Luxor Travel Forum

Is there anybody out there, who can help me? Me and my wife and a couple of friends are visiting luxor this coming January 2008. We have been told that there are some fixed price tourist shops where all the prices are marked and you do not have to haggle. And secondly we would like to do a hot air balloon ride is this going to be expensive. And lastly can you recommend some good places to eat out, not to expensive but not burger and chips, if you know what i mean. Many thanks Andy

I could only recommend one place to eat: Snack Time, near Luxor temple. See my tip at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/750c9/1ea650/2/

As to shopping, there are a few stores that have signs that read "Hassle Free Store". You may try browsing there though the variety of merchandise are not as many as those in the souk.

Hi Andy
All the shops in Luxor are bargaining type shops but if you stick with it you will get a very good price
Rule 1 is dont buy in the 1st shop you visit ask for the best price at least 5 times then look for the same thing in another shop to compare
Rule 2 dont accept the sit down would you like some tea offer
rule 3 is they will inflate the price at least 10 times the price you can expect to pay
rule 4 dont buy at the start of your trip but wait until you have been there a week at least
rule 5 if they ask you have you been to egypt before say yes 5 times that way they wont try it on so much
rule 6 is just relax with the people they seem a bit hassley at 1st but they are very nice people ive always found
Re food there is a macdonalds in luxor ,but the better options for us were the bigger hotels doing the buffet type food
Things are very cheap in luxor food gifts etc so you sholud be ok
Make sure you do the trip on the nile on a boat thats great
The sound and light shows are good in the evening as well
ha

hi andy, you will love luxor.there are a few nice little shops and lots of stalls in the bazaar. you do need to haggle and its a way of life for the egyptians so dont be embarresed.
when i was there three years ago they were charging £50 for a balloon ride, again you should be able to haggle over the price.
the thing you must do while you are in luxor is have afternoon tea in the old winter palace hotel.they will give you a tour of the hotel and there is so much atmosphere there.it was about£4 a head but worth treble.they also do evening meals which for one evening is manageable at £15.
make sure to see all the sights, luxor is fascinating and i will go back one day.
regards, laney

There are a few fixed price shops in Luxor - they certainly make life a lot easier! The goods may be a tad more expensive than you can get them in other shops - but bear in mind that you must haggle hard to get them at this cheaper price. Haggling isn't for everybody, I know I certainly don't like doing it - and I can quite understand why you'd like to go to fixed price shops!
The Gaddis Bazaar - just in front of the Winter Palace is one such non bargaining place - and with the added benefit of stocking EVERY tourest trinket you can think of at reasonable prices. Well worth a look. Another fixed price place is the Mina Bazaar, On the corniche near the Mena Palace Hotel.
For a balloon ride - check out the 3 agents near the Winter Palace hotel - Karnak Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and Jolleys. Or try and book direct with a baloon company. Right now they're selling for 28 to 45 English pounds.

Hi Andy,
I've just got back after my third trip to Luxor. This year I took my two daughters 11 and 13 they had a wonderful time.
Haggling for your souveniers is all part of the holiday fun. One of my daughters got a set of three ornaments knocked down from 150 EL (Egyptian Pounds) to 50 EL at The Kings Valley. The other got two of the same sets for 50 EL round the corner at Hatshepsuts Temple. They had learned some Egyptian shopping phrases and totally took the sellers and shopkeepers by surprise.
My mate Gillian and I got separated and I got worried in case she spent too much. She came out with an armful of stuff for very little money. Honestly it is great fun.
Always take at least a litre of water per person for just a few hours and if you buy water away from your handy supermarket check the seal.

For places to eat look at http://www.luxortraveltips.com/eating/metropolitancafe.htm

Try http://touregypt.net/

Look at www.egyptwithmara.com

If you go for the boat (Felucca) trip on The Nile ask at The Metropolitan for Capt Tayib he sails well and entertains at the same time. The kids loved him. To make sure you get the real Capt Tayib ask him who sent you.
Try the mango jiuce (assir manga) at the Metropolitan while you fix a price with him.

Peace and blessings...Jim...

Hi, Andy,
I have lived in Luxor, for some years so I have got to know it quite well. So far as eating is concerned, if you are on a budget, two restaurants I would recommend on the East Bank are the Sofra for Egyptian food, and Benz for Italian. There are many small hotels on the West Bank, where the food is OK, but nothing special, but they are certainly inexpensive compared with anything on the East Bank. There is a lot less hassle too. The only places you will not have to haggle are where the prices are already fixed too high! Balloons lift off at the crack of dawn, so make sure you have warm clothing with you, as January is cold until the sun gets up. I have seen balloon trips offered at £30 GBP but January is high season, and you will have to haggle! I assume you are coming out on a package? When you come again, as I am sure you will, consider getting flights only, and staying in one of the West Bank hotels, or better still, rent a flat.
I bought mine, but flatsinluxor.co.uk have high quality accomodation on offer, and it is a much less inexpensive and enjoyable way to see the sights at your own pace.

Thank you to everyone...this is such a helpful site! certainly looking forward to our holiday in Egypt. Thank you again.

Hi Andy

My husband doesn't like being harassed by shop owners either we did quite a lot of business in a shop called "Gaddis and Co" just near The Winter Palace on the corner. I didn't think that the prices were that much dearer as you had more time to really look at things they have a very large variety of merchandise. We also went on a Hot Air Balloon ride which we booked through Cheops Travel just near Gaddis shop absolutely fantastic we were there in the summer and it cost us $70 Australian.

Regards Meg