Holiday FAQ's

Q: I am from the US and have a special interest in Egypt. Some friends and I are travelling to Egypt at the end of December and will stay for one week. We are all interested in antiquities, but we also want some sand and sea in our vacation. Is this possible, especially on a tight budget?

A: This is definitely possible. You have plenty of options to take in the ancient sites and enjoy the sun, sand and sea of Egypt.

Start with two days in one of Cairo's three or four star hotels such as Les Trois Pyramids (00+ (202) 582 2223), Maadi Hotel (00+(202) 358 5050) or the Cosmopolitan (00+(202) 392 3845). Visit the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara on the first day, and the Egyptian Museum and the Citadel on the second. If you still have the energy, check out the Khan El-Khalili bazaar.

Then, instead of a pricey flight, hop on an overnight train to Luxor (for more information on travelling by railways contact (00+(202) 575 3555). In Luxor, visit the west bank of the Nile and tour the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens. Dedicate the second day to the Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank of the Nile. In the evenings, visit the Luxor Museum or see the Sound and Light programme on the banks of the Sacred Lake at the Karnak Temples. You can find budget accommodation in Luxor at hotels like Flo-Pater Hotel (00+(2095) 374 223), Gaddis Hotel (00+(2095) 382 858) or Luxor Hotel (00+ (2010)117 6627).

In the morning, you can take a taxi to Hurghada on the Red Sea via the Luxor-Qena-Safaga road. The famous dive site Hurghada, 395km south of Suez, is rich in marine life and colorful reefs. Hurghada has a number of hotels and resorts for all budgets such as LTI Sultan Beach Hotel (00+ (2065) 446 424), Sindbad Beach Resort (00+ (2065) 443 261), Desert Inn (00+(2065)446 532), or Jasmine Village(00+(2065)446 442).

For unspoiled nature, abundant marine life and, above all, serenity, trek further south to Qusseir. You can find reasonable accommodation in Mangrove Bay Resort (00+(202)348 6748) or in Fanadir (00+(2065)331 414).

If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere instead, then head north to Al-Gouna for ultra- modern facilities, several tourist resorts, diving centres and a golf course. You can contact El- Khan Hotel (00+065) 580 052) or Dawar Al- Omda (00+065) 580 064) for budget accommodation.

Moving on from Hurghada, you can take the 90-minute hydrofoil ferry to Sharm El-Sheikh on the southern tip of Sinai. On arrival, drive to Ras Mohamed Marine National Park and enjoy an unforgettable diving or snorkelling experience. Later, return to Sharm for a leisurely stroll along the promenade or shop in the quaint city centre. Or, if you're not in the diving mood and looking for some non-pharonic history, head to Saint Catherine's, a sixth century AD Greek Orthodox monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. Hotels in Sharm include Days Inn Gafy Resort (00+(2069) 600 210), Sanafir Village (00+(2069) 600 197) or Sharm Holiday Resort (00+(2069) 601 391), and in Saint Catherine you can enjoy a relaxing holiday in Daneilla Village (00+(2069) 470 379) or Catherine Plaza Village (00+(2069) 470 288).

You can still combine Cairo with Sharm El- Sheikh or Hurghada by bus. Contact East Delta for Sharm (00+(202) 576 2293), or Super Jet for Hurghada (00+(202) 762 293). There are also direct flights between Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh or Hurghada, but that would be more expensive.

Write to "Holiday FAQ", Travel, Al-Ahram Weekly, Al-Galaa Street, Cairo, Egypt; or wtfaq@ahram.org.eg