See it all in 6 days in Egypt

Ah, Cairo!:
In this bustling city, we stayed at a fascinating relic of the colonial era, the Windsor Hotel which set the mood for exploration (Day 1). Visiting the near deserted bent and step pyramids before heading to the Great pyramids on horseback was a definite highlight (Day 2).

On to Luxor!:
An overnight train took us to the Luxor and Karnak Temples (Day 3) unearthed in the last century and underground in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings (and Queens!)(Day 4). Although the highlight was a 3-hour sail on a felucca including dinner on-board during the sunset!

Return to Cairo:
Exploring the narrow streets of Coptic and Islamic Cairo--including the City of the Dead was followed up by King Tut's treasures at the Cairo Museum and time to shop in the bazaar. (Day 5 & 6)

Quick Tips:

Take it easy:
The pace of life is slower in Egypt and you'll enjoy yourself more if you let someone else do the work. Our tours to the pyramids and the entire trip to Luxor were arranged by the Windsor Hotel in Cairo after we arrived. For around per person, we had our own van/driver/guide for the pyramids/temples/tombs, overnight trains to/from Luxor, overnight accommodation in 4* hotel in Luxor, and a van to/from the hotels and the train station.

Your stomach can limit your adventure: Trying foods on the street can be a delight, however, at a great risk. Steering clear of everything that is not piping-hot or that you didn't open/peel yourself, can keep you from spending your trip suffering in the hotel. Bringing granola bars to snack on proved useful.

Tipping:
Try to collect as much small change as possible since you will want to tip all the people who carry your bags, give you tours of mosques, etc a couple of egyptian pounds for each person. Tipping the tour guide even if you've already paid a fixed price for the tour is also expected.

Best Way To Get Around:

In Cairo:
We took a taxi to/from the airport, but successfully used the metro to get around the city. Negotiating cab fares before you get in the car is often a good idea. Get the hotel's business card in case the driver doesn't speak English. The front car on the metro is reserved for women and children. It is much less crowded so use it if you can.

In Luxor:
Taxi is the only real option, try to arrange something at the hotel. The temples are within walking distance of most of the hotels on the Nile. A more fun option in the city is the calash (horse drawn carriage) which can be hired for a few dollars to take you to the temple light show and even wait for you to take you back to the hotel.

This French hotel chain is a 4-star modern hotel well-located in central Luxor along the Nile and within walking distance/short taxi ride from the Luxor temple and Karnak temples.

The hotel caters to a mostly European crowd. It's a bit unnerving to have the metal detectors beep every time you go in, but after past violence against tourists most hotels have guards and metal detectors. The lobby is quite spacious with a semi-ancient Egyptian theme. There is a large bar/restaurant on one side with an outdoor patio with nightly life entertainment. There is also an extensive gift shop area on the other side with an exchange bureau and another restaurant. Upstairs there is yet another restaurant where a large buffet breakfast serves both American, European, and Egyptain fares. There is also a disco on the first floor but we did not try it.

In the back of the hotel, there is a decent size pool complete with a shallower end offering water volley ball. There are also sunbeds and various small areas for all sorts of sports from darts to horseshoes to badminton. There are also two more restaurants here with inside and outside seating. The entire back area is fenced in by high wooden fences for privacy and possibly safety.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable. We had a large double bed, desk, dresser, tv, little fridge, bathroom and balcony (although our view was on to the back which was not very tempting). The decor of the room was limited but the enormous amount of space made it pleasant without character. This hotel was a great place to relax in the middle of our whirlwind tour.

Our stay at this hotel was arranged through the Windsor Hotel in Cairo and included in the package. Rates off the internet suggest that a double goes for around $65-$100 per night if you catch some promotion. Breakfast was included in our deal and was well worth getting up for since there were cereals, bagels, fruits, hot foods like eggs and sausages, and even fool (a sort of bean mixture eaten in pita bread).

The Windsor Hotel is not only accommodation but part of Egyptain history as well. This 3-star hotel in central Cairo is an old colonial-relic with all the charm to take you back to the height of the glory of the British Empire in the early part of the 20th century. Although the lobby is unassuming, the old fashioned-lift takes you up to the bar area which is a large and pleasant room for taking a break. The hodge-podge of old woooden and upholstered furniture gives a timely rustic feel to the place and the breeze through the windows gives you a feeling on being in the city but away from the hustle. On the second floor there is also internet access.

The rooms are large and have high ceilings and long, heavy, red drapes. The bed frames are metal and the mattresses sink in the middle giving you a feeling of all the people who've slept there before you. We had a 1930's black phone in the room, an old wooden wardrobe, a sink, and a shower in our room. We shared a toilet and tub down the hall with a few other rooms. Breakfast was included in the room rate and consisted of as much tea/coffee, bread, butter, and jam that we could consume. Not exactly filling.

Although you give up some comforts/conveniences of the ritzy chain hotels along the Nile, the Windsor would still be my top pick because of its charm. The Shephard's Hotel made famous in colonial times and in literature from/about that time was burnt down in the 1950s leaving the Windsor, which also suffered some but the only evidence you see of this now is in a slightly charred painting in the breakfast room, as one of the last relics of colonial rule. The owners, who live part time in the US and part time in Cairo, are very lovely people and have tried hard to preserve the old-world charm.

More info can be found at the hotel website: http://www.windsorcairo.com/.