Originally Posted by
sydakllon
I debated starting a new topic for this, but figured I'd just put it here and see what replies I get initially.
I have a major birthday next year (30!) and am thinking about what I want to do so we can factor into work plans and some other commitments we have. We would only have two weeks.
Can I please get some ideas around these trips and also suitability for a 30 and 31 year old gay (not that it matters or we're a stereotype or in your face) couple? Of course pricing can change - feel like India less so than Egypt as the Oberoi cruise is based on a great special that they can't confirm yet if they will run next year. Oberoi seems to run their package rates every year.
My preference is probably slightly leaning towards Egypt, but I feel like India is more bang for buck, would be just as amazing once we're there, and overall a more luxury experience.
OPTION 1 – EGYPT – AU$14,000 (based on current rates and special offers for flights and accommodation)
Two nights Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah (Luxury Room Club Sofitel)
One night Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (Luxury Room)
Seven nights Oberoi Zahra (Luxury Cabin)
Two nights Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah (Luxury Room Club Sofitel)
One night The Address Downtown Dubai (Deluxe Room)
Attraction is Egypt is a lifelong dream for me. Worried we wouldn’t fit in on a small luxury cruise though (older crowd). Gay factor in Egypt slightly concerning. Extra nights in Aswan and Luxor because I want to see some sights not included on the cruise itinerary. Dubai night and hotel specifically chosen for shopping (and the pool at The Address is pretty cool). Pricing will be pushed up by good private guides in Cairo (thinking two half day, two full day), Luxor (full day to Abydos) and Aswan (Abu Simbel). Didn’t include Four Seasons in Cairo because can’t see point in doubling Cairo costs when Sofitel gets pretty good reviews here and elsewhere.
OPTION 2 – INDIA – AU$11,000 (based on current rates and special offers)
One night Oberoi New Delhi (Premium Room)
One night Oberoi Amarvilas Agra (Premium Room)
Two nights Amanbagh (Courtyard Haveli Suite)
Two nights Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur (Premium Room)
Two nights Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur (Historical Suite)
Three nights Oberoi Udaivailas Udaipur (Premium Room)
One night Oberoi Gurgaon (Premium Room)
Three nights Trisara (Ocean View Pool Room)
Attraction is India is sitting on both my and my partner’s bucket list, albeit down a few ranks. Oberoi low season special means rates are really good for their properties which I’ve been lusting over for years. Would mean including Aman. I feel like we would need to have a recovery after India so we could take advantage of low season offers at Trisara. Pricing will go up because of car transfers between properties (I’ve factored in Aman though as they have published transfer rates from Agra and to Jaipur). Sightseeing too, but imagine guides cheap in India. Less concerned with private guides here. Gay factor in India may be less of an issue.
44yo gay married (and Jewish raised!) here who travels the world. My partner (now husband) and I visited Egypt for 2 weeks in June 2001 before 9/11 but after their terrorist attacks in Luxor in 1997. We had NO issues being gay in Egypt, though our private tour guide certainly had questions for us that we encouraged. We took an A&K based cruise for 4 nights on the Nile--an amazing experience--and we were right in the age range, surprisingly. That may have changed, but I wouldn't let that dissuade you. The Oberoi cruise is almost certainly going to be nicer, but you may find a fairly large Euro contingent as well as Americans of Egpytian descent making a return to their home.
Surprisingly, we've had almost NO issues traveling in Muslim countries as gay men (and again, I'm Jewish raised). I LOVE Muslim countries. We don't flaunt our gayness, but we still kissed each other in public and didn't really worry about it--and no one really seemed to care (though I'm sure it might have surprised some). Sometimes, you get what you project, so we've found not worrying about it has played well for us no matter where we've traveled (even kissing in Red Square this past fall after their anti-gay propaganda law had passed). Staying in luxury accommodations and traveling with private guides also likely helped us in that regard. We rarely choose to avoid a country because of anti-gay feeling, though we are going to Rwanda in Dec instead of Uganda for obvious reasons.
I must disagree that India is obviously somehow more exciting or a better destination than Egypt. We LOVED Egypt--but we do have yet to visit India (likely to be in the next 2-3 years, since we've been 3 times to Asia in the past 5 years and need a break!). We love ancient civilization destinations, and Egypt was tremendous--regardless of the hotels you choose. If you scuba dive, I HIGHLY recommend adding in Sharm el Sheikh, as it still remains the gold standard of diving for us (we stayed at the RC there, before the FS was built). We did stay at the FS Cairo, but there are many more options now.
India and Egypt are both wonderful destinations--it isn't a zero sum game. You eventually will visit both, I'm sure. So make your choice and don't worry about which is better--just enjoy and then visit the other when your schedules allow. Enjoy!