We found a driver and a guide to be extremely inexpensive. the guide company would send a third person over to buy tickets for us, so we never waited in line. we were dropped off at the door. the guide would call the driver as we left wherever, and the car would be waiting.

the sidewalks are quite safe. the streets are sudden death. more important egyptians are run down in traffic than are assissated. I think there is less pick pocketing in Cairo than in Rome(does not say much).