a horse in the shade or drinking. If you really must ride in one, please choose carefully. Select one that looks well looked after and not too thin. Do be careful what you pay. Initially you will offered a ride for, say, ten pounds. If you accept quickly, without clarifying the cost, you may be charged ten English pounds per person. Resist for a while and the cost will drop and will become Egyptian pounds. Ultimately, you should not pay more than the taxi fare. Make sure you do not pay more for the ride than the price they enticed you with.  Don't get caught We have seen people agree a ride for, say 20 pounds, expect to pay 20 Egyptian pounds for the group but at the end of the ride get charged 20 English pounds per person. Make it clear that the agreed price for a caleche ride is in Egyptian pounds and for all of you. If you do take a ride, drivers will often try to persuade you to stop off at various shops or restaurants, typically owned by their 'cousin', where they will earn a substantial commission on your purchases. Even if you say you do not want to go, they will often stop outside anyway. If you say you are not going in they will sometimes go in themselves and leave you in the caleche, hoping you will follow them. They can make more from the commissions than from driving, so they can be quite keen to get you into a shop. Usually, their commission does not come off the shop owners profit - it is added to your purchase cost. So if you do want something it can be better to return later without a local 'escort' and haggle a better price. A lot of work is going on to help horses working in the tourist areas. There is much more work to do here, but even more to do away from the tourist parts, where ignorance of animal welfare is even greater. Animal Welfare of Luxor is working in residential areas on the West bank, especially around El Marise, just south of Luxor Bridge, to care for animals both directly and by educating local people. If you want to know more about their work, or to help, click the logo to go to their web site. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[18]=new Array("essentials/children.htm","Taking children and babies to Luxor","Taking children and babies to Luxor, Egypt. Facilities and precautions","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Children and Babies in Luxor Is Luxor safe for children? Most Egyptians love children. If you take children of any age to Luxor, you will find that they are welcomed just about everywhere and that they will receive a great deal of attention. Of course, in any country there are people who ignore all local and international standards and behave in a way that is inexplicable to the vast majority of people. Having said that, in Egypt children are at least as safe as they are anywhere and a great deal safer than in many 'developed' countries. Do children need their own visas? Children need their own visa if they have their own passport. If a child is on the passport of a parent, a separate visa is not needed. Hotels The vast majority of hotels welcome children (we are not aware of any exceptions, but there may be some). Most do not charge for children under 2 or 3. Open window 50cm above floor level However, not all are equally suitable, especially for younger children. The hotels used by western package tour companies are generally checked by the tour operator for child as well as general safety. On the other hand, some of the hotels that are not specifically targeted at western tourists may lack basic child safety features. Examples are a lack of cots that meet western standards, safety rails that are not high enough and even windows from which children could easily fall. The one pictured is at the New Pola hotel in a corridor on the fifth floor and the threshold is just 50cm (about 18") off the floor. Some of the best hotels for children are the out-of-town hotels, the Jolie Ville and Sofitel Karnak. These two hotels are away from the hassle. They have lots of space for children to run around in, pools for children and activity clubs. The Sofitel also has evening entertainment for children and the Jolie Ville has a small zoo, which you can visit whether you are staying at the hotel or not. Of the budget hotels, the St Joseph has excellent baby cots, which meet current western safety standards, and high chairs in the restaurant. Most of the larger hotels have a babysitting service. Restaurants Nearly all restaurants welcome children and most have highchairs. Unless they are impeccably behaved, you may feel uncomfortable with normally-active children in the restaurants that people dress smart to go to, such as those in the Old Winter Palace and Snobs. Otherwise, feel as relaxed about taking children with you as you would be in an adult-only group. McDonalds is behind the Luxor Temple. Neighbouring Snacktime has a whole floor for children, with excellent, good quality, indoor play equipment. Smiley has a children's menu. Provisions Bebelac milk (bottom left) & more for babies Baby products It is worth taking with you the things that you know you will need and that you can fit within your luggage allowance. Some things are priced competitively in Luxor, but some things, especially imported things, are more expensive in Luxor than in the UK. However, if you come without something there is no need to worry. You should be able to find all the essentials, such as baby milk, nappies, creams and lotions. Baby things that you might expect to find in a supermarket in 'western' countries are more likely to be found in pharmacies in Luxor. The milk, an alternative to SMA in England, is made by Nutricia, a brand familiar to people who shop in Europe. It is sold in Luxor in 400g tins under the Bebelac brand name. Pampers are available but a locally made version is quite a bit cheaper. You can also get Dentinox, baby oils, lotions, shampoos and talcs as well as toys and swimming accessories. All of the products we have seen have had instructions in English as well as Arabic and some other languages. These products may not be available in all pharmacies, but you should be able to find them in most. Our pictures were taken in Dr El-Desoky's pharmacy in south Luxor (see the map). Charges The official line is that entrance tickets and transport in Luxor are free for children up to the age of six. We are not aware of anyone being charged for entry to any of the sights, including the tombs and the National ferry, for any child who is, or looks, six or younger. There is no need to mention the younger children. It is taken for granted that they do not pay. Just go to the ticket office, buy tickets for the adults and older children and don't mention the younger ones unless they do. A lot seems to be down to the official when assessing ages. Officially, children between 7 and 12 (inclusive) pay a reduced rate which is around half the adult price but rounded up to the nearest LE5. Children who look 13 or more will need an international student card to get the reduced student rate. The young person's school or college should be able to help with this, but if not an application can be made online at www.isic.org. We understand that you can also get ISIC cards at an office in Sharia Ahmed Orabi if you don't get one before you go. You have to show passports. Take a passport photo too. Weather We all know that it is hot in Luxor and that the sun is strong. It is probably best to avoid the very hottest months, June - August, when temperatures can soar to the high fifties in the sun. Obvious though it is, it is worth saying that the highest factor sunscreen should be used. Current medical advice is that nothing under factor 30 is very effective. Avon sell a factor 50 sun cream for children (click 'kids and lifestyle' on their front page) and Direct Cosmetics sell Ambre Solaire spray-on factor 40 for children at £2.99 for 200ml. There can be fairly strong breezes on and beside the Nile. This can disguise the heat so you don't always realise how strong the sun really is. Protection is important all the time, even when it does not appear to be so hot. Stating the obvious again, don't forget the parasol for the pushchair and please use huge rimmed hats to keep the sun off faces and necks. Cruises Many of the cruise ships have a minimum age limit and will not take children for safety reasons. If you want to do a cruise with children, you need to check this with the cruise company and be clear about the age of any babies or children. Most of the British tour companies will not book children under about 12 years of age. If you want to book a cruise and can't do it in advance, wait until you get to Luxor and ask at the various tour agencies (see a list on the agents page). They may be able to find you a cruise company that will take children. Balloons There does not appear to be a minimum age limit for the balloon rides although they would need to be tall enough to see over the edge of the basket, which is about 1 Metre. Pavements and roads There are quite a few pavement hazards The pavements in Luxor are not all flat and even. A lot of the curbs are very high. Ramps between the pavement and the road are scarce. These problems combine to make taking a pushchair on the pavements in Luxor quite difficult. It can be done, but many people with chair-aged children prefer to push them along the edge of the road, especially between the tourist area at the southern end of Luxor and the Corniche. Using the road may encourage the occasional car horn but it is not uncommon for people to walk at the edge of the roadside and is often preferred to climbing and descending the many high curbs along the way. Luxor's children don't all get the opportunities you are able to give your children. Click the logo on the left to read about a project to give local children a better chance. Blue links If you click any bright blue text you will link to a page with more information. Accessibility For information about getting around Luxor with a pushchair or with mobility problems, see the Accessibility page Other information Some other relevant pages are: weather to find out which months are not too hot: map of south Luxor where most of the tourist hotels and restaurants are: map of central Luxor, for the main east bank sights. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[19]=new Array("essentials/culture.htm","Culture religion and language in Luxor","Culture, religion and language in Luxor including descriptions and dates of festivals","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Religion Islam is the official religion of Egypt and the vast majority of Egyptians are Muslim, mostly Sunni. Their religion is not just something they practice, it is something they live. Most of the culture and local customs derive from this majority religion. Other religious practices are permitted in Egypt. Most of the non-Muslim population are Coptic Christian, but there are also catholics, protestants, jews and other minorities. There are Catholic and Coptic churches in the centre of Luxor. Language Arabic is the official and main language. English and French are both widely spoken, especially in Luxor itself and other tourist areas. Most Luxor people who are directly involved with tourists, including stallholders in the market, speak many other european languages and some have a smattering of Japanese as well. En Sha'Allah Religion permeates the lives of Muslims. Nothing happens unless it is the will of Allah. En Sha'Allah means 'if it is the will of Allah', or in western terms, 'God willing' and is appended to any forward plan. "I'll see you later, en sha'Allah". The phrase is so much a part of the language that it is also used by Christians and others, not exclusively Muslims. Holidays and Festivals Most festivals are based on the Islamic year, the Hijrah, which is about 11 days shorter than the western calendar. Consequently, the festivals that are based on the time of year are celebrated 11 days earlier (relative to the western calendar) than the previous year. There is more about the Islamic calendar on the webexhibits.org web site. Ramadan Ramadan is probably the best known of the celebrations. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Mohammed and is celebrated for the whole of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The most noticeable feature of Ramadan is that faithful Moslems do not let anything pass between their lips or into any other part of their bodies between sunrise and sunset for the whole month. That includes not only water and food but also anything else. At sunset there are often group meals in the street when the faithful wait to hear confirmation from the local mosque that the sun has set and then take their first food and drink ('Iftar') since before sunrise. Tourists are not expected to observe Ramadan, but out of respect it is best not to be too blatant about eating or drinking in public places during that month. During Ramadan timetables may be adjusted to allow more time for prayer and reflection. Together with the fasting of the faithful, this can affect normal local lifestyles and can reduce restaurant and bar facilities. For this reason some people avoid going to Islamic countries during Ramadan but in practice it doesn't make a huge amount of difference to normal routines in Luxor. At the end of the month of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) there is a feast and a great deal of partying. Ras as-Sana This is the celebration of the new Islamic year. Expect a little carnival with parades, drumming, decorations and special sweets. Moulid an-Nabi Celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed in the third month of the Islamic year. The celebrations include parades, lights, feasts, drumming and special sweets. Eid al-Adha This is the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca. Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. Streets are decorated with coloured lights. Mahmal is performed in each village as people who are going on their pilgrimage pass by and are given carpets and shrouds to take with them. Moulid of Abu el-Haggag This festival honours Yussef Abu el-Haggag (pronounced Hajjaj), who was born in Damascus in the mid12th century, moved to Mecca but settled in Luxor where he is honoured as the city's patron Sheikh. His two-day street festival is held every year, two weeks before the beginning of Ramadan. Expect to see horse races, dancing and stick-fights to the music of drums and an oboe-like instrument. Giant floats, like carnival floats, are paraded through the busy streets with a boat, in the style of the Pharonic solar barque processions. Coptic New Year The Coptic New Year falls on the 11th September, or 12th September in a western leap year. Note about spellings The correct spelling of any of the festival names (and other arabic words) is in arabic characters, not western letters. There is no 'correct' way to express the arabic words in western characters. There are several transliterations that enable us to understand arabic words without knowing arabic characters, but the way these are written in western letters is not uniform. For example, Qur'an, Quran, Koran, Alcoran, Al-Qur’ān are all common spellings of the religious text of Islam. We use commonly accepted spellings, but you will see others. Timetable of important dates In Egypt, as in most of the Islamic world, the dates of holy festivals depend on the actual sighting of the new moon. The appearance of the new moon can be predicted astrologically, but an actual sighting will depend on a number of conditions, including the weather and exactly where on earth it is being viewed from. The dates of religious festivals in the table are the western dates on which the events should occur in Luxor, based on astrological predictions. The actual dates will depend on circumstances at the time, so may be out by a day or two. The day actually begins at sunset the previous evening. Dates in blue are public holidays Event 2009 2010 Coptic Christmas Day 7 Jan 7 Jan Independence Day (from UK) 28 Feb 28 Feb Mohammed's birthday (Moulid-an-Nabi) 9 Mar 26 Feb Coptic Easter (Sham-El-Nessim) 19 Apr 4 Apr Labour Day 1 May 1 May Liberation Day 18 Jun 18 Jun National Day (anniversary of 1952 revolution) 23 July 23 July Flooding of the Nile (Wafa'a el Nil) 15 Aug 15 Aug Moulid of Abu el-Haggag 8 Aug 28 July Coptic New Year 11 Sept 11 Sept Ramadan begins 22 Aug 11 Aug Armed Forces Day 6 Oct 6 Oct Eid Al Fitr Ramadan ends (Bairam Feast) 21 Sept 10 Sept Suez Victory Day 24 Oct 24 Oct Victory Day 23 Dec 23 Dec Hajj begins 25 Nov 14 Nov Hajj (Eid al-Adha) 28 Nov 17 Nov Grand Feast 27-28 Nov 9 Dec Hijrah (Islamic New Year) 18 Dec 7 Dec Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[20]=new Array("essentials/other.htm","Various tips for your stay in Luxor","Electricity, getting your bearings, crossing the road, road safety, and other tips for your stay in Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Electricity. Light switches 220 volts through continental-type 2 pin plugs. Some light switches work the other way round to the way most people are used to. Up can be on. Down can be off. You can get the continental adapters to fit other kinds of plug quite easily outside Egypt in travel shops and at airports but they are not so easy to come by in Luxor, so it is better to bring your own. In some hotels there are not many sockets so it can be handy to have an adapter that lets you plug two 13 amp 3-pin plugs into one two-pin socket. This adapter from Just Sport and Leisure provides two 13 amp outlets plus a nightlight. It is also available from the travel section of Presents For Men but they charge more postage. It is compatible with European sockets. Click the picture for more details. You need the European one, not the US one. Saying 'No' Luxor people can be very insistent. You can't blame them. You probably spend more on a single dinner than they earn in a week. When saying 'no thank you' to the calesh driver or the felucca tout doesn't work, try 'La, shock-ran' or 'La, shook-ran' (depending on locality). Either of these sound as close as necessary to 'No, thank-you' in arabic and can be more effective than saying it in English. Getting your bearings East and West Banks Luxor is divided in two by the Nile. The main tourist hotels, the two best known temples, Luxor museum, the main shops and the tourist market are on the East Bank of the Nile. The tombs, several other temples and many of the residential areas are on the West Bank. Which way is north? If you are on the side of the Nile that has the main tourist hotels, you are on the East Bank. Standing on the East Bank, facing the Nile, you are looking west. Cairo, and the north, is to your right. Aswan, and the south, is to your left. Crossing the road Vehicles, including horse carriages, drive on the right. However, people on bicycles tend to ride on both sides of the road. When you cross the road - look both ways. Many drivers do not use headlights at night, so look carefully after dusk. Zebra crossings are mere decorations in the road. Do not step on a crossing expecting to have the right of way. Even the police will sound their horns to clear the crossing as they approach. If someone stops for you on a zebra crossing they are probably visitors from another country. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[21]=new Array("essentials/entertainment.htm","Entertainment and nightlife in Luxor","Entertainment in Luxor including discos, night clubs, culture shows and pool tables. ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Entertainment You don't go to Luxor for the night life. The main entertainment is the history, ancient architecture and the culture. Most tourists tend to have an early night and get up before the sun gets too hot. Many hotels have entertainment some evenings, possibly a local band or vocalists. There are also 'culture shows' with belly dancers, snakes and so on, again mostly in the bigger hotels. The St Joseph hotel has one such show with dinner most Saturday nights. The biggest evening food, drink and entertainment event is the Fellah's tent in the grounds of the Jolie Ville. Non-residents can go to this. It costs around £30 per person. Make arrangements with the hotel direct or through the many tour agents. The bigger hotels have televisions in most rooms and there is usually at least one English-speaking channel. This may be a news channel or a channel showing American films and police soaps, with arabic subtitles. See the individual hotel reviews for more information. There is not a huge amount of entertainment for children. The Sofitel at Karnak and the Jolie Ville have clubs and pools for children. The same and several other of the bigger hotels have children's entertainment in the hotel. There is a cinema which shows mostly arabic films and a Pool Room off Television Street. Apart from facilities in hotels, there is a Pool table in the Sinuohe restaurant, opposite the Nile Palace (Meridien) at the southern end of town and snooker tables in the nearby Red Lion and in Genesis pub near the Hilton. A two-lane bowling alley is part of the Metropolitan Bowling Club on the Lower Corniche in front of the Old Winter Palace. The are a few 'discos' but they generally amount to a bar with music - not a club disco. There have been quite a few reports of 'sharp practice' at some of the discos - such as drinks being rimmed - so be careful. In particular, Amigos in the basement of the Tutotel has a reputation for this, but we do not know how justified it is. ('Rimmed' is when someone orders a mix, such as a gin & tonic. The glass is filled with tonic and gin is wiped around the edge so that the first mouthful tastes strongly of gin but there is not much gin in the glass). Most of the bigger hotels have libraries of second-hand novels which can be borrowed and exchanged. It is possible to get imported newspapers that are usually a day or two old. The crossword may have been started. They usually come from scheduled flights, or from people who have just flown in, and are sold by men on bikes. Alternatively, take reading matter with you. You are not likely to find English language magazines but if you have time you could get a trial subscription to a magazine before you go and cancel it when you get back! Some magazines are available on a '3 for £1' trial basis with no further commitment. There are a few examples here. If you like to have western music or films it is best to get them before you go and take them and the players with you.  Magazines next 3 issues for £1 in total There is usually a choice of around 20 top magazines of all kinds that are available on a '3 for £1' trial basis. Click magazines for more information and a link. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[22]=new Array("essentials/gettingaround.htm","Getting around Luxor by road or on the Nile","Getting around Luxor including taxis and taxi fares, the National ferry across the Nile, feluccas (sailing boats) and motor boats ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Taxis Typical Luxor taxi You won't take many steps outside your hotel before being offered a taxi. They are blue and white. Most of the taxis are very old Peugeot 504s but there is a steadily increasing number of asian saloon cars from the likes of Daewoo, Hyundai and Nissan. There are no meters. Agree the price before you get in. LE10 should be enough for most journeys within Luxor's East Bank town area but you may have to haggle a bit to get to that price. The price is per taxi, not per person and there should be no extra charge for luggage. Most hotels have a price list at reception but you may have to ask to see it. These lists are useful, especially if you want a taxi to take you further afield. Typical taxi fares from the Winter Palace Destination LE Abydos & Dendera (return) 250 Airport 25 Aswan 250 Dendera 120 Edfu 150 Hurghada 280 Karnak temple 15 Royal Valley Golf club 50 West Bank (half day) 85 Self-drive Please don't! The Luxor city area is compact enough not to need a car. Taxis are plentiful and cheap. Once outside Luxor driving is chaotic and accidents frequent. Hiring a car with driver is so cheap that there is no need to do any driving. Private hire - Chauffeured cars or vans Local tour agents can provide a saloon car or minibus, with driver, for around £25 - £30 per day, depending on the distance you want to travel. You can get to the list of tour agents in the Sights section by clicking here. Local buses Local bus Blue and white mini buses are the standard form of mass transport in the town area of Luxor's East Bank. Covered pick-ups serve the same purpose out of town and on the West Bank. The cost for a journey is rarely more than LE1. The main problem is knowing where the bus is going. The buses will stop for you and if the driver doesn't speak English, someone else on the bus probably will. Travelling on the bus can be intimate. They do tend to keep taking people on, whether there is room or not. Donkey Donkey on the West Bank Not as far fetched as it may seem. Donkeys are the standard form of transport for many and are available for hire. They are not very easy to get on but they are surprisingly comfortable and are indispensable for some trips, especially in rough terrain where alternatives are really not realistic. Feluccas (sailing boats) Felucca These are the sailing boats moored alongside the Nile in the centre of Luxor and by hotels. Their 'captains' and touts offer sailing trips, promoting in particular 2 hours trips at sunset, and sailing to 'Banana Island' and 'Crocodile Island'. Banana island is a tiny plantation not far from the Jolie Ville hotel on the east bank. 'Crocodile island' is the site of the Jolie Ville hotel. In practice there is no longer a crocodile, and nor is it now called 'Crocodile Island'. The crocodile used to be in the hotel's 'zoo' when it was the Movenpick, but the new owners, Maritim, have closed the zoo and renamed the grounds as 'King's Island'. Nevertheless, 'Crocodile Island' is how it is still sold. What you are not told if you take one of these trips is that in both cases you are expected to pay a landing fee and time on the 'island' reduces your time on the Nile. There is also a new landing point, also referred to as 'Banana Island', but on the west bank. We think that if you want to take a boat on the Nile, you are better off skipping the islands and just taking a one hour or two hour round trip. If the wind is poor, the felucca will be towed upstream by a motor boat, or sometimes the captain will row. Occasionally tourists will be invited to join in the rowing. The return journey back to the starting point depends on the flow of the Nile more than the wind so is usually not a problem. Be aware that in 'good' (i.e. strong) winds, the feluccas can tilt such that their rims become close enough to the water to make some passengers a little nervous. Very occasionally they have been know to capsize. A similar trip on one of the motor boats, also used as tourist ferries, is less hairy in such conditions. Prices for trips will be whatever the captain can persuade you to pay. Tour agents usually arrange trips for about LE50 per person per hour, including collection from the hotel. Nile-side hotels, including the Sonesta, Nile Palace and Jolie Ville, have their own feluccas, which you can take from the hotel itself at hotel-fixed prices. Booking a trip with the captains direct should cost you much less. How low they will go depends on the season and how much business there is. LE50 for a whole group for an hour is usually the most you would pay. In the summer when the town is particularly quiet because there are fewer cruise boat passengers, LE30 for the group is usually plenty and LE20 for a boatful is not unknown - but rather unfair on the captains, who have to make a living. Expect to pay a little more for a private trip on a motor boat. Crossing the Nile You can go between the East and West Banks by road, but this involves a huge 15km diversion via a bridge to the south of Luxor. A ferry is much easier, quicker and cheaper. The 'National Ferry' runs all day and night. Local people pay 25 piastres each way. Tourists used to pay LE1 each way, but this has increased following the introduction of new ferry boats to LE2 each way. You pay someone at a desk near the beginning of the gangplank. National Ferry The National Ferry will usually ask you to buy a return trip when you pay for the outward one. Make sure you get a return 'ticket' (a scrawled scrap of paper) so that you can prove payment when you get on the ferry to come back. Alternatively, just say you are only going one way and pay for the return later. The National ferry leaves from a pier almost opposite the northern end of Luxor Temple (see the map). Motor boat Alternatively, one of the motor boats that also take tourists for trips on the Nile will take you across to the other side. Agree the fare beforehand. They used to do it for LE1, but nowadays LE5 per person is normal. Coming back, they may take you direct to a Nile-side hotel rather than just across to the opposite bank of the river. There are now mini piers for the motor boats, close to the National ferry pier and on the West Bank. Otherwise the motor boat may moor alongside other boats so you have to go from one to another to get off. Children will normally help you, whether you want help or not, and will expect a tip. The National Ferry is easier to get on and off! Caleche (horse drawn carriage) Read about these carriages on the caleche page. Click here. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[23]=new Array("essentials/health.htm","Staying healthy in Luxor","Staying healthy in Luxor and what to do if something goes wrong, including accidents, emergencies, ailments such as diarrhoea and medication","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Your health in Luxor Accidents and medical emergencies Ambulance The emergency number to call an ambulance in Luxor is 123. Hospital There is a large hospital on the outskirts of the East Bank. Doctors There are the equivalent of NHS doctors and there are private doctors. Even local people who are not well off tend to go to a private doctor if they or their family or friends can raise the fee. Most of the tourist hotels have contacts with a local doctor. It is probably best to trust local tour reps and hotel staff who have the experience and the contacts to summon the most appropriate help. Medication and Pharmacies Visitors to Egypt are advised to bring an adequate supply of their own medications. If you do run out, or if you suffer a minor medical problem that does not need to be referred to a doctor, you may wish to consult a pharmacist. Medications that you can only get on prescription in many countries are available over the counter in Luxor. Pharmacies are plentiful. The following is based on our own experience. It is not medical advice. If in doubt, consult a doctor. All the pharmacies we have tried have very knowledgeable staff who speak extremely good English and are able to recommend appropriate medication. The most common request is probably for something to deal with a 'gippy tummy'. The pharmacist will ask about the symptoms and will dispense a different medication depending on your responses - cramps or not, sickness or not and so on. Well-stocked pharmacy shelves Medication is subsidised by the Egyptian government and is usually much cheaper than an English prescription. However, prices do vary quite a lot between pharmacies, so it is worth checking a few. The only one we would not recommend is the one in a detached building between the Isis Hotel and Maxime's restaurant. Their prices have tended to be way above the norm when we have visited to compare the costs of common medications. Of all the pharmacies tried, we have found the best to be one run by Dr. Ayman El-Desoky. It is almost opposite Jewel of the Nile restaurant: slightly off the tourist trail, but worth the trip ( see map). Dr El-Desoky speaks fluent English and his prices are the same for foreigners as for local people, whereas elsewhere there may be special tourist prices! We say again that this is not medical advice, which we are not qualified to give. It is advice based on our own experience of dealing with ailments. Ailments This part of the page has been checked and verified by an English doctor Diarrhoea Traveller's diarrhoea is the most common form of illness for travellers to Luxor. To avoid the problem, the usual recommendation is to eat only thoroughly cooked food and fruit you have peeled yourself. In practice, tummy problems are not necessarily caused by food. See the box for other tummy problem prevention tips.  Preventing tummy problems 1. Wash your hands frequently. Yes, of course it's obvious, but it is worth saying. Not everyone has the same hygiene standards. The things you touch, such as money, may have been handled by someone who is not as careful as you about keeping their hands clean. As you will not always be able to get to water easily, take a bottle of alcohol gel which is actually more effective than soap and water at getting rid of bugs. You can get the gel from most chemists. You can also get it online. Click the picture. 2. Don't gulp freezing cold water. Less obvious, but important. Suddenly freezing your hot innards is a shock to the system, which can cause stomach upset. Cold water is lovely on a hot day, but swish it around your mouth to warm it up first. 3. Don't get too cold! There is a temptation to go out in the heat and then come back to near-freezing air conditioning. Your body probably isn't used to rapid extreme changes in temperature and may react. 4. Be careful of open food bowls etc. Do you know who used the sauce bowl before you? Do you know if they dipped their fingers in there by mistake?  Antinal Many frequent travellers to Luxor recommend Antinal as a cure for diarrhoea. It does usually work but be very careful. Antinal is not super-imodium. It is an antibiotic. It is not registered for use in the UK. If it were registered for use in western countries it would only be available by prescription. In Luxor Antinal is available over the counter in pharmacies and even in some hotel and tourist shops. A typical cost is only LE5 for a pack. Remember that antibiotics kill all bacteria in the stomach, so they kill they good ones as well as the bad ones. Remember also that when you take antibiotics you should take the whole course, not just enough to stop the immediate problem. A course of Antinal is usually four days. We suggest that if you use Antinal you only do so as a last resort; that you buy it from a pharmacy and that you take the pharmacist's advice on when, and for how long, to take it. If you do suffer diarrhoea, the latest medical recommendation is that you do not take Imodium or similar medications unless it is imperative, and then only the minimum amount necessary. You may also have become dehydrated. To test whether you are dehydrated, pinch and lift the skin on the back of your hand. Your skin should go back into place straight away. If it does not, you need rehydration. You can take a rehydration drink, such as 'Dioralite', available in sachets from pharmacies. An alternative is to take a flat, sweet (not diet), fizzy drink, such as cola, because it also contains the sugars and salts you need. To make the cola go flat more quickly, let it come to room temperature, pour it into a clean glass and then pour it from one clean glass to another. Do this until the fizzing stops. Keep sipping the flat drink every five minutes or so until your system is back to normal and your body is rehydrated (do the pinch test). If either the diarrhoea or dehydration problems persist, ask for a doctor. A house call from a doctor, including treatment for this kind of problem, will typically cost about LE400 - LE500 which you may be able to reclaim from your insurer. Malaria & Cholera To read about risks of serious illnesses and suggested protection, see the vaccinations page.  Nile worms - Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) Since ancient times, the Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt, but it also carries risks. There is no serious medical problem for tourists who do the normal tourist things. It is nevertheless sensible for people who may be especially active, and may perhaps be tempted to go for a swim whilst sailing along the Nile, to be aware to be aware of this rare disease. In some parts of the Nile there are tiny freshwater flatworms that carry a disease known as schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia after Theodor Bilharz, who first identified the parasite in Egypt in 1851). Larval forms of the parasites enter the body through the skin and attach themselves to body tissues. The first symptom may be tingling and sometimes a light rash around the area where the worm entered or a general feeling of unwellness. Weeks later, a high fever may develop. In another form of the disease there may be pain when passing urine. Not all these symptoms may be evident at first. Sometimes, there are no signs at all for months or even years after infection. Once the disease is established there may be abdominal pain and blood in the urine. Depending on the form of the disease, a urine test or a blood test is the most reliable way to identify the disease, but the infection may not show up until a number of weeks after exposure. To avoid the risk, it is best to avoid paddling or swimming in the Nile where where schistosomiasis is present. If you do get wet, dry off vigorously and quickly and dry your clothes as well. There is no need to paddle or swim in the Nile, and the tap water is well chlorinated. There is, therefore, no serious risk to tourists - just something to be aware of in case you are tempted into the river. Chlorinated swimming pools do not carry the risk. There is more about the disease here. Precautions before you go Have a look at the page on inoculations and vaccinations so that you are as prepared as you can be for your trip to Luxor. Food and drink For health issues around food and drink, see the water & food safety page Insects, bites, stings etc. For information about the insects, bites and stings that you may encounter, see the insects page. The sun Read about protecting yourself from ill effects of the sun on the Sun page. Insurance Although medication is subsidised, and most drugs are cheap by western standards, treatment can be expensive. Insurance for medical treatment and for getting you back to your country of origin is strongly advised. Children There is a separate page with information about things for babies and children. Flight socks For reducing health risks on the flights there and back, Sock Shop have a selection of flight socks for men and women. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[24]=new Array("essentials/insects.htm","Insects and creepy crawlies in Luxor","Insects and other creepy crawlies in Luxor and how to protect against the nuisance ones. ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Insects and creepy crawlies The main insect problem is flies. There are no more than on a hot English summer day, but they can be a nuisance. There are mosquitoes in Luxor. They do not carry the deadly diseases that are prevalent in some other parts of Africa. Most visitors never see a single one, but they are around, they do bite and they can draw blood. See the separate box on this page for more about mosquitoes and how to protect yourself.  Mosquitoes Mosquitoes are usually only a problem at dawn and dusk. If you are out at those times, cover your legs and arms. They can also be a noise nuisance at night in the hotel room. We suggest packing a fly swat. If the thought of mosquitoes bothers you it is best to take some precautions. Many regular travellers recommend taking vitamin B tablets for a week before you go and daily whilst you are there. Apparently it makes the blood taste nasty to the mosquitoes so they leave you alone. You can get Vitamin B tablets from most health food shops and pharmacies or you can get 180 tablets for about £3, post free, from Healthy Direct. Others recommend Avon 'Skin So Soft, Soft & Fresh dry oil body spray'. Clicking on the picture or the the blue writing should take you to the right place on the Avon web site; otherwise 'skin so soft' in their search box. This body spray contains citronella and is said to act as a repellent whilst smelling nicer than insect repellent sprays. (Avon offer free delivery on orders over £20 if you use coupon code ATD). Amongst the more traditional repellents, most people suggest ones containing DEET (diethyl-m-toluamide), but it has an odour and it can stain clothing and damage synthetic fibres so be careful with it. DEET has been around since the second world war and although it still works, it has some modern rivals. Look out for products that contain KBR3023, which has an official World Health Organisation name of Icaridin, but is also known by other names including Picaridin, Pikaridin and Bayrepel. According to the World Health Organisation, "KBR3023 has excellent repellent properties ... often superior to those of ... DEET .. At manufacturers recommended dilution, KBR3023 confers more than 95% protection up to 6 - 7 hours after application .. longer protection time than DEET .. can be recommended as the repellent of choice .... ". (WHO/CDS/WHOPES/2001.2 Pg28 3.4.2-3). Picaridin is odourless and does not stain or damage clothing. It is an ingredient in some sun blocks as well as personal insect repellent sprays. It is also recommended against other flying insects, not just mosquitoes. The picture shows one example from Autan, ' Autan Protection Plus', which they say provides up to 8 hours protection against biting insects. It is available from pharmacies including Boots for around £6 for 100ml, or by post if you click the picture. For when you are in the room, there are products that you spray into the air rather than on yourself. You can buy them in Luxor. The hotel should spray your room for you if you report a problem. Alternatively, you could use one of the solid tablets that you place on a heater pad and plug into the mains socket. These give off a chemical gradually through the night to deal with mosquitoes and other flying insects. Some hotels provide them, otherwise you can take one with you or get one in Luxor. For more on malaria and whether protective medication is recommended (it isn't!), see the vaccinations page. There are other flying things. Dragonflies abound in season (they migrate like birds, so they are not around all year). They are normally above or near water, so you are almost bound to see them in the Nile-side hotels. Dragonflies (and damselflies) do not bite people. Occasionally there will be large hornets. These are the same insect family as 'yellow jacket' wasps, but can be a lot bigger. They only leave the nest in early to mid autumn, so are not a problem most of the year. Hornets do sting. The sting is similar in nature to a wasp sting, although in the species of hornet found in Egypt the sting is actually a little more toxic, and a little more painful, than a wasp sting. This is not a major problem for most people (apart from the pain) but if you are allergic to wasp stings and need to do something when you are stung, then you should be prepared to take similar preventative or remedial action against a hornet sting if you are in Luxor when hornets are around. There are also small lizards. Again, not a problem, but be aware that they are around and that they may even climb the wall of the hotel.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[25]=new Array("essentials/market.htm","Luxor Market","Luxor market. How to find it and how to shop there.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Luxor Market Entrance to the market For more atmosphere, a must-visit is the traditional market in Old Market Street. There are many access points into Old Market Street. For one, start at McDonald's. With your back to McDonald's, go right, past a few shops and to the junction with the main road. The main road is Station Road. Cross this road and look for the new sign "Le Souk". This is the entrance to the market. Buying fruit Fruit stall in the market At this end of the market most of the shops sell jewellery, bags and leather goods, souvenirs, spices and other items aimed at the tourist. As you progress through the market, the emphasis changes, with fewer shops targeting the tourist and more selling fruit and vegetables, household utensils, tools and other goods providing for the needs of local people. Be prepared to see live chicken and possibly other livestock. Some guides and occasional visitors to Luxor will advise against shopping in the market. Their reasons may include the inevitable hassle from shop or stall holders and the possibility that you will pay too much for your purchases. As far as the hassle is concerned, certainly there will be plenty of local people keen to 'help' you and you will not progress far in Old Market Street without being 'encouraged' to go into shops or to look at wares on a market stall. That kind of hassle is hard to avoid anywhere in Luxor and it is certainly no worse in the market than it is in the tourist shopping clusters. A little tolerance and good humour will usually be enough to get you by. In the market Fruit stall What you pay for your purchases is largely up to you. Many of the stall holders work on commission. Everything has a minimum price that the owner will expect. If the seller can get more than the minimum then the difference will probably be his earnings so yes, many may maximise their earnings when they have a chance. Some guides will suggest that you offer half the starting price. The sellers are wise to that advice and so will often start much higher than twice what you need to pay. There is no magic formula. Do your homework in the hotel and local shops. See the shopping page for help with this. With that background decide what you are prepared to pay, then barter. If you buy for that or a lower amount you have a bargain. If you want to know the lowest price, just show interest, barter a bit, then walk away. The price he shouts after you as you begin to disappear back into the crowd is probably as low as he will go. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[26]=new Array("essentials/money.htm","Getting and using money in Luxor","Getting money in Luxor including the exchange rate and ATMs","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Money Notes and coins The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (LE). There are 100 piastres in one Egyptian pound. Notes in common circulation are 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Egyptian pounds and 50 and 25 piastres. Paper money gets very old, tattered and torn, especially the smaller notes. Egyptians will often refuse to accept the notes in worst condition, especially torn ones. It may be best to refuse any that are torn or repaired with tape in case you get stuck with them. There are coins but most of them are rarely used, except by local people for the ferry or for a local bus. Even in shops, most bills are rounded to the nearest 25 piastres. In restaurants change is normally rounded to the nearest pound. The exception is a new LE1 coin which is becoming more common. Shops never seem to have any change, so it is best to pay for low cost items, such as drinks and small purchases from the market with the right money. However, the smaller notes are hard to get hold of. We suggest you keep hold of LE1 notes and coins and LE5 notes for these minor purchases and for tipping. When and where to get cash There are plenty of cash machines (ATMs) in Luxor. There are cash machines in several of the hotel lobbies, including the Jolie Ville, the Sonesta St George (three inside and one outside), the Sofitel Karnak, the Lotus and the Mercure Hotel (near the museum). There are also several machines outside banks along the Corniche and along the main road around the hotels to the south of the town. Click here for a list of Visa cash machines in Luxor. You have to enter the country (Egypt) and the town. Entering 'Luxor' is fine. Click here for a list of Mastercard cash machines in Luxor. Put your own country in the drop down list in the heading. In the box on the page you have to enter the country (Egypt) and the town as Al-Uqsur - the local name. Most of these ATMs will also take Link and other popular British debit and credit cards. There are Bureaux de Change, and banks with exchange desks, in most parts of town, including along the Corniche and amongst the hotels at the southern end of Luxor. When you change or draw money you may be given a receipt, which you are told to keep for inspection or in case you need to change Egyptian notes back into another currency. We have never had a receipt checked, but it is best to hold on to one or more to cover the amount of Egyptian cash you have, just in case.  Value of the Egyptian pound The Egyptian Pound (LE) has been worth between about 9p and 14p in recent years. Throughout 2007 and for most of 2008 the exchange rate was around 10 or 11 Egyptian pounds to one English pound but in 2009 fell to less than 8 Egyptian pounds to one English pound before recovering. (These are local rates, the pound fell to less than LE7 if you change currency in the UK). The pound is closely aligned to the dollar, so when the pound falls or rises against the dollar, it tends to fall or rise about as much against the Egyptian pound. For ease of calculation we usually work on the rough rule of thumb that LE10 is worth very roughly £1 sterling or LE1 is 10 pence (English), sometimes 2p more, sometimes 2p less, but it works as a quick rule of thumb for small-scale spending. Some examples of currency exchange rates appear below. These are today's commercial rates. You can expect to get very close to these rates if you draw or change money in Egypt. You will usually get quite a lot less if you buy Egyptian pounds in another country before you go. This list is up to date and fetches today's currency rates from coinmill.com. You can also do a currency conversion between Egyptian Pounds and other major currencies by clicking here if you are connected to the internet. This will open a currency converter in another window. Close that window to return to Luxor Travel Tips. Credit Cards and travellers cheques Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. However, not all hotels or cruise boats will accept them for settling final bills.  We are not financial advisors The advice we offer about money, when and where to get it and about the exchange rate, is based on our own experience and on currency rates provided by banks and other foreign exchange bureaux. We are not financial advisors, we do not provide qualified financial advice and we have no links with any financial institutions. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[27]=new Array("essentials/news.htm","News from Luxor: the latest changes","Recent news from Luxor including road works, renovations and hotel refurbishments","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear News from Luxor News from the town Police station, Jamboree etc have gone. Mosque, Mina Palace and government buildings are going. Parts of the centre of Luxor are in a bit of a mess at the moment! Since October 2005 the town has been undergoing some massive changes. The changes are part of the grand plan of Dr. Samir Farag, president of the Supreme Council of Luxor. The plan is to restore the ancient link between Luxor and Karnak temples, to clear the skyline along both banks, so that ancient monuments are easily visible across the river and to improve the road network. Linking Luxor and Karnak Temples A controversial part of the plan is to restore the 3km long road connecting Luxor with Karnak. The road is clearing a 60 meter wide open space between the temples, involving the demolition of huge numbers of buildings, mostly residential but also including the town centre police station and even a mosque. Paving on the station side of Luxor temple Progress is very evident. When you come from the airport you can see part of the new causeway as you go over a bridge coming into Luxor town. There are also open areas, especially to the north of the temple, where buildings have been cleared. The area on the station side of the temple itself is much tidier and largely paved, including a large decoratively paved area between the temple and the road to the station. Clearing the vista Buildings have already been cleared on the Nile side of Karnak temple, so the temple is visible from the west bank and Hatshepsut's temple is visible from Karnak. This has opened up the view of Karnak temple from the road along the Nile. Buildings have been demolished in front of Luxor Temple, including the pair of old colonial style government buildings, the Mina Palace Hotel, the small shops and the old Jamboree restaurant. Roads Station Road (see the central Luxor map) has been widened. Shops have been demolished along its length and some new ones built further back from the road's edge. From the station there is now a clear view to the temple complex. The station itself has been redeveloped. The kiosk near McDonald's and the clock tower in the roundabout near the entrance to the Old Market have gone. The roundabout has been rebuilt and paved. The road to the east of the station, once a busy, narrow road, has been doubled in width and is now a dual carriageway. New Winter Palace has gone. Coptic Church towers to the left New Winter Palace The front block of the New Winter Palace has been demolished. The rear (Pavilion) block is still open and is accessed via the Old Winter Palace. The grounds at the back are all in use as normal. The New Winter Palace is being replaced with a low-rise hotel New Coptic Church In contrast to the clearance of the skyline along the edge of the Nile, a new double-bell-tower coptic christian church is being built near the railway crossing to the north of the station, which can easily be seen from many parts of the east and west banks. Apparently the church is being funded by the owners of two hotels, including the owner of the Sonesta. Shopping The old tourist shops near the temple and restaurants, such as Amoun's, have moved to the new 3 storey Savoy centre near the Mercure hotel, which has also replaced the arcade that used to be there. Market Old Market Street has been dug up and arches and trellises have been erected. Cars, horse carriages and other vehicles are no longer allowed through Old Market Street. At the southern entrance to Old Market Street (the tourist end) an arch announcing the market has been built. The market is still quieter than the old one, partly because caleche drivers can no longer drive through, so they try to convince tourists that the market is closed and to go to a 'local market' instead. The market is not closed - ignore anyone who says it is. Ferry There is no change (yet) on the East Bank side, but the National Ferry terminal on the West Bank is being redeveloped and will be moved slightly. The taxi car park is being converted into a park. New National Ferry boats are operating. Marina There is a plan to build a marina on the West Bank. Other Work is going on elsewhere in the town as well, so getting around can be very hazardous in places. Roads are not closed when work is going on. Cars vie with steam rollers for space on the road even whilst under construction. News from the tombs Tutankhamun's tomb is due to be closed for about a year. Originally the closure was due to be from May 2008 for about a year, but it didn't happen. In the meantime, access is being limited to 200 visitors in the morning, then a break, and 200 in the afternoon. News about hotels The Marhaba shopping centre, next to the site of the New Winter Palace is due to be demolished. It is supposed to be joined with the site of the (now demolished) New Winter Palace. A new lower-rise hotel, possibly run by the Four Seasons group, will be built there. Between the Sonesta and the Lotus hotels, the old public swimming pool is being demolished. The land is owned by the Sonesta. The Mercure Inn was operated by Swiss Inn for a while, but it has now closed, pending redevelopment. The Hilton hotel, which had been closed since October 2005, has reopened after substantial refurbishment. It is positioned at the luxury end of the hotel market with better Nile views, separate group booking-in arrangements, a lounge apart from the reception, a separate spa area and very high prices. The enlargement of the Sonesta hotel, by building upwards, has been going on for ages and is still not complete. The hotel has remained open throughout. Some people have said the building work is not a problem, others have complained that it is a nuisance and have asked to be moved. The Sheraton is being renovated a section at a time whilst the remainder of the hotel remains occupied. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[28]=new Array("essentials/phoning.htm","Phoning Luxor, Egypt - low cost calls to landlines and mobiles","How to phone Luxor and how to get low cost calls","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear International phone calls Into Egypt The access code into Egypt is 20 and the area code for Luxor is 95. To phone a Luxor number from outside Egypt you need to dial the international access code from your country (usually 00) followed by the country code for Egypt (20) and the area code for Luxor (95), then the personal number. From Egypt You first dial the international access code which, from Egypt, is 00. You then dial the relevant country code, e.g. 44 for the UK or 27 for South Africa. Then dial the area and personal numbers, as you would when making a call within the UK, but leaving the first zero off the area code (so inner London is 1 instead of 01 and Birmingham is 121 instead of 0121). So to phone Birmingham, UK from Egypt you dial 00 44 121 plus the personal number. Mobile 'holiday' SIM You can use your own mobile with your 'home' SIM card, but it will be very expensive. It depends on the network and whether you have any special packages, but it can easily cost you £1 per minute. The alternative, if your phone is unlocked, is to buy a 'holiday SIM' when you get to Luxor. Vodaphone SIM cards are available from several places in town. The most popular place to get them from is the Vodaphone shop, about 100 metres on the right from the town end of Television Street ( click here for a map that shows Television Street). Ask for a 'holiday SIM'. The people in the shop speak good English and will put the SIM in for you. They will also change your phone settings as necessary. You can use the SIM for calls within Egypt and for international calls. The basic price of the SIM card is LE25. You can then add credits up to the amount you want. Most people find LE50 is plenty for average holiday use and occasional calls home. The credit does run out if you don't use it within a month, but you can keep the SIM and top it up next time you go to Luxor. Using an Egyptian SIM will, of course, change your phone number until you put your home SIM back in, so if anyone needs to call you, you will have to tell them your temporary number. Taking your home SIM out of your phone also stops people getting through on your normal number and the call-receive fees that you pay on most mobile tariffs. Your phone must be unlocked to use an Egyptian Vodaphone SIM. Even a phone locked to another country's Vodaphone network will not work with an Egyptian Vodaphone SIM. How easy it is to unlock your phone depends on the phone itself (Nokia N70 series models are more difficult for example) and whether you are still inside a minimum-term contract under which you got the phone for nothing or a seriously reduced price. Usually you can get it done for around £10 in the UK.  Low cost calls to Egypt Calls to Egypt are close to £1 from most standard UK lines. For example, calls from the UK cost 93.5p daytime or 81 off-peak per minute from a BT landline to a Luxor landline (last checked May 2008). Costs vary depending on your telephone company and there are usually special plans that give you discounts depending on the number and type of calls you make. Many low-cost phone services offer much lower rates which you can access without changing your telephone provider. To access some of these services you have to buy pre-paid card, sign up and register as a member of a calling service, or pay a connection fee. In other cases you just have to dial an access number. The services described below are available to anyone just by dialling an access number. Be aware that with these services the charge starts when you are connected to the access number, so you will pay the rate per minute as soon as you connect to their system, even if the person you are calling in Egypt does not answer. The cost appears on your normal phone bill. Calls to a landline At the time this was last updated the lowest cost providers of calls from a UK landline to an Egyptian landline were 0844calls and Phonecheap. Both charged 5p per minute. You do not have to sign up for their service or buy time in advance. To use their service, dial the access code 0844 566 69 69 for 0844calls or 0844 566 7566 for Phonecheap . A voice will confirm the price per minute and tell you to enter the number after the tone. When you get the prompt, dial the international access code (00) then the access code for Egypt (20), then the number you want (starting with the area code, usually followed by 7 digits). So to call a Luxor number you dial 0871 754 3737 (wait for prompt) 00 20 95 xxxxxxx. In case the cost has changed since this was written, you can check their latest rates on the 0844calls or Phonecheap web sites. Calls to a mobile In May 2008 0844calls provided the cheapest calls from a UK landline to a mobile in Egypt at 4p per minute. The principles are the same as with landlines, except that after the Egypt access code you dial the mobile phone number, leaving off the first zero. The 0844calls access number for mobile calls is 0844 428 25 25. So to call a mobile in Egypt dial 0844 428 25 25 (prompt) 00 20 xxxx xxxxxx. Again, it is worth checking the latest rates on the 0844calls web site. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[29]=new Array("essentials/shopping.htm","Shopping in Luxor","Shopping in Luxor at the market, the Savoy Centre, the government shop and elsewhere","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Shopping Generally Luxor is not a place to go for large, glamorous shops. There aren't any. There are, however, bargains to be had as well as souvenirs. Typical prices Prices gathered from fixed-price shops in February 2009. Where there is a range, the price depends mostly on size. Shisha pipe LE25 - 100 Sunglasses LE20 Scarf/pashmina LE10-40 Postcards 25 - 50 pstr T-shirt adult LE30 T-shirt child LE15 Perfume bottles LE5-25 Inlaid boxes from LE20 e.g. 3"x2" LE25 Cotton bag LE15 Leather bags LE100 Resin figures LE5-25  Typical souvenir items include carvings and mouldings of gods, pharaohs and queens, papyrus illustrations and glass scent bottles. The bargains include egyptian cotton, leather, gold and silver. Prices in hotel shops will normally be beatable, but they are worth checking if only to give you a benchmark for when you go to town. It is also worth visiting non-tourist shops in town, where prices are marked and where, as far as we can tell, the tourist pays the same as local people. Most of these shops are in and around Station Road, the wide road that leads from behind Luxor Temple towards the railway station. Here you will find shops selling shoes, clothing, small electrical items and an optician. There are more shops in Television Street (see the map) and the road that runs parallel with and behind, the main road down to the southern cluster of hotels. It helps to have a note of Arabic numbers because although prices are often displayed, they are usually only written in Arabic. Haggling - the price you have to pay You haggle for most things, especially in the market and in the tourist shops. Once upon a time the general advice (which is still given by some tour reps) is that you start to haggle at half the price asked for by the merchant and meet somewhere in the middle. The shop and market people are wise to that, so they up the starting price. It is not at all unusual for a seller to start the haggling process six, eight or even ten times higher than the price they would accept. The best bet is to become familiar with value of things by checking the price charged in the government shop, other fixed price shops, non-tourist shops used by local people and hotel shops. There is no magic formula. Do your homework and with that background information decide what you are prepared to pay, then barter. If you buy for that or a lower amount you have a bargain. If you want to know the lowest price, just show interest, barter a bit, then walk away. The price he shouts after you as you begin to disappear back into the crowd is probably as low as he will go. Government Shop Government shop There used to be a big and dusty Government Shop in the maze behind Luxor Temple. There is now a new Government shop at the southern end of town. To get to it, go down the road opposite the Lotus hotel, past Joan's, Snobs, Casablanca etc to the end of the road. The Government shop is on the corner of that road and the busy main road. On the ground floor are clothing and linens, such as sheets, table cloths etc. Downstairs there are fabrics and domestic machines It helps to know the procedure for buying here. The shop is similar to a British corner draper from the 1950s. There are counters and each member of staff has their own territory and specialty. Prices are marked in arabic. Staff speak English. They will willingly show you what you want to see and tell you the price. Prices are fixed but seem to come with an automatic discount. When you have chosen your purchase(s) you are given a chitty. Take the chitty to the cash kiosk opposite the main entrance. Give the chitty and your payment to the cashier. He will receipt the chitty and return it. Now take the receipted chitty to the dispatcher who has his own counter to the right of the cashier. If the goods have not already arrived at the dispatcher's desk he will go to the place where you started, to collect your purchase. He then wraps it and gives it to you with your receipted chitty. If you buy things from more than one counter, collect your chitties as you go round and take them all to the cashier together. Many of the people involved may ask for tips, but this is out of habit. Tips are not really expected or normally given. Tourist shops Savoy Market ground level Tourist shops in town tend to be clustered and they all sell similar things, especially alabaster, resin mouldings, leather, t-shirts, other cotton and jewellery. The goods in tourist shops are rarely priced. Hassle and bartering are the order of the day. One cluster of tourist shops is along the main Corniche either side of the Winter Palace, extending into the Mahaba centre, to the left (as you face it) of the Winter Palace. There used to be more around the Horus hotel, between the market and Luxor Temple, but these have been cleared as part of the town improvements. For a while they were relocated along the main road on the town side of the Mercure hotel. They are now in a new purpose-built shopping centre, called Savoy Market (see below). At the other end of town there are plenty of shops along the main road from the Nile Palace hotel (previously called the Meridien hotel), all the way through to the Sheraton and down some of the side streets along the way. Savoy Market Savoy Market The Savoy Market has replaced many of the tourist shops that used to be clustered close to the Luxor Temple. This is part of the thrust to improve facilities for tourists, but it was also necessary as part of the clearance of a tract of land between Luxor and Karnak temples to reintroduce the ancient avenue of sphinxes. The Savoy Market is on the town side of the Mercure hotel (the one on the Nile, not the Swiss Inn, previously called the Mercure Inn behind Luxor Temple). It has an arcade at ground level, which goes through to the road at the back, and two further floors. There are dozens of shops, selling the full range of tourist souvenir things. There are also several toilets, which are quite acceptable by local public toilet standards and internet cafes. Some of the best known local restaurants have also been relocated to the Savoy market with the shops. Altogether there are three restaurants, El Hussien and Amoun are on the second level and King Tut is at the top. Luxor Market There is a separate page about Luxor Market Babies and children Look at the Children page for information about buying things for babies and children Jewellery Gold and silver are normally sold by weight. Go to any jewellery shop, ask the weight of the item you are interested in and their price per gramme. With this information it is easier to compare prices between jewellers. There is not a huge variation in the styles of silver and gold items, so you will normally be able to find the same thing in another of the very many jewellers and compare prices. Fruit and veg You can get fruit and veg in the tourist market, but prices are rarely shown and there may be a tendency to charge special tourist prices. There are many fruit and veg stalls slightly off the tourist trail, especially around Television Street and between Television Street and the station (see map). Expect to pay around LE2 - LE3 per kilo for oranges and bananas but up to LE15 for the best imported apples. See the food shopping page for more detail. Leather Leather bags can be a bargain. Forget 'western prices'. These bags are inexpensively made and are not Italian designer quality despite the name that might appear on the inside. Expect to pay around LE100 for most leather handbags - many will be less if you haggle well. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[30]=new Array("essentials/sun.htm","The sun and protecting yourself from damage from the sun and Ultra Violet","The sun and protecting yourself from sunburn and ultra violet in Luxor ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear The Sun The sun shines virtually all day, every day in Luxor. The sun rising and setting times, and the weather at this very moment are summarised on the front page. The typical number of sunshine hours per day in any month is illustrated on the weather page. This guaranteed sunshine is gorgeous and it is why many people choose to go to Luxor. Nevertheless, there are hazards that it really is necessary to guard against. It is generally thought that the thing to worry about most is Ultra Violet (UV). The problem is that you can't see UV and it is not the sort of thing you see in many weather forecasts or reports. There are ways to measure UV, but we are not aware of any information about UV levels being published in Luxor, so if you want to know whether you are getting too much sun, you will probably have to take a UV monitor with you. Monitors are available in the UK, the USA, Europe and other countries. If you want to be able to measure UV levels and have difficulty finding a monitor locally, you can get the pictured one by post. It is designed to be suitable for children and adults. It tells you how strong the UV is. You can enter the sun factor of the cream you are wearing and it will sound an alarm when you have been in the sun for the recommended maximum time. We have seen it for around £20, but it's normal price in the UK is around £15, although it is sometimes on offer for a lower price. If you click the picture you will find the current price and other details. Not many people will go so far as to take a monitor, but most people will use something to protect the skin from the worst effects of the sun. Current medical advice suggests that, because of the strength of the sun, you should start with a protection factor of at least 30, and preferably 50. That may sound high, but the tan does still get through. Avon sell a factor 50 sun cream for children and several factor 30 creams for adults. Clicking one of the pictures should take you straight to the related product. Otherwise click 'suncare' 'holiday and suncare' or 'winter sun' (depending on the season) on the Avon front page.   Sun forecast For details of the average sun hours per day, temperatures and other weather you can expect in any month, go to the weather page. What to wear There is some advice on what to wear, bearing in mind the the sun and heat, on the what to wear page. Insects Some insects love the heat too. Have a look at the Insects page to read about the sort of creepy crawlies you can expect to encounter. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[31]=new Array("essentials/time.htm","The time in Luxor","The time in Luxor and how far it is ahead of GMT","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Time Luxor standard time is 2 hours ahead of GMT in the winter. In Egypt the clocks go forward on the last Friday in April and go back again on the last Friday in September. Between those dates Egypt is 3 hours ahead of GMT. European Summer Time, otherwise known as Daylight Saving Time, in Britain known as British Summer Time, starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on last Sunday in October. As the European clocks go forward sooner, and go back later, than Egyptian clocks, there are a few weeks at each end of the summer when the time difference between British / European time and Egyptian time is one hour less than usual. For example, Egyptian time is 2 hours ahead of British time most of the year, but between the last Sunday of March (when the British clocks go forward) and the last Friday of April (when the Egyptian clocks go forward), and again between the last Friday in September (when the British clocks go back) and the last Sunday in October (when the Egyptian clocks go back) the time difference is only 1 hour. As that all sounds a little complicated, there is an easy reference chart below.   Time differences From Until Luxor time: GMT + UK time: GMT + Time difference: Luxor ahead of UK by: 25 Apr 2009 25 Sept 2009 3 hours 1 hour 2 hours 26 Sept 2009 25 Oct 2009 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour 26 Oct 2009 28 Mar 2010 2 hours 0 2 hours 29 Mar 2010 30 Apr 2010 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour 1 May 2010 24 Sept 2010 3 hours 1 hour 2 hours 25 Sept 2010 31 Oct 2010 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour 1st Nov 2010 27 Mar 2011 2 hours 0 2 hours 28 Mar 2011 29 Apr 2011 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour 30 Apr 2011 23 Sept 2011 3 hours 1 hour 2 hours 24 Sept 2011 30 Oct 2011 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[32]=new Array("essentials/tipping.htm","Tipping in Luxor","When, how and in which currency to tip in Luxor, including cruises, restaurants and room staff.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Tipping Tipping is not just expected, it is a way of life in Luxor. How much? We have heard many suggestions concerning the amounts to tip. By and large, local people who are not receivers of tips tend to suggest that you tip modestly, explaining that local wage levels are low and that big tips can represent a significant proportion of the recipients income and can distort relative income levels. People who do receive tips from foreign visitors will emphasise that workers in the tourist industry are particularly poorly paid and tend to depend on tips to supplement their income. We will leave aside the argument about whether generous tips encourage low wages. Tips are a personal gift as a reward for good service, so the amount has to be discretionary. They will depend on the generosity of the donor and the quality of service. Nevertheless, the following indications may be helpful as a starting point. Porters Local businessmen normally give around LE2 per bag. Tourists are normally more generous and the rule of thumb often promoted is LE5 per bag in a hotel. Please do not be over-generous at the airport. People often give £1 per bag, because they don't have, or don't yet understand, the local currency. To put it in context, £1 is around a day's wages for most people, so it is far too much. Room staff An Egyptian businessman will probably give around LE10 every other day. A tip of LE10 per day for a short stay, LE50 for a week or LE100 per fortnight is a good tourist tip. It can be helpful to follow the local tradition and give something every now and then, say on alternate days, rather than leaving it all to the end. It saves the staff wondering if they will get a tip or not and it can also help if you want little things done. Pool staff This depends a lot on the services that are provided, which varies a lot between hotels. At the hotels where the pool staff provide the towels, fetch and position the loungers and so on, LE20 at the beginning, rather than at the end of your stay, will encourage good service. Another LE20 at the end won't hurt if you have been pleased. Taxis 10% is normal, but it can be difficult because the sums are so small. For a local trip, 50 piastres to LE1 is fine. LE5 would be normal for a longer journey costing LE25 or more. For a half-day on the West Bank, the normal charge would be LE80 - LE100, and a tip of LE10 - LE20 would be fair depending on how pleased you are with the tour. For a full day, LE20 would be OK as a minimum, but most tourists would give a little more if the driver has been helpful. Take into account also that if you are 'encouraged' to spend some of your West Bank time in papyrus galleries or alabaster factories, the driver gets up to 50% commission on your purchases. We tend to tip better if the driver does not automatically stop outside these places.  Restaurants Local people tend not to tip as a percentage of the bill, but give a fixed amount, typically LE5 per person. Tourists are normally more used to tipping in relation to the cost of the meal, but don't be too fussed about the calculation. If a service charge is not included aim for something around 10% of the total, but depending on how satisfied you are and how convenient the sums work out. For example, if your bill is LE89, a tip of LE11 would be a tip of about 12% and would round up the total to convenient LE100. Even if a service charge is included you would be expected to leave some spare change, around LE3 - LE10 per person. Tour guides 10% of the tour cost, but see the comment about commissions relating to taxi drivers and bear in mind that reps get up to 50% commission too. Cruises Tips are normally quite regimented and are regarded as part of the cost of the cruise rather than as a 'gratuity' in the traditional sense. If you are in a group with a rep, the tipping arrangements will normally be explained at the outset or quite early on. On some trips you may be invited to pay a suggested sum up front. More usually there will be an envelope that you put your donations in and hand to reception towards the end of the trip. If you are in a guided group, the amounts will be suggested to you. If not, work on the basis of a minimum of LE10 per person per night. In practice, LE200 per couple for a one-week cruise for all on-board staff and LE100 for the Egyptologist (if you do the excursions) is not unusual. The tips are distributed to all staff according to a formula, so even the staff who do not normally come into direct contact with the passengers get something. This doesn't prevent you giving a little extra to people who may have provided particular services. It is not uncommon to give the room staff a little extra, not necessarily at the end of the trip, to encourage particularly good service. When to tip Sometimes it is handy to pay tips in advance. Wage levels are very low compared with western standards and a tip can be rewarded not only with especially attentive service, but also with favours that might not otherwise be available. Giving the room staff something every other day rather than at the end is appreciated. Tip in Egyptian pounds It is quite difficult for local people to change foreign coins. Tip in Egyptian pounds if you can. You can get some Egyptian pounds at the bank kiosks at the airport (where they sell the visas), so you can have some local currency right from the start. Finding the small change It is relatively easy to leave a tip at a restaurant, because the cash is usually already there as part of your change. At other times it can mean finding the right amount of local currency. Small denomination notes are often hard to get hold of. We suggest you keep hold of any LE1 and LE5 notes you get, so that they are available for tips and small purchases when you need them. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[33]=new Array("essentials/toilets.htm","Toilets in Luxor","Toilets in Luxor, where they are and where are the best ones","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Toilets Toilets in the major tourist hotels in Luxor are western and efficient. There is no need to use a paper bin (as there is in some mediterranean countries). There are also good public toilets close to the El Kababgy and Metropolitan restaurants on the lower corniche opposite the Winter Palace. These toilets are owned by the local authority but are maintained by the restaurants. The Savoy Centre (near the Mercure hotel) has toilets on all floors that are fairly well maintained and useable. Most other public toilets in the town are designed and cleaned to local standards and are best avoided.  McDonald's has a reasonable toilet on the top floor of their restaurant behind Luxor temple. Snacktime has excellent toilets on the first floor. Most other good restaurants have acceptable toilets. You are not usually far from a good tourist hotel, most of which have facilities in their foyer, so if the need arises, visit one of these. When you are out and about, toilets at some of the tourist sites can be a bit grim and there is often someone outside the ladies toilet trying to sell tissue paper for LE1 or LE2. Make sure you have tissue with you when you go away from the tourist hotels and take some anti-bacterial gel in case there are no satisfactory hand washing facilities. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[34]=new Array("essentials/weather.htm","Weather in Luxor - what to expect at various times of the year","weather in Luxor, hours of sunshine, temperatures and rainfall month by month","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear The weather Sun In all seasons the sun is extremely strong. In the less oppressive months, especially when there is a breeze, it may not be apparent how strong the sun really is. A high factor sun block is recommended all year round. Avon sell a factor 50 sun cream for children (Clicking Avon should take you straight there, otherwise click 'suncare' or 'winter sun' on their front page). Hours of sunshine Rain Some say that it never rains in Luxor. Local people tell us that it rains most years, but just once. Even then the rain is fairly brief and it dries out again very quickly. The rainfall can be heavy but it is usually not enough to measure. The official 'average weather' charts show no measured rainfall in any month. Temperature There is some variation in temperature through the year. July and August are the hottest and unbearable for some. English winter months, December to February, are the least oppressive and can even get chilly at night. March and November would suit most people best. Average temperatures The weather now This is the temperature in Luxor at the local (Luxor) time shown. Temperatures are measured in the shade. The actual temperature may be much higher in the sun. Weather forecast The BBC 5 day weather forecast for Luxor will invariably promise sun, but other conditions will vary, such as exactly how hot it is, how windy, the humidity, whether there is cloud and how clear it is. More about the sun For more about the sun, and how to protect yourself, see the Sun page Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[35]=new Array("eating/alcohol.htm","Eating, drinking and restaurants in Luxor, Egypt. Luxor Travel Tips - helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday","Enjoying your holiday in Luxor Egypt and other Luxor travel tips","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Alcohol and Pubs in Luxor Is alcohol available? Yes. Although Egypt is a Muslim country, and the majority of local people abstain from alcohol, it is not forbidden. Indeed beer, wine and a few spirits are produced in Egypt (see below). Availability is, however, relatively limited and tends to be concentrated in the cities and tourist areas. Locally produced alcohol is less expensive than imported varieties, but some, especially the wine, can be an 'acquired' taste. There are imported beers, wines and spirits, but the choice is not huge and they are much more expensive than local alternatives. Where you can drink alcohol Most tourist hotels have reasonably well-stocked bars, including local and imported alcohol. Most restaurants outside the hotels are also licensed (although many are not). There are quite a few imitations of the british pub, a few discos and a bowling club. Between these places you will find many American and European brands but by no means all. Where to buy alcohol to take away If you want something specific, the best way to make sure you have exactly what you want is to bring it with you if your luggage weight allowance will permit it. Bear in mind, however, that you are only allowed to bring 1 litre of alcohol per adult through customs into Egypt. If you cannot bring it with you, the best selection is available from a duty free shop. There is a duty free shop near the exit from the arrivals part of the terminal building at Luxor airport. You can buy up to 3 litres of alcohol and a case of beer on arrival. If you don't get it all in one go, you can get the balance at the duty free shop in town, in a small street behind the Emilio hotel. Notionally, when you go to the duty free shop in Luxor town you can only get the balance of your duty-free entitlement; it has to be within 48 hours of arriving and you need your passport. In practice, the rules tend only to be applied if you are buying spirits or cigarettes. For beers and other things, the rules tend to be relaxed. There are two off licences (not duty-free) in Ramses Street, which runs from the station to the left (as you face the station). In the road that leads from Luxor Temple to the station there is an alcohol shop (on the left had side as you face the station) but it is small and easy to miss. The Metropolitan and El Kebabgy, beside the Nile opposite the Winter Palace, sell cans and bottles to take away as do some licensed restaurants. You can also buy imported alcohol from many hotel bars, but the prices will inevitably be higher and the choice more limited. Some examples of locally produced alcohol Stella Stella is the most famous brand of beer in Egypt. It has been manufactured in Egypt since the 19th century. There are three varieties of Stella beer. The best known is Stella local, with an alcohol content of 4.5%. Stella export is a little more expensive and has an alcohol content of 5.2%. Stella Premium is stronger and darker. It is only sold in bottles and has an alcohol content of 6.4% Sakara Sakara is the newest brand of beer in Egypt. It is said to be produced using the best technologies from around the world. The only version is Sakara Gold, which has an alcohol content of 4.0% Meister Meister is a European brand, licensed and produced in Egypt. Alcohol content is 5.2 %. Meister Max is the strongest beer in Egypt at 8% Wine Wine is known to have been made in Egypt since around 2600 BC. There are two kinds of wine. One kind uses a process close to the one used by ancient Egyptians. These are known as Giancil wines, after the winemaker who discovered the process. Today, the best known Egyptian wines are: Giancil Wines: Omar Khayyam A deep dry wine made from cabernet sauvignon and suitable for beef or pasta meals. The bottle should be presented at room temperature. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Cru des Ptolmees Said to be the successor to the Pharonic wine loved by Queen Cleopatra. It is a fresh, full aromatic wine made of Pinot Blanc grapes and should be served cold. It is best with seafood. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Rubis D' Egypte This is a medium rose. It has a nose of apples and damp wool. In the mouth it has good acidity with some crabapple flavours mixed with strong alcohol and acetone flavours. It is best served cold with chicken or light salads. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Abarka This is a much stronger wine then the others. Alcohol content: 16 %. Giancil style wines: Chateau des Reves wine This is Giancils' premium wine. It is made from a variety of imported grapes from Lebanon and is a medium ruby, with a nose of dried cherries and rum. It is one of Egypt's richest wines, ranked by some foreign specialists as the best wine in Egypt. Alcohol content: 13 % Aida The bottle resembles champagne, produced from grapes grown in salt-free soil. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Obelisk wines: Obelisk wines are probably the best known and are typically around half the price of Giancils wines. Red Obelisk The red wine is a dry wine. It is a light ruby in colour, but has a poor nose. In the mouth it is earthy with flavours of wood and leather but thin and watery on the tongue with little or no finish. Alcohol content: 12.5 % White Obelisk This wine is a light golden colour in the glass with hints of straw and very light aromas of minerals and parchment. In the mouth it has some fruit flavours which are quickly eclipsed with sharp flavours. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Rose Obelisk This dry rose wine has probably garnered the worst reputation among foreigners of any Egyptian wine. Some foreign wine experts have referred to it as nearly undrinkable. Alcohol content: 12.5 % Grand Marcus wine Grand Marcus is a superior table wine. It has a typical French name and label, but is made in Egypt, It comes in Red, white and rose varieties, all with an alcohol content of 12.5%. The red is said to be manufactured from the best grapes in Egypt, and then well aged in oak barrels for an extended period of time. A number of foreign wine specialists rank this as one of the best wines in Egypt. Spirits United Distilleries Group (UDG) produce some spirits, including vodka and Auld Stag, a blended whiskey (Scotch). Butler's gin is a London Dry Gin produced by UDG under license. Other than these well known brands, there are also some Egyptian imitations of many international brands, such as Johnny Walker Whiskey and Absolute Fendlandia Vodka. These bottles are much cheaper than the genuine imported spirits but beware of them, they are positively not the same quality.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[36]=new Array("eating/waterfood.htm","Food and water safety in Luxor, Egypt","water and food safety in Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Water & Milk Tap water is heavily chlorinated. Local people's stomachs are used to it but yours is probably not. It is OK for cleaning teeth, but not for drinking. Bottled water is readily available and recommended. It costs about LE2.5 for 1.5 litres in supermarkets and about the same for a chilled 0.75 litre bottle from street kiosks and shops. You will probably pay more in hotels, but it would still be cheaper than a pack of tummy pills. Outside Luxor and the other main towns and cities, mains water may be more risky and should certainly be avoided or sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is recommended, but should be reconstituted with pure water, not tap water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Food Why worry with refrigeration? It's only 32 degrees today Meat and fish should be well-cooked and preferably served hot. Pork is not usually sold in Egypt. Pork (if you do find it), salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked. Only eat fruit from a trusted source or that you have peeled yourself. Food in restaurants is usually fine. Local restaurant and hotel owners have learned from the disaster stories of years ago and follow western-style hygiene practices. There may be individual instances of problems with food, but they are much a one-off and often associated with unsafe prawns or other shell fish than with the eating place. There are plenty of of one-off food hygiene problems in the UK and elsewhere. There is no need to be frightened into thinking it is any worse in Luxor. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[37]=new Array("sights/entryfees.htm","Sights and sightseeing tours in Luxor - fees for entry to tombs, temples and museums","Fees for entry to tombs, temples and museums in Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Overview Brief summary of trips Entry fees Agents Photos Entry fees - see notes at the bottom of the page (These prices take into account known increases up to Oct 2009) Tombs Fee (LE) Note Valley of the Kings   Access to the site 80 Student LE40 Allows access to the site and up to 3 tombs. Does not include entry to tombs of Tutankhamun, Ay or Ramses VI. The tractor (Dotto train or Taftaf) from the ticket office to the site is an additional LE4 return. Tutankhamun 100 This is in addition to entry to the VOK site and additional to your 3 tombs. Ay 25 This is in addition to entry to the VOK site and additional to your 3 tombs. Ramses VI 50 This is in addition to entry to the VOK site and additional to your 3 tombs. Valley of the Queens   Access to the site 35 Student LE20 Access to the site and up to 3 tombs. Does not include the tomb of Nefertari, which is closed to the public Nefertari - Closed since 2003 Tombs of the Nobles   Nakht and Menna 25  Rekhmire and Sennefer 25  Ramose, Userhet and Khaemhet 30  Khokha area (Nefer-Ronpet, Nefer-Sekheru, Dhutmosi) 25  Khonsu, Userhet, Benia 15  Roy, Shuroy 15  Pabasa 25  Keref, Anchhor 25  Dier-El-Medina   Pashedu 25  Sennedjem, Inherkau 30 also gives access to temple at Dier-El-Medina    Temples Fee (LE) Note Luxor 50 Student LE25 Karnak 65 Student LE35 Sound & light show LE100 There is an English performance every night but times vary - see below Medinet Habu 30  Ramesseum 30  Dier El Medina 30 Student LE15 Also gives access to tombs of Sennedjem and Inherkau Seti 1st 30  Merenptah 30  Hatshepsut 30 plus LE2 for the tractor to the entrance Abydos (Seti) 30 Student LE15 Museums Fee (LE) Note Luxor 80 Student LE40 Mummification 50 Student LE25 Karnak (open air) 25 Student LE15    Other Fee (LE) Note Colossi of Memnon free  Howard Carter's House free  Karnak Sound and Light - times and languages These are the scheduled times but schedules can change and there may be private performances Winter (Oct - Mar) 18.30 19.45 21.00 Summer (Apr - Sept) 20.00 21.15 22.30 Mon English French Spanish Tue Japanese English Russian Wed German English French Thur English French Arabic Fri English French Russian Sat French English German Sun German English Italian How up to date? The cost of entry to Luxor's tombs, temples, museums and other sights has increased quite substantially in the last few years. They may continue to increase. We keep this page as up to date as we can. The charges take into account the increases implemented in the autumn of 2008 and January 2009 and were still current in October 2009. Please let us know through the contact form if you know of any other changes, or if there are other prices that should be in the list but we have not yet included. The entry fees are much cheaper for Egyptian nationals. The charges listed are the standard entry fees for non-Egyptian adults. The charges are all per person in Egyptian Pounds. Children, young people and students Children. The official line is that entrance tickets and transport in Luxor are free for children up to the age of six. We are not aware of anyone being charged for entry to any of the sights, including the tombs and the National ferry, for any child who is, or looks, six or younger. There is no need to mention the younger children. It is taken for granted that they do not pay. Just go to the ticket office, buy tickets for the adults and older children and don't mention the younger ones unless they do. A lot seems to be down to the official when assessing ages. Young people and students. Officially, young people between 7 and 12 (inclusive) pay a reduced rate which is around half the adult price but rounded up to the nearest LE5. Young people who look 13 or more will need an international student card to get the reduced student rate. The young person's school or college should be able to help with this, but if not an application can be made online at www.isic.org. We understand that you can also get ISIC cards at an office in Sharia Ahmed Orabi if you don't get one before you go. You have to show passports. Take a passport photo too. National student cards are not usually recognised. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[38]=new Array("sights/agents.htm","Tour agents who arrange sightseeing and other trips in and from Luxor","Travel agents in Luxor offering sightseeing tours and other trips","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Overview Brief summary of trips Entry fees Agents Photos Buying sightseeing and other trips in Luxor International package tour companies It is possible to buy trips before you leave for Luxor, and after you arrive, from the representatives of international travel companies. Their prices will invariably be much higher than the prices charged by local agents for apparently identical trips. Casual operators It is also possible to buy trips from touts who work from the Corniche or similar vantage points. Each tout seems to have his own patch. He will follow you to the edge of his territory, beyond which someone else will try to sell you the same trip. Some seasoned travellers are happy with trips organised by these casual operators. Some are probably better than others and many trips probably work out fine, but there is nowhere to turn if something goes wrong with a trip offered by someone who is unlicensed. Local licensed agents There are many officially licensed local agents selling the same trips. The best known are Karnak Travel and Jolley's. The reason they are best known because they are recommended in travel blogs and they have a prime position in front of the Winter Palace on the Corniche. In practice there are many more agents selling the same tours for about the same prices. There is rarely much to choose between them, but if you want to save the last penny it is worth comparing price lists. It is also worth visiting a few agents to see how responsive they are to price negotiation and how eager they are to redesign a trip to the way you want it. For example, will they do a private tour for the same price rather than including you as part of a larger group? If you do a Nile cruise, will they check out your cabin to make sure you are not too near to the engine? Bear in mind that there is a lot of engine noise even on the top deck if you are at the back of the boat. Some Local Licensed Tour agencies (in alphabetical order) Abu Simbel Travel El Nile Street ( in front of the Winter Palace) tel: (002) (095) 2372470 mobile: 002 010 1664548 email: il_nilo_lxr@hotmail.com owner: Hagagg Hassany staff: Mr Ashraf, previously with Jolleys American Express Travel Services Winter Palace Building tel: (002) (095) 2378333 email: luxor@amexfranchise.com Jolley's Travel and Tours El Nile St (in front of the Old Winter Palace) tel: (002) (095) 2372262 (shop) web: www.jolleys.com Karnak Travel (Part of Egyptair - Government owned) El Nile St (In front of the Old Winter Palace) web: www.karnak-egypt.com email: bahaa8_1_1972@yahoo.com tel: (002) (095) 2372360 Misre Africa Travel (previously Mona Liza Tours) El Roda El Sharefa St - opposite the Lotus hotel tel: (002) (095) 2271129 Moon River Travel Khaled El Walid St (opposite the Nile Palace) mobile tel: (002) 016745245 email: mohamedkinawy@yahoo.com Nobles Tours El Nile Street (on the Corniche, at the Iberotel end) tel: (002) (095) 2373155 web: www.noblestours.com email: egypt@noblestours.com Petra Travel (This is a new agency established by Ahmed Balal, who worked for Jolley's for 22 years) Sheraton Road Luxor (opposite 7Days7Ways, below Jems) mobile: 002 0101838894 email: balaljolley@yahoo.com Sunrise Luxor El Nile Street (on the Corniche next to the Bank of Cairo) tel: (002) (095) 2377776 (office) tel: (002) (010) 2508371 (24hr) email: sunrise_lux@yahoo.co.uk 2nd email: sunrise_luxor@hotmail.com Thomas Cook Old Winter Palace hotel, El Nile Street tel: (002) (095) 2372402 email: tcluxor@thomascook.com.eg web: www.thomascookegypt.com General notes El Nile street is also spelt El-Nil Street. It is the Corniche - the road that runs along the edge of the Nile in central Luxor. 0020 is the international access code for Egypt. When dialling Luxor from outside Egypt you drop one of the zeros, so the dialling code is shown as (002). This does not have to be dialled if you are already in Egypt. The (095) is the Luxor code and does not have to be dialled if you are phoning from a landline in Luxor. For information about making calls from the UK to Luxor see the ' Phoning' page in the 'Essentials' section. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[39]=new Array("photography/phototips.htm","Taking photographs in Luxor - some tips","Photography and taking photographs in Luxor, Egypt. Tips for taking photos of people, buildings and from a cruise boat.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Digital camera memory Photos Some of our photos How to photograph ..... People Ask first, if you can (see is photography allowed?). If you have a camera with a zoom or a changeable lens, be careful about the 'focal length' (amount of zoom) you choose. Focal length Jargon buster Lenses are measured by their 'focal length'. Focal length is measured in millimetres (mm). On a 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera (the sort generally used by outdoor professional photographers) a lens with a focal length of 50mm is the standard and gives roughly the same magnification as a human eye. Any lens with a focal length less than 50mm is a called a 'wide-angle' lens and will fit more in the picture than you could normally see at once without moving your eyes. Anything over 50mm is 'telephoto' and will have the effect of magnifying the image, or bringing it closer to you. A 100mm lens would give you 2 times magnification, so the subject would look twice as big or half as far away. A 300mm lens is 6 times the standard lens (50x6=300) so it would be like taking a photo through binoculars with 6 times magnification. If you get too close and use a wide angle lens (a lower focal length than standard - say 28mm) the face will appear as if it is reflected in fatty mirror. The features will be exaggerated, the nose will look too long and so on. If you use a wide angle lens from further away the effect will not be as bad but the subject will only take up a small part of the total picture. At the other extreme, a telephoto lens (a focal length more than 50mm) flattens features and shortens the nose. Professional portrait photographers usually use a lens with a focal length between 80 and 135mm. With this kind of lens you can get the flattering effects of a telephoto lens without having to move too far back from the subject. Of course, we are not looking to take cover-page photos, so let's not be too fussy, but the moral is that if you want the child on the west bank to look in your photo the way they looked when they tried to sell you a carving, don't get too close and if you have a zoom, leave the setting just above the standard. Buildings Luxor is a very busy place. There are photogenic buildings, but in many cases you can't get far enough away from them to take a picture of the whole building with a standard lens. Luxor temple is a case in point. Taking parts of it are not difficult from various parts of the Corniche, but to take a picture of the whole of it is only possible from somewhere in the middle of the Nile or from the opposite bank. To take a picture of a substantial part of the temple frontage from the East Bank will need a wide-angle lens or a compact camera that zooms to a lower focal length than the standard.  From a cruise boat Most of the pictures will be to one or other of the banks of the Nile. Even when the ship is close to a bank, it is still far enough away for any subject the size of a person to appear very small in the picture if you use a standard lens. By and large, a telephoto lens, or a camera with a built-in zoom, will be needed if you want pictures of people doing their laundry or washing their cooking pots in the Nile. Pictures of buildings along the Nile will also fill more of the frame if you use a telephoto lens. A zoom lens with a magnification from around 1.5 up to 6 (such as a 75mm - 300mm on a SLR camera) will be fine for most situations, but even then the people in the pictures will not fill the frame. When to take the photos The normal advice when taking photos of people is to have the sun behind the photographer. This shines light on the face of the subject so you get more detail and colour in the picture. However, in Luxor the sun is very bright almost all the time, so it is difficult for the subject to stand in sunlight without squinting. An alternative is to move away from direct sunlight and to use 'fill-in flash'. This avoids the squinting problem and lightens the shadows that you would otherwise get, especially in the eye sockets and other areas where there would otherwise be shadow. Fill-in flash Jargon buster Fill-in flash provides a measured amount of light - less than a normal full camera flash. The amount of flash will match the amount of surrounding light. It is not as harsh as full flash. Most cameras, including compacts and digital cameras, have a fill-in flash feature. Buildings don't squint, but they still suffer from harsh shadow. It is usually best to avoid the middle of the day when the sun is high and the shadows are very strong. In the early morning and later in the afternoon, the colour of the light is usually more flattering to the building and there will be more natural rather than shadow detail. Know something? If you know something we don't, please use a feedback form to share it with us. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[40]=new Array("photography/digitalvfilm.htm","Photography - taking photos in Luxor - digital or film?","Photography and taking photographs in Luxor, Egypt. Should you use digital or film?","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Digital camera memory Photos Some of our photos Digital or film? Until recently, traditional advice would be to go for film if you want quality or digital if you want convenience. Massive improvements in technology over recent years has caused a rethink. Professional magazines have conducted technical and visual tests and now usually come out in favour of digital. The fact that most professional sports and magazine photographers now use digital is probably proof enough that pound for pound, the quality of digital at least matches or passes that of film. Megapixel Jargon buster Pixel stands for 'picture element', one tiny square of detail in the picture. Imagine a photo broken into squares. Each square is one colour, one brightness. A photo broken into just a few squares would be very blobby. The more squares, the smaller each square and the greater the detail. A megapixel is 1,000,000 pixels. A 3 megapixel camera breaks the picture down into 3 million bits of detail. In practice the pixels are not necessarily square, and there are other considerations such as the quality of the lens and the way the image is recorded. Nevertheless, as an overall principal, and all else being equal, the more pixels the more detail.  If you buy a film camera, the cost of film and processing (depending on the quality) will probably amount to about £1 for every 6 photos - and you pay whether the photo is good or bad. With digital, once you have the equipment, taking the photos is free other than such things as battery costs and wear and tear. You only pay for the pictures that you want to print. Printing costs are usually cheaper than film, because you don't have to pay to process the negative, just to print the photo. If you use film you will probably be careful about how many pictures you take, because each one costs. Some professionals would say this is a good thing because it makes you think about the picture, the composition and so on rather than just snapping away. On the other hand with digital, you can take the extra picture or two, take the shot from different angles and at different camera settings, because each shot is free at the point of taking. Then decide which one to keep when you have the final photos to choose between. Digital photos are also easier to adjust after you have taken them. With film, changing the colour balance, brightness etc is difficult and expensive. With digital images, software is readily available that allows you to change those and other things, and to improve or even rescue shots. You don't necessarily need any equipment. Machines that take your memory card, allow you to make adjustments and then print the improve result are appearing in shops all over the place and in most cases there is an assistant to help you if necessary. Buying a cheap low resolution digital camera is not a good idea unless you only want very small prints. Some compact film cameras are very cheap indeed and so if budget is limited this may be the only realistic choice. Remember, though that what you save on buying a film camera you may soon spend on buying and processing film. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[41]=new Array("photography/camera.htm","Taking photographs in Luxor - the best type of camera","Photography and taking photographs in Luxor, Egypt. What type of camera?","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Digital camera memory Photos Some of our photos The camera Compact cameras Easy to carry and more likely to be there when you need it, a good quality compact camera is fine for general shots around Luxor. Low-cost film compact cameras can have rather poor lenses, so the quality of the photo is unlikely to satisfy the discerning. These cameras also generally have very limited, if any, zoom (magnification) so many subjects will appear rather small in the overall photo. See also the other page for more discussion about film v digital. Many people would only choose a film compact camera if budget was a major consideration. Compact digital camera Compact digital cameras have come a long way in recent years. Once, they were extremely expensive and the results were poor. By contrast, most newer compact digital cameras have a respectable zoom range and high resolution. A resolution of 4 megapixels or more will be fine and will give you a good image on the computer as well as a good print up to about 12 inches by 10 inches. Nowadays, cameras that take pictures much bigger than 4 megapixels are common. Cheaper digital compact cameras, just like film compact cameras, can have poor lenses and some of them do not handle colours very well. Independent comparisons in the photographic media are usually able to demonstrate the shortcomings of cameras that appear to offer high resolutions (a lot of megapixels) for a 'bargain' price. In summary, it is best to look out for a brand name that is respected, the highest resolution (number of megapixels) and the widest zoom range that is reasonable, bearing in mind the other pressures on your budget. Comparing prices There are several web sites that offer discounts on cameras and deliver very quickly. We suggest you compare prices for your chosen camera at Currys, and Jessops. (Click on any name to go to their web site)  SLR Cameras SLR camera SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. The light that comes through the lens is diverted to the eyepiece until the instant a picture is taken. When you press the shutter, the light is diverted to the film or sensor. You therefore see exactly the same picture as the one that gets taken. So there is only one lens, unlike a compact camera, where there are two lenses (one that you see through and one that takes the picture). An SLR camera is bulkier to carry and heavier, so is less likely to be on hand when the opportunity shot arises out of the blue. Film and digital SLR cameras are usually of comparable quality. Indeed, many digital cameras are variations of film SLR cameras. Increasingly, however, the manufacturers are curtailing their development of film cameras and concentrating exclusively on digital, so many innovations and quality improvements are to be found only in digital cameras. The prices of digital SLR cameras has plummeted in recent years. The economy models are now very close to the price of the better compact digital cameras. The advantage with a SLR camera is that the lens is bigger, is likely to be better, and is changeable. This means that, not only can you zoom (increase magnification), but also you can change the lens for one that magnifies even more. Magnifications of up to 10 times are not uncommon. You can also change the lens for one that does the opposite, and takes a wider picture than you could normally fit in, without having to go too far back from the subject. This is useful in restricted spaces. For more on this, see photo taking tips. Camera reviews Web sites such as digital photography review offer independent detailed reviews of digital cameras. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[42]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/index.htm","In and around Luxor, Egypt","","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy most photos from 50p each   Front Page   |  Sights  |  Pictures");sQ1[43]=new Array("maps/southluxor.htm","Map of South Luxor (East Bank)","Map of south Luxor showing location of restaurants, hotels and shops on the East Bank","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Maps Luxor central Luxor south Aerial view Luxor south hotels Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[44]=new Array("holidays/bookinghotel.htm","Booking a hotel in Luxor, Egypt","Finding and booking a hotel in Luxor, Egypt, with links to hotel booking agencies","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Holidays Package holidays Late Deals Flights Accommodation Transfer to the hotel Airport parking etc Accommodation agencies Hotels and other accommodation The best way to book accommodation In most cases you can book your room with the hotel direct, although it is surprisingly difficult to get in touch with some - especially the smaller ones. However, we have found that although contacting the hotels direct will often get you a reasonable price, you will normally get a better deal going through one of the hotel room brokers or accommodation agencies. One or two of the big hotel groups, such as Accor, have a 'lowest price' promise, so when you have the best price from an agency, you can get the hotel owner to match or better it if you want to. So initially, we think you should get a price from an accommodation agency. These agencies include package holiday companies who also sell flights and accommodation separately. Accommodation agencies There are hundreds of accommodation or hotel agencies. Many are big name companies who advertise on the TV. Although the advertising makes these company names familiar, these familiar names do not necessarily offer the best deals. We check the room rates being asked by dozens of room brokers for hotels all over Luxor and chart the results. No single agency is consistently cheapest for all hotels in Luxor.  Some people may recommend an agency if they have had a good experience with them. However, we do not think it is possible to say that a particular agency is always the one to go for. This is because all of the accommodation agencies have their own arrangements with each hotel or hotel chain. Sometimes one agency will negotiate a better deal than another agency, but no single agency has negotiated the best deal with every hotel or hotel group, despite what they may say. Most of the prices quoted by these agencies are inclusive of all taxes and any other fees. They usually give the room price complete with all occupiers, not a 'per person' price. Just check, though, to make sure you are comparing like with like.  On each of the hotel review pages we list the agencies that are usually able to book rooms for you at that hotel. Those lists are in order. The agencies at the top are the ones that usually offer the best price for that hotel. The least competitive are towards the bottom. Sometimes the difference in price between the best few is very slim, and prices do vary from time to time, so it is worth checking the top two or three on the hotel review pages. If we do not yet have a review for the hotel you are looking for, or if you do not know which hotel to choose and want to start with a list of hotels and prices, try the agencies in the right column of this page. Again, we have tried to list them so that the ones offering the best deals are towards the top, but please remember that none of them has a contract with every hotel and none of them is best for all of the hotels they offer, so try as many as you can to make sure you get the best deal. Don't be put off by the names of some of the agencies. For example, apartments abroad don't just list apartments but hotels as well, and despite their name hostelbookers lists more hotels than many of the better-known hotel agencies. Hotel rooms from Package holiday companies You can get room-only deals from some of the major package tour companies, but the names might be a bit confusing. Thomson is easy enough. It's Thomson! Hotelopia is also part of the Tui / Thomson group but they have their own web site. The Portland part of Tui does not have hotel-only bookings. The MyTravel group, including Airtours and Direct Holidays are now part of Thomas Cook. Some of the Thomas Cook brands still have their own web site for packages, but hotel-only bookings for all of them are only available through Thomas Cook. Even if you go to the front page of Direct Holidays or one of the others, you will redirected to the Thomas Cook site for hotel-only bookings. The hotels part of Cosmos used to be called Somewhere-To-Stay, but was rebranded in May 2008 and is now called Monarch Hotels. Although the Cosmos brand will continue in some travel agencies, for most purposes Cosmos is now known as Monarch Holidays. If you type in the Cosmos or Somewhere-To-Stay web addresses for a hotel search, you will redirected to Monarch Hotels.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[45]=new Array("holidays/bookingflight.htm","Flights to Luxor: information and links to UK travel agents","Flights from the UK to Luxor, Egypt. Who goes, when and from where, plus links to flight booking agents","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Holidays Package holidays Late Deals Flights Accommodation Transfer to the hotel Airport parking etc Flights Charter airlines (including Monarch) Scheduled flights Flights to Cairo and Luxor, code-shard with Egyptair Flight brokers The following brokers rarely find good prices for charter flights but will find scheduled services mostly via Cairo Insurance It is usually cheaper to buy insurance independently than through a tour agent. Check the insurance page.  Booking flights from the UK Charter flights Charter flights are usually cheaper than scheduled flights but they are also more basic, generally have a lower baggage allowance and you will pay for drinks unless you pay quite a lot more for an upper class seat. Often, the meals are optional, in which case you will also pay for something to eat. There used to be many more charter flights to Luxor. XL used to fly to Luxor on Mondays but went into administration in September 2008, so there are no longer any XL flights. Amongst the rest there have been lots of mergers, which have reduced the options. Charter choices Manos, Aspro, Panorama and Airtours were already part of MyTravel. MyTravel and Thomas Cook have also merged making all of those brands part of the same company. Thomas Cook have since closed the brands Aspro, Manos and Panorama. If you go to the MyTravel web site, or the web site of these or any of their other brands, your flight enquiry will be redirected to Thomas Cook. In short, for charter flights, you can now choose between Thomsonfly, First Choice, Thomas Cook and Monarch (bookable through Avro). These have absorbed the rest.  First Choice have joined Thomsons as part of the Tui group. There are still flights under the First Choice brand and you might be allocated one of these if you book with Thomsons. Monarch Holidays (previously known as Cosmos) are still independent and use Monarch airlines. Their flights are booked through Avro, the charter flights part of the Monarch (Cosmos) group. Other companies go to Luxor, but they use one of these airlines. For example, VJV have packages to Luxor, but they do not sell flights on their own. They buy seats from one of these charter airlines, usually Monarch. Thomson have traditionally been the most popular choice, because their seat pitch is the most generous and their food is reputed to be good. However, since the merger with First Choice, many flights tend to use First Choice rather than Thomson's planes, and these are generally regarded less favourably. Monarch have tended to have a poor reputation for quite a while. Based only on feedback, Thomas Cook tend now to be the preferred airline. There are links to companies providing direct flights to Luxor in the column on the right. Flights Direct to Luxor From: Birmingham Gatwick Heathrow Manchester Chartered services Cosmos / Monarch / Avro (whichever of these you book through you will get a Monarch plane)  Mondays  Mondays First Choice (you might also get a First Choice plane if you book with Thomson for a Wednesday flight)  Mondays   Thomas Cook Wednesdays Wednesdays  Wednesdays Thomson (you might get a First Choice plane) Wednesdays Wednesdays  Wednesdays Scheduled Services Egyptair / BMI (services may be provided by either airline under a code share arrangement)   Mondays  Scheduled flights Scheduled flights are generally more comfortable and you get free meals and drinks, but they are also usually more expensive than charter flights. Egyptair and BMI are both members of the Star Alliance, a group of airlines that share some services. If you book with one, you may be flown by the other. The same flight may have two flight numbers, one an Egyptair flight number (beginning MS) the other a BMI flight number. Egyptair / BMI are the only scheduled airlines that fly direct from the UK to Luxor. They fly from London Heathrow (terminal 3). The frequency of fights varies through the year. For much of the year there are only direct flights on Mondays. When this flight is full, and for the rest of the week, you will be offered a flight via Cairo. Other scheduled airlines fly via a European stopover and via Cairo but you will need to transfer to Egyptair to continue from Cairo to Luxor. If you want to go to Cairo for a day or two en route to Luxor, British Airways, Iberia, BMI, KLM and Al Italia are amongst your options in addition to Egyptair / BMI. To look for a scheduled flight to direct Luxor or a flight via Cairo, click on the BMI logo to go to their web site or try one of the flight brokers. They will list the options and costs for the day of your choice. Probably the best known is Lastminute.com but there are others and they all list much the same options, usually at very similar prices. Click the logos on the right to go to the web site or the broker of your choice.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[46]=new Array("essentials/what_to_wear.htm","What to wear in Luxor, Egypt. Clothing and how to dress for Luxor town and cruise ships","How to dress in Luxor and on a Nile cruise. Clothing suggestions for men and women.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear What to wear Generally Three things will influence what you wear. The local culture; the weather and exactly where you are. Egypt is a Muslim country. The culture and dress code are not as strict in Egypt as they are in some muslim countries, but it is still best to be modest, especially for ladies. You may hear about some people who say they have been to Luxor and have worn exactly what they want, where they want, and nobody cared. The truth is that many people probably cared a great deal but didn't say anything. Just because they didn't understand what people were saying and thinking about them doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. It is much better to be sensitive to local culture and to dress in a way that will avoid offence. Luxor is hot. Even in the winter, temperatures are generally high during the day so you will need light cottons at any time of the year. In some months, around October - March, it can get cooler in the evening and overnight. You can also feel the chill on a cruise boat and on the overnight train, because you get a breeze on the boat and they tend to turn the air conditioning to freezing on the train! So for any of these occasions, take a fleece or a jumper as well. Men in Luxor For men, what to wear is less of an issue than it is for women. Normal trousers and shirt, T-shirt or polo are fine. Make sure they are lightweight and natural fibres - cotton is best. Polyester or any similar artificial fabric will become uncomfortable very quickly. By all means wear shorts in the hotel. Lots of people also wear them along the Corniche (the 'prom' beside the river) but most people would wear full length trousers in town. Luxor is a working ancient city, not a beach resort. Would you wear shorts in Athens or Rome? Certainly wear full-length trousers in mosques. Women in Luxor You will get away with wearing almost anything in Luxor, because the local people are getting used to all sorts of things that are not really appropriate. But if you want advice on what is best to wear, rather than what you can get away with, then the advice is to dress modestly. Apart from the need to respect local custom and religion there are two other benefits from modest clothing. First, it will protect you from the sun. The sun is fierce most of the time and will soon damage exposed, unprotected skin. Second, the more modest you are the less attention you will attract. A basic wardrobe would be loose cotton or linen trousers and/or a longish skirt and tops with sleeves that are at least half-length. No-one expects you to cover your face. Nor do you have to cover your head. However, in the street you should not expose cleavage or thighs and preferably also cover knees and elbows. Clothing, such as blouses, should not be transparent. It is useful to carry a pashmina or shawl to help with covering up when you go to sensitive places, such as temples, or if you find yourself amongst a group of 'admiring' men. Shoes You will need 'practical' shoes. The roads and pavements are not tremendous (but improving in places) and to get to many of the sights you have to trample over unmade ground. Comfortable shoes or trainers with sturdy soles are best. Sandals are OK in the hotels and on cruises, but there is lots of sandy dust so they will become uncomfortable in town. When the coarse sand gets into sandals it can very quickly create blisters. Holy Places It is always necessary to dress modestly to enter a mosque. Some mosques have their own dress code that require more covering-up than the norm. This is where the pashmina or shawl comes in handy. Remove your shoes before you go in. Cruise boats The dress code is much more relaxed on a cruise boat than it is in town. Dress as though you were in a tourist hotel. Shorts, swimming costumes, bikinis are all fine, but have something handy to cover up for when the ship gets to a town. On four and five-star ships it is normal to dress up slightly for the evening meal. Few people would go as far as a tie for men or a long dress for women, and some people may go in shorts, but smart casual is expected. Shirt and full length trousers for men, dress, trousers or skirt with blouse for women. Touring Whereas Luxor is an ancient city with tourists, the Red Sea resorts like Sharm El Sheik and Hurghada are primarily tourist places and the dress code is much more relaxed. Shorts and T-shirts are fine for both genders but any form of nudity is illegal. When travelling from Luxor to other resorts you will go through traditional towns and villages, where the dress is normally more conservative than it is in Luxor, so on the bus or in the car, be ready to cover up. Cairo is a city where dress is modest and business-like. It would not be thought acceptable for men or women to wear shorts or vest-type T-shirts.  See also .... Weather Of course, exactly what you wear will depend on the weather. For more on the weather look at the weather page. Culture What you wear will be influenced by the local culture. There is more on the culture page. Flight socks For reducing health risks on the flights there and back, Sock Shop have a selection of flight socks for men and women. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[47]=new Array("holidays/latedeals.htm","Late deals to Luxor, Egypt","Finding and booking a last minuteholiday to Luxor, Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Holidays Package holidays Late Deals Flights Accommodation Transfer to the hotel Airport parking etc Late deals. Package holidays to Luxor leaving soon Click on a holiday price for more details about the holiday. Some travel companies add surcharges. It is therefore necessary to go a few steps into the process to compare costs like-for-like. You can do that without any commitment. In a few steps you should be able to confirm availability and the final price online. Otherwise, phone 01633 798733 and quote the reference. Alternatively, go direct to the package tour company's web site by clicking here and then on their logo. Go to the Holiday Search page to find holidays leaving on other dates. Your browser is not configured to use inline frames. You may need to upgrade or reconfigure your browser to see a list of holidays in this box. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[48]=new Array("eating/castello.html","Castello restaurant, Luxor: Description and review","Castello restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Castello Castello restaurant The Castello restaurant is offers Italian and Egyptian food, and an English menu is also expected soon. The proprietor is clearly aiming high and seeking to offer the best. Most visitors to Luxor regard the Mama Mia at the sheraton to offer the best Italian food. It may do, but its prices are very high. The Castello has the chef from the Mama Mia, so the standards should be as good, but without the hotel price tag. The owner has also selected other chefs and waiters from the surrounding hotels to build his quality team. The Castello is along the road opposite the Lotus hotel which is becoming famous for its restaurants. From the hotels road it is just past Deans and the Lantern, but before Snobs and Casablanca. inside the Castello The restaurant only opened in the summer of 2009 and its decor is still very fresh. The walls are a neutral magnolia, the ceiling mostly white with a design picked out in deep beige in the style of a traditional Egyptian house. The Egyptian theme carries through to the lighting, based on multi-coloured chandeliers and wall lights and varnished wood high-backed chairs around good-sized tables. Table lined is red over white with matching cloth serviettes. Only the inevitable Coca Cola fridge, shielding the door to the toilets, disturbs the decor theme. The waiters are casually dressed but smart and attentive. The menu is in clearly defined sections. Starters and soups have their own pages, a good variety of pastas their own page, pizzas on another and other meat and chicken meals on others. Seafood, Egyptian food and vegetarian dishes also have their own pages. Soft and hot drinks are available but not alcohol, although you can bring your own if you are discrete. Prices generally are very competitive, with Tajines between LE15 and LE20 including your choice of rice or salad. Most Italian dishes are well-priced too, with the possible exception of the pizzas which, at LE25 - LE50, are more expensive here than at many competing restaurants outside the hotels. Pasta meals are much less expensive. Refreshingly, the prices include tax and service charges, so you know where you stand without having to add these extras, which can increase bills at some other restaurants by 25%. Variations on the menu standards can usually be agreed because the food is cooked to order. This takes a while but it is worth waiting for. The meals are excellent and the portions generous. Restaurants in Luxor come and go, but this one deserves to be around for quite a while. Give it a try!  Review and prices October 2009   Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[49]=new Array("essentials/ramadan.htm","Ramadan - what is it and does it affect tourism?","Description of Ramadan and whether it affects tourism in Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Ramadan Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Mohammed and is celebrated for the whole of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the dates according to the western calendar become earlier by about 11 days each year. For the date of the start of Ramadan this year, see the Culture, Religion and Language page. What happens? The most noticeable feature of Ramadan is that faithful Moslems, who make up the vast majority of the population of Egypt, do not let anything pass between their lips or into any other part of their bodies between sunrise and sunset for the whole month. That includes not only water and food but also anything else, such as a cigarette. Some people are exempt, including people who are sick, nursing mothers and young children. Older children fast for half the day. At sunset the faithful wait to hear confirmation from the local mosque that the sun has set and then take their first food and drink ('Iftar') since before sunrise. This meal is often taken communally in the street, accompanied by singing, lanterns, and other decorations. Effect on tourism Generally During Ramadan, some commercial timetables may be adjusted to allow more time for prayer and reflection. Together with the fasting of the faithful, this can affect normal local lifestyles and can reduce restaurant and bar facilities slightly. This may make some people avoid going to Islamic countries during Ramadan, but really it shouldn't. In practice it doesn't make a huge amount of difference to normal routines in Luxor. In fact the extra colour in the evenings at Iftar, and especially at the end of Ramadan, make it a reason to go to Luxor during Ramadan rather than a reason to avoid going during Ramadan. Specifically Tourists sites will be open as normal. Virtually all of the stalls, including refreshment stalls, will be open. A very few of the vendors' stalls at the sites may close for a while during the day to allow time for prayer, and at sunset for Iftar. Train timetables are the same. The taxi-buses continue to run. Private hire drivers continue to work. They do not usually stop for Iftar, but you may notice them listening out for the signal from the mosque and breaking open a lunchbox or taking a few snack items, typically dates. You could invite him to stop for Iftar if you like, but most will keep going. Hotels will operate as normal. Some hotels (such as the St Joseph) are run by Christians. Others manage to roster Christian or other non-moslems to the day shifts. Even where moslems are working, by and large you will not notice any difference. Food and drink will continue to be served. The only exception is that alcohol will be harder to come by and strict moslems will not serve it at all. This does not tend to affect drinks at hotels, but in smaller restaurants you may have to order a non-alcoholic drink. Smoking by tourists is not restricted any more than outside Ramadan. Commercial places, such as shops and banks, may keep different hours to allow time for prayer and for breaking the fast at sunset. You can usually complete all your banking and shopping but the hours of opening may be more limited. This includes some, but not many, market stalls. The time when you are most likely to find shops closed is around sunset, when Moslems take their first meal since sunrise. At the end of the month of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) there is a feast and a great deal of partying. Should you change your own behaviour? Tourists are not expected to observe Ramadan. You can eat, drink, smoke and do all other normal tourist things at the sites, in the town and everywhere else as normal, although alcohol may be a little more difficult to find outside the hotels. Out of respect to local people, some tourists would not to be too blatant about eating or drinking in public places during Ramadan, or smoking in a taxi, where the driver may be a smoker who is denying himself during the day, but really that is a matter for the individual.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[50]=new Array("eating/closedrestaurants.htm","Restaurants in Luxor that have closed or have been renamed","Restaurants in Luxor that have closed or have been renamed","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Restaurants that have closed or have been renamed Abu Ali Upstairs srestaurant on the bank of the Nile, which took over from the Ibis. It has now also closed and the bulding has been demolished. Benz This very small but popular restaurant serving Italian meals is still there, but is closed down. It is possible that Benz may reopen in the same or another place at some future time. The Dragon The original Dragon next to the Nile Palace hotel has closed. It has merged with the Sinouhe restaurant, which used to have an Egyptian and international menu but now serves the Dragon's chinese menu as well. The Ibis The Ibis, on the West Bank, was only open for a short while but closed and re-opened as the Abu Ali restaurant. That restaurant has also now closed and the building has been demolished. Jamboree The Jamboree had to closed because it has now been demolished as part of the city centre changes. A new Jamboree is being built in the town centre. Marhaba The Marhaba restaurant used to be above the rather untidy tourist shopping complex next to the (now demolished) New Winter Palace. The Marhaba closed as part of the city centre renewal programme which will result in the entire complex being demolished and replaced by a luxury hotel. Pals This restaurant used to be where the Puddleduck restaurant is now. Queens Coffee This has now opened as Queens Broodje Holland, a Dutch sandwich bar. Thebes The Thebes restaurant and Cleopatra bar, above the Grand, is named Thebes restauant and Cleopatra bar in one place and Cleopatra restaurant and Horses and Coach pub in another place. (Yes, we know it should be Coach and Horses, but Horses and Coach is what it is called!) Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[51]=new Array("eating/foodshopping.htm","Eating, drinking and restaurants in Luxor, Egypt. Luxor Travel Tips - helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday","Enjoying your holiday in Luxor Egypt and other Luxor travel tips","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Food shopping Arkwrights In most of Luxor, food shopping is based on travelling salesmen using donkeys and carts, markets and small shops. The travelling salesmen usually sell fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are also sold in markets and in mini markets, sometimes single stalls or small groups of stalls on street corners. Fruit and veg stall The picture is of one of a small group of stalls near the railway crossing, close to the end of Ramses Street, not far from the station. There are many such stalls, and smaller single-person stalls as well as small greengrocers in the road that turns off Television Street, at the corner notable for the big Vodaphone shop (see the map of central Luxor). The tourist market also has a few fruit and veg stalls, but traders here expect tourists and may have special tourist prices. If you continue through the tourist market, past the paved and covered area, into the local market in Old Market Street, there are more fruit and veg stalls that are more likely to charge tourists the local rate for produce. Prices in the fruit markets are sometimes marked and sometimes not. Most sellers know enough english to tell you the price if you point and ask. Alternatively, look for a stall where prices are marked because then you know you are paying a local person price, not a tourist price. Prices tend to be in piastres per kilo, so 300 means 300 piastres, or LE3 per kilo. The prices will invariably be marked in arabic (see right), so you will need to learn these numbers or take a crib sheet with you. Expect to pay LE2 - 3 per kilo for oranges, LE4 for strawberries and bananas but more for apples: up to LE15 for good imported ones. As well as greengrocers there are other single product food shops, typically butchers and bakers. Bakers are less likely to have prices marked. There is an excellent one near the entrance to the tourist market (on the way to the Horus hotel) and another in Television Street. Bakers sell a variety of pastries as well as breads and are usually able to tell you the price in English if you ask. Typical supermarket General grocers often call themselves 'supermarkets'. Most supermarkets are small shops which have more in common with the british corner shop of the 1950s than the likes of Sainsburys, although they may have an element of self-service. Arkwrights More recently, the first british type supermarket, Arkwrights, has opened in the road beside the St Joseph hotel. To begin with, much of the produce was locally sourced, but the first container of food from England has heralded the arrival of 'true' corn flakes and the like, rather than another version made under licence. Arkwrights sells cereals, soups, tinned and frozen food, sweets and biscuits, pet food, drinks, a little fruit and other groceries as well as a few novelty items. They also make up sandwiches and rolls and there are plans to open a delicatessen extension.   Wine, beer and spirits See the alcohol page for information about buying wine, beer and spirits Other shopping See the shopping page if you are shopping for other things Luxor Market There is a separate page about Luxor Market Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[52]=new Array("essentials/scams.htm","Scams common in Luxor and how to avoid them","Some common scams in Luxor and how to avoid them","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Before you go Currency Inoculations / vaccinations Visas Insurance Coming and going Accessibility Arriving by air Transfer to the hotel Leaving In Luxor Caleches Children and babies Clothing Culture Electricity Entertainment Festivals Getting Around Getting your bearings Health Horse carriage Insects etc Language Luxor Market Mobility Money News Phoning Public holidays Ramadan Road Safety Scams Shopping Sun Time Tipping Toilets Weather What to wear Scams and how to avoid them First of all, let's be clear that Luxor is a very safe place. I would sooner let my children walk at night through the street of Luxor than the streets of many british towns and cities. Furthermore, the vast majority of Egyptian people are honest. If you leave change in a shop, the most of them would call you back or follow you to make sure you are not out of pocket. Regrettably, however, there are a few people in Luxor, as everywhere else, who will take advantage of anyone who is not familiar with their tactics. You may not come across any of these things - but if you are out and about, you probably will. However, forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so browse the following and be prepared! Caleche drivers He said he would take us to the hotel for 'ten'. On the way he took us to shops that we did not want to go to, but he insisted. When we eventually got to the hotel, he charged ten english pounds per person. We thought the ride was going to cost us about £1. We ended up giving him £40. This made me so scared I didn't leave the hotel for the rest of the holiday. (paraphrased from a story told to us by British holidaymaker)   We start with caleche drivers because, unfortunately, this is where many of the scams happen. Steering clear of the caleches altogether is the only way to be sure of avoiding scams. If you do take a ride on a caleche, be aware of the following: Currency of the quote Caleche drivers will call out to visitors 'FIVE'. You expect they are asking for five egyptian pounds. Be sure to clarify this before you get in. If you do not they will remember that the currency has been left open and may charge five english pounds, dollars, euros or something else and ask you for that amount in Egyptian currency. Price per passenger When you agree a price, and have agreed that the price is in Egyptian pounds, be sure to agree that it is for the whole caleche, not per person. If you do not do this this may charge the agreed amount per person. Different market Caleche drivers may tell you that the main tourist market is closed or that there is a 'local market' somewhere else. The main market is open from early morning until after 10pm and is never closed when another one is open. They want to take you the other way either to get you to take a ride or because they get commission somewhere else. Charging extra Even if you agree the currency and that the fee is for the whole caleche, the driver may ask for more because he took you to a shop or for an extra ride, even if you did not want to go! Be clear that you only want to go to your destination, not to other places on the way. Avoiding problems Agree the price, the currency and that it is the price for the whole carriage. Agree that you are going to your destination only and that you do not wish to visit his family shop on the way. Feluccas We agreed a felucca trip for LE40. It was too windy so he took us in a motor boat instead. We got back late and he asked us for LE200 because the motor boat was dearer and the trip was more than an hour.   A felucca ride on the Nile is a wonderful part of a Luxor holiday and most trips are enjoyed without any problems at all. Be aware of things that can go wrong if you book through people on the Corniche, to make sure yours is as enjoyable as it should be. How many people for how long? You will often be quoted a rate for a felucca trip. Clarify that it is the rate for the whole boat and not per person. (Some hotels and agents charge per person but this is made clear at the outset). You will normally be told that the trip is for an hour. However, when you are on the Nile you may find that the hour is up when you are far from your dropping-off point. You may then be charged more than you agreed and will be told it is because the trip was longer. If you want a longer trip, fine, but it is best to agree how long the trip is before you start, and to agree a fixed price for the boat, to avoid a surprise price increase at the end. Motor boat assistance or substitute Some days are very windy. If it is too windy it is not safe to use the feluccas. They may sell you a felucca trip and not tell you until you get to the pier that it is too windy and that you will be going in a motor boat instead. If it is too still, they will either substitute a motorboat or get a motorboat to tow the felucca up river. In either case the cost will be higher because the charge for a motorboat is more than the charge for a felucca. The difference can be substantial, especially as you have not negotiated on the basis of the motorboat. A typical rate for a small group for a one hour trip on a felucca is LE30. A motorboat may be charged at LE80 - LE100. Avoiding problems Agree a fixed price per boat and a duration and make it clear that this is the amount you will pay and that you are only going on a felucca. Say if it is too windy or too still you will go on another day. Check before you go that there are other feluccas sailing against the flow of the river under their own wind power and that they are not being towed. (The river flows from left to right as you face the Nile from the East bank). Changing money Local people, especially porters, are often given foreign coins by holiday makers who have recently arrived and do not have Egyptian currency. They are not able to change coins at the bank so need to change them privately. This is common and is often innocent. However, there are some people who take advantage of the tourists' willingness to exchange coins. Exchange rate You may be offered 10 euros or 10 english pounds and asked to change them. You may agree an exchange rate, but the true rate is rarely a simple whole figure. Unless you are good at maths or have a calculator you are likely to round the sum in their favour. Fine, but when you have agreed the amount you are paying, even if it is a little over the top, they may then say that they think the exchange rate is wrong or that it has just changed and ask you for some more egyptian notes. Count the coins You will see the number of coins when you are first asked to change them. Then you look to your purse, wallet or pocket to find the Egyptian currency. Are the number of coins you actually get, the number of coins you first saw before you looked away? Genuine coins? There are so many nationalities visiting Luxor, and so many different kinds of coins, that some similar ones can easily be confused, especially during a quick transaction in the street. The Sri Lankan 5 rupee is worth about 4p but it is so close in colour, size and shape to the English pound that it needs very careful inspection to make sure you have the right coin, especially when the designs on both of them change so frequently. In a hurried transaction, the Egyptian 50 piastre coin is also fairly similar. Make sure that if you are offered coins of a particular type, they really are all that coin. Avoiding problems The only real way is to avoid changing coins altogether; otherwise it is best to stick with people you know and you will see again, such as the porter in your own hotel. If you do agree to change coins with a stranger in the street, make sure you agree the amount; don't change the amount once agreed, and check before you part with the Egyptian money that the coins you are given are the coins you were expecting. Buying things Newspapers Men on bikes sell newspapers. They will usually say they are today's. In practice they are usually at least a day old, sometimes much older, and will probably be second-hand newspapers recovered from scheduled flights. Even if the paper on top of his pile is recent, the one underneath may not be! Be sure what you are getting, and that you know the price, before you pay. Switching This is not common, but very occasionally you may agree a price for something you want and the item may be switched for something similar, but not as good. This may happen by sleight of hand, or a trader may offer you a wrapped one in place of the unwrapped one you have inspected. This may all be fine, but to be sure, just check the item you are given is the actual item, or an identical item, to the one you inspected. Other things Shops pay commission to people who attract tourists to their shops if the tourist buys something. A lot of this is legitimate - your tour rep probably does quite well if you buy something on a trip. Other people who are not employed to guide you may try to cash in on this. Write a postcard "Do you write English?". "Can you help me to write a postcard?". Yes, of course you can, but the chances are the chap asking you doesn't want a postcard written at all. If you agree, you will be taken to his cousin's shop, where you can write it for him. By that time you are in the shop and someone else will take over to try to sell you something. The ploy may also be to befriend you, to persuade you to buy a trip. Remember me? A stranger will ask "Remember me?" I am your waiter, porter, receptionist etc. He may even have noticed which hotel you came from and add credibility by mentioning it. He is not connected with the hotel. He is probably linked to a shop or to an unlicensed tour operation and after some friendly chat will try to take you to a shop or to sell you a trip. Avoiding problems If someone is genuine about wanting a postcard written, they will have the card and a pen on them. If you want to help, offer to do it there and then. If they have to take you to a shop to write the card, think about why that might be. Don't be embarrassed into pretending that you remember someone if you don't. You can't remember them because you have not seen them before. They are not who they say they are. Just say, "no, sorry, I don't remember you". Luxor Market There is a separate page about Luxor Market that mentions haggling. Caleche There is more about caleches on the caleche page Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[53]=new Array("hotels/susanna.htm","Susanna Hotel, Luxor. Description and review","Description and review of the Susanna hotel, Luxor Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hotel Susanna hotel Quick facts Official local rating 3 star Typical UK rating Rooms 45 Guest room floors 5 TV & mini bar in all rooms Air conditioning Small roof pool 6th floor restaurant 7th floor Pool Bar Lobby bar Wi-fi: modest daily charge Contact details Web www.susannahotelluxor.com Emails info@susannahotelluxor.com susannahotelluxor@hotmail.com Phone (0002) (95) 2369915 Address 52 Mabed El Karnak St., Luxor Our View Excellent new city centre budget hotel. Compact rooms but good facilities and outstanding views from the roof, restaurant and many rooms. To book this hotel The following agencies can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on a logo to go to their web site.  Private transfers An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Small pool. View of the temple and the Nile beyond There have been plenty of changes in central Luxor recently and the hotel scene is certainly one of them. Once there were a couple of low cost hotels around the temple and backpacker hotels around the station but for comfort hotels most tourists stayed along the Corniche or just outside town in the hotel and restaurant cluster a short way to the south. The city centre improvements have enabled a growth in small city centre hotels behind the temple, on the edge of the tourist market. The growth has included the improvement of a few of the older hotels but the Susanna is a new one altogether. Opening in the autumn of 2008, the Susanna has 10 single rooms and 35 double rooms over 5 guest floors, with reception, small bar and lounge area on the ground floor below and two further floors above. The floors above provide a restaurant on the 6th floor, with panoramic views through full height glazing over luxor temple, along the avenue of sphinxes and to the west bank. There is also some seating beyond the glazing on a restaurant balcony. A 7th sundeck level has a small pool, bar and loungers with the same views to the temple and along and across the Nile. Susanna hotel restaurant. View of the temple and Nile The rooms are quite compact - just right for a short stay or as a base for getting out, but not so good if you intend to spend much time at the hotel. Rooms are quite small About half the rooms are on the front elevation and have superb views, uninterrupted by the trees that spoil views to the Nile in some of the hotels that are set back from the river outside the city centre. The balconies are also rather small, but in the city centre you are less likely to be using them for lounging. The other rooms have interesting but less attractive views over the city, with some side-Nile views from the balconies. The hotel caters mostly for Egyptian guests although there is an international clientele and all signs are in English. Nevertheless, bear in mind that the focus is on local expectations and that if you want something specific you need to check that it is available. In particular, there are no cots for babies, so this is not a hotel for young families. Other facilities include internet wi-fi for just LE10 per day, an adjoining pharmacy and medical assistance from the owner's family - the owner, his wife and son are all doctors. View from the pool deck of the Susanna hotel If you want a bigger room, outside space at ground level, a larger pool or 5 star tourist-type breakfast and other meals, albeit at higher cost, the Susanna would not be for you. However the hotel will attract guests who want a basic but reasonably well featured no-frills central base - close to the market, the station, Luxor temple and the other east bank sights.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[54]=new Array("eating/puddleduck.htm","Puddleduck restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","Puddleduck restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Puddleduck It is third time lucky for this little restaurant at the end of St Joseph hotel road. It was first known as the home of the Lantern restaurant and still has lanterns outside. We didn't rave at the quality of food or service at the Lantern when it was here. The Lantern has since moved to the road, opposite the Lotus hotel. Pals followed the Lantern into the premises. We saw lots of similarities between the Lantern and Pals. We didn't like it enough to think it was worth choosing in preference to other restaurants that were easier to find and a little cheaper. Then came Puddleduck. Puddleduck closed the restaurant for a while between ownerships to get things sorted. They have redecorated in various shades of lilac and purple, with matching seat swabs covering the same iron chairs that were there before. A welcome change is the banning of smoking. Once upon a time every restaurant in Luxor allowed smoking. One by one, many that cater for European tourists are restricting either the times that you can smoke or exactly where in the restaurant you can sit if you do smoke. Puddleduck is one of several who have now banned smoking altogether. This may cause problems for some, but as a British restaurant most of its clients will be used to that now and the rule is likely to be welcomed by most. The restaurant describes its fare as 'modern cuisine', but don't let the title put you off if you like traditional English. We would describe the menu as English international: foods that are essentially English but that would be acceptable generally in Europe. The menu is entirely English. There are no Egyptian, Chinese or Indian dishes. Puddleduck There are separate lunch and evening menus. In some other restaurants the menus appear bigger, but they tend to list variations on the same theme and when you get down to it, there is not much variety. At Puddleduck the menu is not huge. However, the shorter menu is very varied and although there are some constants, other items change weekly. As well as variety there is novelty: you don't see chicken stuffed pancake much in Luxor. Prices are on the higher side. First courses are in the LE20 - LE30 bracket and main courses are mostly between LE55 and LE65. We tend to use steak as a common denominator, because it is the main course most widely available. Steak with a sauce is LE55. Desserts are mostly LE25, drinks from LE7, coffee is LE8 and beer is LE16, or for LE20 you can sample some local wine. To charge these food prices the meal has to be good. And it was. Well presented, hot and tasty, we had no problems with any of the courses on any visit. A small point if you come for a meal, but we especially liked the way the excellent coffee is served, pre-made in coffee pots, with plenty for two cups, rather than the frequently-seen sachet and pot of water. Service is friendly and reasonably quick, although, as elsewhere, there may be delays in the kitchen if the restaurant is busy. To get to Puddleduck, go to the very end of the road that has the entrance to the St Joseph hotel, past Arkwrights, the 2S supermarket, Taste of India and the Royal House hotel. Puddleduck is just round the corner where this road meets the main road. Should you eat here? If money is no object you could make it a regular eating place. We think that would be a pity, not for any reason connected with Puddleduck, but because you would be missing some other good restaurants and missing the chance to sample dishes from Egypt and from other continents. Prices at Puddleduck are relatively high so you might also look for the value-with-quality meals at places like the Ritz and Jewel of the Nile for some evenings and come here for special occasions. But whether as a regular or for one or two occasions, yes, at some stage, eat here you should.  Review updated October 2009 Prices as at October 2009  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[55]=new Array("eating/joans.htm","Joan's restaurant, Luxor","Joan's restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Joan's Joan's restaurant is upstairs Joan's is one of several restaurants in El Roda Street (opposite the Lotus Hotel, not far from the Nile Palace - formerly the Meridien). Joan's is on an upper floor, on the left side of the road as you enter El Roda Street from the main hotel road. Immediate impressions are good, with fresh decor, well spaced tables and a cozy sitting area where drinks and snacks can be taken on sofas. When we first visited, soon after Joan's opened in the autumn of 2006, our experience went downhill after the good first impressions. We reported, with examples, that the service was pleasant and attentive but not particularly effective and that the food was extremely disappointing. Comfy sofa and spacious dining area We have returned at intervals to see if things improved with experience but merely found different examples of bad practice and poor meals. In the meantime the restaurant has had a few changes of management. Joan is no longer involved and another English lady who took over is no longer involved either. Although it retains the original name, Joan's is now Egyptian run. We had high hopes when we made a further visit in October 2009. The new management were reported to be making a real effort and striving for excellence. The furniture had been rearranged slightly since our previous visit but is still well spaced, comfortable and still includes sofas for that homely, relaxing coffee. The good news ends there. There seemed to be several people involved, coming and going from the restaurant and entering and emerging from the kitchen, two of whom waited on our table at different times. They were both dressed in street casuals. The second spoke good English; the first appeared to speak no English at all. Not a problem in a local restaurant - this is Egypt, not England, after all - but the restaurant still has an English-sounding name, advertises English meals and is presumably targeting the English tourist market, so reasonable 'restaurant English' might be expected by their guests. The language problem clearly caused difficulty. Our order for a pineapple juice and fresh orange returned an apple juice and artificial orange. When we pointed this out the waiter said sorry, but there was no replacement. Our light snack arrived 42 minutes after placing the order. Was the delay because the restaurant was busy? No. We were the only ones there throughout. Worth waiting for? Absolutely not. The bread was stale to the point of being solid. We returned it but no replacement was offered. The chips were coated in a black spotty residue, presumably from a previous frying; the pasta was wet and the meat was insipid. Overall the impression was that the restaurant was run, at the time we were there, by a group of friends or associates, who are no doubt trying very hard, but who did seem to be rather amateur. The management may be striving for excellence, but they have an awful long way to go. The comfortable surroundings may make a visit worthwhile for a drink: if they are able to get your order right. However, if it is food you want, with Snobs, Castello, Casablanca, Lantern and Deans in the same road, we have said it before but we still can't think of a single reason to go to Joan's.  Review updated October 2009 Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[56]=new Array("eating/snobs.htm","Snobs restaurant, Luxor","Snobs restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Snobs Snobs restaurant Snobs used to be in very small premises located amongst recently-built flats in the residential area on the way to Television Street, a little way off the tourist trail. Even so, it became very popular with people who were willing to seek it out to enjoy the quality food for which it soon gained an excellent reputation. In the autumn of 2005 Snobs moved to much larger premises in El Rhoda El Sherifa St, opposite the Lotus hotel, much closer to the hotels at the southern end of town. At the time the road was a side street with no other tourist restaurants and little else of interest to visitors. Since then many other restaurants have followed Snobs into the road. The restaurant was restyled a year or so ago and now has burgundy and white cloths over wooden tables. The waiters blend in too, with burgundy shirts and cream ties. Snobs Snobs is run by Moamen Abdel Fatah, an extremely talented young chef, providing the kind of individuality and finesse rarely seen in hotels and busy restaurants. The management at the Old Winter Palace could learn a thing or two from Snobs. Uniquely for Luxor, as far as we can recall, you are offered a refreshing towel soon after arriving. This is a most welcome freshener in a climate that is usually hot and quite dusty. There is also a complimentary aperitif. Service is attentive without being obtrusive and overseen by an excellent maître d' as well as the owner. The menu has English and international options, including Egyptian and oriental choices with a good variety of vegetarian dishes. We have tried many of the menu options and have never been disappointed. Well cooked, well presented and ample portions provide just what you look for in a meal. Prices are very keen for a restaurant of this quality. Three courses with soft drink can cost under LE80, or less if you want a pizza. Soups are from LE12.50, which compares very favourably with local competition (LE22 at Lantern across the road, for example), and a range of salads are mostly under LE20, starting at just LE15. Our favourite salad in Luxor is the Snobs salad, a blend of traditional salad ingredients and fruit, beautifully presented, fresh, tasty and so large it could be mistaken for a main course. Pasta and pizza dishes start at LE26 and steaks with sauce are mostly LE48. An impressive range of fish, meat and poultry main courses start at under LE40. These meals are overseen by a trained and experienced chef. And it shows. As well as excellent dining in the evening, Snobs has a full lunchtime menu including some of the best omelettes in town from around LE18; sandwiches, jackets and other favourites. Snobs does not sell alcohol but you can take your own wine if you are discreet. There is no formal dress code, but you may feel out of place if you are not smartly dressed. If we could just eat in one place in Luxor we would have to think for a while. We have high regard for several restaurants that offer extremely good value for a simple but wholesome meal, such as Jewel of the Nile for Egyptian and international dishes in a very friendly environment and Ritz. We also like Sofra, near the railway station, for excellent value (but not faultless) Egyptian food in a colonial setting. However, if we really, really had to choose just one, for variety, for quality food cooked impeccably, for excellent presentation, for service the way it should be and for value, we would choose Snobs. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[57]=new Array("hotels/lotus.htm","Lotus Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Lotus hotel, Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hotel Lotus hotel Quick facts Official local rating 4 star Typical UK rating 4 star Rooms 58 Floors 5 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning (remote) Outdoor pool, heated in winter Restaurant Small pool bar Wi-fi internet (extra) ATM Contact details Email lotus_luxor@yahoo.com Phone +20 103 456253 Address Khaled Ebn El Whalid St Luxor 856856 Our View Small lower-cost Nile-side hotel. Doesn't compete with the bigger 5 star hotels but Nile-side location and better views from most rooms make it worth considering against 4 and 3 star alternatives. Improved but still disappointing breakfast and other meals. Noise can be a problem. To book this hotel The following agencies can book holidays or rooms for you at this hotel. Click on the logo to go to their web site.   Transfer to the hotel An airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page.  Building work nearby Building work is still going on at the Sonesta, almost next door to the Lotus. The former public swimming pool right next door to the Lotus is being redeveloped. The work can be noisy at times and can be heard from many parts of the Lotus hotel and grounds. The Lotus is a relatively new hotel. It is on the Nile side of the main Khaled Ebn El Walid Street that serves most of the hotels in the southern cluster, squeezed between the Steigenberger Nile Palace on one side and the old swimming pool site and Sonesta St George on the other. The hotel is owned by the government. Its traditional business was for short-stay government purposes, such as police conferences but with now has an increasing focus on tourism. Until recently it was only possible to book direct or through accommodation agencies, but one or two package tour companies, including Thomas Cook and Olympic, have now started offering the Lotus. At the front, the hotel is set back from the road, behind some roadside tourist shops and the hotel's own car park. This has the advantage that road noise is not as much of a problem as it is for other hotels along this stretch of road. You also get a chance to emerge from the building without being immediately accosted by taxi and caleche drivers. From the road, the entrance is inconspicuous and easy to miss. At the rear, the hotel is also set back a little more than the neighbouring hotels from the Nile. This gives a fair depth to the grounds which include a circular pool, heated in winter, with adjoining shallow pool, and several sitting areas on different levels. On the minus side, it also means that the sun rarely gets to the balconies because even after the sun has made its way to the west, all but the very centre rooms are shielded by the flanks of the neighbouring hotels and the walls of the Lotus itself. One of the better balcony views from a standard-price room The hotel boasts Nile views from most rooms. Being so close to the neighbouring hotels, the same walls that shield the balconies from the sun also blinker the outlook, so that the panorama of the Nile is quite constrained, especially from the rooms set back furthest from the river. From the balconies of these rooms, part of the view is of the Nile Palace on one side and the Sonesta on the other side. The best Nile views are from the centre rooms, most of which are the more expensive suites, and views are still quite good one or two rooms back, but beyond that the blinkering effect of the neighbouring hotels makes its mark, especially on the Nile Palace (higher room number) side. Handle notices Normally, the 'Please do not disturb' handle notice would be red, and 'Please clean my room' would be green. At the Lotus, the red one says 'Please clean my room', so if you don't want nasty surprises, be careful to read the notice before you hang it.  Bear in mind that the views from standard price rooms at other hotels, such as the Sonesta, Nile Palace, Iberotel and Isis are also limited, so this is not peculiar to the Lotus. At the competing hotels, the rooms with the best views come at quite a high price premium. At the Lotus you can get a better view from a standard price room, if you get the right one. If you want the best views try to get a room number ending between 04 and 06 (some of these are suites) but 01 to 03 are also OK. Rooms with numbers ending 07 to 10 are increasingly further back along the Nile Palace side. Rooms with numbers ending 11 and 12 overlook the road. The Lotus appears quite smart from the outside and the effect is maintained as you enter a small but impressive reception area, with polished marble, smart antique-style furnishings and a vista straight through to the Nile beyond. The gloss on the image is a little let down by a temporary-looking ATM machine, public internet computer terminals and notices. The antique-style furniture continues into a neighbouring lounge, which doubles as a saloon, without a bar but with waiter service, where you can buy hot, soft and a limited range of alcoholic drinks. There is no entertainment. In the centre of the main reception area is an atrium which extends upwards through the five guest floors to a roof light. On each of the floors a galleried landing surrounding the atrium gives access to the guest rooms. This is a very pleasant feature, providing natural light through the building. However, the design is better suited to a concert hall than a hotel as the atrium also tends to act as a megaphone. Any loud conversation in reception transmits through the hotel. Even the hand bell at the reception desk can be heard inside the rooms several floors above. In most hotels, an uncontrolled child would disturb neighbours. Here, if the noise is from the reception area or any of the landings, it disturbs everyone. Lounge area behind main reception Reception is through the glass doors on the right You get the impression that a great deal of attention went into creating an appealing public space but that the rooms themselves were designed and fitted to a budget rather than to a specification. Some of them are really rather small, even for a hotel that has not earned five stars. The rest are average in size for a four or five star hotel. Natural light is provided by a pair of glazed doors onto the balconies. The balconies themselves are quite small and have no chairs or other furniture. Most of them are in constant shade. There are no drink-making facilities. Until recently the hotel was one of the few that did not ban beverages and food from outside, but this has now changed. Now that the ban is in place, bringing your own kettle and making your own drinks would, strictly speaking, break the rules. The bathrooms are a reasonable size and have a shortish bath tub with shower over. The fittings are basic: the sort that come as a job lot in DIY store sales. Even though the hotel is young they are already looking worn beyond their years, with failing enamel to the baths and fittings that are functional but in need of frequent attention. There is a towel rail and narrow shelf, but not really enough storage or surface for the volume of cosmetic, cleaning and other bathroom paraphernalia brought by most tourists. There is no hairdryer. Basic toiletries are provided. The rooms have fridge and TV. The TV shows mostly arabic-language channels. There are a couple of channels showing English language, mostly American, films and TV shows subtitled into Arabic. It also has an Egyptian channel with occasional news in English and CNN most of the day. There are however no English TV channels, such as BBC World, normally found in larger Luxor hotels. The rooms appear to be well cleaned by pleasant staff who are adept at towel sculpture. However, the appearance of the rooms is a little let down by poor finishing of the building. We have seen glass that is too small for its opening, surface-mounted taps that have been fitted too far from the wall so they look less secure than they are and clumsy use of cement at the finishing stage. All minor points but unnecessary snags that really ought to have been picked up at building stage and betray a possible lack of priority to the private guest areas. The guest room furniture, too, is quite ordinary and appears older than the hotel's age. The wardrobe is far too small for a two-week stay. These things are not going to spoil your holiday, but it is a shame that a hotel with so much potential has missed the mark in trivial ways. The other 4 star hotel built at about the same time, the Morris, has high quality sanitary appliances and far better finishes throughout, although its location is not as good. The air-conditioning is not the sleekest, nor the quietest, but it is effective and remote controlled. There are no safes in the rooms, but safety deposit boxes are available at reception. The Restaurant Manager is usually around and identifiable from his suit. Otherwise, most of the management staff do not make themselves very evident. In fact the Food and Beverage manager wears casual clothes and no badge, so you would not know his position even if you saw him. Hands-on staff, including waiters and staff at the pool and reception, are pleasant, attentive and appear efficient. Their command of English is adequate for day-to-day hotel needs. Breakfast used to be very basic, often consisting of bread rolls, cheese, meat, butter and jam with a hard-boiled egg and a little salad, delivered to the table pre-plated and wrapped in cling-film, with a choice of tea or weak coffee from a flask. There may still be reviews that describe the breakfast this way. The Lotus have tried to improve on this by following the normal tourist hotel convention of offering self-service from several breakfast cultures. Egyptian tastes appear quite well catered for and there are some cooked european foods, salad, breads and pastries. However, the cooked foods are not kept very hot and you get the impression that some things may reappear the following day. Eggs are cooked to order. The juice is artificial but the coffee is Nescafe in sachets or tea in bags, with flasks of hot water at the table. There is only one choice of fruit and the single choice of cereal: a local imitation of an international brand and very salty. For british tastes the improvements do not yet go far enough. In the main restaurant, the tables are circular and all have eight seats. The waiters direct guests to tables, usually occupied ones. If you like a quiet breakfast you may not like this communal eating arrangement. A second, smaller restaurant in a separate building close to the pool is often used for breakfast instead of the main restaurant. Here, the tables are oblong and seat six, but the communal eating theme is maintained. Drinks and daytime snacks are available at the pool. The main restaurant also provides lunch and evening dinner from 7pm until 10pm. Snack food is fine although choice is a little limited. It seems to take a long time to come and if you order different dishes they will not necessarily turn up together. Overall, there is nothing superlative about the snacks or reason to come here if you are staying elsewhere, but they are prepared well enough and are very good value, competing in price with the value restaurants outside rather than the other hotels. Food for the other main meals, however, gives rise to many complaints. It is worth complaining because improved meals are sometimes produced, but people on full or half board tariffs who accept what they are first given without comment do not eat well. Guests who come on half-board tariff often choose to forgo their evening meal entitlement and eat outside. The grounds of the Lotus Hotel showing the heated pool and seating areas Access to the pool is a bit quirky. Like most of the hotels along the side of the Nile, the front entrance is at road level and the outdoor facilities at the rear are on a lower level. At the other hotels, there is a route from the guest rooms, via the lift, to the pool level at the rear, so that guests can emerge from their rooms and go to the pool without exhibiting themselves to the public in the main reception area. At the Lotus, there is a lift that goes from the guest room levels to the pool level, but access to the pool is only available through the restaurant. This is not something you can do when meals are in progress - which is most of the day. The only alternative is to leave the lift at reception level, to go through reception, through the lounge, and emerge outside one level higher than the pool, going down outside steps to pool level. Not a major problem but not too clever either and indicative either of a lack of thinking through at hotel design stage, or that the hotel was not designed to be aimed at tourists. There are toilets at the pool level, but they are not signposted so you may miss them. As you face the hotel from the pool area they are to the left of the restaurant. Beyond the pool there is a landing stage which is used by motor boats and feluccas bringing tour parties to this end of town. Parades of tourists through the pool and sunbathing area can feel intrusive. Lotus hotel from the rear (Nile) side Note how close it is to the Nile Palace on the right. Other facilities offered by the hotel include an internet area within main reception, where you can use their flat screen machines or your own laptop via wi-fi for LE20 an hour. You can plug your laptop into the hotel network at the New Pola or at various internet cafes for a little less and wi-fi is available free at places like Snacktime and McDonalds in town, but LE20 is good value for a hotel. The laundry is very good value too, for example LE3 to wash and iron a pair of trousers. A range of massage and beauty treatments is available, based in a shop unit in a basement-level shopping area in front of the hotel. Apart from a tourist shop, the other units there are unoccupied. As the area is well supplied with tourist shops, services and restaurants at street level, it is hard to imagine the attraction of the underground ones in front of the Lotus, which may be destined to remain empty. Whether you choose the Lotus will depend to a large extent on the rate you get. If you want the lavish breakfasts or multiple lounges and bars on offer in 5 star hotels nearby, then you may not be happy at the Lotus. But if you remember that the accommodation part of the holiday cost at the Lotus is generally half the cost of the Sonesta, Nile Palace or Sheraton, and if you want somewhere decent, rather than somewhere fantastic, then we think that, despite its imperfections, it's Nile-side location, better views from many rooms and public area ambience make it worth booking as an alternative to the 2 and 3 star hotels that are generally in a similar price bracket. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[58]=new Array("eating/maximes.htm","Maximes restaurant, Luxor","Maximes restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Maxime's  Maxime's restaurant (Three upper floors: entrance bottom right) Maxime's is on the main tourist hotel road, to the south of the town (left as you face the Nile from the East Bank), just beyond the Isis hotel and on the same side of the road, above a jeweller called Madonna. Look out for Maxime written high up on the side wall of the restaurant. The restaurant was refurbished in 2004. It now has two dining floors, with a kitchen on the third, and much more capacity than before. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular and can still become very busy. The furniture is basic but fine; the table linen and decorations are fresh and the staff attentive. Some prices are still fairly keen, although they increased significantly in 2009. Soups start at LE8, salads at LE6 and there are desserts from LE10. The menu includes egyptian and international main courses, including meat, fish, poultry and vegetarian selections and some options not commonly seen at other restaurants. A beef tajine is LE19 and steaks with sauce start at LE42. Two can easily enjoy three courses with a soft drink for around LE150. Maximes is not licensed, so no alcohol is available. As well as full meals, Maxime's serves snacks, such as pastas and omelettes. Maxime's restaurant, top floor The dishes are well cooked, and reasonably presented. Portions are generous enough. Maxime's has become a favourite with tourists and is frequently recommended. It is a safe bet and excellent value for money; a popular choice for those who prefer not to spend the extra for the even better quality at somewhere like Snobs. However, following the recent increase in prices it has lost its major edge and may begin to lose out to nearby competition from the likes of The Ritz and increasingly from the higher-cost restaurants. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[59]=new Array("holidays/booking.htm","holidays/booking.htm","","");sQ1[60]=new Array("hotels/overviewquality.htm","Hotels in Luxor, Egypt: an overview","Hotels in Luxor, Egypt. An overview.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hotels in Luxor - quality overview The best Reputedly the best hotel is the opulent Old Winter Palace. This is where film stars and presidents stay. It is good for a special night but not many tourists spend a whole holiday there because of the cost. The next best The Sonesta St George, Nile Palace and Maritim Jolie Ville (previously the Mövenpick) are usually reckoned to be the best of the rest. Visiting dignitaries who don't make the Old Winter Palace usually stay at the Sonesta. The Sonesta is a traditional modern hotel under one roof with all the usual facilities, chandeliers and plenty of shiny marble. The Nile Palace is bigger with more amenities, less glitzy but at least as smart. They are both on the main road, surrounded by restaurants and tourist shops, so there is a certain amount of bustle as soon as you step outside. The Jolie Ville is further out, much quieter, but made up from individual bungalows in extensive grounds - only the reception, bank, main restaurant and shopping are in a central building. And also In terms of quality, the Mercure Hotel, Lotus, Pavilion wing of the Winter Palace, Isis, Swiss Inn, Iberotel and Sheraton all have their fans and their detractors but it is hard objectively to rank them. All except the Lotus have reasonably good restaurants, some shops and outside areas. They all have good and less favourable points which reviews on this site and others try to identify. The Sofitel Karnak was once regarded as on a par with the Sonesta, but more recently it has slipped to be grouped with the bulk of 4 and 5 star hotels listed above. It is a relatively new hotel and we will have to see where its reputation settles. Budget hotels More basic hotels include the rather old but friendly St Joseph, the newer and cheaper New Pola, the Gaddis, Tutotel, Emilio and Philippe. These hotels are typically a stack of rooms with a reception and restaurant underneath and a patio, usually with pool, on top. These hotels will suit those who don't want galleries, lounge areas, restaurant variety etc but just somewhere safe and inexpensive to stay. Cheaper still There are plenty of backpacker hotels and hostels, mostly around the railway station and in the built-up area of town either side of Television Street. Here you can get a night's accommodation for a very few pounds.  Choosing If money is absolutely no object, you will be spoilt in the Old Winter Palace. If you want a quality hotel, close to restaurants and shops and reasonably close to the town, choose the Nile Palace or the Sonesta. For a quiet life with access to town, but where you can also stay away from the hustle in spacious grounds: the Maritim Jolie Ville. Your choice from the rest of 4 and 5 star hotels will depend on whether you want to be in town or amongst the tourist restaurants in the south. On balance the Pavilion Wing of the Winter Palace is probably the best bet in town, because of its central location and extensive grounds. In the south, amongst the 4 star hotels, the Sheraton is the quietest with more extensive grounds than the rest. From the economy group, St Joseph is usually favoured because of it's friendly management and excellent evening restaurant, but the New Pola is much more up-to-date, is usually cheaper and has the best views from the roof pool area. The Lotus is usually around the same price and is the only one of the budget hotels to be on a bank of the Nile (the others are across the road). On balance, the Lotus takes our vote (but see the minus points in the review, including the food). Of the other two, unless you have children (see the review), we prefer the New Pola as long as you don't want to eat in the hotel much - it is let down by its restaurant. If you don't like the ifs and buts of the New Pola and Lotus, the St Joseph is a friendly low cost hotel with decent food but is rather outdated. Some hotels in the Southern part of Luxor, seen from the Nile Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[61]=new Array("hotels/southerncluster.htm","Hotels to the south of Luxor centre: overview and aerial view","Summary and aerial view comparing hotels to the south of Luxor centre","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Major hotels to the south of Luxor centre The aerial view illustrates the relative locations of the major hotels on the southern side of Luxor centre. To give an idea of scale, walking at a strolling pace it will take about 8 minutes to get from the Iberotel to the New Pola; about 15 minutes to stroll from the Iberotel to the Sonesta and a bit more than half an hour to get from the Iberotel to the Sheraton. It is possible to see that, other than the Sheraton, most of the popular hotels are very close together, so it is really facilities, price and preference that will determine your choice, rather than location. You can also get an idea of how close they are from the photo at the bottom of the overview pages. Notice that the New Pola, Morris and St Joseph hotels are not on the Nile side of the main road, but they do all have good Nile views from their upper floors and roofs. Most of the hotels have traffic passing outside on the main road. The Iberotel is on a busy roundabout. The Morris is set back from the main road, so traffic is reduced, but as well as local traffic, caleches and tour buses park nearby. The Lotus is set back within its grounds, so is less bothered by traffic outside. The Sheraton is at the end of a no-through road, so it is the only one of this group with no through traffic at all.  Original aerial photo ©2007 Digital Globe Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[62]=new Array("hotels/emilio.htm","Emilio hotel, Luxor. Description and review","Emilio hotel Luxor: description and review.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Emilio Emilio hotel Quick facts Official local rating 3 star Typical UK rating 2 star Rooms 101 Guest floors 6 TV & mini bar in all rooms Air conditioning Pool on roof 2 Restaurants, one on roof Bar and pool bar   Contact details Email emilio_hotel@yahoo.com Phone (002) (95) 2376666 Address Youssef Hassan St Luxor Our View Good views from the roof, a decent bar and centrally located but otherwise rather drab, noisy and in need of further upgrade. To book this hotel The following agencies can book this hotel for you, when available. Click on a logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals at this hotel. Packages  Hotel only   Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. View from the Emilio The Emilio is one of the better known hotels in the centre of Luxor, partly because it is more likely to be offered by package tour companies than the neighbouring Queens Valley hotel or the newer but smaller Susanna, a few hundred yards away. Like those other two hotels, the Emilio is very convenient to Luxor centre, the market and many restaurants and shops. From the roof and some rooms there are excellent views to Luxor Temple, the avenue of sphinxes and the Nile beyond. Whilst convenient, this does also make the hotel rather noisy. The road at the front is particularly busy, so the rooms with the best view are also the noisiest. The rooms along the side road have a less appealing outlook and slightly less noise, although the road provides access to the market and is certainly not quiet. Roof pool with sunbathing platform above As well as providing a good view, the roof has a pool, of a decent size as roof pools go, plenty of seating, a cafe-style restaurant with good shade, and a bar. Beside and above the pool is another, smaller, sunbathing platform. It is best to make use of the pool towels available from the bar, because some of the loungers are not particularly clean. The hotel's ground floor has the main restaurant at the front, just behind the reception desk; a bar at the back and a few sitting areas in between. There is no lounge as such. The main restaurant is functional rather than attractive. Breakfast is the usual combination of Egyptian dishes and a limited range of international choices, including egg and toast, but nothing like the selection you find in better (and more expensive) hotels. It is adequate but will better suit someone who likes a light breakfast and waits for lunch than someone who likes to stoke up first thing. Emilio bar The bar is quite smart, comfortable, and rarely too busy. Food and drinks throughout the hotel are, however, rather expensive for the class of hotel. The smaller budget hotels rarely have a tremendous menu or excellent food quality, but they are usually quite cheap. At the Emilio the quality is similar to the hotels at the budget end but the prices are closer to those charged at better tourist restaurants. Not a happy combination. For example, soups and salads are between LE12 and LE15 and most pizzas are between LE25 and LE30; fruit salad and ice cream are over LE20 each, fresh juices are over LE16 and soft drinks are over LE9. As the hotel is so close to the Luxor centre restaurants, we think most people would choose to eat at nearby restaurants, where better food is cheaper. The hotel was renovated during 2008 and is sometimes referred to as the 'New' Emilio hotel. However, the rooms show little sign of renovation and could really do with some more work. They are on the small side with rather tired furniture and decorations. They have the amenities that have become basics for Luxor hotels, such as a TV, fridge and air conditioning, but none of the extras, such as kettles or hairdriers. Overall, like the rest of the hotel, adequate as a base if you are out most of the day, but not pleasant for a prolonged stay. The room staff are reasonably pleasant but otherwise reception, portering and waiting staff could do with a refresher course at customer care school and better control of the tip-hinting. The hotel has a reputation is as a low budget convenient base rather than as a hotel to relax in. We think that reputation is deserved. Once there was relatively little local competition in that category, but with the opening of the much better Susanna just a few hundred yards away, the Emilio is likely to lose its place as the obvious choice. We wonder whether the package tour companies will continue to offer the Emilio when there are so many minus points and increasing competition. It is not realistic to compare the Emilio with the four and five star hotels, which are far, far better, because there is a huge price difference. It is, however, realistic to compare it with the two and three star hotels that are in a similar price bracket. Exactly which hotels you compare with will depend on the deals available at the time. Although none of the competing hotels is perfect, for the money and on balance, we think that if you can get the Susanna or the Swiss Inn for the same price, you would be happier at one of those. If you don't need to be in town, the Lotus and New Pola might also be on your comparison list in the price range, again not without their faults, especially the food, but much better in most other respects. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[63]=new Array("hotels/hilton.htm","Hilton Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of Hilton hotel, Luxor, Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hilton Resort and Spa Hilton hotel Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 261 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning 2 pools 7 restaurants and bars Courtesy bus into Luxor Contact details Web www.hilton.co.uk/luxor Email luxor@hilton.com Phone +20 95 2399999 Address P.O. Box 13 New Karnak Luxor Egypt Our View The Hilton is aimed at the top end of the market.  Ways to book this hotel We will update this message as soon as we have more information.    The Hilton was closed for about two years but re-opened, refurbished, modernised and uprated, in November 2008. Before refurbishment we thought that the Luxor Hilton was OK, but not amongst the best Luxor hotels by a long way. Its main problem was its location so far from town in an unattractive area without the quality benefits to make such remoteness worthwhile. The hotel has since been refurbished to an extremely high standard, offering large rooms and plenty of facilities including internet in all rooms. It has been renamed the 'Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa' and has a separate wing with its own reception for the spa villas. Externally, the main building looks much as it did, except for the grounds and pools, which have been landscaped and much uprated. Internally, the finish has been upgraded substantially, with high gloss marble and running water features throughout: even flowing down the walls behind the main staircase from reception level to the outdoor pool level. We plan to visit again and to update our review during February.   Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[64]=new Array("hotels/isis.htm","Isis Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Isis hotel, Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Pyramisa Isis Hotel Pyramisa Isis hotel Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 4 star Rooms & suites 480 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Hair drier 2 outdoor pools 3 restaurants & 2 snack bars 2 bars 20 minutes walk from centre  Contact details Web www.pyramisaegypt.com Email luxor@pyramisaegypt.com Phone 0020 95 237 0100 Address Khaled IBM El Walid St Luxor Our View Massive by local standards and rather too busy to be relaxing. Most decorations a little tired and some staff don't try very hard to make up for the shortfalls.  To book this hotel The following agencies can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on a logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Private transfers An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Gardens and Nile from the main block Three things are immediately noticeable about this hotel. The first and most obvious is its size. At 28 acres and nearly 500 rooms, this hotel is the biggest in Luxor by a long way. It is almost as big as the Sonesta and Nile Palace put together. This links with the second thing. It is busy. Very busy. There always seems to be something going on; people coming and going; suitcases in reception. The front part of the reception area sometimes feels more akin to a bus station than a hotel. In a word, the third thing is 'shops'. The hotel has shops built into its outside frontage, shops inside and shops all down the edge of the gardens, almost to the Nile. These things are neither good nor bad in themselves, but they mark the character of the hotel. It is a character you will either like or dislike. If you want a quiet reception area where you can sit with a newspaper and relax; if you want to wonder around the hotel grounds without being reminded of souvenir shopping, then you may not feel comfortable at the Isis. On the other hand, if you prefer the bustle of London to the quietness of of the moors; if you like the idea of popping from the pool to the shop without leaving the hotel, then you may be attracted to the Isis. Pyramisa Isis hotel An advantage of its size is that there is variety. There are many types of room, varying by outlook and by size, including interconnecting rooms and four different kinds of suites. Long carpeted corridors lead to the rooms, which are reasonably spacious, well-equipped and usually clean. Some rooms have been smartened up but most are still a little tired. The cheaper rooms have a city view, which means they overlook the road at the front which is busy and rather noisy. For a bit extra you can look over the gardens and pool towards the Nile. Nile-facing rooms in the main block have a narrow panorama because the two hotel wings get in the way. Most of the rooms at the Nile end of the wings have broader oblique views of the river. At the top end some of the suites have much more internal space and panoramic views, although if you are upgrading to that extent you may also wish to consider one of the more highly acclaimed hotels nearby. Lotus restaurant The main restaurant is the Lotus, which opens unusually early at 5am. The Lotus serves breakfast as well as local and international lunches and dinners. Most of the meals are buffet although à la carte is available when the buffet is closed. Breakfasts are OK but the food for other meals does not have the best reputation is town, lacking in quality and variety. Most people who know the Isis recommend b&b and to eat outside. Alternative restaurants at the Isis are La Terrazza, an Italian restaurant and pizzeria, which is open from 11am , and the Pink Panda, serving a Chinese and Asian menu from 6pm. Drinks and snacks are available from the Lounge bar in the main building and the Yashmak, a coffee bar by the pool with a swim-up bar. Drinks are also served in the tented Badea from 3pm and the Abu Nawas lobby bar from 9pm until 2am, where there is sometimes live entertainment. Other amenities include health and beauty treatments, but these are limited and do not include a proper gym. The two pools are said in the hotel literature to be heated, but only the smaller one has heating in winter and although described as a children's pool it is 3'6" deep at one end. It is fine for older children, but it is not as ideal for younger children or toddlers as the facilities at the Jolie Ville, for example. When preparing reviews of hotels we take into account feedback from previous visitors reported to us, to travel companies and to hotel agencies. Visitor feedback is very mixed. As with any hotel, some people return many times and recommend it. Many who have not stayed at other Luxor hotels report that the Isis is fine. Most who have stayed at the Isis and other 4 or 5 star hotels usually recommend the alternative. Because of its relative lack of favour, you can sometimes get a good deal at the Isis. In particular, larger groups and families find the junior suites spacious and convenient: and cheaper than booking two separate double rooms. That doesn't make the food or the 'busy' feeling any better, but if you can get a good deal, especially if one of the suites is right for the kind of group you are in, then it is worth considering the Isis on a bed & breakfast basis. If you are booking as a single person or for two people, and want a traditional single or double room, then unless you can get a very good deal indeed, we think you would be better off at one of the other hotels within a few hundred yards of the Isis. For an idea of the other hotels in the immediate area, have a look at the map of the southern part of Luxor.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[65]=new Array("hotels/jolieville.htm","Maritim Jolie Ville (previously Mövenpick) Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Maritim Jolie Ville (Mövenpick) hotel, Luxor, Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Maritim Jolie Ville Luxor Island Resort (formerly Mövenpick hotel) Jolie Ville hotel and grounds Quick facts Official local rating 5 Typical UK rating 5 Rooms 327 Floors 1 LCD TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Outdoor 'infinity' pool Children's pool and club 2 Restaurants 2 bars Coffee shop ATM Wi-fi internet (free) Tea & Coffee making in rooms (free) In-room safe 4kms from Luxor centre Contact details Web www.maritim.de Email info@lux-maritim-jolieville.com Phone +20 95 227 4855 Address Maritim Jolie Ville Luxor Island Resort Kings Island Luxor, Egypt Our View Excellent out-of-town hotel with huge grounds, excellent children's facilities and an infinity pool. Many bungalow rooms a little dated, but a good choice if you want peace and quiet rather than to be near town. Ways to book this hotel The agencies listed below can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on a logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals at this hotel.  Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page.  Building work The infinity pool and relaxation pool have been upgraded. Block X has also been upgraded to luxury rooms, royal and presidential suites. A general upgrade programme has been suspended, but in advance of it all rooms now have safes, LCD TV, complimentary tea/coffee facilities and complimentary wi-fi in the rooms. When the main programme resumes it will include renovating the bathrooms, which are a little tired. The Jolie Ville used to be the Mövenpick Jolie Ville, but it has been bought by Maritim. It is now the Maritim Jolie Ville, although people tend to refer to it just as the Jolie Ville. There have been some changes in the reception area in recent years, but Maritim are not planning any major changes although there will be some 'soft' refurbishment' (see the box on the left). The Jolie Ville is about 4kms out of town on the south side. It has a courtesy bus service that stops at the Isis hotel in the centre of the restaurant area, and at the Old Winter Palace in the Centre of Luxor. There is also a bookable courtesy boat service that runs between the hotel and a pier near the Old Winter Palace twice a day. A nice trip even if you only stay on the boat and go straight back. Only the reception area, main restaurant, Kings bar with low lighting, soft furniture and a good, if expensive, range of drinks, and some services are in the main building. These services include the cash desk, internet desk, a library and a shop that sells most things you would want if you prefer not to go to town, such as souvenirs, jewellery, books, clothing, leather, drinks and pharmaceuticals. Prices are quite high, though. The bungalows La Fleur, an à la carte restaurant, is part of the same building but accessed from outside. The guest rooms are arranged in clusters of bungalows spread around the grounds. The bungalows are a little dated and in need of some sprucing up, but they are spacious, clean, very well equipped with LCD TV, in-room safe, complimentary tea & coffee making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, and each has its own terrace. The 'soft refurbishment' mentioned in the 'Building work' box will include upgrading bathrooms and decorations so the tiredness of the guest rooms should be dealt with in due course. Long Nile frontage at the Jolie Ville The hotel has massive grounds covering 24 acres with a long Nile frontage: much more space than you could hope for in a hotel closer to town. As well as providing opportunities for strolling along the Nile or amongst the trees, the grounds hide tennis and other sports facilities for the energetic. For the more restful there is a relaxing area beside the Nile where classical music is played as the sun sets. The Jolie Ville has a much-praised club for children who have activities, a pool and play equipment and Adjacent to the children's area is a delightful 'infinity' pool, which is on the edge of the Nile but at a higher level and where there is an illusion that you are swimming in the Nile itself. So mum and dad can relax in the infinity pool within site of the little ones - and there are lifeguards on duty too. The 'Fellah's tent' is in the grounds of the hotel. This is the destination of the drinking, eating and culture show trip offered by tour agents. These evenings are popular and generally praised by those who like that sort of thing. Other evening entertainment is usually limited to singers in the bar. The general standard is not very good. Children's area at the infinity pool Infinity pool appears to merge with the Nile The Jolie Ville is well known for its food and despite the change of name it still has Mövenpick ice-cream. Here it scores quite well, but without the ambience of some and not without its critics. Breakfast is the usual self-service but plentiful and wonderfully presented. In the main restaurant dinners are buffet-style and themed, with a focus on a different nationality each night. The quality of these international dinners is variable. If you prefer not to experiment with international foods you can use the à la carte restaurant where quality is less questionable but not faultless. Snacks are available at lunchtime and are taken outside in 'Sherazade Paradise'. Most salads are around LE35, but start a little lower and go a lot higher; soups are around LE30; there is a fair variety of pastas starting around LE45 and a steak meal is LE78. These prices are on the high side, as you might expect for a hotel without local competition: overall about 40% higher than the better restaurants in town. As food and drinks are a little expensive by local standards, many guests choose to stay b&b and to eat in town. The savings will easily cover the cost of the taxi. If you want to be out of town and if you are happy with the concept of a hotel that is a collection of bungalows rather than a single building, and especially if you are bringing children to Luxor, then we think you will be pleased with the Jolie Ville for a quieter and more hassle-free holiday than you would get in most Luxor town centre or southern cluster hotels. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[66]=new Array("hotels/sofitelkarnak.htm","Sofitel Karnak Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Sofitel karnak hotel, Luxor Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Hotel Sofitel Karnak hotel entrance Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 351 Floors 2 TV & fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Outdoor pool Splash pool and children's club 3 restaurants and a cafe 3 bars 6 kms from Luxor centre Contact details Web http://www.sofitel.com Email h5552@accor.com Phone 0020 95 2378020 Address El Zinia Gebly Street Luxor Our View The most remote of Luxor's hotels: good for children and those wanting to be away from the bustle of town. Smarter and more modern that the Jolie Ville but has yet to establish a comparable reputation  Check availability and prices To book this hotel Clicking in the blue box above will link to the hotel owner's online booking system. They offer a best price guarantee and say they will beat by 10% any better offer. The following agencies can also book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on a logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Airport transfers An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Opet restaurant The Sofitel is an out-of-town hotel, where guests are away from most of the bustle but close enough to reach town when they want to. The Sofitel is further out of town than the Jolie Ville, but on the other side of Luxor (the north). Some reviews describe the Sofitel as the nearest hotel to Karnak temple. In fact Karnak temple is about half-way between the Sofitel and the Town centre, so the Sofitel is just as far away from Karnak temple as town centre hotels, but on the other side. Like the other main tourist out-of-town hotel, the Jolie Ville, the grounds are spacious and there are excellent facilities for children, including a splash pool, indoor play area and children's club for 6 - 12 year olds. Also in common with the Jolie Ville there is a free minibus service to town, but again the transport is infrequent, there is a big gap in the middle of the day and it finishes too early in the evening to cater for people wanting to go to town for an evening meal. Taxis are plentiful and can be called by reception to the front door. A ride to town should cost you LE20. Poolside cafe The hotel has a central core with reception area, shop, bar and the main restaurant, the Opet, on the first floor. This restaurant is open unusually early at 5.30. It serves an international self-service breakfast and evening meals that follow a different national theme each day. On the floor below is the Carter Bar, where a duo provide entertainment in the evenings. The other two restaurants are in separate buildings in the grounds. La Palmarie is only open for about 5 hours from noon. It is beside the pool and serves barbeque meals, pastas and similar lunch time snacks. The other restaurant is the O Nile, which has indoor and outdoor seating beside the Nile and offers international à la carte lunch and evening dinners. There is less formal eating at the Moorish cafe from 9am until 11pm and at the Nile-side Sun Downer from 3pm until 11pm, where there is Shisha as well as food and drinks. You can also get drinks at the Pool bar from 9am until 5pm. Guest Rooms The guest rooms are in two-storey moorish style buildings with balconies or terraces. The Moorish styling extends to tiled floors, fabrics and furnishings. The rooms are well equipped with a safety deposit box, minibar, hairdryer and bath tubs as well as the TV. Only 32 of the 351 rooms are set aside as non-smoking rooms. 21 of the rooms are suites. Many of the rooms have rather bland outlooks onto lawns with no real view and they are quite scattered around the grounds. Food and drink prices are quite high by Luxor standards but not the highest. To give you an idea, in the cafes you can get a lamb tajine for LE30 and a pasta meal for around LE40 but desserts, other than ice cream, are over LE23. Hot drinks are around LE12, soft drinks LE11 and mineral water LE7. The food quality is fine but not special. We found the service rather abrupt. The hotel has an ATM machine as well as a banking desk and the usual tour agency. There is also a small shop selling newspapers as well as tourist things and a hairdresser. For the energetic there is a limited fitness centre and a clay tennis court. For the rest of us there are massage, sauna and a jacuzzi. Sofitel from the Nile Like most of the Nile-side hotels, you can get felucca and motorboat rides direct from the grounds. Overall, a good option for children and for visitors wanting to be away from the bustle, and hassle, of the town centre, which is hard to avoid when you stay at the town centre hotels. It is newer and decoratively smarter than the other out-of-town hotel, the Jolie Ville, but we don't think the food is as good, there is no infinity pool and the journey to town is that much further and more difficult. If you want an out-of-town hotel and you get a good price, we think you will be happy here. If the price is the same, we would go for the Jolie Ville. (The web site address mentioned in the panel above is the link to the Sofitel group. If you click on the link it will take you direct to the Karnak hotel pages, the full web address is http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/resort/5552/fiche_hotel.shtml)  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[67]=new Array("hotels/nilepalace.htm","Nile Palace Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Steigenberger Nile Palace (formerly Meridien) hotel, Luxor","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Nile Palace Hotel (previously the Meridien) Nile Palace hotel Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 304 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Outdoor pool 4 restaurants 2 cafés / snack bars Bar ATM 15 minute walk from centre Contact details Web www.luxor.steigenberger.com Email fo@luxor-steigenberger.com Phone +20 95 236 6999 Address Khaled Ben El-Walid St., Luxor 85111, Egypt Our View One of Luxor's top 5 hotels. Bigger and less glitzy than the Sonesta. Ways to book this hotel The following agencies can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on the logo (below) to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Nile Palace hotel from the Nile  Building work nearby Building work is going on at the Sonesta, almost next door to the Nile Palace. The work can be very noisy at times and can be heard from many parts of the Nile Palace. The Steigenberger Nile Palace, formerly just known as the Nile Palace and before that the Meridien, is sometimes given awards as one of the best hotels not only in Luxor but in Egypt or even in the whole of Africa. Yet in Luxor it is usually considered fourth or maybe fifth best, jostling for position with the Old Winter Palace, the Sonesta St George, the Jolie Ville (formerly the Mövenpick) and the Sofitel Karnak. Two of these challengers, the Jolie Ville and the Sofitel are out of town, and so will probably attract customers looking for a quieter holiday. The Old Winter Palace is rarely a realistic alternative for cost reasons. In practice, therefore, the competition for the preference of tourists looking for the best hotel close to town is usually between the Nile Palace and the neighbouring Sonesta. At 304 rooms, the Nile Palace is quite a large hotel by Luxor stands. From the Nile side it is obvious that it dwarfs its neighbours but it does not look so large from the front, either outside or when you first enter. There have been a few modifications since the hotel was the Meridien, but a central courtyard remains and retains a slightly french feel. The courtyard or patio is home to a the Cafe des Delices selling snacks, pastries and ice creams and Casa di Napoli, an Italian restaurant. This is also where you can enjoy singers and other in-house entertainment. The main restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating is called the Nubian. It's name describes its decor rather than its menu, which offers traditional local and international breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other restaurants are El Tarboush, serving a Lebanese lunch and dinner menu, the Tropicana poolside snack bar and the tented Arabesque with pasties, grills and shisha. Throughout the hotel's restaurants the food is fine for those who prefer to dine in, but unsurprisingly expensive compared with similar meals outside and not special enough to keep you in or bring you in from outside, unless you want to take advantage of a rare opportunity to try Lebanese food in Luxor. There are plenty of restaurants within a few minutes walk so if you are prepared to tolerate the attention of the taxi, caleche and other touts the moment you emerge from the hotel, we think it is better to stay on a bed and breakfast basis and to eat out. As well as a good choice of restaurants to look after your appetite, there are several opportunities to look after your body, with a well-equipped gym, sauna and steam room as well as the outdoor heated clover-shaped pool. A tennis court is planned for the roof in case you a feeling really energetic. The rooms themselves are smart, light and still reasonably fresh. Most of them are standard rooms with views to the city (cheapest rooms), or the courtyard (next cheapest) or, for a bit more, to the Nile. Most Nile view rooms have a view of the Nile at an angle from the balcony and from areas within the room, or are set back in the central part of the hotel so that the panorama is limited. A full Nile view from the Nile frontage of the hotel is available for an additional supplement. For a great deal more you can choose one of 29 'superior' rooms and 19 suites. The best suite costs around £4,000 for a week! If you are buying a package holiday and do want any of the upgrades, it is worth getting a quote from the hotel direct (see the contact information above) as this is often cheaper than buying the upgrade through a package tour company. If you are booking through hotel agent (see the list in the column in the right) the hotel will be less likely to beat the agency price but it can't hurt to try. The Nile Palace is generally less acclaimed than the neighbouring Sonesta, especially amongst English-speaking visitors. This may be due in some part to its past association with the Meridien group and its french ambience. We think the hotel and the hands-on staff are just as good and the management staff much less pretentious. If you can get a room with some kind of Nile view for the same price, we think the Nile Palace is well worth considering as an alternative to the Sonesta and it is certainly a better alternative to the Isis or Iberotel. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[68]=new Array("hotels/newpola.htm","New Pola Hotel, Luxor","New pola Hotel, Luxor. Description and review.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna New Pola Hotel New Pola hotel Quick facts Official local rating 3 star Typical UK rating 3 star Rooms 81 Floors 8 TV & Fridge in all rooms Remote controlled air con Outdoor pool (on roof) 2 restaurants (see review) Broadband internet Small bar in reception area 8 minute walk from centre Contact details Email  Phone  Address Khalid Ben El Walid, Luxor 1868 Our View Potentially a good basic hotel with astounding views, let down by its restaurant. Not good for children. Ways to book this hotel The agencies listed below can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on their logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page.  If you need a hotel with a variety of restaurants and lounge bars and ancillary services, such as massage, entertainment, spacious grounds and cozy corners, the New Polar is not for you. If you want a clean, up-to-date, reasonably spacious room as a base to explore the rest of Luxor, then the New Polar should be on your list. The New Polar is a stack of modern, good-sized, superficially clean rooms, sandwiched between a reception area and restaurant underneath and a two-tier lounge deck with pool and second restaurant on top. There is also a shop selling cans of drink, postcards, cotton clothing and souvenirs near the main entrance. Part of the 'southern cluster' of hotels, it is the nearest of that group to the town centre at about 8 minutes gentle stroll from the Corniche - about 7 minutes closer than the next hotels, St Joseph's and the Sonesta. The New Polar has 81 rooms, of which about half face directly towards the Nile. Many of the Nile-facing ones have a good Nile view, but the views of some, especially on the lower floors and on the left (as you face the front) are obscured by tall trees across the road. The Nile-facing ones also face the main road and the single glazing does nothing to keep the road noise out. The rooms have bathroom with bath tub incorporating a shower, modern remote-controlled air-conditioning, satellite TV and fridge. The plumbing appears to be reliable, although at quiet times you have to let the water in the hot tap run for quite a while before the water warms up. A really attractive feature is the roof lounge area. This is on two levels. Both levels have an area for sun-beds, tables and chairs with sun umbrellas. The lower area has a fair-sized pool and restaurant. The views from both levels provide a panorama of the Nile that surpasses even the famed view from the St Joseph Hotel, just up the road. Sunset from the roof of the New Pola hotel Any reference to a 'restaurant' should be taken loosely. If you envisage a college refectory, with tables arranged as benches, you will have a fairer image. Occasionally there will be table cloths on some, but not all, tables. This is not necessarily a benefit as they are rarely clean. Most of the tables have tiled surfaces which appear to be cleaned between meals, but not between guests. The roof-top restaurant is much the same, but with even more college-like tables. Breakfast is a very basic self-service affair. Even the hot drinks are self-service from flasks. There is sometimes also an artificial fruit juice. To eat you can choose from bread rolls, butter, jam, one cereal, tomato, cheese, ham and boiled egg, but not everything is available every day. There is no fruit and not even toast unless you ask for it and wait an absolute age. The evening meal choice is limited. Meat, fish, chicken and vegetarian options, all cooked and presented in an Egyptian way, are usual choices, preceded by soup of the day and followed by fresh fruit. There are no other starter or dessert choices although ice creams are available in the reception area. Salads and other snacks are available to order during the day. Room service is available as well as eating on the roof, in the restaurant or outside. The service is leisurely at best. Order well before you want to eat. New Pola main restaurant Although basic and thin on variety, the food is wholesome and tasty. The prices are very competitive too. The three course evening meal is around LE25 so with water two can eat for about £6. Bargain prices are available throughout the hotel. Coffee, hot chocolate or soft drinks in the lounge or on the roof are a third of the price charged at most hotels and a quarter of the price charged at the likes of the Sheraton. Parents with children may be concerned about some safety issues. The lights on the stairs and in the corridors tend to come on a bit late, not when dusk first falls. More significantly there are tall windows in the corridors with very low thresholds. The windows are sometimes left open so there is a falling hazard. The doors to the balconies do not lock. At the date of our review there were not even cots - we were told babies cold sleep on the floor with a blanket. Following our representations about this we were told a cot would be made available, but be sure to check before you go if you are taking an infant. Many hotels in Luxor are aimed exclusively at tourists. The St Joseph hotel even has a notice on the door banning people who are Luxor residents. The New Polar is the reverse. It tends to cater widely for Egyptian nationals especially groups who appear to be university students on cultural field visits. They tend to stay for only a short time, so the hotel can be very busy for a short while, with some corridors resembling a college campus, and very quiet the rest of the time. We have heard negative comments about the reception staff, especially their grasp of English. We have found the staff to be rather casual but most are courteous and obliging. Their understanding of English varies between staff members. By and large they can manage the usual hotel terms. However, their ability to deal with slightly different requests is not as good. Even with a dictionary under the counter, you might struggle with conversation that breaks new ground for them. Still on the slightly negative side, the pillows are thick and hard; there is no daily supply of courtesy toiletries; the bathroom fan sounds like a Jumbo taking off; the balcony doors are heavy and quite hard to open and the TV channels are nearly all Egyptian - we could not tune BBCWorld or CNN but EuroNews is available, occasionally in English, if you can bear its repetitiveness. Nile TV is available and programmes in English alternate with programmes in other languages. One of the Egyptian channels sometimes carries English speaking films and sitcoms. On the plus side, you can use your laptop in the reception area to access the internet for about the price charged at local internet cafes and much cheaper than usual hotel rates. Accepting its weaknesses, especially the restaurant service and lack of child safety features, and comparing the hotel to other 3 star hotels in Luxor, we think that you get more than you pay for. And you really don't pay very much. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[69]=new Array("hotels/oldwinterpalacehotel.htm","Old Winter Palace Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Old Winter Palace hotel, Luxor, Egypt. ","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Old Winter Palace Hotel Old Winter Palace Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 86 Suites 6 Floors 3 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Outdoor pool Fine spacious gardens Two restaurants & pool snacks High class piano bar Very central  Our View Not up with the very best international standards but for Luxor: fit for a king, although you need a king's ransom to afford the best rooms. Ways to book this hotel The following agencies can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on the logo (below) to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.   Airport transfers An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page.  Old Winter Palace foyer and stairs Built in 1866, the Old Winter Palace used to be the winter residence of the King and it still retains that opulence. This is the hotel of choice for visiting presidents or their representatives, film stars and others who don't need to check the price before they book in. Howard Carter was a very regular visitor, even though he had his own house on the West Bank. The hotel is in a grand, imposing building on the Corniche, across the road from the Nile. Go up the sweeping stone staircase into the hotel to enter an ornate foyer with magnificent staircase. Many people come just to look, but the hotel discourages voyeurs. By and large, you need to be resident or to be coming for a meal to get this far. There are staff at the entrance who will check that you satisfy one of these criteria. If you do not, they will refuse admission or will charge LE100 for entry, which will be taken off tea or any other refreshments you may have. Victoria lounge The grandeur of the hotel is not in the modern flash vogue, but in the traditional, colonial style. The communal rooms share the flamboyance of the foyer and staircase. The massive Victoria lounge could easily be in Pimlico. Resting in one of exquisite armchairs you would not be surprised if Jeeves offered you a cocktail and a freshly ironed newspaper. The Royal Bar, opposite, has old books lining its paneled walls and a live pianist. There is a dress code that prevents unsuitably attired visitors detracting from the ambience in the lounge and the bar as well as the restaurants. No cargo pants or T-shirts here. The rooms towards the centre at the front are massive and arranged in suites. These are the ones frequently occupied by visiting dignitaries. Many of the other bedrooms and suites appear to have been created by subdividing previously cavernous areas. Consequently they vary in shape, size and layout, giving each a unique character. The rooms at the front overlook the Nile. The ones at the back have a view to fine gardens. The gardens are a major feature of the hotel. They are extensive and include a good pool, poolside dining and tennis courts. These facilities are shared with residents of the adjoining, newer, Pavilion wing. Old Winter Palace Royal Bar Service is as attentive as you would expect at a hotel of this class. They will even run errands, such as changing cash, but of course the tips are expected to be generous too. There are two dining rooms, which are reviewed separately here. Additionally, you can use the Bougainvillea restaurant in the neighbouring Pavilion wing, although the prices are not greatly different so there is not much point other than for the variety. One of the 'things to do' in Luxor is to take tea on the balcony at the Old Winter Palace. You have to be smartly dressed to be admitted and there is a cost premium for the privilege. Unless you are resident, the minimum charge of LE100 applies. But where else can you sup tea on the balcony of a former palace with uninterrupted views over the Nile to the West Bank, or the grand lounge where kings, presidents and film starts have supped before you? Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[70]=new Array("hotels/stjoseph.htm","St Joseph Hotel, Luxor, Egypt","St Joseph hotel, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna St Joseph Hotel St Joseph hotel Quick facts Official local rating 3 Typical UK rating 2 Rooms 75 Floors 7 TV & Fridge in all rooms Elderly air conditioning Outdoor pool (on roof) 2 restaurants (see review) Pub-type bar in basement 15 minute walk from centre  Contact details Web www.xanga.com/stjos Email stjosephhotel@yahoo.com Phone 0020 95 2381707 Address Khaled EbN El-Waled St Luxor Our View Friendly, basic, family-run hotel with good views from the roof and excellent evening restaurant but needs some updating.  Ways to book this hotel The agencies listed below can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on a logo to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals at this hotel.  Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Just across the main road from the Nile, almost opposite the Sonesta, this family run hotel attracts 3 stars from the Egyptian authorities, but usually gets just 2 from English companies. Immediate impressions from its side-street entrance and reception area - which is more akin to a doctor's waiting room than a hotel lounge - probably contribute to that rating. Once settled, however, you appreciate that this hotel has a great deal to offer. We have heard recent reports that the hotel is not as friendly now as it once was. We have to assume that these are isolated incidents as we have stayed at the hotel since these reports were published on a travel blog web site and have not ourselves witnessed any reduction in the regard of the hotel for its guests. The complaints may be related to a new policy of the hotel. The hotel does not now allow people who are residents of Luxor beyond the reception area, and even to get that far they need to show identification and a reason for their visit. This includes foreign nationals who live locally. We understand that this is because they have taken exception to people coming into the building and circulating promotional material for competing restaurants. Our own experience is that the hotel remains efficient and friendly. Rooms at the front (room numbers ending 01, 02 or 03) have a face-on view of the Nile, but they also front the main road, so traffic noise is unavoidable. Nearly all the other rooms have a side-on view of the Nile and are above a side road which is less busy but nearly as noisy. In these rooms the Nile is visible from the balconies and from one corner of the room, but not from the rest of the room. Most of these rooms face towards the town and the immediate outlook is towards a school and the law courts - better than some other hotels, which face onto utilities or commercial buildings. The rooms are basic but adequate, clean and (except for the pillows) comfortable. Some are bigger to accommodate a third bed, but most have twin beds, a desk, fridge and satellite TV with English-speaking channels including BBCWorld and a film channel. The bathrooms have a bath tub with shower attachment and efficient plumbing. Most of the air conditioning units are old, very noisy and not adjustable other than to turn on or off because the knobs are missing. A notice in the room says that the air conditioning is 'centrally controlled', which in practice means that you ask reception to get someone to come to the room with tools to turn the knobs. This is not at all practical, especially if you want different temperatures at night and during the day - and the adjustment is not very accurate anyway. Light sleepers may find the noise of the air conditioning a problem at night when sounds tend to appear even louder than they do in daylight. A vertical vent shaft runs from the bar in the basement to the roof, picking up many bathrooms along the way. As well as carrying air, the shaft carries noise from the bar. If you are sensitive to noise at night and have one of those rooms, you may need to close the vent or the bathroom door to avoid bar sounds, especially when there is music. The swimming pool is quite small, located on the roof at the end of a rooftop terrace. The roof area is called 'Jo's Paradise' and as well as the pool has sheltered seating and a cafe that serves drinks and a reasonable selection of snacks including omelettes, pastas and grills. View from the hotel Look beyond the electricity station and water tanks across the road and the roof offers one of the best Nile views in Luxor. It used to be even better until the newer hotels across the road blocked part of the panorama. The New Pola hotel just down the road has a better view now. In the basement is a pub, recently named 'The Cavern', with piped music and half-price happy hours between 8pm - 9pm and 10pm - 11pm every evening. St. Joseph's has an excellent evening restaurant, once called 'The Classic' but recently named 'Tudor Rose'. The menu offers a reasonable variety of Egyptian and international dishes. At first it appears that the prices are quite high, but if you take advantage of their 'Special offer' meals are very good value indeed. The offer entitles customers to 6 four-course evening meals (food only) for a total of £29 (English, May 2007 prices). The offer is open to residents and non-residents alike. Food of this quality at under £5 (plus drinks) for 4 courses is worth trying even if you are staying in a more expensive hotel. Breakfast rather basic. Hot drinks are served at the table and your choice of egg is also cooked to order and brought to you. Everything else is self-service - quite normal for Luxor hotels. There is prepared fruit, but limited in quantity and variety. Toast is self-cook on a rather slow machine. Yoghurts, processed cheese and butter are in the fridge. Breads, pastries and three or four varieties of cooked food are available self-service. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[71]=new Array("hotels/sheraton.htm","Sheraton Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Sheraton hotel, Luxor, Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Sheraton Hotel Sheraton hotel Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 290 Floors (main building) 4 TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning Outdoor pools 3 restaurants Bar Wireless internet (chargeable) 30 minute walk from the centre Courtesy bus service into Luxor Contact details Web* www.sheraton.com Email shr.lxr@sheraton.com Phone 00 20 95 227 4544 Address Al Awameya P.O. Box 43 Luxor Egypt 83951 * The full web address of the Luxor Sheraton is longer than shown. Click on the blue entry and you will go there. Our View A little further out and a bit quieter than most Luxor hotels. Popular hotel but main restaurant food quality lets it down and food and drinks are expensive. Few like the new external paint colour. Ways to book this hotel The agencies listed below can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on the name to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Transfer to the hotel An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40-50 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page. Sheraton from the Nile  Renovation The hotel is undergoing major renovation. The bungalows remain available as usual, as are the restaurants, bars and the new pool. The reception area and grounds have been completed. However, guest rooms in the main building are being closed and renovated in sections. Other rooms in the main building remain available. There is some building noise, but it is largely DIY type noise (light drills hammering etc) not heavy building noise. Most of the hotels on the southern side of Luxor front onto the main road. This sites them conveniently for local shops and restaurants. However, it also means that road traffic noise is hard to escape and that you are bombarded by people asking you to take a taxi or caleche the moment you leave the front door of the hotel. The Sheraton is a little further away, at the end of a cul-de-sac, so there is no passing traffic. Noise is therefore much less intrusive. It is also possible to walk immediately in front of the hotel, within the grounds, before you start to meet local people keen to offer you their services. The respite is short-lived if you want to walk to town because you are approached as soon as you leave the gate and then you have to pass all the other hotels and their attached service-sellers anyway. However, you do have the chance to take the hotel's free shuttle bus, which runs 7 times a day each way, or a taxi into Luxor centre from inside the hotel grounds, and avoid that attention, at least until you get into town. There is even more isolation from local attention at the more remote hotels, the Sofitel Karnak and the Jolie Ville (Mövenpick), but those hotels are outside realistic walking distance from town. At the Sheraton you have the best mix: the chance to be a little quieter than if you were closer to town and the option to take a half-hour walk into Luxor if you want to. Sheraton 'bungalows' There are many types of room at the Sheraton. They fall into three main categories. There is a main building in which some rooms have a Nile view and some do not. The third category are called 'bungalows'. These are separate from the main building. Most of them are not actually bungalows but clusters of two-story buildings, some surrounding a small pool, others facing gardens. The Sheraton has a reasonable variety of restaurants including a well-reputed Italian one, La Mama, in the gardens at the front. Reports on the other restaurants are mixed, but the majority opinion is that the food is not as good here as it is in other hotels in the same price band. It is rather expensive, too. In La Mama a steak will cost around LE95 and a pizza from around LE50. This is more than twice the cost of similar meals in the best restaurants outside. If you go half-board, the supplement you pay does not cover the full cost of a meal in all the restaurants: it entitles you to a credit and you pay the difference. The difference between the half-board cost and the bed & breakfast cost varies depending on the agent you use when you book the holiday and when you book it. Some people have found that the half-board supplement is less than the credit it gives you against a meal. By and large the popular suggestion is that you stick with b&b and decide for yourself where you want to take lunch and dinner. You have the choice of paying cash for food and drink bought around the hotel, or charging it to your room account for settlement later. If you choose to charge it to your room, a 2% supplement is added. This is unusual and can mount up. Before ...and after The reception area has been upgraded and is now very spacious, light and airy. The rooms are fine, if not special, and well equipped, with hair driers as well as the usual fridge and satellite TV. Wireless internet is also available. It covers the rooms and the grounds, including the restaurants, but the price is very high at €20 per day, €10 per hour or €5 per half hour. The upgraded rooms are much improved, lighter and more airy, as are the corridors in the upgraded sections of the hotel. The grounds on the Nile side are on several levels with a generous Nile frontage and the usual outdoor eating and refreshment facilities although, like the main restaurants, prices are on the high side. At the front there are a number of shops selling the typical tourist wares and also a beauty saloon where the services such as hairdressing, manicure and pedicure have a good reputation. Amongst the shops there is also an ATM that takes Diners as well as the usual Visa, Maestro, Mastercard and Cirrus; and a bank note changer.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[72]=new Array("hotels/sonesta.htm","Sonesta St George Hotel, Luxor","Description and review of the Sonesta St George hotel, Luxor, Egypt","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Location overview Quality overview Aerial view Booking Hotels Booking hotels Hotel Reviews Emilio Hilton Isis (Pyramisa) Jolie Ville (Maritim) Karnak Sofitel Lotus Maritim Jolie Ville Meridien (now Nile Palace) Mövenpick (now Maritim) New Pola Nile Palace Old Winter Palace Pola (New Pola) St Joseph Sheraton Sofitel Karnak Sonesta St George Susanna Sonesta St George Sonesta St George Quick facts Official local rating 5 star Typical UK rating 5 star Rooms 224 * TV & Fridge in all rooms Air conditioning One outdoor pool Four restaurants and a cafe Saloon bar with Nile view 15 minute walk from centre * before vertical extension Contact details Web www.sonesta.com/luxor Email luxor@sonesta.com Phone 0020 95 2382575 Address Corniche El Nile Street Luxor Our View Smart, high-class hotel with excellent hands-on staff, but otherwise efficient rather than friendly. Excellent facilities but slightly disappointing views unless you pay a lot extra for a room at the Nile end. Ways to book this hotel The agencies listed below can book rooms for you at this hotel. Click on the name to go to their web site. The ones listed first usually offer the best deals.  Private transfers An unbooked airport taxi should cost about LE40 per taxi (not per person). Local tour companies will arrange a transfer from about LE80 per car. Read more about this on the Getting to the hotel page.  Building work The vertical extension is substantially complete but there is still some minor work going on. Many guests report that the work is not a major problem but others complain of falling debris and noise from very early until very late. You can only hear the work from the higher floors within the building and most of the noise is subdued because the work is above and the building itself acts as a noise barrier. There may also be some disturbance if you are on the Sonesta side of the Lotus or parts of the Nile Palace, from where there is a direct line of sight and noise. If you want a peaceful holiday we suggest you get assurances from your travel company and put them on notice that loud noise disturbance is not acceptable but it is less likely to be a problem now than it was in 2008 and early 2009. Lobby and reception This 5 star hotel is reputed to be one of the best in Luxor. Its ambience reflects its 5 stars. Its location is not quite as convenient to the historic sites as some hotels, such as the Winter Palace and the lower cost Suzanna and Emilio. Nevertheless, it is only a few minutes from local restaurants and shops, and 15 minutes walk from the centre of town, so it is much closer to the places you need to go to than the Sofitel or the Maritim Jolie Ville (previously the Mövenpick) and slightly closer than the Sheraton. On the other hand, the main road passes by the front so from many parts of the building there is some road and traffic noise, which is not a problem at the Jolie Ville or Sheraton. The hotel is right on the bank of the Nile. Part of its outdoor seating area is on a pontoon floating on the Nile itself. Being so close to the Nile you expect excellent views from most of the rooms but the reality is a little disappointing. At one end of the building a few rooms have an excellent Nile view in both directions, but these rooms come at a high price supplement. At the other end, some rooms face the busy road at the front.  Work next door The Sonesta has acquired the former public swimming pool between it and the Lotus hotel. They have dismantled the pool and begining development. Word has it that a new hotel is to be built on the site. Most rooms have what is described as a 'side Nile view'. Odd-numbered rooms look towards central Luxor, but over the top of the local utility works, which are not attractive and their machinery is noisy. Not conducive to relaxing on the balcony, especially if you are on one of the lower floors. From the even-numbered rooms you see over the top of a site that used to be a swimming pool used by local people but which is currently being redeveloped. On this side your view of the the Nile is partly blocked by the Nile Palace and Lotus hotels. Room numbering follows the normal pattern - the first digit being the floor and the other two digits being the room number on that floor. Lower room numbers place you nearer the Nile. The nearer you are the less of your view is blocked. So a high floor number (where there is less noise from things happening below) but low room number is best (but see the box for a temporary problem with this general rule). The service from reception and management is courteous but in a way that feels taught rather than natural. Service staff are much more amenable. The pool staff are very attentive and, although a little slow by western standards, the waiting staff are friendly and efficient enough. There are plenty of the kind of amenities you would expect in a hotel of this class, including a health and fitness centre, massage and hairdressing. You have to pay extra for most of these including the health club, but a gym with a treadmill, rowing machine and a bench is free for residents. There are also a few shops, a bank, travel agency and ATMs inside and outside. Nobles Bar The main indoor bar, Nobles, is smart rather than cozy. It has extensive views to the Nile over the hotel's swimming pool and grounds but rather leisurely waiter service. Breakfast and half-board dinners are taken in the main restaurant, the Seraphis. Breakfast is self-service, which is quite normal even for 5 star hotels. Unusually, breakfast includes Japanese options as well as the more usual British and continental choices. Breakfast food variety and quantity are both plentiful and standards are excellent. Extension nearly finished - October 2009 As well as the main international restaurant there are Japanese, Italian and Middle Eastern restaurants, the Miyako, Beban and Aladdin respectively. There is also a cafe / snack bar, the Lotus, in the reception area. The restaurants are quite pricey by Luxor standards, but you get the surroundings and service you are paying for. The food itself is nothing special, but if you want to eat Japanese, this is reputed to be the best in the town. If you want to stay in the hotel and enjoy some food variety you will be happy enough with the restaurants but they are not special enough to draw you in if you are staying elsewhere. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[73]=new Array("eating/7days7ways.htm","7Days 7Ways Restaurant, Luxor, Egypt","7Days 7Ways restaurant, Luxor, description and review. Helping you to enjoy your holiday in Luxor.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace 7Days 7Ways 7Days 7Ways 7Days 7Ways was the first English restaurant and pub to open in Luxor. The Englishmen who ran it, John and John, became almost as famous as their Luxor enterprise. So much so that the restaurant was often referred to as "The two Johns". The restaurant developed an enviable reputation for good English food and was especially famous for its Sunday roasts. Carol and Billy are very well known and respected Luxor restaurant managers. They earned the Jamboree restaurant, near the northern end of Luxor temple, a huge reputation during their tenure of nearly 7 years. Carol and Billy took over the running of 7Days late in 2006. The combined reputations of 7Days and its new management promised something really special but Carol and Billy didn't really stay long enough to make a mark. For a while after they moved on the very English 7Ways was largely Egyptian. Early in 2007 our first impressions after all these changes were that everything was much the same. The walls were still painted brick; the tables in the rather narrow restaurant are still lined up along the walls and dressed in crisp clean cloths; there are still buy-one-get-one-free deals on alcoholic cocktails, the menu was pretty much the same as far as we could recall. However, the food and ambience were less good. We found the food disappointing and expensive compared with the nearby competition. Non-smokers were irritated by smoking and in such a small restaurant there was really no escape. Later in 2007 the management changed again. New Manager Laura made the restaurant non-smoking and reduced prices by around 20% to compete more closely with other restaurants, of which there are a growing number at this end of town. Laura and her job-share Theresa provided an English presence virtually all the time in this restaurant known for its Englishness. Hopes were high for the restaurant in this interlude.  Our View Once mighty, now smoky and prices too high to be competitive.  Then management changed again. The prices went back up and once more the restaurant allows smoking. If you are a smoker, you may welcome this liberalisation. However, the restaurant really is too small to allow smoking without affecting non-smokers. Even some smokers say they find it uncomfortable. Although more competitive, prices are not compelling. Steaks are LE55 with a sauce, which is at the high end for Luxor, although soft drinks are nearer the average at LE7. A meat-based tagin is from LE38, quite a bit more than several nearby restaurants and nearly twice the LE20 charged by the much newer Castello. Overall, the pricing is in tune with the better restaurants, and a little too high, we think, for a one that is upstairs and rather cramped. For a long time 7Days has been able to depend on two things for its custom. First, there is the reputation - almost fame - that has built up over many years. They promote the fact that they have been there since 1996, but don't mention that, apart from the building and the name, there is no real connection with the original. Second, there is the comfort factor. It is an English haven in a bustling Luxor street and ideal for people who don't want to stay in the hotel to eat, but do not want to venture too far or try anything too different. The fame and Englishness benefits are somewhat outweighed by the smoky atmosphere, the prices and the food, which we found to be pretty average; some people report as OK, but others not, so lets just call it inconsistent. Unfortunately for 7Days7Ways, whilst the restaurant has been going through its transformations, other excellent restaurants have opened up all around and several have English proprietors. Some of them are now run by one of the two Johns. As a result visitors who are new to Luxor have more options than in the old days and even the loyal John & John followers have their allegiance split between 7Days, the original John & John restaurant, and their newer creations. (Review last updated October 2009) Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[74]=new Array("eating/alibaba.htm","Ali Baba restaurant, Luxor","Ali Baba restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Ali Baba Ali Baba restaurant This restaurant is behind the Luxor Temple between McDonald's and Sindbad. Its entrance is a few yards along the busy road that sweeps past McDonald's and goes left away from the temple. You go up a wooden staircase and arrive on a first floor rooftop with a trellis and canopied cover. The seating is all a little cramped. Tables are arranged regimentally and covered in thick cloth. Seating is on benches with rather tatty covers. Overall the place appears somewhat scruffy and the kitchen area quite disorganised. Everything works out OK and the food is fine if not spectacular, but apart from the view there is little to get excited about. Prices are typical of the harder-to-access restaurants and cafes but not as good as nearby Sindbad and Hamees. A young backpacker would be more comfortable here than someone staying at the Winter Palace. View from Ali Baba This restaurant's main feature is the view. From the end of the restaurant furthest from the entrance stairs there is a superb view of the back of Luxor Temple, similar to the one from the top of McDonald's but without the glass and telephone wires in the way and similar also to the view from the balcony at Snacktime. It is worth a visit if you want a view of the temple as you eat and do not want fast food but you will be there for the view, not the cuisine. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[75]=new Array("eating/asiahouse.htm","Asia House Chinese and Thai restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","Asia House restaurant, Luxor. description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Asia House Asia House Asia House is one of 2 restaurants in a building more or less opposite the Sky Cruise offices, past the Isis on the way to the Sheraton hotel. The Bombay is beneath it, one level above ground. Asia House is at the top, two floors up. Asia House and the Bombay are similarly decorated. It has terracotta painted ceiling and pillars around varnished bare brick walls. The tables are arranged similarly to the Bombay but are dressed in white cloths over light green. Lighting is atmospheric but adequate. The restaurant also appears to share some personnel - and their habit of playing games on a computer when they are not busy. Although described as Chinese and Thai, there are very few Thai choices but more Chinese. Most main courses are between LE40 and LE45 although there are some outside this range. As usual with Asian meals, you have to add the price of your choice of rice or vegetable. Rices are from LE12. At around LE60 for a meal and rice, this makes the meal more costly than most egyptian and international main courses outside the hotels but less than the nearby Red Dragon. There is a very small dessert menu, and not everything is always available, so if you like your fried banana you might need to check availablity before you order your meal or go to the Red Dragon. Drink prices are around average or slightly above: softs are LE8, hot drinks from LE7 and a fresh juice LE10. There is also a small selection of beers starting around LE16. The meals we have taken have been good enough: probably on a par with the better Chinese meals in Europe. They are a little better than the Dragon menu at the Sinouhe, too, but also a little dearer, and not exceptional. The more recently opened Red Dragon, above the Grand restaurant, has higher prices but better meals. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[76]=new Array("eating/twojohns.htm","John and John's, Bamboo, King Dude restuarants and tavern, Luxor, Egypt.","John and John's English and International restaurant and tavern, King Dude and the Bamboo, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace John and John's English and International restaurant and tavern, Bamboo restaurant and King Dude Egyptian restaurant. Many regular visitors to Luxor will be familiar with the two Johns. They were the first to open an English restaurant in Luxor, 7Days 7Ways. They became so well known that their restaurant was often known as the Two Johns. For a while they also had an interest in Pub 2000, nearer to the centre of town. Restaurant , pool and terrace inside the Gaddis hotel After a short break the Johns came back, this time in partnership with an Egyptian businessman, to run Luxor's first self-service carvery. Just past the Isis hotel at the southern end of town and just a few steps from 7Ways, the new carvery was called John and Johns. The Johns have now moved on from there as well and the carvery has become the Thebes International restaurant. King Dude Most regulars know that only one of the Johns is involved with the restaurants now, but we will refer to the two Johns as this is still how the restaurants are branded. The two Johns have moved to the Gaddis hotel, opposite the Isis hotel, a stone's throw from their previous two restaurants. Their new empire is well signposted from the main entrance to the hotel. At the Gaddis they have developed a small empire. As well as John & Johns restaurant and John & Johns Tavern, they have the Bamboo restaurant, serving low-cost (about LE40) set meals mainly, but not exclusively, to half-board guests at the Gaddis; the King Dude, an Egyptian restaurant with Egyptian styling and a choice of Egyptian set menus, and a coffee bar. For the mainstay of the latest venture, John & Johns restaurant, there is a return to the original formula, with a fair-sized restaurant serving an English and international menu. Their new restaurant and the tavern each have their own enclosed spaces and share an outside terrace surrounding a small pool. The Tavern is really rather nice. We are told by those in the review group who know about these things, that the bar stools are most comfortable. The furnishings and general ambience are fresh and should please even the most discerning. The reasonably high ceilings compared with some pubs and taverns, and the effective air extraction system should reduce smoke problems and service from the knowledgeable staff is rapid. Regulars will be pleased to know that the John's have retained the 'buy one get one free' tradition on cocktails, which come in at LE30 for one - or two. Beers are from LE16, soft drinks are LE5 - LE6 and fresh juices LE8.5. John and John's restaurant In the restaurant the drinks are the same prices as in the Tavern. The meals are all well presented and keep up the standards that made the Johns famous in the first place. A steak with sauce is LE45. There is a huge range of snacks at around LE20, main courses around LE35 and desserts around LE14. So the two Johns are keeping their prices in the middle bracket, in the same general range as their two former restaurants (7Ways and Thebes), marginally under the likes of Snobs but rather higher than the value restaurants such as Maximes. John and John's tavern Because of their huge reputation, the two Johns may be able to depend on some of their traditional customer base that may follow them, particularly from 7Ways, where in the good old days there was rarely a seat to be had in the busy season. However, the competition has heated up since then, with many new, excellent restaurants opening nearby. You have to wonder whether a location at the back of one of the quieter hotels will be an advantage. Many hotel guests like to eat out and the Gaddis is not the obvious place to go to for a meal. If people staying at the Gaddis go out to eat, and few people staying at other hotels go into the Gaddis, then one wonders if reputation alone will be enough to bring in sufficient diners. Time will tell whether the legions will return to the two Johns in their new and rather pleasant setting. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[77]=new Array("eating/bombay.htm","Bombay Indian restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","Bombay Indian restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Bombay Bombay restaurant There used to be a Bombay beneath Jems, more or less opposite 7Days7Ways. It then moved over the road into a multi-restaurant building called 3 Choices, joining a steak House and a Chinese. The building now houses 2 restaurants. The Bombay is up one flight of stairs from street level. Above it is a nearly identical looking Chinese and Thai restaurant called Asia House. Initially the Bombay was managed by an Egyptian owner and served a very wide range of meals, although we were not convinced about the quality. The Bombay has now has new management. In September 2009 it was taken over by an Indian couple who have previous experience of running an Indian restaurant in the middle east and aim to provide authentic Indian cuisine. The new management has not changed the general appearance. Like Asia House above it, the Bombay is very well decorated in varnished bare brick with terracotta ceiling and highlights and windows well dressed with matching heavy fabric. The tables are well set with burgundy over white table cloths. Lighting is quite low but well balanced. Low enough to provide a little atmosphere but high enough to see. Unfortunately, during our visits the table linen was not as clean as it might be. To add the the authentic Indian ambition, the background music is Indian, but rather repetitive, and most of the waiters have Indian dress. The exception is the person who seemed to be taking the main waiting role, possibly the new manager, who was dressed casually in western style. The menu has certainly changed. The previous management offered a very full range, with European variations on Indian meals, such as Korma, Masala, Jalfrezi and Sag dishes based on various meats, and a classical selection of Rojan, Bhuna, Malayan, Madras, Vindaloo, again with meat choices and vegetarian options. The range is now much more limited. The main course list has bearly a dozen choices and there is just one choice of dessert, so if you don't like an Indian dessert based on mango and condensed milk for LE18 you need to walk down the road for an ice cream. The menu only shows Indian fare, including Indian beverages. Other beverages, including beers, are available, but you need to ask. Similarly, the menu does not list Indian breads or rice, but they are available. This is a little disconcerting to those of us who like to see what is available and what it costs. Some options not on the menu are pillau rice at LE14, beers from LE20 and soft drinks around LE10. Starters are generally in the LE12 - LE20 region, main course dishes are between about LE45 and LE60, Indian beverages around LE15-18. These prices are towards the top end but the meat was tender and the dishes well presented. The meals were clearly prepared by someone who knows their indian food. Native indians will no doubt appreciate the efforts of the management but the question has to be whether tourists in Luxor are looking for a narrow range, albeit authenic, of Indian cuisine, or whether they would be just as happy with what they are used to back home. Before the new management took over, we liked the appearance of the restaurant and the staff were efficient enough but we thought the food at a Taste of India was better. Now the food at the Bombay is much improved and will please those who know their Indian cuisine. However, the narrower choice, secretive menu and higher prices might still send to the Taste of India the many who eat their Indian food in Europe rather than India and are not able to discern the difference in cuisine.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[78]=new Array("eating/broodjeholland.htm","Broodje Holland sandwich bar and restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","Boodje Holland restaurant and sandwich bar, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Broodje Holland Broodje Holland Like many restaurants in Luxor, this one has been through a few transformations. Not long ago it was a coffee and snack bar serving English breakfasts and light meals, run by Dean, helped by Whalid. Dean moved out and took over the bistro further up the road which used to be Tramps. That Bistro now trades under Dean's name. Whalid remained at Queens coffee and for a while ran it as an English breakfast and snack bar with the original lady owner. Queens now has another new identity, this time as possibly Luxor's first Dutch sandwich bar called Queens Broodje Holland. The building itself is much the same. It has the same uncovered dark wood tables and wooden bench seating for about a dozen people. There is a counter at the rear and the kitchen on full view behind that. As its name suggests (broodje means sandwich), the fare is mostly bread-based or bun-based light snacks, mostly as burgers. Other specials are listed on blackboards and may include fish and chips for LE30 or other lunchtime favourites. They also do an all-day breakfast for around LE20. Although some of the specials are OK, most of the prices are quite high for what is on offer. A straight burger is LE20, but to have anything added, it becomes a 'special burger' at LE25. This would be OK for a burger-based meal, but the price is just for the burger in a bun. Elsewhere you would expect some chips and garnish, but here you pay an extraordinary LE17 for the chips, which makes a special burger and chips LE42. You can get a steak meal for that within a few minutes walk. A coffee is LE12. You pay about half the price at nearby Jo's Paradise, on the roof of St. Joseph hotel. It is only LE2 more (LE14) at the Hilton! Inside Broodje Holland As it is a small restaurant with an open kitchen, and as most of the meals are based on grills of some kind, the restaurant can easily get to smell of cooking oil or some ingredient. In an attempt to overcome this, there is a massive canopy over the grills, leading to an extract duct which exhausts into the road at the front. The extract mechanism is powered by an unbelievably noisy motor on the outside wall, so if you like conversation with your meal you have to hope the fat doesn't get too hot or that the fan does not have to activated for another reason. At first the restaurant looks reasonably clean, but move an ornament on the table and you may find dust. It appears that cleaning is done around anything that is in the way. The kitchen appears superficially clean, but if the restaurant is just given a wipe around the bits that show there has to be a worry about the deeper side of kitchen cleaning. The restaurant is now run by two Dutch-speaking men. Photos of dutch royalty adorn the walls and Dutch newspapers are available. Separate Menus are available in Dutch and in English. If you are dutch and want dutch conversation or if you want to look at a dutch newspaper, you might be tempted to eat here. For everyone else, we really can't think of a single reason to choose Broodje Holland when there are so many alternatives offering better choice at much lower prices and in a significantly better environment. Give it a miss.   Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[79]=new Array("eating/casablanca.htm","CasaBlanca restaurant, Luxor","Casablanca restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Casablanca Casablanca restaurant Once a popular restaurant on the West Bank, Casablanca has moved to the East Bank. It opened in September 2006 opposite Snobs, in the side road opposite the Lotus hotel and local swimming pool. Casablanca seats about 26 in a rather regimented layout within a well-presented room, constrained by its small size. The menu is promoted as seafood and oriental. There is indeed a good variety of seafood and, as well as oriental dishes, there are a few traditional options, such as pizzas and steaks, but no desserts.   Visitors to Luxor who are not too adventurous but wish to sample something a little different will be happy here. Egyptian flavours are blended with dishes that do not stray far from the western comfort zone. Bread is in the local style rather than western-type rolls. Inside Casablanca Service was excellent - although there were few guests so there was little pressure. The standard of food was very good but portions were rather smaller than we have enjoyed elsewhere. Prices are higher than the Maximes / Joan's levels and close to Snobs. Steaks are around LE35 and with one other course and a soft drink or water it is possible for two to eat for around LE100. Definitely one to try but save it for when you are not too hungry. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[80]=new Array("eating/deans.htm","Dean's restaurant, Luxor","Dean's restaurant, Luxor. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Deans Bistro Deans Bistro Luxor has plenty of restaurants competing for 'evening out' clients, amongst which the best known are probably Snobs and Lantern. There are also plenty of economy restaurants, such as Maxime's. There are Egyptian restaurants, Chinese restaurants and fast food restaurants. There are fewer casual eating places where you can eat a full English meal but don't have to be too worried about dressing up or minding your etiquette. Deans describes itself as a bistro rather than a restaurant and fits in that group. Deans is in El Rawda El Sherila Street, opposite the Lotus hotel, where you will also find Lantern (next door), Snobs and Casablanca, amongst others. It is a reincarnation of Tramps, once part of much-respected Snobs but now British-run by Dean (who used to run Queens Coffee down the road). Most of the other staff, including the chef, are the originals from the Tramps / Snobs days. The mixture of the Snobs cooking legacy and the British casualness works if this is what you want. When we first visited Deans it was lunchtime. The small 24 seat bistro was laid out much the same as it was in the pre-Dean days, with wooden tables dressed in green checker cloths and paper napkins. On the right as you enter is the counter beyond which is the open cooking area. It all seemed to suit lunchtime. Evening meals are generally a little more formal, so we wondered how it would appear for the evening clients. Single-colour table cloths and cotton napkins, perhaps? No. Exactly the same. The casual regime continues throughout the day, so you can eat at lunchtime, in the evening, or both, and be equally informal. This will suit clients who are happy to be addressed across the room from behind the counter, checking on their order or offering more chilli with the sauce. In other restaurants the query would be raised a little more quietly at the table, but no ceremony here. Whenever we visited we had the impression that many clients were loyal regulars, to the extent that the room often had the atmosphere of a English family kitchen-diner where friends and neighbours had popped in for lunch. But what about the food? Fine. A fair variety of mostly British fare including burgers, baked potatoes, pies and excellent steaks and curries, all well cooked and well presented. Prices were on a par with the more formal restaurants that provide the competition - no discount for the relaxed setting. But if white table cloths, waiters with bow ties and attention to etiquette are too pompous for you, and you just want honest to goodness British food without the ceremony, Deans is worth a try. On the other hand, if Dean's individual personality doesn't suit or if you think that at these prices you should have a little more sophistication, there are plenty of options within a few metres. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[81]=new Array("eating/sinouhe.htm","Sinuohe Restaurant, Luxor","Sinuohe restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Sinouhe and Dragon restaurants (merged) Sinouhe restaurant. Entrance is bottom right. Our View Spacious and usually quiet but mediocre food and no atmosphere.  Sinouhe (pronounced shin-oo-ee) is a first floor restaurant on the southern side of town, on the main road that serves most of the hotels. It is on the left side of the road when you have your back to the town centre. Once up the stairs from street level, the Sinouhe opens into a larger space than you first expect. The decorations are bright, adding to the feeling of openness. As well as the large internal restaurant there is a balcony where drinks and snacks can be taken. We used to like the Sinouhe. It offered a mixture of Egyptian and some Chinese dishes and its prices were very keen indeed. Things have changed a little. The Dragon Chinese restaurant, which used to be almost opposite, next to the Nile Palace hotel, has closed and merged with Sinouhe. Sinouhe still has its largely Egyptian menu. It also has a separate chinese menu based on the Dragon one, and a third menu linked to the Red Lion pub, which is also part of the complex. You can choose from all three menus. The restaurant caters for large groups including coach parties, and can arrange a self-service buffet if they are given adequate notice. They can become busy when these groups are in, but most of the time, between the large groups, it is quiet, with plenty of waiting staff to provide attentive service. Inside the Sinouhe restaurant The food appears freshly prepared and is served hot. We sometimes find the Tagen a little more oily than usual. Overall the Egyptian and international meals rarely disappoint but seldom excite. The prices are high for the type of restaurant. Tagen meals start at LE41.70, pastas are just under LE40, a steak with pepper sauce is LE57.30 and fish-based main courses are around LE60. There are also snacks, but they are also expensive. An omelette meal is a whopping LE39.30 and desserts are mainly LE14.40. You can get better meals in a more sophisticated restaurant for those prices. None of the chefs from the Dragon have come over to the new merged restaurant and it shows. The Chinese meals are not as good as they were at the original Dragon. The food is OK, but no better than OK and bearing in mind there are other Chinese restaurants in Luxor, we would not choose this one above the others, even though prices for Chinese meals are a little lower than at the main competitor, Asia House. Main courses are just under LE40 and rices start at aroundLE10. Drinks are a little higher than at Asia House. Softs are LE10 and beers are from about LE20. The Sinouhe lacks the atmosphere of other restaurants, and many of those others also offer better food. Sinouhe used to be on our 'worth a try' list, but since the changes and price increases we now think it is better to leave it to the pre-arranged coach parties and guests wanting to eat whilst enjoying a few drinks at the Red Lion bar / disco, which shares the space in the evening and into the early hours. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[82]=new Array("eating/elkababgy.htm","El Kababgy restaurant, Luxor","El Kababgy restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace El Kababgy (sometimes spelt El Kebabgy) El Kababgy restaurant There are six restaurants and cafes on the lower level of the Corniche between the Iberotel and the Luxor museum. Three of them are quite close to each other, along the part of the corniche that is opposite the Winter Palace and Luxor Temple, down the steps from road level. El Kababgy is the most southern of this trio - the left as you face the Nile. To the north (the Luxor temple end) is the Metropolitan cafe and between them is the Metropolitan bowling club. Groups of feluccas are moored only a few metres away from El Kababgy. This has the attraction that it provides a picturesque backdrop as you relax with a cold drink or snack. However, it also means that you are likely to be approached by their captains with offers of Nile trips. The owners of the restaurants have forbidden felucca touts, but they seem to get through, either by calling you from a distance or by trying to sell a trip as they pass through. You may also be approached by people selling scarves or souvenirs. During the day most customers go to El Kababgy for drinks and sometimes a light snack rather than a full meal. There is a wide variety of beers at a range of prices that appear to depend on the strength of the beer. To eat you can choose from a range of salads and the varied menu also includes jacket potatoes, soups, grills and pastas. You can get better food elsewhere but the snacks are reasonably well prepared and presented and brought to you by attentive staff but it can take a while if you order more than a drink with light refreshments. If you want the best meal you would probably choose not to eat at any of these restaurants, but for daytime refreshments and snacks with a Nile-side view we prefer the El Kababgy to the nearby alternatives. It has better shelter from the sun (but there is an uncovered area for those who prefer it); the menu is more varied, it is a little more difficult for the felucca trip sellers to disturb you and the toilets are excellent and always available. Nile views from the El Kababgy As well as the drinks and snacks, El Kababgy serves a full meal menu including some options that are not often seen in Luxor, so the menu is worth a look in case you are missing duck à l'orange. More traditional steaks, varieties of chicken and meat and vegetable tajines are also on the menu, but not everything is available all the time, so have a second choice ready. If you are eating after dark it may be best to take your meal at one of the few inside tables or to stick to the meals that do not need too much attention. Although there are lanterns, and candles are sometimes brought to the table as well, when sitting at the Nile's edge we found ourselves leaving more meat than we intended from various on-the-bone meals, not because of any fault with the meat but because it was difficult to see what we were eating in sufficient detail. Overall, prices line up with the better traditional restaurants and dearer than many Luxor favourites. We thought the food was OK but not special. You do pay for the view and you don't get some things that you might expect at these prices - side plates for the bread and napkins instead of tissue, for example. Nevertheless, what you lose in sophistication you gain in location. If you like to eat in the open and choose carefully from the menu; if you are happy to pay a premium to be right on the Nile, and if you are willing to put up with sometimes slow service and 'OK' rather than excellent food, then fine. However, when you want an excellent meal, rather than an outdoor holiday experience, there are lots of better value restaurants serving better food not far away, including several open-air restaurants behind Luxor temple.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[83]=new Array("eating/grand.htm","The Grand Restaurant, Luxor","The Grand restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace (The) Grand The Grand restaurant The Grand is between Maximes and 7 Ways, amongst a group of restaurants between the Isis and Sheraton hotels. It once had a small covered outside area, an adjacent indoor restaurant on the road frontage and a very large indoor area behind. The covered outdoor area is still called The Grand and serves drinks and an Egyptian menu. The adjacent indoor restaurant now serves Korean and Chinese food. The large area at the rear still caters for large coach parties on the ground floor, but when there are no coaches it is usually very quiet. The Thebes International restaurant and Cleopatra bar are on the first floor, where they replaced John and John's carvery and the Coach and Horses pub.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[84]=new Array("eating/hamees.htm","Hamees outdoor restaurant, Luxor","Hamees outdoor restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Hamees Hamees restaurant, front part, with a view of temple Hamees is at the back of Luxor temple, sandwiched between Ali Baba and Sindbad, in front of the (closed) Luxor Hotel. Although neighbouring Sindbad has a shingle floor, Hamees is paved, so it is easier to walk on. It also has more sturdy and steadier tables. Hamees is in two halves. The front half, with superb views of Luxor Temple, is uncovered. There are umbrellas and there is also shade from trees and bushes but it can still get very hot. The second part is in the shade of a trellis and cloth shelter, so it is far more comfortable, although you do miss most of the temple view. The restaurant uses toilets in the Luxor Hotel. The hotel is not open to guests and the toilets are awful. Avoid. Hamees restaurant, rear part under shelter Prices are very keen indeed, but a 12% service charge and 10% tax are added to the bill, so you need to add about a quarter to the menu prices to get to the actual cost. Many people just come to Hamees for a drink. Fresh juices are just LE4, and even allowing for the service change and tax supplements, this is only LE5: less than a third of the cost of a juice at the nearby Emilio hotel. Other soft drinks are LE3 - LE4, which is not much more than buying from in a supermarket. A good range of hot drinks are about the same price. There is also a well stocked bar with beers from LE8, a glass of local wine LE13 and local spirits around LE25. Food is cheap too. A choice of pizzas are all LE15. Other pasta meals start at LE8, soups and salads start at LE6 and sandwiches and burgers are from LE12. Omelettes at LE8 are very well cooked and served with chips at no extra cost, which makes the meal cheaper than at neighbouring Sindbad. Bigger meals including a mixed grill and Egyptian favourites such as tagen are mostly LE20. Desserts are all LE7. These prices are all before the service charge and tax additions. There are plenty of places for a snack in Luxor. Hotels tend to be a lot more expensive, even the Susanna and Emilio basic hotels don't get anywhere near these prices. If you want to sit on the edge of the Nile, there are five restaurants to choose from, but they are also much more expensive and the meals are no better for the extra cost. The other restaurants behind the Luxor Temple probably provide the closest competition. McDonalds and Snacktime are fine if you want something air conditioned. Ali Baba is a bit tired now. We think the best choices are Sindbad and Hamees. The Sindbad has less attractive views, more flimsy furniture and slightly higher prices. However, sitting on slightly rickety furniture under the shade of a tree is quite quaint and has a unique and popular charm. Hamees has better views from the front part and the paved surface and sturdier furniture are a bit more practical. There isn't too much difference in the prices so it depends on whether you want practicality or charm. We think they are both worth a try. Where else can you sit in the view of such a famous monument and pay around 50p for a fresh orange juice? Or a juice, omelette snack and ice cream for 2 with change from LE50! Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[85]=new Array("eating/jems.htm","Jem's restaurant, Luxor","Jem's restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Jems Jems restaurant Jems is to the south of the town, more or less opposite 7Ways, on the way to the Sheraton. It is a large first floor restaurant spanning several shops but is rarely busy. We have seen this restaurant recommended on other web sites. We do not agree.  We try to sample restaurants at different times on different visits and with different people, to get a fair selection of impressions. We have never been content with Jems. We have had frozen and reheated food that was scorching on the outside and still frozen in the middle and pre-plated meals swimming in oil. Not recommended. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[86]=new Array("eating/jewelofthenile.htm","Jewel of the Nile restaurant, Luxor","Jewel of the Nile restaurant, Luxor, description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Jewel of the Nile Laura has plenty of experience with restaurants in Luxor. She has had a hand in managing quite a few, including the well-known 7 Days 7 Ways, and can generally be relied on to leave them in better shape than she found them. Now Laura has opened her own restaurant with her husband Mahmoud. Their restaurant is called Jewel of the Nile. Jewel of the Nile is a little off the beaten track, down the road opposite the Lotus hotel, past the better-known Snobs, Casablanca etc., across the main road and on a further hundred yards or so in the same direction. It is reasonably easy to find, following illuminated signs, and worth the effort. The restaurant is quite small, but a more flexible shape than the corridor-like 7 Days and Casablanca, so does not feel as cramped. It is decorated in neutral colours with a hatch to the kitchen and a table that serves as a desk near the entrance. Laura looks after the customers and Mahmoud runs the kitchen. The mood is relaxed rather than formal, with plenty of chatter if you are up for it. Jewel of the Nile The tables are unusually deep. This is fine for larger groups, who have plenty of space for shared dishes in the middle, but couples and foursomes may feel rather too far from their opposite number for easy conversation, especially when the restaurant is busy. The tables also feel higher than normal. Not a problem for most people, but some people of shorter stature may need a cushion. Smoking is no longer allowed inside but there are some tables outside if you need to light up during or after a meal. This makes eating a much more pleasant experience, now that most of us are used to eating in a smoke-free environment, that some other small restaurants where there is no getting away from the smoke. The restaurant is open most of the day, starting at 10am, so you could visit for breakfast, lunch and dinner as there are menu choices to suit most meals. Egg on toast is LE15, or an all-day full breakfast is LE25: omelettes for lunch are mostly between LE15 and LE20, or there is a range of other snacks, such as burgers if you prefer. The focus of the main dinner menu is on Egyptian dishes such as tagen, shawerma and tawouk, but there are also traditional international dishes, including steaks, liver and cottage pie. A small selection of - again traditional - egyptian and international desserts are around LE15. Main course prices are in the mid range, so lower than Puddleduck, with its more novel choices and also slightly lower than the smarter, more formal, Snobs. A steak is LE40, or LE45 with sauce, but several other English dishes are around LE35. Most Egyptian meat-based meals are also LE35 but less for a vegetarian option. Generally, vegetarians are very well catered for and vegetarian menu items are marked with the familiar V. Like many restaurants, Sunday roast is offered, but, less usually, groups of 4 or more can pre-order a roast on other days as well. There is also a 4 course Egyptian set meal, with meat options, for LE60. Ideal if you want to try the local food but do not know what to order. The lower prices do not mean lower quality. Mahmoud might be expected to prepare a good Egyptian option - and he does - but he also turns in an excellent steak and some of the best chips around! It is refreshing to see new restaurants managing to maintain food and cooking quality when so many of the longer-standing ones have allowed their standards to slip. Laura and Mahmoud are off to an excellent start.   Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[87]=new Array("eating/kingtut.htm","King Tut restaurant, Luxor. ","King Tut restaurant, Luxor. description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace King Tut King Tut restaurant The King Tut restaurant is quite easy to miss. It is on the main road almost opposite the town side of the Isis hotel, on the same side of the road as the Gaddis. There is a huge backlit menu on the pavement that you have to navigate round if you walk by, but even so, it is still surprisingly easy to miss. Try not to miss it. It is a gem. The restaurant is in the basement beneath a travel agency. To get to it you have to go down a flight of external steps. But if you expect it to be dark and basement-like, you will be pleasantly surprised. Inside, it is brightly decorated in neutral colours and very well lit. The air is kept fresh with two conditioning units. There is a slightly separate area for three tables on a low platform behind glazed screens. In the middle of the room is a decorative stone feature. This all helps to give the feeling of spaciousness and interest in contrast to the cram-them-in approach of some. King Tut restaurant The tables, covered in burgundy over white cloths, are mostly arranged for four people, but they are moved as necessary to suit larger groups. They have sturdy chairs in a classic Egyptian style. Several of the better restaurants greet you with a complimentary dip or some other aperitif. King Tut's welcome gives a hint of the excellent food presentation to come. And it is not a false expectation. Before you come to the restaurant there is a picture gallery on a menu board outside, illustrating most of the dishes. You learn to take these illustrations with a pinch of salt. In King Tut's case they are spot on. Every course of every meal is artistically presented. Don't worry that this implies that the meals are boutique minimalist style. At King Tut you get not only get an excellent presentation you also get a full meal. No, not the first course but a complimentary aperitif The choice is not massive, but reasonably varied with a good selection for vegetarians, including a vegetable curry at LE21. There are one or two meat-based main course choices from most continents, so you can have an Egyptian Tagen, an international steak, an Italian pasta or an Indian tandoori but the selection is not wide within each type. Main courses vary widely in price, between about LE34 (for a fish tagen) and LE55 (for a mixed grill) our benchmark beef steak with sauce coming in at LE46. With soups around LE8 and a fair selection of desserts from LE11 - LE14, prices are on the better side of average. Not as good as the value-economy restaurants such as Maximes, but below many others, and especially good when you bear in mind that not only tax but also service charges are included. There is also a fair snack menu with omelettes at LE27 and burgers LE23. Pizzas start at LE18 and cheese on toast is LE18. Overall, limited choice but an excellent quality meal, extremely well presented and definitely recommended.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[88]=new Array("eating/lantern.htm","Lantern Restaurant, Luxor","Lantern restaurant, Luxor. Description and review.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace The Lantern The Lantern restaurant. The Lantern used to be round the corner, where Pals is now, and could be difficult to find. Now it is opposite the Lotus hotel, in the same road as Snobs, Casablanca, Deans and Joan's as well as travel agents and an internet cafe, so it is difficult to miss. The Lantern has gone upmarket since moving round the corner. The light decor of the old premises has given way to dark blue walls with matching chairs and table cloths, offset by a bright white ceiling with ornate roses surrounding chandeliers. It is the sort of environment you would expect to dress up to go to, although not all diners appeared to agree, wearing all varieties of formal and informal dress. The waiters are dressed in smart casual black short-sleeve shirt and ties and the owners, especially Debbie, are evident much of the time, chatting to guests. The Lantern is a very popular restaurant. It is frequently recommended with high praise. We visited several times with open minds and high expectations. The menu is varied. In addition, there are daily specials which are written on a blackboard, although, as in the old Lantern, the blackboard specials were not priced. Menu prices are at the higher end for this part of Luxor. Typical main courses, including tajine and goulash are around LE45: a steak just a little higher from LE50. There are cheaper main courses such as pastas from around LE35 and desserts are reasonably priced from about LE15. Overall, the prices are higher than Snobs, just across the road, which may be considered as the main competition and about on a par with Pals. Coordinated dark blues at the Lantern Bread rolls with the first course were allocated - one each. Perhaps more would have been available on request, but none were volunteered and you shouldn't have to ask. Most other restaurants even approaching these prices provide a bread basket. A disappointing start. Most of the first courses we tried have been fine, although LE20 for soups is really rather expensive for Luxor. In fact while we were there we paid more for Lentil soup at the Lantern than we did at the Maritim Jolie Ville hotel. That pricing really doesn't seem quite right. There are some good main course choices but frequently the vegetables we have had with ours have not been good. On one occasion we returned peas and carrots because they were cold and the peas were very hard indeed. The waiter shrugged. One of the ways a good restaurant proves itself is by the way it responds when things don't go quite right. That wasn't the response we would expect. Once the crumble was very dry. We told Debbie. She agreed. She said they usually put something with it but they didn't this time! Not really good enough when you go to a restaurant for which many superlatives are claimed. We do not say this is a bad restaurant. But in all honesty we think the praise is oversung. Overall, a nice environment and some excellent meals, but we don't think the top-flight prices are matched by top-flight quality. The Lantern seems to benefit from recommendations and repeat visits from an obviously loyal following, encouraged by friendly management and staff. What wasn't clear was whether the loyal guests had tried nearby competition. Nice place, friendly and popular, but in our experience, not faultless by any means. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[89]=new Array("eating/maro.htm","Maro's Restaurant, Luxor, Egypt","Maro's restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Maro Maro from the Nile There are six restaurant or cafes along the lower Corniche. Al Soury is at the Iberotel (southern) end. The El Kababgy, Metropolitan Bowling Club and Metropolitan Cafe are in the middle. Maro was the northernmost one until the new Metropolitan Restaurant was built. Maro's has open and sheltered sitting areas and a nearby pier to which the small motor boats bring customers in tour groups. Maro is also accessible from the Corniche although it seems to concentrate on its tour group business during the day. As customers who were not part of a tour group we felt that service was rather poor. After about 12 minutes we asked one of the several waiters who were standing around, not doing anything, for a menu. After a further 10 minutes trying to attract attention we gave up and began to walk away. Only then was service offered. On another visit we experienced similar problems and collected our own menu. We had to approach staff before we could place an order. After the meal we gave up trying to attract attention and took the bill and payment to a cash point. You may not suffer these problems as part of a tour group and delays will not matter if you are whiling away the afternoon. However, if you are on a short visit and seeking quick refreshment during a busy day, Maro's may be best avoided. Our View Good if you want fish but more expensive than nearby competition and slow service.  Maro's concentrates on fish and local dishes. The main courses are close in price to meals at the better traditional restaurants at the southern end of Luxor, and the specialist fish dishes are especially expensive. Drinks, including a small beer, are around LE25 so even these quick refreshment and snack prices are not competitive. There is an open area where dishes are cooked so you can see fish being grilled and make your menu choice. The variety of dishes is good too, within the published specialties of fish and local foods. Like most of the other Nile-side restaurants, you do tend to get pestered by people wanting to sell goods or trips if you are close to one of the thoroughfares. Take this into account when selecting your table if you don't want to be bothered. This is the place to try if you want something a little different to the sameish menus at the four nearest lower corniche restaurants, especially if you want fish, and if you don't don't mind paying a little extra, but the high prices and poor service will encourage most people to try one of the nearby alternatives. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[90]=new Array("eating/metropolitancafe.htm","Metropolitan Cafe, Luxor","Metropolitan cafe, Luxor, description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan cafe the path through the middle leads to the El Kababgy The Metropolitan cafe is part of the Edris Group which also owns the Metropolitan restaurant, Metropolitan Bowling club and the El Kababgy, all on the the lower corniche. The Metropolitan cafe is opposite the Winter Palace end of Luxor temple. The Edris group eateries along the lower corniche share the same menu, but not everything is available at all outlets. This cafe specialises in snacks including pizzas, drinks and ice cream. The Metropolitan used to have more of a street cafe feel. It does still have some tables in small clusters either side of the pathway but much of the seating closest to the Nile is now under a shelter. The relative neutral colour schemes of the past have recently been replaced with obviously sposored bright colours promoting Stella beer. In common with the other restaurants and cafes along this stretch of the lower corniche, there is a superb view of the Nile. The food is fine for an outdoor cafe but not exceptional. Drinks prices are on a par with the other restaurants along this stretch - above the prices you would pay outside hotels, but not a lot higher than you would expect when you take into account the prime position and the view. There are toilets nearby but they are often locked, so you have to ask the staff for access. If you just want a drink, or if you are in the Luxor temple area of the corniche and don't wish to walk further south or away from the Nile, then the Metropolitan is fine for something quick in a Nile side location. If you want to eat from a more varied menu or if you want something less expensive, we think you will prefer to walk around the temple and choose from many better value alternatives. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[91]=new Array("eating/metropolitanbowlingclub.htm","Metropolitan Bowling Club, Luxor, Egypt","Metropolitan Bowling Club, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Metropolitan Bowling Club Metropolitan Bowling Club The Metropolitan Bowling Club is between the El Kababgy restaurant and the Metropolitan cafe on the lower Corniche, opposite the Winter Palace. It is part of the same group as the Metropolitan cafe, Metropolitan restaurant and the El Kababgy restaurant and its menu is similar.  Two bowling lanes The main difference with the Metropolitan Bowling Club is that, unlike the other Nile-side restaurants, it has a brick-built inside. Inside there is a licensed bar and a modern two-lane bowling alley. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[92]=new Array("eating/oasis.htm","Oasis cafe, Luxor","Oasis cafe, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace The Oasis Cafe Unassuming entrance to the Oasis The Oasis is not the easiest eating place to find, but it is worth the effort. Facing the Mercure hotel, go left and take the road that runs along the side of the hotel. On the same side of the road as the side of the hotel, not very far from the next junction, is a tall pink building that houses the Oasis cafe on the ground floor. In some ways the Oasis is reminiscent of the Sofra, but not as large inside and the furniture is not as ornate. There is an entrance lobby, where a cashier directs you to the room you need. There are small smoking and non-smoking eating rooms and a third room where you can order take-away or eat at table. The decor is dark and a little tired but suits the character of the building. The menu is largely snacks, with a good variety of soups with a menu price from about LE12, salads from LE15, omelettes from around LE20 and sandwiches. Main meals include steaks from around LE50 and pasta dishes for around LE35. Oasis salad There is a non-optional service charge of 12%, which is added to the bill before you get it. We think this is a little cheeky. A tip should be given for good service and it is not up to the cafe to assume that all customers will each think that the service is worth the same amount. In reality, regard the prices as 12% more than the menu suggests. So a steak is LE56, which is a bit steep when the going rate at very well reputed restaurants at the southern end of town charge well under that but the quality is excellent and the near-constant flow of customers pays testament to its deserved popularity. Drink variety is good, too, but again prices are, by and large, a tiny bit higher than at the Nile-side restaurants at LE8 for most soft drinks and around LE15 for most fresh juices and from LE9 for hot drinks, all before the compulsory service charge. We particularly like the Oasis salad which is adds fruit to the normal salad fare and at LE28 with service charge is a good bet for lunchtime snack as well as the start of a bigger meal.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[93]=new Array("eating/oldwinterpalace.htm","Old Winter Palace restaurants, 1886 and La Corniche, Luxor","Old Winter Palace restaurants, 1886 and La Corniche, Luxor: description and review.","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Old Winter Palace - La Corniche, 1886 and Victoria Lounge Old Winter palace The Old Winter Palace has two restaurants, a lounge and a bar, all of which are open to non-residents. However, the hotel has recently introduced a cover charge of LE100 per person per visit. Although this is taken off the cost of a meal if you have one, it makes going to the hotel for light refreshment very expensive. Victoria lounge Afternoon tea is usually taken in the Victoria lounge or outside on the balcony. There are two alternatives on the tea menu, one at LE60 and one at LE70. However, unless you are resident, the minimum charge of LE100 applies, so to have tea will cost LE100, whichever option you choose. You may as well have something extra, to top up to the LE100 that you have to pay anyway. Other main meals are taken in one of the two restaurants. Both restaurants are open from 7pm until about 11pm. 1886 restaurant 1886 restaurant The smaller restaurant, called the 1886, is Silver Service. Smart dress, including a tie AND jacket for gents is required. The rule used to be jacket or tie, but both have been required since mid 2008. You can borrow the jacket, or the tie, or both, if you don't have them. It is necessary to book (at the Royal Bar). Prices are relatively high by Egyptian standards, but you can still eat very well, in surroundings unmatched in Luxor, for less than the cost of a decent meal in an English Steak House. A bottle of an imported wine will double the outlay. There is live music, usually from an acoustic guitarist. The menu is more interesting, varied and much more extensive than the menu at La Corniche. It is written in French with English translation. There are lower cost and recognisable options on the menu as well as the more exotic, such as fois gras. With careful selection from the menu you can eat for roughly the same as at La Corniche, around LE300 for two courses for two people, without wine or other expensive drinks. Alternatively, you can have a really exceptional meal for which you can easily spend twice as much. Service is not as good as in the smartest restaurants in European capitals but the ambience encourages tolerance of the imperfections. La Corniche The larger main restaurant is called "La Corniche" (also used by residents for breakfast). Here, there is a more traditional, international, menu, but it is much more limited that the menu at the 1886, with about five meat meal choices and a similar number of fish options as well as soups, appetizers, salads and desserts. Like at the 1886 the menu is written in French with English translation. By and large the prices are marginally lower than at the 1886 but not significantly so. With a soft drink or water, two people will have a reasonable choice of two courses for around LE300. The 1886 has a greater number of options and although the prices start at about the same level, they go much higher. Smart dress is required. Although tie or jacket are not compulsory, admission will be refused if dress is too casual. The hotel's reception have told us that it is not necessary to book. Our experience is that, if you are resident at the Old Winter Palace, a table will be found easily, but if you arrive from another hotel pre-booking at the Royal bar resolves any question about whether there is a table or not. Generally at the Winter Palace The standard of service used to be as high as you would expect from the grandeur of the surroundings. Two years or so ago however, standards appeared to have fallen. Although not back to excellence, things have improved more recently. The waiters do not always remember the protocols about serving and clearing from opposite sides; replacement cutlery is delivered in the hand rather than on a plate or server, but the meal plate is usually squared so that the logo is positioned at 12 o'clock and covers are now removed simultaneously from all meals at a table. Little points, perhaps, but symptomatic of the standard of service which is a little better than it has been but, frankly, still a little sloppy for the class of hotel. The amount of meat or fish provided with a meal is generous, but, as you expect from a 'high class' restaurant, portions of accompaniments are small. You will not achieve your five daily portions of vegetables here. Two slices of carrot and a large eggcup of potato or rice will accompany your meat. But it will look pretty. The quantity of the food always been so, and recently the quality has improved too. Nevertheless, overall you just can't help feeling that the meal and its service could easily be so much better. One advantage these restaurants both have over the competition is their location, within the most famous and ostentatious hotel in Luxor, with access to the very grand Victoria Lounge and the impressive Royal Bar. Arrive at least an hour before your meal, use those facilities and soak in the ambience. After your dinner take tea in the lounge (LE20) or coffee in the bar (LE22), knowing that royalty and high dignitaries have been there before you. Unless you are resident at the Winter Palace, you would probably not go to the Old Winter Palace restaurants regularly, but it is a place to come once or twice during a Luxor holiday to celebrate a special occasion or for a last night farewell meal. If you do not expect perfection, if you take advantage of the lounge and the bar, and if you set out to enjoy the occasion rather than just the eating, then you will be pleased with the evening. The Winter Palace restaurants are easy to find within the Old Winter Palace hotel on the Nile in the centre of town. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[94]=new Array("eating/ritz.htm","Ritz Restaurant, Luxor","Ritz restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace The Ritz Ritz restaurant The Ritz is next to a bicycle repair shop, down a short cul-de-sac on the Nile side of the main hotel road, past the Nile Palace on the south side of Luxor. It is well signed from the main road and just a short walk away from the passing tourist trade. The restaurant is well lit, freshly painted in two tones of green and not as cramped as some of the smaller eating places. Inside Ritz restaurant Daily specials are added to the normal selection of soups, starters, fish, meat and poultry dishes and there is a good selection of vegetarian choices at LE19. At the Ritz our decision to come was rewarded with excellent ingredients, well cooked and good value. Soups are between LE7 and LE9, most poultry main courses are LE32-34, a fillet steak LE44 and most desserts are LE10 - LE13. So two can eat with a soft drink for around LE150. This is not a place to go if you want to be cosseted on a special evening out. It is the place to go for good no-fuss eating. There is none of the dimmed lighting atmosphere of other restaurants, nor attention to fine etiquette, just good easily recognisable dishes that will satisfy your appetite. If you like to try different restaurants, you should add this one to your 'good value, worth a try' list.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[95]=new Array("eating/roof.htm","The Roof restaurant (above Snacktime), Luxor","The Roof restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace The Roof THE ROOF IS NOW CLOSED. We will update this page if it opens again The Roof and its view The roof is on the fourth floor of Snacktime. To get to it you can go up the stairs at the back of the Snacktime restaurant, or use the lift just inside Snacktime's front door. Although you get to it through Snacktime, this is a separate restaurant. They have a separate menu and price structure. You can't take Snacktime food up there. The main feature of The Roof is the view. It has uninterrupted views over the back of Luxor Temple and to the Nile and West Bank beyond. The top is covered with fabric, so you are not too exposed to the ravages of the sun You can get a good range of appetizers, mostly around LE8, and grills between about LE25 (Kofta) and LE45 (lamb). Desserts are mainly under LE15, soft and hot drinks are mostly under LE6 and fresh juices LE10. The food is prepared on an open grill at the back of the restaurant. When we were there the chef seemed to disappear regularly and the waiter took over, tending to prod the food around but not very convincingly. Some of the food appeared fine, although some cuts of meat were clearly not the best. Not the sort of place we would recommend if you want a good meal, but worth a visit for the scenery. We suggest you stop off here for a drink and admire the view then go to one of the nearby restaurants, such as Sinbad, to eat. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[96]=new Array("eating/sindbad.htm","Sindbad restaurant, Luxor","Sindbad restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Sindbad Sindbad restaurant This is an open air restaurant in the grounds of the Luxor Wena Hotel, behind Luxor Temple, between McDonald's and the Swiss Inn. There is a covered area for when the wind is blowing or when the sun is at its hottest and trees in the open part provide some shade. If you are facing the right way you can see Luxor temple across the road, although you can get better views at other nearby restaurants. This is a no frills place, with cushioned metal chairs on shingle ground. There is a typical outdoor WC, but you might prefer not to use it. Food choice is fine, including western snacks and egyptian dishes. Prices are very keen indeed. A plain omelette is just LE6 and other omelettes LE7, but they come on their own and chips are an extra LE5. Salads between LE5 and LE7 and a grilled or baked fish meal is LE25. Various other main meals are available from about LE12 to LE30. Desserts are around LE7. Drinks are also good value and served cold despite the outdoor environment. Beers are from LE8, hot drinks are around LE3 - 4 and soft drinks are mostly LE5. All prices are all exclusive of a 12% compulsory service charge and taxes, but even allowing for this the prices are extremely competitive especially bearing in mind its central location. The food is good, bearing in mind that this is a cheap outdoor 'garden' meal. The service is good too, but one or more of the waiters might try to sell you a felucca trip. This is a shame. There is enough touting in the street; you would hope that you could eat without having to go through the same. Overall a good, basic, inexpensive, outdoor restaurant: fine for daytime drinks or snacks. Neighbouring Hamees has better views from the front part and the paved surface and sturdier furniture are a bit more practical, but the Sindbad has a more 'garden' feel to it. There isn't too much difference in the prices between the Sindbad and the Hamees, so it depends on whether you want practicality or charm. We think they are both worth a try. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[97]=new Array("eating/smiley.htm","Smiley Restaurant, Luxor","Smiley restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Smiley Smiley restaurant Smiley is just past Murphy's bar, down a rather bleak side road opposite the Nile Palace at the southern end of town. From the outside, the restaurant is just as unappealing as its surroundings. The plastic styling and large backlit menu put you in mind of a Wimpy or McDonalds. We hesitated to open the door, expecting to see wipe-down tables and to be offered burgers. The inside, however, bears no resemblance at all to the outside. A dozen tables are formed into two ranks in a long, thin interior boasting fresh decor, modern furniture and crisp clean table dressings. The chairs have very upright backs with hollow centres that are not at all comfortable. The ceilings are high and the air conditioning is effective, so smoking at other tables disturbs non-smokers less than in some restaurants. Background music is not too intrusive and is sometimes accompanied by video on a large screen. At other times the screen has TV channels. The menu is varied and includes a children's section. But be aware that the menu prices do not include a 10% local tax. This was not obvious from anything we saw, but 10% is added to the end of the bill. This is unusual for Luxor restaurants, which usually have inclusive prices and is a little misleading when comparing menu prices. Main course prices are in the higher range. The menu price of a steak with sauce is from 42.55. This works out about the same as 7Ways, much higher than nearby favourite Maximes and in the Snobs range. Pastas and snacks are priced on the high side too, but soups and salads are more competitive at under LE10, as are local dishes, such as Tajine, for around LE25 - less for the vegetarian option. Inside Smiley restaurant The staff are smart and service was swift, polite and effective. Ingredient quality appears good and most of the food was well cooked and reasonably presented. Exceptions were the 'well-done' steak, which was barely dead and bleeding profusely and the meat in the tajine which could have been more tender. The steak was returned and re-cooked. It was fine second time around, but it should not be necessary to have two goes at a dish at these price levels. Smiley seems to have an identity crisis. First impressions from the surroundings and the outside of the restaurant are that it is cheap and rather tacky. The presentation of the menu in vivid colours and on laminated card confirm this. Inside the restaurant has a different feel altogether and puts the visitor in mind of the nearby Casablanca restaurant. This ambience and the prices suggest a higher class restaurant. The food falls between the two. Smiley is worth a try if you like to eat somewhere different each night but it is not among the best in town. There are lots of restaurants around the cluster of hotels at the southern end of Luxor and new ones seem to open regularly. With this level of competition there is no need to accept second best. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[98]=new Array("eating/snacktime.htm","Snack Time Restaurant, Luxor","Snack Time restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Snack Time Snacktime View from the balcony McDonald's had a virtual monopoly on western-style fast food in the central area of Luxor until November 2006, when Snack Time opened just a few doors away. Snack Time immediately took the upper hand. McDonald's has fine views from the upper floors, through large windows. Snack Time has views that are at least their equal, but they have a balcony so you can enjoy a full panorama of Luxor Temple without even having to look through glass. Snack Time also has a broader range of foods including not only burgers, but also pizzas, sandwiches, salads, a better range of desserts and a wide choice of drinks all at keen prices. Upstairs there is an area for children, including an excellent play area with wooden climbing, crawling and sliding apparatus. Children's play area upstairs A great bonus is that, if you take your laptop, you can connect to their broadband WiFi absolutely free. McDonalds now offer this as well. Free internet surfing, excellent cheap coffee, lunch for just pennies more than in the traffic-laden local side streets - pounds less than the tourist restaurants - and the best temple views in town. Some people will continue to go to MacDonald's because they are familiar with the name and the products. Anyone who thinks about it for a minute will go to Snack Time instead. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[99]=new Array("eating/sofra.htm","Sofra Restaurant, Luxor","Sofra restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Sofra Sofra restaurant And now for something completely different. Away from the tourist hotels around the temple and at the southern end of town, close to backpacker-land, not far from the station, is an unassuming single storey building with screens around its roof. This building houses a restaurant with much more character than most. The outside is well-presented enough, but once inside you step back 60 years and enter the world of colonial Egypt. One of the dining rooms The Sofra has a general ground floor dining room with two 4 seat tables and one 2 seat table. For larger groups there are two rooms of varying size for parties of around 5 to 12, each furnished and decorated as a dining room from the colonial days, with a single central dining table and chairs to suit the capacity of the room. Elsewhere in Luxor there are restaurants that claim Englishness and replicate English food. There are others that sell English type food with a touch of Egyptian influence. The Sofra is an Egyptian restaurant offering traditional Egyptian cuisine in a bygone Egyptian atmosphere. Not a hint of Englishness. The Sofra gets very busy, so it is best to book a table for evening meals. If you do not book, you may find you have to sit in the covered outdoor area. The food will be the same but you will miss out on the colonial atmosphere. The menu explains the content of the meals, so even those unfamiliar with local dishes can find something to suit. Choices include a wealth of hot and cold mezzes, soups and other starters, a wide range of meat, fish and vegetarian main courses and a small selection of desserts. Main courses are mostly around LE25 with others between LE15 and LE50 so all budgets are catered for. It is easy to find a three course selection for two within a total of around LE80, or those on a tight budget would just about manage two courses for LE25 each plus drinks. If you are inclined to try local cuisine but wish to immerse yourself gently into the new experience you could choose a soup, tajine (stew) with rice and fruit cocktail with water and have enough change from LE50 to leave a tip. Part of the roof area We have found the food to be excellent, although one or two comments received recently have been negative. If you wanted to be really fussy, you could argue that the meat could be better trimmed, but it is well cooked, extremely tasty and taken in a setting and for a price that encourages you to forgive any minor imperfections. remember. though, that this is Egyptian food, cooked the Egyptian way. If you want your chicken meat peeled from the bone and the skin removed before it is put in the pot, then you will need to buy your tajine somewhere else. Here, the chicken, bones, skin, and all is cooked together and you sort it out when it is on your plate. If you want to eat Egyptian, but want something simple to eat, then you need to avoid meat or fish in stews, casseroles or tajine. The roof offers a spacious and sheltered alternative for dining or for hot or cold drinks and snacks. Shisha is available. The simplest way to get to the Sofra is to start at the railway station. With your back to the station, take the left turning that is signposted to Happy Land hotel. This is El Manshiya Street. The traffic is one way and coming towards you. Take the first turning left off this road and the Sofra is on your left. If you are coming from the hotel area at the southern end of Luxor there are shorter but more complicated routes. If you are not confident walking in the narrower and busier local streets you may wish to take a taxi. It will be worth it. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[100]=new Array("eating/tasteofindia.htm","A Taste of India restaurant, Luxor","A Taste of India restaurant. Description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace A Taste of India A Taste of India The history of Indian restaurants in Luxor is a little complicated. The best known used to be a small restaurant called the Bombay, beyond the Isis hotel, more or less opposite 7Days7Ways. That restaurant is no longer there, but moved across the road, still called the Bombay, as part of a restaurant complex called 3Choices. There is still a restaurant called the Bombay as part of the pair of restaurants that are now where 3Choices used to be, but it no longer has the same management. The ex pat Brit who ran the original Bombay and started the new Bombay, now runs A Taste of India. The restaurant that still has the Bombay name has no management connection with the old one. So if you remember the original Bombay, its replacement is A Taste of India, not the new Bombay. Got that? Never mind, what really matters is the new restaurant and the food it serves. The restaurant has been fitted out to a high standard, in neutral colours with painted and tiled surfaces to the walls and tiling to the floors and counter. Tables are uncovered wood with matching plain wooden chairs. Most restaurants in Luxor are cutting down on smoking or banning it altogether. At a Taste of India there is a novel compromise. Smoking is allowed for much of the day, but not from 6.30pm until 9.30pm. A Taste of India The menu is very full, and has the choices you would expect: both the European versions of Indian dishes, such as kormas, masalas, jalfrezis and sags, and the original asian indian meals, such as malayan, madras and vindaloo as well as biriyani and tandoori alternatives. In each case the variety is available with a choice of meat, which determines the price, prawn being the dearest and chicken the cheapest, although there are also vegetable options that are cheaper still. Most of the meat main course alternatives are in the LE40-LE60 range. There is also a range of soups from LE10, appetizers and side dishes between LE16 and LE25 and breads from LE5. If your party includes people who prefer to eat international dishes, these are available too. Traditional soups are from LE10 to LE14 and a choice of starters including salads and prawn cocktail are mostly under LE20. International main meals start with pastas between LE22 and LE40 and include steaks from LE45. There is a small special children's menu with dishes between LE14 and LE18 and a good variety of desserts are between LE12 and LE18. We have eaten 'european' indian meals in europe and classic indian meals in India. The quality of the meat is probably better than you would find at the average restaurant in the meals' homeland. Although the meals appear to be pre-prepared rather than cooked from scratch as at the new Bombay, we thought both indian varieties were as good at A Taste of India as you would expect at from an Indian eat-in. That is not to say it cannot be surpassed, but we have tasted worse within sight of the Taj Mahal. We have not yet reviewed the international dishes here, but will report when we are able to do so. At A Taste of India you have an indian restaurant with additional international choices, a children's menu and daily specials, keen pricing and more variety that at Luxor's other indian restaurant. If you want a typical fast-food Indian in Luxor, we think it is the obvious place to go. On the other hand, if you prefer your meal to be cooked just for you, in the traditional indian way, see our review of the Bombay. Last update Oct 2009 Prices at Oct 2009  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[101]=new Array("eating/tudorrose.htm","Tudor Rose (previously The Classic) restaurant, St. Joseph Hotel, Luxor","Tudor Rose restaurant at St Joseph Hotel, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Castello Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Tudor Rose restaurant (St Joseph Hotel) Tudor Rose, also accessible via St Joseph's reception The restaurant in the St Joseph hotel used to be called the Classic, but is now called the Tudor Rose. It is a much less obvious place to eat than most, unless you are staying at this hotel. Nevertheless, well worth trying. If the entrance in the side road indicated by the illuminated sign is closed, go into the hotel and through the hotel lobby. The hotel itself is less glamorous than some of the larger ones that surround it, but its restaurant is every bit as good as most and better than many. It has a small 'no smoking' section that gets full quite quickly on busy days, and, beyond some pillars, a bigger section for smokers. The menu is reasonably varied and includes Egyptrian and International options. It is quite expensive if you order a single meal. However, they invariably have 'Special offers'. These entitle customers to 6 four-course evening meals for about 290LE or £35 (English pounds). The offer is open to residents and non-residents alike. Food of this quality at under £6 for 4 courses is worth trying even if you are staying in a more expensive hotel. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[102]=new Array("eating/abu_ali.htm","Ibis restaurant, west bank, Luxor","Abu Ali restaurant, Luxor: description and review","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links General Water & food safety Food Shopping Alcohol Restaurants Overview Closed or renamed Restaurant reviews 7Days 7Ways Ali Baba Asia House Bamboo Bombay Broodje Holland Casablanca Deans (The) Dragon El Kababgy (The) Grand Hamees Jems Jewel of the Nile Joan's John and John's King Dude King Tut Lantern Maro Maximes Metropolitan Cafe Metropolitan Bowling Club Oasis Old Winter Palace Puddleduck Ritz (The) Roof Sindbad Sinouhe Smiley Snacktime Snobs Sofra Taste of India Tudor Rose Two Johns Winter Palace Abu Ali (previously the Ibis) The Abu Ali is on the West bank. If you are staying on the East Bank, as most people do, you may only go to the West Bank on a tour: to the tombs, Medinet Habu etc. But it is worth catching the ferry over the river to have a meal or a snack, or just for somewhere different to have a drink. The Abu Ali is above a souvenir shop, almost immediately opposite Luxor Temple. To get to it, leave the national ferry and turn left, along the edge of the Nile. Look for a small square where camels are kept, waiting to take people for a ride. Immediately past this camel waiting area, on the edge of the Nile, is the Abu Ali. The Abu Ali restaurant inside with view to Luxor Temple From the outside it does not look very inviting, so you need a certain amount of courage before you commit to going in. It is accessed via a narrow and rather dingy staircase. Once you have made the commitment and arrive at the top of the stairs, the restaurant doesn't look so bad after all. It is lighter than you expect with cloth covered sturdy tables and an excellent view across the Nile to Luxor Temple. The Winter Palace and other sights can be seen, too, as well as the boat movements along the river. The prices are much cheaper than Nile-side restaurants on the other bank, and closer to the open air restaurants behind Luxor Temple. Most soft drinks and fresh juices are LE6 - LE7 and hot drinks are LE5 - LE6. Most soups and salads are LE5. There is a fair range of vegetarian dishes between LE5 and LE12. Pizzas vary from LE15 and LE25. They are made to order, so you have to wait but can be tailored to your preferences. Like the Sindbad and Hamees across the river, omelettes are popular and cost just LE5 - LE7 depending on the filling. The usual variety of international and Egyptian meat, fish and poultry main dishes are also excellent value, mostly between LE20 and LE25. Most desserts are LE7. Whenever we have been to the Abu Ali it has been very quiet so service has been very quick and attentive. We understand that it opened only recently and has not yet built up a clientele. If the tour firms start using the Abu Ali it could become very busy and service then might be tested. Don't expect haute cuisine, but for a decent meal at a good price and a spectacular view, the Abu Ali is definitely worth a visit. Instead of using one of the East Bank Nile-side restaurants, none of which is particularly good, and all of which are expensive, take the ferry to the West Bank and look at the view from the other side. The ferry is only LE1 each way, so as well as having a different experience, the total cost including the journey will be a lot lower.    Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[103]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/luxortemple.htm","Luxor Temple at night, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Luxor Temple at night at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2002 LuxorTravelTips.com Luxor Temple at night");sQ1[104]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/balloonburn.htm","Balloon over Luxor, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Balloon over Luxor at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2004 LuxorTravelTips.com Balloon over Luxor");sQ1[105]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/seaplane.htm","Sea Plane, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Sea Plane at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2004 LuxorTravelTips.com Sea Plane");sQ1[106]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/mountainbydonkey.htm","Mountain climb by donkey, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Mountain climb by donkey at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Mountain climb by donkey");sQ1[107]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/felucca.htm","Felucca on the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Felucca on the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2002 LuxorTravelTips.com Felucca on the Nile");sQ1[108]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/dendera.htm","Temple at Dendera, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Temple at Dendera at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Temple at Dendera");sQ1[109]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/lotusboat.htm",""Lotus Boat" day trips to Dendera from behind the Iberotel, In and around Luxor, Egypt",""Lotus Boat" day trips to Dendera from behind the Iberotel at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2004 LuxorTravelTips.com "Lotus Boat" day trips to Dendera from behind the Iberotel");sQ1[110]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/lotusboatonboard.htm","On board the Lotus Boat on the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","On board the Lotus Boat on the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2004 LuxorTravelTips.com On board the Lotus Boat on the Nile");sQ1[111]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/tutankhamunsmask.htm","Tutankhamun's mask, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Tutankhamun's mask, around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Tutankhamun's mask");sQ1[112]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/pyramids.htm","Pyramids at Giza, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Pyramids at Giza at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Pyramids at Giza");sQ1[113]=new Array("photography/memory.htm","Taking photographs in Luxor - type, size and speed of digital memory","Photography and taking photographs in Luxor, Egypt. Types, size and speed of digital memory","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Photography Is photography allowed? Photo taking tips Digital v film The camera Digital camera memory Photos Some of our photos Digital camera memory Types of card Memory card There are a range of types of memory card that are used in digital cameras, instead of film, to record the image. There are different types with names such as 'compact flash' and 'SD'. You can't choose which type of memory you buy, but you can choose the speed (how fast they move pictures from the camera to the card) and the size (how many pictures you can fit on the card). The type you need will depend on the camera. When you get the camera, you will see from the instructions which one you need, but if you are buying for someone else, or if you are buying without access to the camera or the instruction book, good shops will be able to tell you which type you need. The supplier MyMemory has a useful memory card selector on their web site. Click to indicate what make and model of camera or other appliance you need a card for and it will tell you what type of card you need. It will also list the sizes, brands and prices so that you can choose, and order if you wish. Camera suppliers also supply memory cards. Speed of Memory cards Cards are available in different 'speeds'. The standard speed will transfer a minimum of 150 Kb of information onto a memory card in 1 second. A card described as '8x' will move the picture eight times faster, so it will handle at least 1.2Mb per second. As most pictures on a 4 megapixel camera, at high resolution, will be about 2Mb it will take just under 2 seconds to move the image to or from the card at 1.2Mb per second. If you are taking just the occasional photo, that may seem fine, but waiting for the busy light to finish may mean that you lose a picture. Cards described as '40x' are now common, and will handle an average 4 megapixel camera picture in less than half a second. Even faster cards are readily available and not much more expensive. If you have a camera that takes 5 megapixel pictures, or more and especially if you take high definition pictures (set the camera to 'fine' or 'superfine' or 'large'), then it is worth going for a 133x card for faster transfer of the picture to the card. Some cameras, especially SLR cameras, have internal memory which hold pictures in a buffer while the card is busy, so you will not suffer the delays as long as you do not fill the buffer before it finishes moving the images on to the card.  How many photos on a card? You can use the card, move the images to a CD or a computer and then use the card again. There are several places in Luxor where you can get the images transferred to a CD or printed, so that you can clear and reuse the card. On the other hand, as memory card prices are so low, and in case you do not want to clear the images until you get home, it may be worth taking spare cards with you. The chart indicates approximately how many pictures will fit on different sizes of memory card. The exact number will depend on your camera settings and how much detail there is in the picture. Camera Card  > 512MB 1GB 4Gb 4 Meg 256 512 2000 5 Meg 204 409 1600 6 Meg 160 320 1250 8 Meg 128 256 1000 10 Meg 100 200 800 Printing your pictures Computers are fine and being able to send pictures over the internet or by email is a benefit of digital images. Nevertheless, there is nothing quite like seeing the photo in print. You can take the memory card or a CD to photo processors in most towns. Many of the larger supermarkets offer printing from digital cards. Many branches of some shops, including Boots and Jessops, have machines that allow you to insert the card and make adjustment to the image before printing it. An assistant will normally be available to help. Alternatively, online photo processors such as Photobox will print your photos and send them by first class mail. Images uploaded to them by 4pm are usually delivered the next day. PhotoBox are offering free 30 prints to new customers. You just pay £1.50 post and packing. Click here to register on their web site and get your free prints. Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[114]=new Array("holidays/bookingtransfer.htm","Getting to the hotel - airport transfers in Luxor, Egypt","Types of transfer from Luxor airport to hotels","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Holidays Package holidays Late Deals Flights Accommodation Transfer to the hotel Airport parking etc .... and also What to see Go to the sights page to read about things to do when you get to Luxor Getting around The getting around page tells you about taxis, horse carriages, crossing the Nile etc.  Getting to the hotel Transfer arranged by package holiday company Most package holidays include a free transfer from the airport to the hotel. If you have booked a package holiday very late or if you have booked your flight and hotel separately, you will probably have to pay for the transfer. The cost through an airline or package holiday company is typically a total of £15 per person, return (airport to hotel and hotel to airport). Transfer booked through hotel agency If you book accommodation through a hotel agency you will normally be able to arrange a transfer at the same time. This will generally be provided by Medhotels. The cost is about £3 per person each way (£6 return). The Medhotels service is similar to the one offered by the British package companies. You travel on a bus and people are dropped off at a series of hotels. The bus is usually a bit older than the ones used by the British companies and you are sometimes kept waiting a long time. We have heard of people arriving on one plane having to wait for passengers on the next plane before Medhotels filled their bus and left the airport for the hotel. It is the cheapest way to transfer if you are on your own, but if there are two or more of you a taxi or tour agency transfer is cheaper and more convenient. Private Transfer through local tour agents Most of the Luxor tour agencies will pick you up from the airport and take you to a hotel for about LE50 per car.  Most of the Luxor tour agencies will pick you up from the airport and take you to a hotel for about LE50 for up to 3 people, LE80 or so for up to 6 people and a little more for larger groups. They will meet you at the exit of the terminal building holding a board with your name. They will escort you to their car, which will be air conditioned and comfortable. They have mini busses for larger groups. You have to pre-arrange the pick-up but as long as you are happy to do that, this is the best way to transfer to your hotel. You can arrange with the same or another tour agency to take you back to the airport. There is a list of tour agencies in the sights section. Look at the phoning page to check on ways to make a cheap call to Egypt from Britain to arrange the pick-up. You can also make the arrangement by email, but some companies, especially those with head offices in other cities, are not very good at responding to emails. Private International Taxi companies You can book a taxi in advance through Holiday Taxis or ResortHoppa. It will be more expensive, but less hassle, than finding your own taxi at the airport. It will also probably be more expensive than a paid transfer through a package holiday company if there are one or two in your party. If there are three or more of you it could be cheaper than the package company cost, because the taxi is charged per vehicle, not per passenger. It will be more expensive than prearranging a transfer through a tour agency, but a little easier as you can do it online. Airport taxi If you do not have a transfer as part of the package, and have not prearranged a transfer, you can get a taxi at the airport. To get to the taxis, leave the airport building and keep going in the same direction, straight ahead, past the package holiday coaches. Traditionally taxis have been mostly Peugeot 504s, but there are an increasing number of newer Asian saloon cars. All taxis are painted blue and white. Taxis are easy to find (a driver or 'agent' will probably find you). You must agree a price before you get in. Agree a price for the whole vehicle, not per person and no extra for luggage. They will probably ask for LE100 to start with. The 'proper' price is LE25, but unless you are very patient you might be tempted to give up bargaining a little higher. LE40 - LE50 is not unreasonable. This is only around £4 - £6 and it may well be the driver's only job of the day, so prolonging the hassle for the sake of a pound or two is not necessarily a fruitful start to the holiday. The driver will probably take you for your price eventually, if only because he wants to try to sell you trips for the rest of your stay! Summary A package tour transfer is usually free if you book far enough ahead and comfortably familiar, but expensive (typically £15 per person return), if you book close to the date of travel. A hotel agency transfer through Medhotels has nothing to recommend it unless you are on your own, want the cheapest (around £6 per person return) and can't be bothered to haggle with a taxi driver. An airport taxi is cheap (LE25 - LE50 depending on haggling skills) and you get straight to your destination, but you may have to put up with some hassle getting to and agreeing the price for the taxi. The international holiday taxi transfer companies are expensive for one or two, but more competitive for larger groups (around £20 each way per vehicle). They are more expensive than local taxi or tour companies but can be booked online. A tour agency transfer (around LE50 for a saloon car full) is not much more than a taxi, less hassle, more comfortable and recommended. The journey direct to the hotel will take about 15 minutes, longer if you are in shared transport that stops at several hotels.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[115]=new Array("links/airportservices.htm","Luxor Travel Tips - helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday","Enjoying your holiday in Luxor Egypt and other Luxor travel tips","helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday  Click here to search this site  About us | Feedback | Technical | Privacy Policy | Contact us Front Page Essentials Hotels Eating Sights Photography Maps Holidays Links Information Official and private bodies Flights, hotels and holidays Airport parking etc Flights Hotels Package holidays Other things Click here for links to Hamleys, Next, Currys, PCWorld, and hundreds of other well known and less well known shops Airport Services including airport parking Get a quote and book online for parking or for a hotel with parking space. They also offer other travel-related services including airport lounges. If you don't want to drive to the airport, they can also book you a coach with an airport hotel package.  Pre-book parking at 18 airports, at Dover sea port and at Folkestone for the Eurotunnel. They offer a competitive quote for their own car parks and a quote for car parks operated by their competitors as well. Meet and greet service available at Gatwick, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Stanstead and Manchester.  Get an online quote and pre-book car parking at most international and regional airports. They offer comparative quotes from a range of providers of on- and off- airport car parks, at a discount compared with the price you pay if you just turn up. They also quote for a hotel room the night before you go, with parking while you are away and other travel-related services.  Parking at 20 UK international and regional airports with meet and greet service at 11 of them. Very straightforward web site with the opportunity to book parking and hotel and parking combinations.  They only offer parking at their own sites. Worth trying if the others cannot find you a car park at the airport you are going from, or if you travel frequently enough to become a 'Purple Parking' member, and thus qualify for their member discounts. Otherwise, try the others instead as they give you comparative quotes from a range of providers.  Front Page • Essentials • Hotels • Eating • Sights • Photography • Maps • Holidays • Links About us • Feedback • Technical • Privacy Policy • Contact us ©2008. Designed, published and managed by MeadsInternet NOARCHIVE, INDEX, FOLLOW");sQ1[116]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/cowbathing.htm","Cow cooling off in the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Cow cooling off in the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Cow cooling off in the Nile");sQ1[117]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/cricket.htm","Cricket on the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Cricket on the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Cricket on the Nile");sQ1[118]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/dier_el_medina.htm","Dier-El-Medina, tomb builders' houses, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Dier-El-Medina, tomb builders' houses at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Dier-El-Medina, tomb builders' houses");sQ1[119]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/girlonwestbank.htm","Girl on the West Bank, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Girl on the West Bank at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Girl on the West Bank");sQ1[120]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/hatshepsutstemple.htm","Hatshepsut's Temple, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Hatshepsut's Temple at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Hatshepsut's Temple");sQ1[121]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/marketfruit.htm","Fruit stall, Luxor market, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Fruit stall, Luxor market at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Fruit stall, Luxor market");sQ1[122]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/nileatdusk.htm","The Nile at dusk, In and around Luxor, Egypt","The Nile at dusk at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com The Nile at dusk");sQ1[123]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/nileinflood.htm","Nile in flood, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Nile in flood at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2002 LuxorTravelTips.com Nile in flood");sQ1[124]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/removals.htm","Furniture removals, Nile style, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Furniture removals, Nile style at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2004 LuxorTravelTips.com Furniture removals, Nile style");sQ1[125]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/sheeptomarket.htm","Taking his sheep to market, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Taking his sheep to market at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Taking his sheep to market");sQ1[126]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/sunset.htm","Sunset over the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Sunset over the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Sunset over the Nile");sQ1[127]=new Array("Pictures/HTML/washcow.htm","Washing her cow in the Nile, In and around Luxor, Egypt","Washing her cow in the Nile at In and around Luxor, Egypt","In and around Luxor, Egypt Buy this photo from 50p Go back to:   Front Page  |  Sights  |  Pictures Copyright © 2003 LuxorTravelTips.com Washing her cow in the Nile");var sQb=0;var sQc=1;var sQd=2;var sQe=3;var sQf=4;var sQg=5;var sQh=6;var sQi=7;var sQj=8;var sQk;var sQdl;var sQm;var sQn; var sQ98 ; var sQB=true;var sQC=1;var sQE=2;var sQD=3;var sQF=4;var sQP=false;var sQQ=true;var sQ46=true;var sQ83=true;var sQ73=true;var sQ14=true;var sQ17=false;var sQ90=-1;var sQ45=0;var sQT;function SMPSetFocus() { document.formSearch.txtSearch.focus(); }
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"+sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQI,sQdL); sQk += "<B>" + sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQdL , sQdL + sQdl.length ) +"</B>";sQk += sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQdL + sQdl.length ,sQJ) + " ..\""; } function sQN( sQt ) { if( sQP==false ) { var sQu=1; while ( (sQu < 4) && (sQu<=sQ1[sQt][sQg])) { sQG( sQt, sQu ); sQu++; } } } function sQR( sQy, sQdL ) { sQk += sQy.substring( 0, sQdL );sQk += "<B>" + sQy.substring( sQdL , sQdL + sQdl.length ) +"</B>";sQk += sQy.substring( sQdL + sQdl.length ,sQy.length ); } function sQU( sQt, sQT ) { sQk += "<p>" + sQT +". ";sQk += "<a href=\""+sQ1[sQt][sQb]+"\">"+sQ1[sQt][sQc]+"</a>";if (( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQe ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQN(sQt); } else { sQk+=""; } if( (sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQd ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQk += "<br><font color=\"#808FFF\">Description:</font><font color=\"#808FFF\"> "; sQk += "";sQR( sQ1[sQt][sQd], sQ1[sQt][sQj] ); sQk += "</font>"; } else { if( sQ1[sQt][sQd].length > 0 ) { sQk += "<br><font color=\"#808FFF\">Description:</font></font><font color=\"#808FFF\"> "; sQk += "" + sQ1[sQt][sQd]; } else {  } } sQk += "</font>"; sQk+= "<br>";sQk += ""; if(( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQb ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQR( sQ1[sQt][sQb], sQ1[sQt][sQj] ); } else { sQk += sQ1[sQt][sQb]; } sQk += ""; if( sQQ ) { sQ9( sQt ); } sQk += "<br>"; }; function sQV() { sQT = 0;if (! (sQn )) { for( var sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { if(( sQ1[sQ1[sQt][sQi]][sQg] > 0 ) && (( sQT < sQ90 ) || ( sQ90 == -1 ))) { sQU(sQ1[sQt][sQi], ++sQT); } }  } else { if( sQm == -4 ) { sQk += "<BR>ERROR: The wildcard character (*) must be at the beginning or end of the text."; } }  } function sQW() { sQk += "<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN\"> <html><!-- InstanceBegin template=\"/Templates/templSearch.dwt\" codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked=\"false\" --> <head> <link href=\"luxorstyles.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text/css\"> <meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1\"> <META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Expires\" CONTENT=\"0\"> <META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Pragma\" CONTENT=\"no-cache\"> <META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Cache-Control\" CONTENT=\"no-cache\"> <meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noarchive, index, follow\"> <script language=\"JavaScript\" src=\"search.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></scr"; sQk +="ipt> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name=\"doctitle\" --> <title>Finding what you want to know about Luxor</title> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name=\"head\" --> <meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"Luxor, Luxor Egypt, Luxor, Luxor holiday\"> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Results of a search on Luxor Travel Tips\"> <script language=\"JavaScript\" src=\"../search.js\" type=\"text/javascript\"></scr"; sQk +="ipt> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </head> <body onLoad=SMPSetFocus()> <div id=\"masthead\"> <div class=\"headerpics\"> <img src=\"headerpics/harpist_0858.jpg\" alt=\"Harpist tomb decoration\" width=\"75\" height=\"120\"> <img src=\"headerpics/nile-sunset-3798.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset over the Nile at Luxor\" width=\"74\" height=\"120\"> <img src=\"headerpics/felluca111-1198.jpg\" alt=\"Felluca on the Nile in Luxor\" width=\"75\" height=\"120\"> <img src=\"headerpics/luxor-temle-at-night-0919.jpg\" alt=\"Luxor Temple at night\" width=\"75\" height=\"120\"> </div> <div class=\"logo\"><img src=\"images/luxortraveltipsberlin224.gif\" alt=\"ltt logo\" width=\"224\" height=\"32\"> <p>helping you to enjoy your Luxor holiday</p> </div> <div class=\"separator15\"><!-x-></div> <div id=\"indexline\"> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name=\"searchbox\" --> <div class=\"index\"> <form name=formSearch action=\"javascript:SMPStartSearch() //\"> <input name=txtSearch>&nbsp; <input name=send type=submit value=Search> </form> </div> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> <div id=\"minimenu\"> <a href=\"admin/about.htm\" class=\"minimenu\">About us&nbsp;</a> | <a href=\"admin/feedback.htm\" class=\"minimenu\">Feedback&nbsp;</a> | <a href=\"admin/technical.htm\" class=\"minimenu\">Technical&nbsp;</a> | <a href=\"admin/privacy.htm\" class=\"minimenu\">Privacy Policy&nbsp;</a> | <a href=\"admin/feedback.htm\" class=\"minimenu\">Contact us </a> </div> </div> <div class=\"separator2\"><!-x-></div> </div> <!-- editable table to contain topmenu table and sidemenu / mainbody table --> <table width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\"> <tr> <td> <!-- tables in here --> <!-- topmenu --> <table width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"> <tr> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"index.html\" class=\"topmenu\">Front Page</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"essentials/visas.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Essentials</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"hotels/hotels.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Hotels</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"eating/restaurantoverview.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Eating</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"sights/sights.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Sights</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"photography/allowed.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Photography</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"maps/centralluxor.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Maps</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"holidays/booking.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Holidays</a></td> <td width=\"11%\"><a href=\"links/linkfrontpage.htm\" class=\"topmenu\">Links</a></td> </tr> </table> <!-- end of topmenu table --> <!-- division for sidemenu --> <ul id=\"sidenav\"> <li> <h6 class=\"sidenavtop\">In some other sections</h6> </li> <li>&nbsp;</li> <li> <h6 class=\"sidenavtop\">Essentials</h6> </li> <li> <h6 class=\"sidenavsubhead\"> Before you go </h6> </li> <li><a href=\"essentials/currency.htm\">Currency</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/vaccinations.htm\" >Inoculations / vaccinations </a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/visas.htm\">Visas</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/insurance.htm\">Insurance</a></li> <li><h6 class=\"sidenavsubhead\">Coming and going </h6></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/arriving.htm\">Arriving by air </a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/transfer.htm\">Transfer to the hotel</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/departing.htm\">Leaving</a></li> <li><h6 class=\"sidenavsubhead\">In Luxor</h6></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/caleche.htm\" >Caleches</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/children.htm\" >Children and babies</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/culture.htm\" >Culture </a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/other.htm\">Electricity</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/entertainment.htm\">Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/gettingaround.htm\">Getting Around</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/other.htm\">Getting your bearings</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/health.htm\">Health</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/insects.htm\">Insects etc</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/culture.htm\">Language </a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/market.htm\">Luxor Market</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/money.htm\">Money</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/news.htm\">News</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/phoning.htm\">Phoning</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/other.htm\">Road Safety</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/shopping.htm\">Shopping</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/sun.htm\">Sun</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/time.htm\">Time</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/tipping.htm\">Tipping</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/toilets.htm\">Toilets</a></li> <li><a href=\"essentials/weather.htm\">Weather</a></li> <li> <h6>Hotels</h6> </li> <li><a href=\"hotels/hotels.htm\">Hotel details and reviews</a> </li> <li> <h6>Eating</h6> </li> <li><a href=\"eating/waterfood.htm\" >Water and food safety</a></li> <li><a href=\"eating/restaurantoverview.htm\" >Restaurant reviews</a></li> <li> <h6>Sights</h6> <li><a href=\"sights/sights.htm\">Trips in and from Luxor</a></li> <li><a href=\"sights/entryfees.htm\">Entry fees</a></li> <li><a href=\"sights/agents.htm\">Tour agents in Luxor</a></li> <li> <h6>Photography</h6> </li> <li><a href=\"photography/allowed.htm\">Is photography allowed? </a></li> <li><a href=\"photography/phototips.htm\">Photo taking tips </a></li> <li><a href=\"photography/digitalvfilm.htm\">Digital v film </a></li> <li><a href=\"photography/camera.htm\">The camera </a></li> <li><a href=\"Pictures/HTML/index.htm\">Some photos </a></li> <li> <h6>Maps</h6> </li> <li><a href=\"maps/centralluxor.htm\">Central Luxor</a></li> <li><a href=\"maps/southluxor.htm\">South Luxor</a></li> <li><h6>Booking a holiday</h6></li> <li><a href=\"holidays/packageholidays.htm\">Booking a holiday</a></li> <li><h6>Links</h6></li> <li><a href=\"links/linkfrontpage.htm\">Information</a></li> <li><a href=\"holidays/bookinghotel.htm\">Hotels, flights, holidays </a></li> <li><a href=\"links/linkfrontpage.htm\">Products and services </a></li> </ul> <!-- end of sidemenu division --> <!-- division for mainbody --> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name=\"mainbody\" --> <div id=\"content\"> <h2 class=\"pagetitle\">Your search results and some search tips</h2> <div id=\"column18\"> <div class=\"infoboxtop\"> <h3>Search Tips</h3> <div class=\"separator4\"><!--x--></div> <h4>Wildcards</h4> <p class=\"bluetext\">You can use * as a 'wildcard' to represent any number of characters. </p> <p>So searching on <strong>cruise*</strong> will find <strong>cruise</strong>s and <strong>cruise</strong>boat. </p> <p class=\"bluetext\">You can use the * at the beginning or at the end of a word. </p> <p>So <strong>*boat</strong> will find cruise<strong>boat</strong>. </p> <p class=\"bluetext\">You can use the * at both ends of the word.</p> <p> So <strong>*boat*</strong> will find cruise<strong>boat</strong> and cruise<strong>boat</strong>s. </p> <h4>Multiple words</h4> <p class=\"bluetext\"> You can search using more than one word.</p> <p class=\"bluetext\"> If you do use more than word, the search will find those words as a phrase, but not as individual words.</p> <p> So searching for <strong>Snobs restaurant</strong> will find the phrase <strong>Snobs restaurant</strong>, but will not find <strong>Snobs</strong> or <strong>restaurant</strong> on their own. </p> <p>Of course, searching on <strong>restaurant</strong> will find Snobs <strong>restaurant</strong> and all other restaurants. </p></p> </div> </div> <div id=\"centrebox\"> <div class=\"infoboxtop\"> <h3>Your search results</h3> <p><strong>You can now: </strong></p> <p> click on the (blue) heading of a search result to go to that page. </p> <p> click <a href=\"search.html\">here</a> or use the search box above to search again.</p> <p>use the menu on the left, or the yellow menu along the top, to go elsewhere on the site. </p> </div>"; sQk += "";sQk += "<p>You searched for <b>" + sQ98 +".</b>"; sQk += "" }; function sQY() { if(sQT==0) { sQk += "<p>No pages matched your search.&nbsp;&nbsp;"; } else { var sQA = sQT==1 ? "page shown." : "pages shown."; sQk += "<p>" + sQT + " " + sQA + "&nbsp;"; } sQk += "<a href=\"javascript:history.go(-1)\">Search Again</a></p>"; sQk += "</div> </div> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </td> </tr> </table> <!-- end of editable table --> <!-- basemenu --> <div class=\"separator\"><hr noshade></div> <div id=\"basenav\"> <ol id=\"basenav\"> <li><a href=\"index.html\">Front Page </a>&#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"essentials/visas.htm\"> Essentials</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"hotels/hotels.htm\"> Hotels</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"eating/restaurantoverview.htm\">Eating</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"sights/sights.htm\"> Sights </a>&#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"photography/allowed.htm\"> Photography</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"maps/centralluxor.htm\"> Maps </a>&#8226; </li> <li><a href=\"holidays/booking.htm\">Holidays </a>&#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"links/linkfrontpage.htm\"> Links</a></li> </ol> <ol id=\"basenav\"> <li><a href=\"admin/about.htm\">About us</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"admin/feedback.htm\">Feedback</a> &#8226;</li> <li><a href=\"admin/technical.htm\">Technical</a> &#8226; </li> <li><a href=\"admin/privacy.htm\">Privacy Policy</a> &#8226; </li> <li><a href=\"admin/feedback.htm\">Contact us</a></li> </ol> </div> <!-- end of basemenu --> <div class=\"smalltext\" align=\"center\"> ©2004 - 2009. LuxorTravelTips </div> </body> <!-- InstanceEnd --></html> "; } function sQ11() { var sQ23 = sQk;document.open(); document.write(sQ23); document.close(); } function sQ03( sQy ) { var sQqh="";for( var sQt=0; sQt<sQy.length; sQt++) { if( sQy.charAt(sQt)=="<" ) { sQqh += "&lt;"; } else if( sQy.charAt(sQt)==">" ) { sQqh += "&gt;"; } else if( sQy.charAt(sQt)=="\"" ) { sQqh += "&quot;"; } else { sQqh += sQy.charAt(sQt); } } return( sQqh ); } function sQ93() { sQm = sQdl.indexOf("*"); if( sQm == 0 ) { sQm = -2; sQn = false; } else if (sQm == sQdl.length -1) { sQm = -3; sQn = false; } else if (sQm > 0 ) { sQm = -4;sQn = true; } else { sQn = false; } if ( sQdl.indexOf("*") != sQdl.lastIndexOf("*") ) { if( sQm == -2 ) { if( sQdl.lastIndexOf("*") == sQdl.length - 1 ) { sQm = -5; } else { sQm = -4; sQn = true; } } }if( ( sQm == -2 ) || (sQm == -5 )) { sQdl = sQdl.substring( 1, sQdl.length ); } if( ( sQm == -3 ) || (sQm == -5 )) { sQdl = sQdl.substring( 0, sQdl.length - 1 ); } } function SMPStartSearch() { var sQv;sQdl=document.formSearch.txtSearch.value;if (( sQdl.length > 0 )&&( sQdl != "*" )) { sQk = "";sQdl = sQ03(sQdl);sQ98 = sQdl; sQ93();if( sQ17 ) { sQv = sQdl; } else { sQv = sQdl.toUpperCase(); }if (sQ45 != 0) { sQ41=sQv.split(' '); } else { sQ41=sQv.split(); }if ( !(sQn ) ) { for( var sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { sQ4( sQt, sQv ); } sQ6(); } sQW();sQV();sQY();sQ11(); } } 

//  End of Search Maker Pro script.