Kent's Top 10 Tips for travel to Egypt

As you have heard, Kent is just back from visiting Egypt. Here are his 'top 10' tips for travel there:

1. Travel in shoulder season. Low season (summer) is extremely hot, and during the cooler months (October to March) prices are higher and sites are crowded.

2. Sharpen up on your bargaining. Egyptian shop keepers will take you for everything you are worth if you let them. Try to get 30 to 50 percent off the asking price.

3. Take a side trip to Abu Simbel. This impressive site is a short flight from Aswan.

4. Expect to pay a premium for alcohol. If you like wine, beer or mixed drinks, bring some extra cash. (Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels.)

5. Visit the Egyptian Museum's mummy room. It's worth the extra $20.

6. Pack light. We saw many guests with giant suitcases and can't imagine how they used all they brought. Laundry services are available at most hotels and cruises.

7. Don’t worry if you can’t get your preferred cabin on your cruise ship. Don't worry too much about the view from your cabin as you'll spend a lot of time docked next to other ships with your only view being the side of the ship next door!

8. Explore on your own. With a bit of prudence and some common sense, you can safely walk the major streets and markets during the day to get a taste of real life in Egypt which you won’t find on your cruise ship or in your luxury hotel.

9. Dress appropriately. We saw many women and some men dressed too scantily to be culturally appropriate in this Muslim nation.

10. Visit Mt Sinai and one of Egypt's awesome Red Sea resorts. We skipped these areas on our recent visit and but they remain my favorites from past travels.