Although we only spent one night at the hotel we were collected FREE of charge from the airport. The triple room was large, clean and efficiently airconditioned, a major requirement in 49 degrees heat! As we only had one full day to spend in Cairo we asked at reception that a guide be arranged for us to show us the sights. Our guide, Ali Radi, was extremely knowledgable and completely indefatigable. It cost us a mere 400 Egyptian pounds for a full eight hour tour for three people of the Giza Pyramids, the Sakkara Pyramids (a fair distance from Cairo), the Citadel AND Old Cairo. This included an airconditioned mini bus for all our luggage which came with us as we were dropped off at 5 pm directly at the airport and a driver. I think that there was some intention of taking us to a perfume or papyrus factory which is a good source of additional commission for guides but we were firm from the outset that we had no interest in either of these activities and it was a non issue. We also were lucky enough to have a fabulous guide at the Egyptian Museum on the previous day for 210 Egyptian Pounds for three hours. He was treated with great respect by museum staff and is apparently something of an institution there, having been on their staff for some time in an academic position. His name is...Although we only spent one night at the hotel we were collected FREE of charge from the airport. The triple room was large, clean and efficiently airconditioned, a major requirement in 49 degrees heat! As we only had one full day to spend in Cairo we asked at reception that a guide be arranged for us to show us the sights. Our guide, Ali Radi, was extremely knowledgable and completely indefatigable. It cost us a mere 400 Egyptian pounds for a full eight hour tour for three people of the Giza Pyramids, the Sakkara Pyramids (a fair distance from Cairo), the Citadel AND Old Cairo. This included an airconditioned mini bus for all our luggage which came with us as we were dropped off at 5 pm directly at the airport and a driver. I think that there was some intention of taking us to a perfume or papyrus factory which is a good source of additional commission for guides but we were firm from the outset that we had no interest in either of these activities and it was a non issue. We also were lucky enough to have a fabulous guide at the Egyptian Museum on the previous day for 210 Egyptian Pounds for three hours. He was treated with great respect by museum staff and is apparently something of an institution there, having been on their staff for some time in an academic position. His name is Heiba Ali Heiba. I have contact details for both guides and if you write to me on lynda7@telkomsa.net I will be happy to communicate them to anyone interested. The only small negative was that the bell boy tried to extract extra money inappropriately by interfering in our plans but a complaint to reception rectified that immediately.More
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