AboutJane Akshar Expertise I have extensive knowledge of tourism in Egypt, specifically Luxor, and Egyptology in general. I can answer questions on travel, hotels, restaurants as well as about the sites and dealing with the locals. I can tell recommend deserted sites where you are the only tourist, local guides who will take you walking over the hills, reliable drivers, taxis, donkey and camel men, sailing and motor boat captains.
I can answer questions on Egyptology(up to the end of the New Kingdom) as I have been involved with Egyptology for over 40 years and have contacts in the Antiquities department and with many of the Archaeological teams in Luxor.
Experience I have been coming to Egypt as a tourist since 1979 and moved to live in Luxor in 2003. I love to help people fall in love with Egypt. I guide guests around the sites in Luxor and run a small tourism business renting flats (apartments) to tourists. I am married to an Egyptian and have a bilingual teenage daughter. I write regular feature articles for Tour Egypt and run a News Blog on Luxor.
Organizations AEITB "Association of Egyptian Travel Businesses on the Internet"
Publications www.touregypt.net
www.luxornews.net
wikipedia.org/wiki/KV63
www.kv-63.com (photos)
Archaeological Diggings Magazine
The Cultured Traveller
Egyptian Cultural Heritage Organisation (ECHO)
The Undoctored Past
Education/Credentials 8 O levels, OND in Science, City and Guilds in Computing, 10 years Egyptology with the University of London Extra Mural Dept
Expert: Jane Akshar Date: 7/9/2008 Subject: Egypt Trip
Question QUESTION: Hi
I'm going to Cairo in November. I'll be staying with a friend but won't see much of them as they'll be working. I'm looking at travelling to Luxor and Alexandria by train on day trips, is this possible?
As for spending money, I'm confused about the exchange rate. Let's say I'm there for ten days. I want to go to a few museums, do a bit of market shopping and eat fairly well. How much should I exchange from the uk pound into the Egyptian pound or, if you're not up on the exchange rate, how much Egyptian money should I bring for my holiday?
Thanks
ANSWER: You can do Alex on a day trip but as Luxor is 10 hours by train or 50 minutes by plane I would go and stay there for a few days. There is so much to see.
Spending money is difficult as it depends doesn't it. The exchange rate is very roughly 10 to 1. I would take lots of sterling and change it as you need to. Tickets are expensive and guided tours for a single person would be significant. For example in Luxor the Valley of Kings plus Ram Vi and Tutankhamun is 200Le which is 20 GBP. So if you did that and another couple of sites that is £30 quid gone already and without taxi's, food etc.
If you have a credit or debit card you should be able to use it out here (check with your bank) so you could draw money out as your needed.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for this, I'm looking for a couple of examples of spending.
Food - I'm guessing snacks midday and then main meals, possibly just for me or my half!
Travel - Trains look to be about 60 for a one way
Hotel - If I go to Luxor and stay, is it easy to get a hotel on arrival and approx how much would I be looking at paying?
Answer Again it depends on where you eat a street snack like Kosheri is 5LE and a lunch in a restaurant could be 50LE or a 5* hotel 500LE
The day train is 60LE but the overnight is $60 USD and you MUST pay in foreign currency
Easy peasy to get a hotel, I recommend El Nakhil on the West Bank cheap or 5* Sheridan expensive
