Luxor Travel Forum

We are arriving Luxor by sleeping train on the early morning of May 19th and leaving for Cairo via sleeping train on the evening of May 21st. We are travelling independently in a group of four and we are thinking of booking two rooms at Sonesta St. George in advance.

As far as I know, the check-in time for most of the hotels is around 11am-1pm so where should we leave our luggages before going off to explore the sites that morning? Do you think that we should book the room for the night before so that the room is already reserved by the time we get there around six in the morning the next day?

Same problem occurs on the day we're departing Luxor. The check-out time is around 3 PM and the sleeping train to Cairo leaves Luxor around 11 o'clock at night. So, should we book the room for another night? We are only going to be in Luxor for three days but it seems like we're gonna have to book the rooms for five nights.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. Anyone who has done this before, please help me. Any word or advice is immensely appreciated.

Heidi

In some of my travels, I left my luggage at the train station, much cheaper ( you can now resort to public transportation) and easier. I would pack one days clotes separately for the hotel, though.

I have not been to Luxor, so this might not work for you, but its worth a try.

Thank you so much for the information. For now, I'll just book for three nights.

Thanks a bunch =)

Heidi

That's easy. Just leave your luggage with the Sonesta St. George desk clerk. Make sure the bags are locked or otherwise secured, but most hotels will have a secure room or closet where bags can be held. Usually there is not charge. By all means only book the room for the nights you are actually sleeping over.

Yes, all hotels where we stayed in Egypt had storage rooms for luggage and it was always free.

Thank you, everyone. I'm just wondering if the train station is far from Sonesta St. George. How much should a taxi cost around 6 in the morning? We're travelling in a group of four adults with four carry-on luggages. I don't know if the taxis in egypt are big like those here in New York.

Heidi

You might have a hard time squeezing all th luggage into one of the Luxor taxis. I don't know where the hotel you are staying at is located, but if its like most hotel, somewhere between Luxor Temple and Karnak, your group can always drag the bags the distance. I recall wheeling our luggage through the streets to the train station.

Thanks, atufft. According to Expedia, the hotel is on Corniche, next to Luxor temple and 0.5 mile away from Karnak. I don't know where the train station is but if it's just a few blocks off, we really don't mind walking and wheeling our luggages to the hotel. Do you know if it's dark outside around 6 in the mornings in May?

Heidi

The train station is several blocks away from the river, and you will have to walk through a seemingly dingy parts of town that surrounds the station. But, at 6am, most everyone will still be sleeping, and in any case the streets are safer than they may appear. The street lighting at night is adequate as I recall. If you don't feel like walking, stroll for a few blocks and then bargain with a taxi driver for the rest of the way. Don't be spooked or sweat the small stuff. Then, leave your bags at the hotel, eat some breakfast, and head as soon as you can for Karnak. Luxor Temple can be seen best during spare moments before and after dinner, but Karnak will take most of a day.

At 6 am the sune will set in Egypt. Depending on the time of the year it might be up.

Taxi's aren't that expensive in Egypt. If one can't handle all the luggage you can take 2. Just remember to haggle with the drivers; they will always overcharge you in the beginning.

Hello Heidi,

I was in Luxor in December, four adults. Third trip. When you come out of the train station look for a taxi with a roof rack, most of the taxis have them. The genuine taxis are all painted blue and white. Walk straight towards it and just say to the driver “Sonesta St George min fadlak”.(Please) Say it as it is written. And get in as if you have been there before.
When you arrive at the hotel give the driver 30 EL say that is for you. And then give him some baksheesh for the many bags. Maybe 20EL. He will be happy with that.
He will lift them for you. Do not let anyone except the driver lift the bags or you will have to pay them baksheesh as well.
We had four big cases and four hand luggage. They will fit easily the taxis are all estate cars/station wagons. I have just put...Sonesta St George, Luxor, Egypt...into google earth and it is where I thought. Much too far to walk with luggage. If you have google earth try it you will see. It's a wonderful toy.
Have a wonderful time.
Peace and Blessings.
Jim...

P.S. You may want to check the train times if this post is correct.

By JohnniOmani on April 9, 2007

Travelling to and from Luxor is easily done by train and most foreigners by pass any bus because the journeys are usually long. Luxors train station is located in the center of the town. Abela Egypt Sleeping Train (237 2015 or www.sleepingtrains.com) leave at 830pm and 930pm daily arriving in Cairo at 545am and 645am the next morning. The cost is around $53 US which must be paid in Euros or US dollars. The other train that foreigners take is the 981 departing at 915am , train 1903 departing at 915pm and train 997 departing at 1110pm. The trip takes about 10 hours and student discounts are available. Foreigners are permitted to take the 3 daily services to Aswan (train 996 leaves at 715am) (train 1902 leaves at 930am) and 980 leaves at 5pm all taking around 3 hours. All three trains to Aswan stop at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo.
Jim...

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. For travelling by train, are we allowed to buy the round-trip tickets? We're going from Cairo to Luxor and then, coming back to Cairo after 2-3 days. Could we buy the return tickets (from Luxor to Cairo) at Cairo Train Station?

When in Cairo, check at your hotel desk and see if they can buy the train tickets for you. Ours did. That way you won't waste time buying tickets. The prices are so cheap that even if you pay a premium (which we didn't) to have the hotel run the errand, it will be worth your time.

Thanks =)