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Hi All

I am almost certain that I will be going to Egypt and Jordan this October from 30th October until 17th November.

I have a rough Itinerary but would like some help and criticisms:

Fly to Cairo on 30th October.
Stay in Cairo for 4 nights, Hostel Cost £5.00
Make my way to Petra on 3rd November
Stay in Petra for 3 nights, Hostel Cost £17.00
Make my way back to Cairo on 7th November
Stay in Cairo for 1 night, Hostel Cost £2.50
Make my way to Dahab on 8th November
Stay in Dahab for 3 nights, Hostel Cost £17.00
Make my way to Sharm el Sheikh on 11th November
Stay in Sharm for 3 nights, Hotel Cost £80.00
Make my way to Luxor on 14th November
Stay in Luxor for 2 nights, Hostel Cost £5.00
Make my way back to Cairo on 16th November
Stay in Cairo for 1 night, Hostel Cost £2.50
Fly home to England on 17th November.

Total Cost so far: £404

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I have some questions:

1) How much will all these transfers cost me? I can't see how to get to some of these places on seat61...are there buses available?

2) How much will food cost me for the entire time that I'm there?

3) What is there to do in these various places? I know I need to research it, but some ideas would be appreciated as well (no need to tell me about Diving, I hate the sea).

4) Any additional costs that I haven't thought about?

Help me please, I really want this one to work as so many of my ideas don't seem to work!!

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by DreamerHelen:

Stay in Dahab for 3 nights, Hostel Cost £17.00
Stay in Sharm for 3 nights, Hotel Cost £80.00
Stay in Luxor for 2 nights, Hostel Cost £5.00

(no need to tell me about Diving, I hate the sea).

If you hate the sea (and even if you don't) the number of nights allocated to the places I have quoted above is a near-crime. Sharm is a beach resort; someone else may disagree, but I can't think of a single good reason to go there. If you don't like the sea, even Dahab will be a boring place for you. I'd say skip Sharm entirely and either skip Dahab or make it, say, 2 nights, and that gives you an extra 4-6 nights to play with. This will allow you to do a combination of the following things (or all of them if you really save 6 nights): Aswan + Abu Simbel, felucca ride from Aswan to Luxor, and an extra night or two in Luxor. That's what I'd do, at any rate...

Fly to Cairo 30/10/06
Stay in Cairo 5 nights from 30/10 - 4/11
Get to Aqaba in Jordan, arrive 4/11, stay one night until 5/11
Arrive in Petra 5/11, stay one night until 6/11
Get to Amman on 6/11, stay 4 nights until 10/11
Fly back to Cairo on 10/11, arrive in Cairo and stay one night until 11/11
Get to Sharm el Sheikh on an Overnight Bus, arrive 12/11
Stay in Sharm el Sheikh for 2 nights from 12/11 until 14/11
Take the Bus back to Cairo and then go to Luxor on 14/11, arrive 14/11 and stay for two nights
Get back to Cairo on 16/11 and stay in Cairo for one night and then fly home

COSTS

Return Flight from London to Cairo 30/10-17/11 £275.00
Single Flight from Amman to Cairo 10/11 £115.70
Transfers to the Airport for Whole Trip (Inc UK) £35.00
Transfer to Aqaba, Jordan on 4/11 £60.00
Transfer to Petra from Aqaba on 5/11 £5.00
Transfer to Amman from Petra on 6/11 £10.00
Transfer to Sharm el Sheikh from Cairo on 11/11 £6.00
Transfer to Luxor from Sharm el Sheikh on 14/11 (Bus to Cairo and then to Luxor) £15.00
Transfer to Cairo from Luxor on 16/11 £10.00
Hostel in Cairo on 30/10 for 5 nights £6.00
Hostel in Aqaba on 4/11 for 1 night £50.00
Hostel in Petra on 5/11 for 1 night £8.00
Hostel in Cairo on 10/11 for 1 night £2.00
Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh on 12/11 for 2 nights £60.00
Hostel in Luxor on 14/11 for 2 nights £6.00
Hostel in Cairo on 16/11 for 1 night £2.00
Food for the Whole Trip £100.00
Travel Insurance £25.00
Other (entrance fees, etc) £190.00
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TOTAL COST OF TRIP £1,000.00

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Does the above look reasonable for a 19 day trip to Egypt and Jordan?

I have guessed at some of the Costs, especially the Food Cost and some of the Transfers. The "Other" Cost is just what is left out of the £1000 budget...I know I probably won't need that much, which is fine but I'd like to have it there in case I need it - Will it be enough to pay for Visa Fees and things like that?

Also, anyone know of a Cheap place to stay in Aqaba, Jordan? I have to stop there on my way to Petra, or so seat61 says.

I have ordered the Lonely Planet Guide to Egypt but I would still like some ideas of things to do, especially in Cairo as I will be spending a large amount of time there.

Also, I haven't budgeted for a Hostel/Hotel in Amman because I will be staying with a friend so that is not a problem.

Thanks for all the help so far!! I hope I can make this work this time...

Edit: Ooops... Looks like this was a pretty old thread I was replying to (came across it on google.

quote:

Originally posted by DreamerHelen:

Also, anyone know of a Cheap place to stay in Aqaba, Jordan? I have to stop there on my way to Petra, or so seat61 says.

check hostelworld.com

quote:

Originally posted by DreamerHelen: I have ordered the Lonely Planet Guide to Egypt but I would still like some ideas of things to do, especially in Cairo as I will be spending a large amount of time there.

Your Lonely Planet should easily give you some ideas. Some obvious suggestions: Egyptian Museum, Pyramids, Islamic Cairo perhaps, wondering around, chilling in a traditional coffee house etc.
Check wikitravel