My first trip to Egypt

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked all kinds of travel questions. A client recently enquired about travelling to Egypt for the first time and wanted my advice and a sort of checklist of what they should think about when planning their first trip to the land of the Pharaohs. This is the advice I gave them…
When planning your first trip to Egypt, the following items are things you should definitely think about
Flights : Depending upon where you are flying from, there will usually be direct and indirect flights. While direct flights obviously are shorter in duration, if you are on a budget, then looking at a non direct flight, or a flight with a short stopover can often save you up to a third off of the price
Visas : You should always check for yourself of course, but generally most major nationalities can get their visas on arrival at major ports like Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada etc. Certainly if you are travelling from Europe, North America, Australia, you will be able to roll up and get your visa on arrival within about 5 minutes.
Money : All major currencies like the US Dollar, Euros and British Pounds are all accepted as payment. There is a limit to the amount of Egyptian Pounds you can bring in and this currently runs at around 1,000 LE â€" Egyptian Pounds. You can of course take travellers cheques, other currencies, etc and all major credit cards are accepted.
Itineraries : 7 to 10 days in Egypt is a perfect length of duration for a visit to Egypt. Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel should definitely be included and my personal advice would be to book your basic package through a tour operator, just so you have the basic transfers, accommodation and tours all through 1 company
Tipping : Baksheesh as its know in Egypt is a tip for just about anything. You will need to be tough as otherwise you will be broke within 24 hours. A tour guide should get a tip of around four pounds English a day and a driver should get about half of that. Taking lots of cheap pens is a good idea too as children will ask you for baksheesh for just talking to you !, but if you offer them a pen, they will scamper off very happy indeed. The only draw back is they will probably come back inside of about 2 minutes with 3 friends all of whom will want pens too, but those are the breaks !
Pitfalls : When travelling there are always a few down sides. Water is one in Egypt. Definitely only drink bottled water and avoid salads (washed in water) and Ice (frozen water). Also, although you won’t have this on an organised tour, if you travel independently you will run in to locals who may tell you certain hotels are full etc. You are in no danger, they are just trying to get you to stay in a different place so that they will earn a small commission from the hotel owners
Final Thought : Egypt is an amazing place, the locals are very friendly and without a doubt when you are taking a felucca down the nile and watching the sun set over the Valley of the Kings, you will definitely think to yourself â€" Egypt was a good choice !

My first trip to Egypt.

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked all kinds of travel questions. A client recently enquired about travelling to Egypt for the first time and wanted my advice and a sort of checklist of what they should think about when planning their first trip to the land of the Pharaohs. This is the advice I gave them…
When planning your first trip to Egypt, the following items are things you should definitely think about
Flights : Depending upon where you are flying from, there will usually be direct and indirect flights. While direct flights obviously are shorter in duration, if you are on a budget, then looking at a non direct flight, or a flight with a short stopover can often save you up to a third off of the price
Visas : You should always check for yourself of course, but generally most major nationalities can get their visas on arrival at major ports like Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada etc. Certainly if you are travelling from Europe, North America, Australia, you will be able to roll up and get your visa on arrival within about 5 minutes.
Money : All major currencies like the US Dollar, Euros and British Pounds are all accepted as payment. There is a limit to the amount of Egyptian Pounds you can bring in and this currently runs at around 1,000 LE â€" Egyptian Pounds. You can of course take travellers cheques, other currencies, etc and all major credit cards are accepted.
Itineraries : 7 to 10 days in Egypt is a perfect length of duration for a visit to Egypt. Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel should definitely be included and my personal advice would be to book your basic package through a tour operator, just so you have the basic transfers, accommodation and tours all through 1 company
Tipping : Baksheesh as its know in Egypt is a tip for just about anything. You will need to be tough as otherwise you will be broke within 24 hours. A tour guide should get a tip of around four pounds English a day and a driver should get about half of that. Taking lots of cheap pens is a good idea too as children will ask you for baksheesh for just talking to you !, but if you offer them a pen, they will scamper off very happy indeed. The only draw back is they will probably come back inside of about 2 minutes with 3 friends all of whom will want pens too, but those are the breaks !
Pitfalls : When travelling there are always a few down sides. Water is one in Egypt. Definitely only drink bottled water and avoid salads (washed in water) and Ice (frozen water). Also, although you won’t have this on an organised tour, if you travel independently you will run in to locals who may tell you certain hotels are full etc. You are in no danger, they are just trying to get you to stay in a different place so that they will earn a small commission from the hotel owners
Final Thought : Egypt is an amazing place, the locals are very friendly and without a doubt when you are taking a felucca down the nile and watching the sun set over the Valley of the Kings, you will definitely think to yourself â€" Egypt was a good choice !

Travel Safety Tips: Safety First While Traveling

Vacation time means the same thing for most people: lots of fun. For some it's a chance to escape the hot, stuffy office. For others it's away to get away from the winter blues and have some fun. Discovering new places in the world can be a great experience, but not everywhere is safe, and not everyone on the planet is nice. Be sure to take a few precautions, and do a little pre-trip planning. This can help you ensure that your vacation is a safe, fun, and memorable one.
Finding a Safe Place To Stay
If you are going somewhere you have never been before, then it can be daunting finding somewhere to stay. It can also help if you book your hotel based on star ratings. However, it is best to do more research, just to be sure the area is safe.
It is important that you examine the area where the hotel is located. Ask yourself: "Is it located in a high crime rate area?". Is there sufficient security for the guests? Preferably, non-guests should have limited access to the main hotel structure and a room escort service should be offered, in order to have a minimal level of security.
Make sure that the room you stay in has locks on the windows and doors. Try to find a hotel that uses electronic keys instead of a normal door key, as the electronic key can be changed for each new guest, making it more secure. Check the room, and the hallways, for sprinklers and smoke alarms, and read any safety signs so you know what to do in the event of an emergency.
During Your Stay
When you check in to your hotel, keep your luggage near you, and keep an eye on it at all times. Ask the check in desk to write your room number down, rather than tell it to you verbally - this will stop anyone from overhearing your room number.
Don't give your full name when signing in - just use your surname and your first initial. If you are a woman, don't use Ms. or Miss as a title, since people may then assume that you are traveling alone and may view you as an easier taregt. If the hotel provides a safe, place your valuables in it instead of leaving them in your room.
Once you have arrived and checked into your hotel—what do you do next? If you are like most vacationers, you will be eager to explore the country that they have just arrived in. But before you head out on your discovery adventures, take note of these two safety tips. They can help you in your travels. Under no circumstances should you carry large amounts of cash. This is not a smart move. Also, DO NOT wear expensive-looking jewelry. That would invite unwanted and unnecessary attention. Another good tip is to keep your travelers checks and credit cards in separate pockets. That way, you will avoid both items being stolen.
Enjoy Your Holiday
Travel is fun, and there is a vast world out there waiting to be explored. Remember, while you are having fun, that you still need to behave sensibly - the party atmosphere is nice, but don't leave valuables lying around, and don't flash wads of cash to everyone in sight. You wouldn't do it in your home town, so why do some people think that the place they are holidaying in is any different?
Take some time to learn about the different cultures and customs of your chosen destination, and above all, have fun, and stay safe.

Arizona Is One Of The Most Popular Desert Southwest Places To Visit.

Just what is it about the Arizona desert that attracts so many people to this state?
Is it because of the diverse climate? Is it because Arizona is known so well known for the highly rated golf courses that allows golfers to play virtually every day? Certainly there are those who rate the high quality health care as one of the major reasons why they travel to the state?
Or is the reason that so many people flock to the desert southwest is just because of the simple fact that constant sunshine can be felt on more than 300 days a year?
There really is no single reason why so many people travel or permanently move to Arizona. There just happens to be a long list of many cities and remote towns that offer visitors everything they are looking for.
With such a diverse climate along with the size of the state, it's probably no wonder why Arizona ranks high when it comes to the top states people visit. Arizona ranks sixth among the states in size and is spread out over 114,006 square miles, (295,274 square kilometers), which includes 364 square miles, (943 square kilometers) of water. The size certainly offers not only the visitors, but the residents more than enough room to explore this wondrous southwestern United States attraction.
Arizona is home to the world famous Grand Canyon and so many other famous tourist sites such as Sedona, Tucson, Phoenix and the White Mountains and the famous road known as Route 66, that never stop attracting people from experiencing the amenities that the Grand Canyon state offers.
Whether you are looking for the city life of Phoenix or Scottsdale or looking to take in a little rest and relaxation of the mountainous high country, Arizona has so many places to choose from that the only problem you might have is choosing one single location over the other locations that attract so people from many cities and countries.
Many visitors will be traveling to the desert southwest when Arizona hosts Super Bowl 42 on February 3, 2008. There have been many already who have purchased their Super Bowl tickets and have made all of their other necessary reservations to experience this NFL experience of a lifetime.
Arizona tourism allows everyone to explore the diverse landscapes that can be found throughout the state. Arizona travel also includes the magical (and mysterious, to some) red rocks and even snow-capped mountains making it possible for visitors to explore winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.
If you are wondering where to stay when you visit you can always request an Arizona Travel Guide that will assist you with your travel plans.
Arizonan truly has it all. If you like warmer weather, you can be rest assured that you will find that, as temperatures in the summer typically range well over 100 degrees. Just remember that there is usually very little humidity, so it is a dry heat, which to some, doesn't mean much until they experience the summer weather.
Whatever your interests or skill levels are, there's an endless list of activities that involve AZ tourism!
The AZ office of tourism knows and understands that Arizona depends and thrives on its yearly visitors.
Whether it's a reenactment like a good old fashioned wild west gun fight, a horse back riding tour, or one of the many dinner theaters that are offered, the desert southwest is waiting to accommodate you and your family.
If you are looking for convenience, there are many places that you can stay that will offer you the perfect luxury of picking you up right at the steps of your hotel or motel. One of the attractive things visitors really appreciate is the complimentary escort service that many of the cities offer to their guests. You'll find this service in such cities such as the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff and Tucson, to name just a few.
Native American ruins and fossils that are over 225 million years old can be found in the state which offers many just what they want to experience.
The Arizona Office of Tourism offers great Arizona experiences in the form of nature, heritage, culture, and a magical history that astounds many people who thought they already knew what Arizona was all about. And if you are looking to just educate yourself on the state, there are many museums, such as the Heard Museum, and art galleries that can be discovered with an emphasis on Native Americans.