Did you get into the new Cairo museum?This ABD was my first and it was amazing. The guides and Egyptologist were fantastic. We saw so very much. Definitely jam-packed. Ask me anything!
This does not sound normal. When I checked in for my Danube River cruise, we had 3 Guides there to meet us, and they had a very obvious table set up with signs. And the hotel folks knew exactly what was going on, and had informed us about it the day before. My guess is that something happened, and things did not go as planned. But only ABD (or the Guides at the time) could tell you that.How organized and well thought out did the trip feel?
For example, on the first day of our Danube River Cruise, we went down to the hotel lobby where the guide would meet the group and take a bus to the boat...but there was no guide there. the hotel staff didn't have any information. After waiting twenty minutes, we asked a few people and found out that they were also ABD folks. None of them knew what to do. After another ten minutes, we saw someone with an ABD jacket who was checking people in, but with no sign, announcement, or indication other than her clipboard and jacket with a small logo. Eventually, an hour after we were suppsoed to meet we checked in, then lined up, then got told to sit down, then lined up again (this time outside the hotel) and got on the bus.
While I’ve not done this specific trip, I’d suggest frequently checking the US Dept of State international travel information. Here is a link to the page for Egypt. There are sections for what’s required for entry, exit, vaccines, travel warnings, etc. Things can still change so often or quickly that what was applicable for one trip might be different for later departures.Hi there! We are going this December! I'm worried that I might be missing something regrading vaccines, boosters, other shots needed for travel to Egypt that I'm not thinking of yet (malaria, yellow fever, etc). Obviously we all have the covid vax, but not all have the boosters. My understanding is that boosters are not required. I know Disney will help take care of our visas once we arrive, but are there documents or requirements I need besides a passport to fulfill those requirements? I keep thinking I'm forgetting something...was there anything extra you needed to do that I might not be aware of? If so, I want to get it completed ASAP. I'm assuming I just need our vax cards and our passports. Thanks for any info you might have!
Thanks so much for the link! I truly appreciate your help and I will definitely keep an eye on this page! I keep researching all of this on my own, and the answers are coming up good, but I'm so afraid I'm going to miss something. Rules are always changing, so I understand why ABD doesn't and cannot really give solid advice and info for each destination. It stresses me to think I'm forgetting or overlooking something in my research, and that it's all up to me to figure out requirements. Not to mention looking up info for the countries for my connecting flights. If anyone knows of any hidden pitfalls, things I should watch out for, things I need to complete etc, please let me know! I am so grateful and so excited to go on this journey!While I’ve not done this specific trip, I’d suggest frequently checking the US Dept of State international travel information. Here is a link to the page for Egypt. There are sections for what’s required for entry, exit, vaccines, travel warnings, etc. Things can still change so often or quickly that what was applicable for one trip might be different for later departures.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...l-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html
How much bus travel was involved? Did you find that Disney took care of the little details - like bringing toilet paper to museums that didn't have it? How much waiting in line did you do? Was there anything you felt Disney missed?
How organized and well thought out did the trip feel?
For example, on the first day of our Danube River Cruise, we went down to the hotel lobby where the guide would meet the group and take a bus to the boat...but there was no guide there. the hotel staff didn't have any information. After waiting twenty minutes, we asked a few people and found out that they were also ABD folks. None of them knew what to do. After another ten minutes, we saw someone with an ABD jacket who was checking people in, but with no sign, announcement, or indication other than her clipboard and jacket with a small logo. Eventually, an hour after we were suppsoed to meet we checked in, then lined up, then got told to sit down, then lined up again (this time outside the hotel) and got on the bus.
I was on the 7/5 tour and felt it was very organized and well done. I had a couple of complaints, but they were minor in the grand scheme of things. I did not do any other vaccines as they were not required at the time, but I know one of the families did. The bus travel was what I expected to get to and from locations from the hotel or ship (30 minutes or less typically I think?), but there are several internal flights - we were Egyptian airport security pros by the end of the trip.Hi there! We are going this December! I'm worried that I might be missing something regrading vaccines, boosters, other shots needed for travel to Egypt that I'm not thinking of yet (malaria, yellow fever, etc). Obviously we all have the covid vax, but not all have the boosters. My understanding is that boosters are not required. I know Disney will help take care of our visas once we arrive, but are there documents or requirements I need besides a passport to fulfill those requirements? I keep thinking I'm forgetting something...was there anything extra you needed to do that I might not be aware of? If so, I want to get it completed ASAP. I'm assuming I just need our vax cards and our passports. Thanks for any info you might have!
We got 11 different ones - one for each day. So fun.Ooh, what pins did you get?
I did not bring my kids. The cut off age was 8 and my youngest is only 5. I felt very safe. In Cairo we had a police detail, and everywhere else we also had a government official. Lots of security everywhere - lots of metal detectors. Airports are more strict than in North America: scanned twice, very strict about what you can bring in carryon, full patdown of every passenger by same-gender staff. There is a lot of money being spent by the Egyptian government to protect tourists from enemies of Egypt. The Egyptians were super friendly and welcoming. Construction workers smiled and waved at the bus in a nice way. Felt very much wanted there.Did you go with kids? I was in Egypt 15 years ago and it was amazing. Was just having the conversation with my husband that when there was a politically stable window we needed to go. How did you feel?
Yes! We got toured both the older museum and the new museum of civilization.Did you get into the new Cairo museum?
Busses were not extensive. However, even short trips from the hotel we were escorted on the bus, where you could leave a daybag, had snacks and water, and a bus toilet.How much bus travel was involved? Did you find that Disney took care of the little details - like bringing toilet paper to museums that didn't have it? How much waiting in line did you do? Was there anything you felt Disney missed?
How organized and well thought out did the trip feel?
For example, on the first day of our Danube River Cruise, we went down to the hotel lobby where the guide would meet the group and take a bus to the boat...but there was no guide there. the hotel staff didn't have any information. After waiting twenty minutes, we asked a few people and found out that they were also ABD folks. None of them knew what to do. After another ten minutes, we saw someone with an ABD jacket who was checking people in, but with no sign, announcement, or indication other than her clipboard and jacket with a small logo. Eventually, an hour after we were suppsoed to meet we checked in, then lined up, then got told to sit down, then lined up again (this time outside the hotel) and got on the bus.
We needed nothing other than the full vaccinations for Covid. I believe Egypt accepts two vaccinations as complete. They required it to be more than just one shot during our trip.Hi there! We are going this December! I'm worried that I might be missing something regrading vaccines, boosters, other shots needed for travel to Egypt that I'm not thinking of yet (malaria, yellow fever, etc). Obviously we all have the covid vax, but not all have the boosters. My understanding is that boosters are not required. I know Disney will help take care of our visas once we arrive, but are there documents or requirements I need besides a passport to fulfill those requirements? I keep thinking I'm forgetting something...was there anything extra you needed to do that I might not be aware of? If so, I want to get it completed ASAP. I'm assuming I just need our vax cards and our passports. Thanks for any info you might have!
For my arrival to the airport, also single, I was treated like a full VIP. I got off the plane into a car into a lounge then into a bus, handling nothing other than my purse. They got my luggage and Visa.I was on the 7/5 tour and felt it was very organized and well done. I had a couple of complaints, but they were minor in the grand scheme of things. I did not do any other vaccines as they were not required at the time, but I know one of the families did. The bus travel was what I expected to get to and from locations from the hotel or ship (30 minutes or less typically I think?), but there are several internal flights - we were Egyptian airport security pros by the end of the trip.
I had my vaccine card (which nobody even looked at even though it was technically still a requirement to get into Egypt at the time) and passport. The "VIP" process to get the visa was actually one of my complaints b/c the handbook made it sound like I'd be escorted by one person through the process, which is not what happened as I was passed off to multiple people. I ended up with my visa and my transport to the hotel, but it made for a bit of a harrowing start to the trip for a solo traveler on their first international adventure since 2020.
I'll be interested to hear from the OP how crowds were at this time of year since tourist season is picking up there. In July, and during one of their national holidays, most of the tourist locations were fairly empty - to the point that we were the only people in King Tut's tomb while taking several pictures, which apparently is pretty much unheard of. As a result I have some amazing pictures without crowds at places like Abu Simbel, Karnak, and Hatshepsut's Temple.
I'm really glad I did this tour - the experience was amazing!
No - we were not able to book ahead. We were twinned with another couple traveling (me and my sister, her and her daughter). We had side by side rooms each place, and on the cruise. Our last night (single night) we were apart. But we weren't even on the same reservation. I think it's a fair non-issue. I felt like we were assigned top-tier rooms at each place.Were you able to reserve exact rooms when you made your reservation?
I'm looking to get adjoining rooms and have a very flexible schedule and would pick based on that availability, but am concerned by all the advertising that says "adjoining rooms can be requested but aren't guaranteed".
What was the weather like in July? Unbearably hot? Did businesses, hotels, etc tend to be well air conditioned? (We want to go to Egypt in 2024 but because of kids' schedules, really summer is the only time of year that works. And I'll be with my oldest in Switzerland & Italy in July anyway, so we could just go directly to Egypt without coming all the way back to the states.)I was on the 7/5 tour and felt it was very organized and well done. I had a couple of complaints, but they were minor in the grand scheme of things. I did not do any other vaccines as they were not required at the time, but I know one of the families did. The bus travel was what I expected to get to and from locations from the hotel or ship (30 minutes or less typically I think?), but there are several internal flights - we were Egyptian airport security pros by the end of the trip.
I had my vaccine card (which nobody even looked at even though it was technically still a requirement to get into Egypt at the time) and passport. The "VIP" process to get the visa was actually one of my complaints b/c the handbook made it sound like I'd be escorted by one person through the process, which is not what happened as I was passed off to multiple people. I ended up with my visa and my transport to the hotel, but it made for a bit of a harrowing start to the trip for a solo traveler on their first international adventure since 2020.
I'll be interested to hear from the OP how crowds were at this time of year since tourist season is picking up there. In July, and during one of their national holidays, most of the tourist locations were fairly empty - to the point that we were the only people in King Tut's tomb while taking several pictures, which apparently is pretty much unheard of. As a result I have some amazing pictures without crowds at places like Abu Simbel, Karnak, and Hatshepsut's Temple.
I'm really glad I did this tour - the experience was amazing!