Originally Posted by remedy
Thanks for the enouraging note. Our airfares were totally refundable, but we were only able to get a 25% refund on our Nile Cruise, so we have decided to go for the full trip as planned. We will be staying at the InterContinental Heliopolis from 1 - 9 September, and will be laying low on 7 September. From 9-13 September, we are on the Nile Cruise. On 9 Sept, we fly from Cairo to Aswan on Egypt Air (MS 135), and on 13 Sept fly from Luxor to Cairo on MS 116. Wish us luck!
remedy,
Sorry for not replying earlier, but I've been on a business trip to London; only got back to Cairo yesterday.
No need to wish you luck - you don't need any having already made, in my opinion, the wise decision to proceed with your travel plans.
Unless you have previous experience of arriving in Cairo make sure the Intercontinental arranges a 'meet and assist' service for you upon arrival in Cairo. They'll buy you a visa upon arrival (US$15 per person) and escort you through immigration, customs and onto a hotel shuttle bus. This service is particularly appreciated when travelling from the USA - an overnight flight and a seven hour time zone difference tend to dull the senses. The normal scenes of organised chaos at the international arrivals terminal (Terminal 2) are currently exacerbated by the construction of a new Terminal 3: the result being a series of shuttle buses operating from Terminal 2 arrivals to a nearby car park rather than private vehicles being able to pick you up directly outside the arrivals hall.
If you enjoy a drink, don't forget to avail yourself of the Duty Free shop immediately to the right of the arrivals hall. Within the first 48 hours of arrival an individual can purchase up to four bottles of wine/spirits duty free.
Heliopolis is a relative oasis of tranquility compared to downtown Cairo. Having said that you must venture out, if only to take in, amongst others, the almost mandatory Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza and, my favourite, the Egyptian museum, adjacent to the Nile Hilton and the river Nile.
I don't know what time your internal Egypt Air flights operate, some of them can be quite early in the morning but whenever travelling in Upper Egypt carrying a bottle of cold mineral water is always a smart move. Because of the lack of humidity you don't really notice any perspiration but you'll need plenty to drink.
The sights you experience while cruising the Nile between Aswan and Luxor will stay with you forever; it is truly one of life's memorable experiences.
I hope you both enjoy your trip!