xiexiaofan

Thanks to everyone's input, we recently did this program in Dec. 2014. Route JFK-CAI-PEK, with a 36-hour stopover in Cairo (arriving at noon, departing midnight next day). Award ticket from UA, Class X.
Since everyone complained about the long wait for visas, we decided to apply for tourist visas beforehand. We did not have to wait at the transfer desk, and were assigned a hotel right away. The hotel, Le Meridien, was inside the airport. I believe it is one of the very few 5-star hotels in Cairo. Free buffet meal vouchers.

It was a nice experience overall, plus a couple of minor problems.

I thought the hotel would have a Karnak tour office and did not book the tour at the transfer desk. HUGE mistake. Le Meridien cannot help arrange tours, and there was no Karnak office. Had to dig out Karnak's phone number (thank GOD, they operate 24/7) and arranged the tour over the phone.
Next day, after we came back from the tour. The front desk stopped us, and asked us to pay for the room. Apparently, the transfer desk did not inform us that the room was only offered for 24 hours. And we over-stayed. I told the rep to work it out with Egyptair, and I was not not going to pay a penny. We did not have to pay in the end, but had to pack and leave abruptly. So, here it is "24-hour max stay".
Another word of caution, be prepared for being asked for a bribe. Happened twice in the airport, clearing customs and security check. $2 or 10 pounds should suffice.
Hope my experience is helpful to y'all.

P.S Karnak's website, so you can have a look at the tours offered.
http://karnak.egyptair.com/

BuildingMyBento

I've passed through CAI a bunch, never had to pay a bribe.

industry_killer

Nor have I, however, I have seen it happen at the security checkpoint where you put your luggage though the X-Ray before the check-in desks.

IAN-UK

interesting addition to this thread's knowledge base!

oh, there are quite a few more! Though the Meridien is a terrific hotel for the airport.

Bribery is an ugly word! They are chancers, trying it on. They are encouraged to do this by the readiness of foreigners to part with their cash. Ignore them.

Bribery most certainly exists but it is somewhat more subtle and likely to concern Egyptians or residents who understand the system, and involve considerably more than EGP10!

Some security men will try to extract money because they point out something in your suitcase "x-ray" or in your hand-baggage. Smile: if they insist then speak to their supervisor. You really have nothing to fear - unless of course you really are transgressing some law

Porters will certainly try it on. If you don't want their services, refuse them firmly but politely. But remember they can be useful....

wunderk

That's exactly what happened to me on the early evening of January 3, 2015 at Cairo Airport Terminal 3 security check point, right before getting to the check-in area. One customs officer asked to see my bag because "you have a big bag, do you have a lot of money?", while another officer held my passport. My wallet emptied of my remaining two Egyptian bank notes. They never even looked for a split second into my bag even though I unlocked it for them. My bag was not even 20kg and not big in size. (It's a Burton Flight Deck if anybody cares to google the exact brand and model.) I passed the metal detector without triggering it and yet they demanded to frisk me. The whole set up of the x-ray and metal detectors really facilitate extortionists because there's a huge pillar right next to it. They put a table right behind the pillar so they can search (or pretend to search) your luggage on it, and that's where I was asked for payment. Right behind the pillar. I remember the officer used the word "baksheesh".

Without getting into a discussion of ethics, I was totally not expecting this as I never had officials asking me for money during my travels before. I was travelling solo, so maybe that increased the chance of encountering this hassle. My comments are not meant to offend any Egyptian, but I hope travelers be prepared, especially solo ones, of such occurrences.

IAN-UK

I'm not clear why you permitted this to happen. I'm pretty sure you'd kick up a fuss in Toronto if security officials tried to fleece you (OK - an unlikely situation there! but you know what i'm getting at).

You probably felt intimidated by the uniforms, but really you had nothing to fear in standing your ground: by allowing yourself to be parted from your cash you make it more likely that the low-level scamming of travellers will continue.

crombiestone

Good old Egyptian Baksheesh . Its a fact of life here if you're a foreigner but look around there are signs . Trolleys are free, visa costs $25 etc . People just try it on . Just say no to requests for cash they'll not push it as its just them chancing your naiivety .

xchpstang

Had to do this during a missed flight connection in September on a NBO-CAI-JFK-SFO flight. The CAI connection was a short 1hr 15 min which I knew was risky but it didn't help that the flight left 2 hours late from NBO. When I arrived they offered a "5 star hotel" which is right near the terminal and I believe is owned by the airline. Anyway, don't expect a 5 star hotel, more like Holiday Inn Express or Motel 6. They were pretty agressive trying to sell a day tour to the pyramids and will not want to take a credit card. They gave any excuse not to take a credit card so I ended up paying cash. They keep your passport at the airport and escort you through immigration and customs.

The tour was OK but the traffic was horrendous. After the pyramid tour they take you to one of their perfume shops, with no obligation to buy but they will certainly throw their pitch at you. We ate dinner at the hotel buffet and it was actually really good. In the morning they took us in a shuttle back to the terminal where we picked up our passports and boarding passes before passing through security and flying back home.

dvdbuddy

We did the hotel stopover program with EgyptAir this past June. We got our visa prior to arrival, so the process was very easy and simple. Many thanks to 1000K00 for his advices!!

After deplaning, we walked to the transit desk for EgyptAir. I asked about the stopover program and the agent offered to put us up at the Le Passage hotel. He gave us a voucher for the hotel and it included lunch and dinner. There's a shuttle to the hotel, but we didn't take it. We booked a tour with Karnak to see the Pyramids, so the tour guide took us to the hotel.

Le Passage is a 3 stars hotel in U.S. standards. After checking into the hotel, they gave us vouchers for lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner were good. The rooms was clean and probably could use some renovations. It was nice being able to take a shower and a nap after a long hot day in Cairo.

mh1361

Thought I would share my experience in case it helps anyone. We had a 10 hour layover in Cairo and were on EgyptAir, booked as an award through United. I had read about their transit program and assumed we wouldn't qualify since our ticket was an award ticket booked through United. Also, we weren't interested in the free hotel because we booked a tour for the duration of our layover. I wasn't sure what the process was for leaving the airport on a layover there so after deplaning we saw the transit accommodation desk and headed that way. I tried to explain to the employee we talked to that we didn't need a hotel and just needed to leave the airport on our layover and meet up with our guide. He said no problem and took our passports and told us to wait. He didn't understand what I tried to explain to him. After maybe 20-30 minutes they processed everything and handed us a voucher for a free hotel room and lunch and dinner. I again explained to him we didn't need a hotel room and just needed to leave the airport. He clearly thought we were crazy for turning the hotel down and I don't think he understood yet that we had a tour booked and just needed to leave the airport. So then we had to wait until everyone else was shuttled to their hotels and then he took us through a couple employee areas and we eventually exited the airport and met our guide. So in the end we lost about 30-45 mins but we didn't end up having to pay for entry visas.

vincewy

Speaking of Karnak Tour, do they offer a quick 4-hour tour to the Pyramids from Novotel? My plan flight is EY at 1:45pm so if they pick me up at 7 am just to see the Pyramids and return to the airport by 11 am I'd save a day.

Both hotel and tour will be on my own expenses.

abdulghaniz

I am flying on United from US and then from Munich to Cairo and Cairo to Medinah. This is all on an Award Ticket. Stopover is 12 hours (7 pm to 7 am)

I wanted to know if I will be eligible for a free HOTEL STAY or should I book it myself online using points at some Good Hotel Chain ? I heard that the Iberotel at Cairo Airport where EgyptAir gives the rooms is very bad {poor reviews on this thread}.

Please shed light on the above.

IAN-UK

I don't know if points qualify for hotel stays: some evidence in this thread that they do, but ..... I'd call the airline. If you don't get a clear answer, the alternatives don't need to break the bank:


You'll be using Cairo's T3, which has lovely Meridien next to it. It's not cheap, probably $160 and up. But if you have Starwood currency, you're fine.

There's a nice enough Novotel within the airport area, running at around $60: this is the option I usually chose, and it includes a shuttle (you need to arrange it by email/phone).

Not much point going further afield on an overnight stay.

But if you have IHG points, there's an IC, Holiday Inn and Staybridge within the Citystars entertainment and shopping complex in Nasr City, about 15 minutes taxi ride from the airport (they'll send a car + meet and greet - if you pay for it).

Sadly, with the do-it-yourself option i think you need visas. These are very easily arranged on arrival for $25 each.

GlenP

With regard to the visa on arrival.

I'm assuming, as your point of origin is the US, that you're a US citizen and passport holder (if not, see: http://www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk/visas.php to confirm eligibility) and the process is very simple.

On arrival at CAI T3, head toward the Immigration Hall.

Once there, go with your passport and US $25; the equivalent in Euros and Sterling are also accepted, to any of the bank kiosks, which are located to either side of the immigration desks themselves. Note do not use the bureau de change desks, as you may be charged commission for the visa service.

Hand over your $25 and you will be given a, self-adhesive, single entry visa sticker.

This needs to be peeled from its backing; normally the hardest part of the process , and stuck into a blank page of your passport.

Once done, take your passport and landing card; handed out on the aircraft, but also available in the Immigration Hall, and join one of the queues for processing and, once you actually reach the desk hand them over to the Immigration officer.

Your passport will be stamped and recorded & given back to you.

Finally make your way through baggage reclaim and Customs to landside.

The whole process, from disembarking to clearing Customs can take as little as 20 minutes, if claiming luggage, but at busy times allow at least half an hour.

Make certain you have a pen handy, as you'll need to fill out another "leaving card" before passing through Immigration, and security, when departing in the morning.

benberg2013

Thanks a lot for this GlenP. I'll be doing this tomorrow.