suggestions for one day in cairo....
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,598
suggestions for one day in cairo....
so here is my situation....i'll be in cairo for one day for a meeting....my flight reaches around noon & i'm meeting my clients for dinner later that evening....so i'll have about 5-6 hours to kill during the day which could be used for a quick trip to see the pyramids....then my flight leaves early morning on the following day....
i'm staying at the le mridien heliopolis so my guess is that i should have checked into the hotel & would be ready to leave to go see the pyramids by 2....would this give me enough time to get & spend a couple of hours there before closing time????
also, is there a cruise/boat ride on the nile that i can take in the evening after my meeting, which i would expect to be done with by 9pm????
i'm staying at the le mridien heliopolis so my guess is that i should have checked into the hotel & would be ready to leave to go see the pyramids by 2....would this give me enough time to get & spend a couple of hours there before closing time????
also, is there a cruise/boat ride on the nile that i can take in the evening after my meeting, which i would expect to be done with by 9pm????
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,520
Yes, but it would be tight. Le Meridien is close to the airport, about a 20-minute taxi ride to the main Nile-front area, then another 30 minutes to the Pyramids. You have heard how back traffic can be, though this trip will be on highways, of sorts, so shouldn't be too risky in terms of delays.
If you don't plan to return to Cairo, then of course I would recommend seeing the Pyramids once in your life. (An hour or two there was enough for me to get the basic gist.) Though an alternative would be just to go to the city center (famous Tahrir Square area) and walk around, including the old souq back streets, which are interesting.
There are Nile cruises, though you would probably be just as well off finding a cafe, either a local place or one of the riverfront outlets at a hotel, on the Nile front and having coffee or shisha watching the views.
If you don't plan to return to Cairo, then of course I would recommend seeing the Pyramids once in your life. (An hour or two there was enough for me to get the basic gist.) Though an alternative would be just to go to the city center (famous Tahrir Square area) and walk around, including the old souq back streets, which are interesting.
There are Nile cruises, though you would probably be just as well off finding a cafe, either a local place or one of the riverfront outlets at a hotel, on the Nile front and having coffee or shisha watching the views.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,598
Yes, but it would be tight. Le Meridien is close to the airport, about a 20-minute taxi ride to the main Nile-front area, then another 30 minutes to the Pyramids. You have heard how back traffic can be, though this trip will be on highways, of sorts, so shouldn't be too risky in terms of delays.
If you don't plan to return to Cairo, then of course I would recommend seeing the Pyramids once in your life. (An hour or two there was enough for me to get the basic gist.) Though an alternative would be just to go to the city center (famous Tahrir Square area) and walk around, including the old souq back streets, which are interesting.
shisha sounds good....i think i'll just do that....thanks again....
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,520
Of course, it depends who your clients are. . . if it were a job interview, I might not take the risk, but if you can withstand a risk of a delay, all the better. (In fact, if they're typical locals, they they will probably be 1-2 hours late for dinner anyway. )
#6
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,053
It really depends what you are interested in. I'd personally go and look at the stunning Islamic architecture (mosques, madrassas) in the Khan El Khalili area. Visiting the pyramids allows you to tick off the "been there" box, but you'll already have seen them in pictures lots of times.
And a lot closer to the hotel!
And a lot closer to the hotel!
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,598
If I were in your position, I would definitely do it.
Of course, it depends who your clients are. . . if it were a job interview, I might not take the risk, but if you can withstand a risk of a delay, all the better. (In fact, if they're typical locals, they they will probably be 1-2 hours late for dinner anyway. )
Of course, it depends who your clients are. . . if it were a job interview, I might not take the risk, but if you can withstand a risk of a delay, all the better. (In fact, if they're typical locals, they they will probably be 1-2 hours late for dinner anyway. )
It really depends what you are interested in. I'd personally go and look at the stunning Islamic architecture (mosques, madrassas) in the Khan El Khalili area. Visiting the pyramids allows you to tick off the "been there" box, but you'll already have seen them in pictures lots of times.
And a lot closer to the hotel!
And a lot closer to the hotel!
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,598
thank you everyone for all your suggestions....we ended up spending about 3 hours at the pyramids & then had dinner at one of the restaurants by the nile....very good experience....^^