BootsnAll Travel Community

I am, for the first time, traveling abroad..for about 2 weeks, so far..or rather I will be by the end of April. I have chosen to hit Cairo, Kuwait and Dubai. It'd be really great to get some tips from you folks who are travel-vets..hehe. Best fares, cheap places to stay, etc....I'm running on a tight budget of about $2500-2700, which while tight, is decent for what I want...I have looked about and the prices for air, hotels and such is a bit less than that. Any tips you can give would be awesome. Thanx

A little more on what I wanna do...I wanna start in cairo for a few days (check out the stuff there), then if cheap enough go to luxor, then to Kuwait for a few days and then dubai for a few days...I guess I wanna get as much time there as I can..hehe. I have already been reading some of the posts here about cheap hotels and such.very good info. But buses, trains and such between Cairo, Luxor, Kuwait and Dubai? Havent seen posts on cheapie hotels in Kuwait or Dubai yet..alhtough just this month the Hotel Ibis Salmaya is opening in Kuwait (Motel-6 equivelant, same parent company too, Accor..hehe).

My biggest suggestion for a short trip on a tight budget is to pick a focus. You're going for two weeks...hitting three countries is stretching yourself thin, particularly since Egypt does not border the other two.

To get from Egypt to the UAE or Kuwait, you'll have to fly. Well, it's probably possible to get there overland, but you'd have to go through Saudi Arabia, which requires a transit visa (don't know the details, but I think "expensive" is probably a reasonable assumption), plus the cost of a ferry across the Red Sea, so, again, pricey. That's before the time factor...I think you might be underestimating the size of the arab peninsula, not to mention Egypt...the bus just to get from Luxor to Dahab on the Sinai is 17 hours. Between Luxor and Cairo is easy enough, there are several overnight trains. Getting a ticket directly can be a challenge, though, as most travel agencies pay baksheesh to make sure there will always be tickets available to them. You may find it easiest to get someone from your hotel or hostel to arrange that. People I met that tried to book it independantly talked to several ticket agents who told them the train was full before eventually finding the right person to bribe.

Given your budget restrictions, I think you're going to have to either go to the gulf states, or stick to Egypt. Again, budget constraints make Egypt the more logical choice of the two...but Egypt's kind of a disaster of a country, and I think for a first trip, would be a little overwhelming. I don't know enough about the gulf states to really comment on them, and there isn't a lot on these boards largely because they're higher cost destinations. Jordan or Syria might provide an in between option if that's what you're looking for - they're not crazy like Egypt, but not expensive like the gulf.

I am hitting Kuwait and Dubai in addition because I am considering work in those countries..If I can find the right position. Although I am cutting my Kuwait time down a couple days due to schedule conflicts. I know there are buses available between Egypt and Kuwait (it's mentioned on Kuwait's site)..hehe. Again, I am definately taking all tips and suggestions

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I am hitting Kuwait and Dubai in addition because I am considering work in those countries..If I can find the right position. Although I am cutting my Kuwait time down a couple days due to schedule conflicts. I know there are buses available between Egypt and Kuwait (it's mentioned on Kuwait's site)..hehe. Again, I am definately taking all tips and suggestions

That makes more sense knowing you're looking into the working opportunities.

I'm not surprised there's a bus, but you will still need a Saudi transit visa, and it will still take a significant amount of time to get there...I'd guess somewhere around 2 days or so. So I suppose my comment that you must fly is an exageration, but I still think it would be necessary to make a 2 week trip work. If you go with the bus option, be sure to allow for the time, and have the visa in advance. A multiple entry one if your plan for getting between Kuwait and Dubai is also by bus.

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Again, I am definately taking all tips and suggestions

My only first hand experience in your intended destinations is Egypt, so if you have specific questions, I can certainly help you out, but just dispensing general advice is difficult.

The only questions off the top of me head are. There is a bus from Cairo to Luxor? How much is it, etc..? I've scoped some of the lodgings suggested in another thread and they seem affordable. So, really I guess my question is in the travel and such between Luxor and Cairo (as far as any egypt specifics, atm)

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So, really I guess my question is in the travel and such between Luxor and Cairo

I went by train. I'm sure there is a bus...sometimes you'll run into problems with the police, though...there's very strict rules about where tourists are allowed to go and in what numbers. In general, tourists are supposed to all be on three trains between the two cities. (Did I mention Egypt was a messed up country?) You can try busses, though. I'm sure it exists, and if you can get on, the odds are good that they won't pull you off.

As for price, and I couldn't give you the exact price, since I booked everything for Egypt in one go. But everything in Egypt is cheap...I paid just over $300 per person for a package that included accomodation for 3 weeks, several tours with guides (though not entrace fees), transportation around the country (Cairo-Bahariya-Cairo-Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan-Luxor-Dahab), and a fair number of meals. So I couldn't give you an exact price, aside from "cheap." My guess would be around $20, tops.

Thats right...train..i remember reading that,not sure why i thought bus..hehe. I assume they are easy to find? For Cairo, I was thinking of the Husa Pyramids hotel, since it's withing walking distance to giza..but I'd like to see the museum and such too, without much taxi use (I know some arabic, but not real fluent yet)..any suggestions?

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For Cairo, I was thinking of the Husa Pyramids hotel, since it's withing walking distance to giza..but I'd like to see the museum and such too, without much taxi use (I know some arabic, but not real fluent yet)..any suggestions?

I'm not familiar with that hotel, but I did a quick google, and the website I found said it started at €93 per night. That doesn't really seem to jive with a $2500 for two weeks budget.

I think it depends on what your standards of accomodation are. It's easy to find a bed in Cairo for less than $4 per night, though naturally check reviews before booking, since quality varies. We stayed at the Canadian Hostel, where a private room with shared bath costs $15 per night, and it included airport pickup and free transportation to the pyramids (though tipping the driver is expected and quite reasonable, since they don't make much otherwise). It's also about 2 blocks from the Egyptian museum. I was pleased enough with the place, though I'm sure that as a first place to stay in a third world country, it could be a little bit of a shock to the system.

Either way, you can't get to and from the pyramids without a taxi, and it's usually better to have a taxi that's arranged by the hotel than one that you just hailed on the street, since Cairo taxi drivers are not known for their honesty. The metro system in Cairo is great, cheap, and surprisingly clean. Giza station is on the way to the pyramids, and there's also stations downtown and in the coptic area.

Husa is about $43/night from what I've found...though I'll check the canadian hostel too