BootsnAll Travel Community

Just kidding, $145 dollars not the budget, but I thought it might attract views out of shock. The real question is regarding a $1000 dollar budget for Egypt (32 days, all major sites), as well as a $300 budget for Jordan (8 days, wadi rum, petra, and amman). Are these numbers realistic? I understand that they are probably on the lower end and would call for below average accomodations and a lot of street vendors, but do you think it is do-able? Thanks to all for any contribution.

I think the Egypt budget is doable, particularly if you have an ISIC to keep admission costs down, but I'd try to get another $100 for your time in Jordan...it's a mid-priced country, and nothing is truly cheap. The main attractions are some of the most expensive things to do, as well - you need a guide in Wadi Rum, and the admission to Petra is outrageous by local standards. I spent 30.78 JD/person/day in Jordan, which I'd suggest is lower than you can expect to spend, since there were two of us travelling together, and our budget was helped by spending several days spending next to nothing in Dana, where a room and board for two people cost 13 JD, and there was nothing to do. (On top of being cheap, this was also a highlight of my trip.) Unfortunately, your timetable doesn't leave time for that.

Keeping costs down in Egypt has more to do with being a good negotiator than anything else. It's cheap country, but getting a bad price on one thing can really throw your day's budget off. If you don't have any experience in haggling, I'd suggest padding your budget a bit...my spending rate in Egypt of E£228.09/day would work out to $43/day (or $1388 for 32 days) at today's exchange rate. However, I'm not the best negotiator, and I did go with the option of booking a tour in Cairo to arrange travel around the country (though this did only cost $300 for all transportation and accomodation, plus a few meals, for about 2 weeks)

Your budget is tight, particularly once the cost of getting between Egypt and Jordan is factored in. It's workable, but if you can, try to have around $400 or so in backup money, so it's not a disaster if you go over budget.

good stuff, much appreciated.

$145 is really not that unrealistic. Although it is for your plans. I met someone who did $200 for 29 days (all Cairo and Alex) and there was, I think, $20 leftover at the end. Honestly, there are suburban hostels in Cairo that go for $2.50 plus three meals $0.50 each, the metro then is $0.10/ride*4/day is around $4.40/day--so then you're under $145. I think I would enjoy doing that for maybe two weeks sometime. Its just amazing to walk through the streets and neighborhoods away from the center. You meet tons of people and learn their stories, etc.

In Egypt you can live off of $10/day easily if you aren't too picky about food and hotels ($5 does get you a rooftop single room in a 2* hotel with a huge outdoor area, internet cafe, and honest, helpful english speaking staff a few blocks from the Nile in the center of Cairo: Hotel/Hostel Dahab is the best). For $0.50 you can get lunch in an Egyptian fast-food place. Water should run about $0.50 a bottle I spent an average of $11/day in Cairo but I did party some and fell into some tourist traps. Attractions are what add up, that and taking taxis/tours. You really can get around all of that, except some of the entrance fees. (Even then there are ways is you ask the right people.)

I guess "all major sites" is still a bit ambiguous. Transport between towns can add up--its a huge country. Admission fees for tourists aren't below what you'd pay at home. Sinai ain't as cheap either. Anyhow I think that if you are safe as long as you stick to 2 star hotels. Always know how much you should be paying both in terms of price and conversion rate--I saw a woman buy the same set of ten postcards for 200 Pounds($35) that I bought for 1 Pound($0.20). If the price is too high walk away. Egypt has some of the most sincere hospitable people (especailly if you escape the tourist messes) that will insist on paying your bus fare, paying for your dinner, tea or shisha. I couldn't believe that complete strangers kept doing this for me. I always tried to pay for them instead or at least myself, but it didn't work that way. There are also those people who will abuse kindness to try and extort you. Go with your instincts.

Just because things are so much cheaper than at home doesn't mean you have to use them. Maybe the taxi would only cost $3, but the bus is only $.10 and after ten bus rides that's still only $1. After ten taxi rides though thats $30. The same is true for food. Sure, eating out with street food/Egyptian fast food can be about $1/meal or less, yet you could instead buy a lot more fresh fruit, nuts, bread and so on for that $1 that would be more than just one meal. I guess I am saying its easy to spend a little more money because you are getting more for that money there, but its also possible to get by on extremely little money, relative comfortably.

So yes. $1300 total is plenty but try to spend less in Egypt (at least at first) so that you have more for Jordan.

Oh Brambles. Egypt can be that cheap IF you know the system. I can haggle (though I don't like to), I'm an experienced traveler, and I can speak a bit of Arabic ... but none of that helped in Egypt.

That Egyptian street food? That felafel should cost <$1. But if you don't set the price ahead of time, you might get a bill for $20 or more. Boom there goes your budget. To really budget in Egypt means you have to be on your toes non-stop. The 1000 I think should be plenty, though!

I agree that you want a bit more for Jordan. I thought Petra was fairly priced, and Wadi Musa is very affordable, but a decent back-country camel or hiking tour of Rum will cost you. There's no bargaining in Rum - a cooperative sets the price. Amman is a city, with city costs. There are some great restaurants you really will want to try. Food in Jordan and Egypt is rather average overall ... but Amman and Madaba have some excellent places to grind. You'll want to after 30 days of street food!

Hmmm... I didn't know the system though, and I easily lived off than $11/day my first week in Cairo. I went to the Pyramids and other attractions. Hell, I even rode a camel, not recommended but I didn't spend much money.

I landed in Cairo and acted as I would've backpacking in any other country. I spoke no Arabic. I had no guidebook. I had never been outside America and Europe before and I had not the slightest impression of the city. So I asked someone how to take the bus. They told me. I went to the ATM. I found out that our Arabic numerals are very different than theirs, I asked someone to help me find the right bus. It turned out they were wrong. Someone else helped me. I got the the city center. I went into one hotel asked the price and looked at the rooms. I went into a second one and asked if they had any rooms for 1/2 of the price I was given at the first hotel. They did. I took one. ... and so on...

I just acted natural. I ignored the sales people as I ignore those people trying to sell you a new phone at the mall.

I looked where there are lots of local people going to eat. Most local people are not rich, so that will be a good value.

...maybe I just had more than my share of luck.