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[always_verma]

Hi all,
We (4 adults and a 14 month old infant) are planning to tour cairo on 24th-26th October. I have mailed many travel agencies and tour guides for my program.

The final program is shaping with below places:
The Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster mosque Coptic Cairo (The Hanging church, Abu Serge church and Ben Ezra Synagogue), Old Cairo and Khan El Khalili Market
Sakkara & the Step Pyramid, Dahshour (the Bent and the Red Pyramids) and Memphis
Giza Pyramids & the Sphinx, The Egyptian museum of antiquities.

Best price i have got is from www.flyingcarpettours.com. Its 80 Euro ( i.e. 650 EGP or 117 USD) per person including:
All taxes etc, Entrance fees, AC car for transfers including airport services of meet and assist, english speaking guide, no lunches or drinks, no entrance to mummies room or inside Gizy Pyramids.

Can you please let me know
1. If the price is fine?
2. Has anyone heard of this travel agents and if they are good?

Regards,
Vishal

[starlagurl]

Does that include hotels?

[always_verma]

Does that include hotels?

No.. Hotel and airtickets already booked by me

[starlagurl]

Oh... it seems a little pricey to me, but I guess you are paying for convenience.

[always_verma]

What should be the reasonable cost as per you?
Do you know any travel company that can give better pricing?

[starlagurl]

Well it seems reasonable I suppose.

I would attempt to do it on my own on public transportation, etc.

[jeremystravels]

Check out sites like wikitravel for the normal entry prices for all those places, and then compare that to the convenience of the tour. I have them all at home on my tickets from when I went and can type them up later if you want.

A full day taxi from a Cairo hotel to Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur will cost about 250 pounds [$50] split between however many people you have. Probably more expensive if you get a larger van. A taxi across Cairo can be about 15 pounds [$3] and slightly more expensive to go to the Pyramids, up to 50 pounds I think [$10] - one way. You can get a taxi from the airport for as little as 45 pounds [$8] if you are persistent.

If I had to estimate, you are probably spending at least $25 extra for convenience than it would be on your own. It could be much closer to $40 per person even. A lot more if any of you have student IDs because most all sites in Egypt will give 50% off for students.

[always_verma]

Thanks a lot guys...

[always_verma]

Thanks a lot guys...

Just some back of envelop calculation
As you suggested Taxi --- 250 *3 = 750 pounds (ofcouse i can save this by not having taxi for all the days)
Divided by 4 it would be - 185 Pounds or I take 160 considering that we dont take it for full day for all days including airport
I checked ticket costs It whould be around 350 Pounds per person.
So total cost of 500 pounds per person.

So i am paying like 140 Pounds extra per person. i.e. to the guide and tour company. As you rightly pointed out 25 USD
Or in short 100 USD to the guide to be with us for all three days.
I just need to recheck the ticket costs as i am unsure which all places they would take us in.

Will keep you guys posted.

But as I summarize points from above
- Its much cheaper to do trip on own. would save us 24 USD per person without guide
- This travel company is giving reasonable price.

[jeremystravels]

It is really easy to get taxis to go across town anywhere around tourist sites in Cairo, so that large sum is only for the day trip to Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur because those are so far outside of the city center. You'd likely only have to pay that 250 pounds one day, then the rest 15 pounds per trip one way through the city except to the pyramids. No need to hire a taxi driver while you are in Cairo for those sites.

The one thing you also would need to know is that the extra money will go for a guided tour, meaning the person will give you information as well, which may be worth it to you. I think for the most part you could do all the complexes on their own since there is enough information provided in English, but that is my opinion.

[smileflive]

in my opinion going to a new place i have never visit it before needs someone to show me around to save my time esp that Cairo is very big city and i don't want to waste my time searching where i have to go and what i have to take to reach these places.