Hello,
I'm signed up for Wonders of Egypt on Oct. 22 from USA. What does everyone do about the visa? I know TT recommends getting it early but the visa services are expensive and several sites on the Internet say you can easily get it for $15 at the airport upon arrival. Is that what most everyone does?
Also, I'm planning on bringing just casual pants and cotton tops for the trip. Will that be enough? Also thinking about just a good pair of sandals. Do I really need sneakers or other shoes? I don't want to over-pack.
Thanks, Lulu9

Here's the thing about getting your visa at the airport: What if your plane is late and the visa place is closed? It can happen. What if your transfer (assuming you have a TT transfer) is waiting and the visa place has a HUGE lineup? It can happen. What if everything goes well, timewise, but for some reason they refuse you a visa? That can happen too.

You are going to be a long way from home and in a foreign country...play it safe and get your visa before you leave.

As for the shoes, everytime I go on holiday I take sandals and some other type of shoe and I have yet to wear anything but my sandals. However, I would always take a second pair "just in case"...maybe there will be a really rainy day, or a sandal stap will break or some other foot-related catastrophe might occur.

Shannon

Sheesh...where are my manners? I forgot to say welcome to the board, and I hope you have a fantastic trip!!

Shannon

We got our visa at the airport. You have to get it first before you go thru passport control and then you get your luggage. You won't see your TT rep, who will be waiting until after you exit your luggage pickup.

Our rep met us before we collected our luggage and helped us load it.

Thanks for all the informatton. I think I'll get the visa at the airport. I really don't like the idea of sending off my passport to a third party to get the visa when I know it's available there. Again, thanks fo the replies.

Hi LuLu
I sent for my Visa because I did not want to have any problems when I arrived at the airport in Egypt. I am going Oct 1st on Wonders of Ancient Egypt. I was just like you, I did not want my my passport out of my hands but there was no problem and they got it right back to me before the promised time frame. If I were you, and it is not too late, I would apply before you leave the US and then you do not have to worry about any problems. What's a few extra dollars when you are going on such a wonderful trip of a lifetime?????/

Well you all are going before me, I hope you will post after you get back and give lots of tips. We are going Feb 13 to Feb 25 and I thought we were supposed to get visas in Cairo. Also have lots of other questions about temperature in mid February and how optional tour to Abu Simbel is. I usually wear runners when I tour and am wondering if it will be too warm for them in Feb. Any clothing advise?

Hi goinplaces, Welcome to the BB. Have a look at Tour Tales
http://trafbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/402105/m/72510792
There is a lot on info within these pages. I ahven't toured Egypt yet, but I have heard that Abu Simbel is a MUST!

Cheers
jewel

Funny, Jewel, everyone on this site says that Abu Simbel is a must and when I spoke to friends who have just returned last March, they were unimpressed and hated the beggars and vendors all over the place. "He" is a professional photographer and takes many wonderful pictures but he said he was truly fed up with having to pay anyone whose picture you took even if by accident because they walked (by accident ) into the shot.

So, they felt Abu Simbel was another, granted, exceptional, but just another temple and they'd already seen so many.

Hi BrendaC, Just goes to show, once again, how we are all different and see things in differnet ways!

Amazing, no? I must say I would have been thrilled to see it, Jewel, But then I'm a sucker for old things like the one I'm married to especially.

Hi Jewel,
Thanks so much for the tip about tour tales. I went there and found a lot of very good and interesting information. We are booked to go to Cairo on Feb. 13, 08 and we are taking the seven day Nile thing. I don't dare tell my husband that there are 3 and 5AM wake ups! We'll deal with that when it's too late to back out. Best......

quote:

Originally posted by goinplaces:
Hi Jewel,
Thanks so much for the tip about tour tales. I went there and found a lot of very good and interesting information. We are booked to go to Cairo on Feb. 13, 08 and we are taking the seven day Nile thing. I don't dare tell my husband that there are 3 and 5AM wake ups! We'll deal with that when it's too late to back out. Best......

goinplaces~ Glad to be of help. I don't blame you for keeping quiet about the early starts- I would too . I really hope you have a great time, I really want to visit Egypt myself - and I have decided that in a couple of years I will, with or without hubby!