Le retour - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

Another French review from some returning guests who compare it pre and post revolution and say how safe it was.

Le retour - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: Une fois encore nous sommes allés en congés à Louxor, que dire de plus par rapport à la dernière fois? La qualité d'accueil est restée la même, et le personnel toujours aussi sympathique. Un petit bémol concernant la qualité des repas pris sur place, même s'ils sont délicieux, le précédant cuisinier nous avait habitué à l'exceptionnel. En plus,la quasi absence de touristes à Louxor, nous a permis de profiter dans des conditions exceptionnelles des visites des sites alentours.
L'ambiance dans la région est paisible et à aucun moment nous ne nous sommes sentis mal à l'aise, et encore moins en danger !!
Destination et hébergement à recommander.

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3 Nights at Al-Gezera, Flats in Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

My second Malaysian review!!

3 Nights at Al-Gezera, Flats in Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: We stayed at Al-Gezera flats on 29 February 2012 until 3 March 2012. We managed to book 2 apartments there.We went to Luxor as college break coinciding the mid-semester holidays.It was good choice as we were taken care of during our stay there.

We chose Al-Gezera because it is near to the Nile river and also located at the tiny town of the west bank beside the Nile.So to go for the grocery,mini-market or even local restaurant is reachable by walking or cycling.Furthermore we enjoyed the genuine and serenity of Qarna village atmosphere and the hospitality of the people.

As regard the apartments, we felt satisfed from the moment we checked in and checked out.It was cozy apartment with great decor,nice view at the balcony,functioning little kitchen and hot water was available at the bathroom.

We would like to thank Mr Mahmoud Jahlan and his team for the endless effort he made for us especially for the arrangement for the trips,barbeque at his villa,free boat transfer to Karnak and Luxor town and also for the reservation of football field at the Nile river bank.Jazakallah Khairan and thank you very much.We hope to see you again next time.

Ahmed Abid Abas on behalf of my colleagues from Malaysia.

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Fantastisk skøn ferie i Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

My first Danish review! 

Fantastisk skøn ferie i Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: Har været på en 15 dages tur til Luxor, det har været den bedste ferie jeg nogen sinde har været på. Med skøn ridetur på æsler, en flot tur i luftballon, en romantisk sejltur på Nilen hvor vi så den flotteste solnedgang og en fankastisk sjov tur på Quad - bikes i den Hvide ørken.
Helt fantastisk guide til templer og kravkamre, han vidste hvad han talte om. Kunne tale engelsk så man kunne forstå det, dejligt.
Alt arrangeret af Jane Akshar Flats in Luxor.

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al gezera was totally awesome! - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

So pleased to see Mahmoud getting the credit for once being as he does everything behind the scenes :) al gezera was totally awesome! - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: The apartments are spacious and comfortable with air conditioned bedrooms and comfortable beds. in the morning we can see hot air balloon sailing over, a very wonderful view!
and also, mahmud is a very kind man,try his best to fulfill our need..really,i enjoyed it!

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An update on Kent Weeks library

An update on Kent’s library, it is sort of open now with limited stock and you should contact Ahmed Hassan for opening hours etc. I have his phone number which I can email you. The provisional opening hours are late afternoon early evening.

The Getty Institute, Unesco and the World Heritage Fund are all getting involved and will be donating books, old publications etc.

Kent is buying a number of Arabic language books on archaeology and conservation, on health care prenatal and maternal heath. He is hoping that locals will use it and educate themselves. It is aimed at locals and although that is mainly Egyptians it does include ex pats living here as well

Donations are welcome and one resident has already donate a number of books which Kent was glad to accept. He wants to populate it with anything and everything from English fiction to Arabic academic works and everything in-between.

His right hand man Ahmed is the guy to contact about donations, visiting and opening hours.

OsirisNet News

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For Sale the dahabiyya, Kingfisher, owned by Dr Kent Weeks - Cruise or live on the Nile in Luxor Egypt

For Sale the dahabiyya, Kingfisher, owned by Dr Kent Weeks - Cruise or live on the Nile in Luxor Egypt
Unique opportunity to buy a unique boat. Kingfisher is 100 years old and can be used for cruises or a houseboat. Famously featured in New York Times Great Homes. Dr Kent Weeks, the famous Egyptologist is selling this wonderful boat

For Sale the dahabiyya, Kingfisher, owned by Dr Kent Weeks - Cruise or live on the Nile in Luxor Egypt: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Egypt pins hopes on tourism recovery|World|chinadaily.com.cn

I could not agree more, nothing happened in Luxor, yet people cancelled holidays here when they were flying here direct. Luxor is a 50 minute flight from Cairo. Egypt pins hopes on tourism recovery|World|chinadaily.com.cn: He added that the only reason accounting for the decline was the security situation, which was over exaggerated and stereotyped by the international media, especially from the West.

"What happened in Tahrir Square was widely reported and gave an impression that all of Egypt was unstable and insecure," he said. "That was absolutely wrong because it's not representative. In fact, tourist destinations were quite stable and peaceful."

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Map of Luxor:Flats in Luxor

Map of Luxor:Flats in Luxor: Luxor does not have names for all its streets which is why we like to meet you and take you to your apartment. If you need an address for visa purposes Flats in Luxor, West Bank, Luxor is enough unless you are staying on the East Bank of course :) . So for all of you that like to know where you are here is a map from Google Earth with all our properties on it.

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Is Egypt safe. For savvy travelers, the Middle East still beckons - CNN.com

For savvy travelers, the Middle East still beckons - CNN.com: Traveling there last fall during the uprisings, she found herself sharing the pyramids with a scattering of Chinese and Egyptian tourists instead of the usual overwhelming crowds. "If you want to check out some serious archaeological, ancient stuff, it's a great opportunity to be in the middle of history," she says.

Though violent protests continue in Egypt, O'Neill says most of Cairo is safe, as long as you don't get near the demonstrations. That means people wanting to travel to Cairo right now need to know the layout of the city more than those flying directly to Luxor to see King Tut's tomb. Or they need to hire a reputable tour operator who knows where to take them.

Even without unrest, independent travel is a constant negotiation. Gone are the days when you could walk the streets of Cairo without concern for your wallet. Pickpockets are out and about, and O'Neill had a hard time avoiding vendors trying to sell her mini-replicas of alabaster pyramids and books about Nefertiti. "People are always wanting to sell you stuff, and that's true no matter when you go," she says.

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This Is Whom You Fear

This Is Whom You Fear
This Is Whom You Fear #egypt
by Doug Baum on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 at 17:14

I’ve recently returned home from a three-week trip to Egypt and Jordan, where I work as a tour guide. One day, while shopping in the historic bazaar, Khan El Khalili, a BBC-TV reporter approached me and asked if I would mind being interviewed. The topic would be how I felt as an American visiting Egypt one year after their revolution.



With complete honesty I answered the questions, mentioning I’ve been coming to the region for eleven years, was hopeful for the Egyptian people and had been treated with nothing but warmth and hospitality on each and every trip. As the camera and microphone were set up, a crowd gathered around, listening intently, silent in stark contrast to the nearby Cairo traffic. The thirty-odd folks, mostly gentlemen, were hanging on every word I said and, short of lifting me on shoulders and dumping a cooler of Gatorade on me, I felt like the winning coach of the Super Bowl. It was evident those standing by were pleased with my answers. “Thank you so much for your kind words about our country,” one said. “We’re so afraid people in America only see bad things about Egypt on TV,” another echoed.



It’s not uncommon, as I prepare for a trip to the Middle East, to hear warnings from folks in the US to be safe, to watch out. Be careful. “You know they all hate us.” Now, for those of you who don’t get your information about the Middle East from TV news and Hollywood film, this FB Note is not for you. Bigots, the prejudiced and the ignorant, only, need read further.



Hatred, I believe, is rooted in fear. Humans fear what we don’t understand. Those among us who fear the Middle East inappropriately consider the region a homogenous whole, further mistaking the Islamic world as Arab. Indeed, the majority of Muslims live in Indonesia and Malaysia, non-Arab lands.



In his book Out Of Arabia, author Warwick Ball writes:



“At any time from about 1990 onwards, a visit to virtually anywhere in the Middle East would elicit the almost invariable response of an odd look and the remark, ‘But isn’t it dangerous out there!’ Never mind if one was just visiting, say, Turkey when there was a war in Iraq, or visiting Iran when there was a flare-up in, say, Lebanon, the response would be the same. Tourism in the Middle East certainly suffered accordingly. But a skiing holiday, for example, in Austria or a seaside holiday in Greece during the time of the war in former Yugoslavia would never have elicited the same response: few if any cancelled holidays to Austria or Greece or other countries in the vicinity of war-torn Yugoslavia. In practice, a visit to, say, Iran was just as safe as (or probably safer than) a visit to Greece. In fact it is true to say that one generally experiences more overt warmth, friendliness, genuine hospitality – and less ‘danger’- in the Islamic world than almost anywhere else, media impressions notwithstanding. The difference, however, is purely one of prejudice: Muslim Middle Eastern countries are perceived as self-evidently ‘dangerous’, European countries are not, regardless of whether there is or is not a war.”



Maybe my own simple analogy, based purely on geography, can help. When the Gulf Coast was hit by Hurricane Katrina it was bad. For people along the Gulf Coast. Folks in Des Moines, Iowa kept on shucking corn.



(Psst! Hey! I see you. Yeah, you there, the non-bigot. The open-minded one. Oh well. I probably lost the bigots at “homogenous” anyway. Read on.)





This Is Whom You Fear.



The Egyptian man on the crowded Cairo subway who offered me his seat. And didn’t try to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Dr. Khalid Bahrawy, animal physiologist, who was taken care of every afternoon, when just a schoolboy, by a Christian family. Khalid now lives in an apartment building next to Alexandria’s largest Catholic church with Jewish neighbors on the top floor. I’ve spent a number of days with Dr. Khalid in Egypt and in London where we were both speakers at an International Camel Conference. He’s never tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Mohammed, a twenty-five year old souvenir salesman outside Petra, in Jordan, who, upon learning my name (Douglas), asked, “Like Douglas MacArthur?” TWENTY-FIVE! Mohammed associated my traveling companion, Jimmy, with Jimmy Carter then announced he knew all the American presidents and could name them in order. Jimmy and I stopped him less than a quarter of the way through his recitation, afraid he’d realize we couldn’t disprove him! Mohammed seemed to have no interest in cutting my throat and putting the video on the internet.



This Is Whom You Fear.



Abdel Halim, bakery owner in the same Giza neighborhood, who won’t let me pay for anything I get from his bakery. In addition to throwing in an extra kilo of sweets I didn’t order, he’s never tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Adel Hamza and his entire family, in whose house I stay (along with groups I bring to Egypt). His wife feeds us, his kids and grandchildren play with us and never, not even once, has he tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Saleh bin Soliman, Bedouin of the Muzeina tribe, South Sinai, among whose extended family my groups stay while trekking the desert on camels. I’ve known Saleh and his family for eleven years, have seen his kids grow up, get married and become parents themselves and NEVER, despite numerous opportunities while sleeping in the desert, far from civilization, has Saleh tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



This Is Whom You Fear.



Hajja Mileyha, grandmotherly Bedouin in South Sinai, who once treated my winter cold with the most amazing chicken soup without poisoning me OR trying to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Maged El Said, owner of a Red Sea beach resort I frequently stay in, who surely has a master key, yet he (nor his staff) never sneak into my room at night to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Two “twenty-something” Egyptian brothers who took pity on me when I once sat outside their coffee shop at a bus station in Cairo, afraid I’d miss my bus, so I got there four hours early. After watching me nervously eye each bus that came and went, they finally invited me into their shop, offered me tea and a sandwich (wouldn’t let me pay and insisted I stay in their home on my next visit to Egypt) and wanted to arm wrestle to see if the pork-eating Christian had white muscle disease. One brother took me right-handed, I hammered the other with my left. Neither brother tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



This Is Whom You Fear.



An Egyptian soldier at a bus stop in Nuweiba, South Sinai (I was there early, too, afraid I’d miss that bus). I was asleep on one bench, which backed up to another bench at the bus stop. While I was sleeping the soldier arrived and sat down; I rolled over and scared him. He jumped up and I laughed. We shared a good hour of conversation ending with him, too, inviting me to stay in his home the next time I visited Egypt. Though I’m certain Egyptian army basic training includes hand-to-hand combat, this soldier didn’t try to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Abu Hazm, waiter at a restaurant I frequent, who insists on keeping my bags so I can walk around the adjacent shopping area without having to carry armloads of stuff. Never once has he stolen anything out of my bags nor, though surely there are knives in the kitchen of his restaurant, has he tried to cut my throat and put the video on the internet.



Mahmoud, the barber I use in Giza when I’m staying in Egypt, who puts a straight razor (yeah, old-school) to my neck. AND NEVER HAS HE TRIED TO CUT MY THROAT AND PUT THE VIDEO ON THE INTERNET!

Update on Gamal's wife

Our chef Gamal took his wife to the cancer unit is Aswan for her check up. The doctor seemed happy with her progress, he gave her another injection and more tablets. Next time they go he is going to do another scan and see how the cancer is doing. He has given her medication for her cough and breathlessness. Thank you to those that have sent money to help him or been generous with tips because of his circumstances.

Ruime accomodatie in rustige omgeving aan westkant - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

Great review in Dutch this time!! Ruime accomodatie in rustige omgeving aan westkant - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: Als je rust zoekt en niet per se me je neus op één van de hotspots wil zitten, is dit een prima plek.

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Flats in Luxor in the Press

Flats in Luxor in the Press: - Sent using Google Toolbar

A new interview in EXPAT Info Expatriate Interviews: From the UK to Egypt

In the latest in our expat interview series we meet Jane Akshar, a UK-born expatriate who now lives in Egypt. Here she tells us what took her to Egypt and shares information about the highs and lows of life in this part of the world.

http://www.expatinfodesk.com/blog/2011/12/28/expatriate-interviews-from-the-uk-to-egypt/

Peter Greenberg: The Travel Detective: Is Egypt Safe?

Peter Greenberg: The Travel Detective: Is Egypt Safe?

The Travel Detective is never one to lead people into danger, nor is he willing to buy into fear-mongering. A frequent traveler to Egypt, Peter reports on travel safety on the ground in Cairo and throughout the country.

I've been traveling to Egypt since I was 24 and I can never get enough of it. One thing is consistent: Every time I tell friends I'm going to Egypt, they always say: "Be careful," "Be safe" or, quite recently, "Are you nuts?"

I am not crazy. I've always said that the best time to visit a destination is immediately after a civil disturbance or a natural disaster. The worst four-letter word starting with "f" is "fear," and Americans know no shortage of it when it comes to making their travel choices. They are directly motivated by it. I put my money where my mouth is...and I go.

From the moment most Americans land at the airport in Cairo, there is a certain anxious feeling that surrounds visitors. For the few American travelers visiting the Egyptian capital, the questions are somewhat obvious: Is it safe? Will the streets be occupied by Army troops?

But, it's the first question that YOU are asked that sets the tone: "Where are you from?" Guess what, when you say America, a smile emerges from the person who asked you. "We are honored that you are here. Thank you so much for coming to our country. Thank you...we NEED you!"

Within minutes, it becomes clear that Egypt is, indeed, safe. That the streets are only dangerous because of the usual chaotic Cairo traffic and you're in for a treat. Since the revolution started January 25, 2011, not a single American tourist has been killed.

What does that tell you? That when the going gets tough, the smart travelers get traveling. And they then have an amazing, affordable, life-changing experience. It's more than just being the beneficiary of a buyers' market. It's seeing a place the way it was meant to be seen, with no crowds, better deals and better service.

People are truly happy to see you and they show it. And from the moment I arrived, I knew I had made the right decision to come.

I flew in Cairo stayed at the Four Seasons hotel on the Nile. Occupancy was about 40 percent in high season. I went to the Pyramids. Nearly deserted. I went to the Khalili bazaar, one of my favorite shopping destinations, which was empty so storekeepers were more eager than ever to make me a deal on anything. Then I flew to Luxor and boarded Uniworld's MS Tosca for a cruise on the Nile.

There are about 400 ships set up for cruising the Nile, but only about 40 are currently operating. That's how much tourism has dropped since the Arab Spring began about a year ago.

"We have dropped 85 percent," Akram, my guide on the ship told me. "And in a country where so many of my fellow citizens depend on travel and tourism to feed their families, this has been a disaster."

At one point a few months ago, the MS Tosca left the dock in Luxor with only six paying passengers. "We decided to operate anyway," said one of the ship's officers, "because we needed to get the message out that we were in business, that Egypt was safe." The passenger numbers have slowly come back up, but the number of Americans cruising is still hardly registering.

Slowly but surely that word is getting out (emphasis on the word slowly). Not once during my trip on the ship did i feel in any danger. Not once did I feel threatened or compromised. Instead, I, and my other passengers (mostly German, Swiss and French) were showered with service and legendary Egyptian hospitality.

My guides on the ship -- Akram and Mohamed -- were more than mere tourist guides. They were cutting edge egyptologists who didn't just point things out at the iconic sites like the temples at Karnak, but took me deep inside to explain the granite etchings and the nuances of color still visible on the columns.

The cabins on the 3-year-old ship were surprisingly spacious (and even featured real bathtubs), satellite television and the Internet (connectivity is always a necessity for me). The food was excellent, and there's even a spa on board (and the top deck features great sun areas and a sizeable pool. And for the moment, plenty of space and no crowds.

The bottom line here: now is the time to go to Egypt. Take that Nile cruise. Bookend your trip with a stay in Cairo. Visit the Egyptian museum on Tahrir square. Get out to Giza, and, while you're at it, try the Japanese restaurant at the Four Seasons. Excellent.

And if you're friends think you're crazy for going, look at it this way: Pack some common sense, be willing to immerse yourself in the culture then realize that you'd be crazy not to go.

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just back from a week with Flats in Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

Another great review on Trip Advisor, we now have 82 reviews. if you have stayed at the flats and haven't made a review then please do :)

just back from a week with Flats in Luxor - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: We stayed with Flats in Luxor for one week starting Boxing Day 2011, trying out both the Al Gezera and Goubli appartments. We'd been to Luxor before about 11 years previous and had stayed on the East bank (ie main city) but now with 3 kids wanted a self-catering option somewhere more low key. The hassle factor on the West bank is definitely much less and once a few hundred meters from the port you can basically do what you want with people saying hello, welcome etc rather than try to sell you stuff. The regular ferry across to Luxor Temple is 1 LE per person, so does not break the bank. Al Gezera is more central a couple of hundred meters from the river, whereas Goubli is quieter amidst fields of bananas and sugar cane about a mile down a dusty road next to one of the many irrigation canals. Perfectly straightforward and safe to walk even at night. Both have great views though swimming only for the brave / kids in winter! Easy to buy local bread, fruit and other staples to eat at the appartment, but the West bank has good restaurants too.

Jane was very friendly and helpful and fixed us up with great local guides/ cars/ donkeys/ boats/ camels/ cooks for hassle free trips around the sites and local colour.

All in all a great trip, kids healthy and happy throughout and expectations exceeded.

Stayed December 2011, traveled with family

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Looking Forward to Egypt 2012

After the events of the last year we are all looking forward to a fresh new Egypt and lots of exciting events in Luxor. We have the lectures back on again. Last week Francesco Tiradritti spoke about the last 15 years at the tomb of Harwa. February sees the Luxor marathon, March the opening of Sphinx Avenue and so it goes on. We are all optimistic about the future especially after having met our new Luxor representative Dr. Abdul Mawgoud Dardery who is so supportive of tourism he went to America in December to promote Luxor. Although Luxor is very quiet, it makes it an excellent time to visit as the sites are not crowded. Looking forward to seeing you in 2012.

Egypt Reverses Duty-Free Alcohol Restrictions

Egypt Reverses Duty-Free Alcohol Restrictions: In the wake of soaring prices on the black market and mounting criticism from the Egypt Free Shops Company and the tourism ministry, the decision to restrict alcohol and cigarette purchases is withdrawn.

On 13 December, Egypt's government decreased the entitlement of duty-free alcoholic beverages from four to one bottle, and of cigarettes from four to one carton, leading to prices on the black market to soar.

"I went to my regular dealer and found out that a whiskey bottle that used to cost around LE300 went up to LE550 or even LE600. The dealer told me he will be raising the price even more," says Ahmed Shawa, a twenty-five year old computer programmer.

Shawa was very displeased with the decision, which he said was taken "just to make an already complicated life even harder".

Egypt's Ministry of Finance has now withdrawn its decision to constrain the sale of alcohol and cigarettes through duty free shops, according to a statement issued by Egypt Free shops Company (EFSCO) and delivered to the stock market.

"The decision was devastating, not only for duty free shops companies, but also for the tourism industry as a whole," says Bahaa Soliman, head of EFSCO.

Soliman explains that many tourists bought their alcohol from the duty-free shops. "The tourists will just go to Israel or any other country that does not impose much restriction on alcohol," he said.

Imported alcoholic beverages are sold at extremely high in Egypt's local markets, as they are burdened with a heavy custom tariff that goes up to 3000 per cent. Accordingly, buying alcohol from free-shops was a sound economical alternative for tourists, as well as Egyptians coming from abroad.

"Ever since the decision to limit purchases, we have been faced with hundreds of angry tourists in our shops. Obviously, the decision was not properly thought through," Soliman adds.

The decision was also slated by tourism officials, and the tourism minister is reported to have interfered to reverse the decision.

The decision caused astonishment across Egypt, especially its timing coming at the start of the Christmas and New Year season.

Some speculated that Egypt's elections, which resulted in an overwhelming win for conservative Islamist parties might have been a factor in the decision to restrict the sale of alcohol. But Soliman says, “I don’t think Islamists had anything to do with the decision. It is just bad administration on the part of the government.”

Prices of alcoholic beverages on the black market are reported to have doubled and even tripled following the ban.

The black market for alcoholic beverages in Egypt is a thriving market, with the locations of dealers in the Cairo districts of Zamalek and Heliopolis well-known amongst those who consume alcohol.

On New Year’s Eve, the Heliopolis street that houses "Albert", a well known grocery shop that illegally sells high-end alcoholic beverages is usually full of young Egyptians, carrying bottles in black plastic bags in broad daylight.

Many of the bottles sold on the black market carry the free-shops sticker.

For their part, Ministry of Finance officials explained that the decision was initially taken to decrease smuggling of custom-free products into the local market.

"If they wanted to combat the black market they could have done it in a million ways without hurting other businesses and sectors,” Soliman says. “Anyway, we are thankful the decision has been revoked.”

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Finance Ministry prohibits selling duty free alcohol, cigarettes outside airports | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt

Finance Ministry prohibits selling duty free alcohol, cigarettes outside airports | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt:

إحدي متاجر بيع الخمور بوسط القاهرة ، 26 يوليو 2010 .

Photographed by تحسين بكر
Archived

Egypt's Finance Ministry has ordered the Egypt Free Shops Company (EFSCO) to stop selling alcohol and cigarettes anywhere other than its branches in Egyptian airports, a company source told Al-Masry Al-Youm.



The company source said the decision, which comes days before the celebration of the new year, will grant buyers at the company's outlets in Egyptian airports a customs exemption for one bottle of alcohol and one carton of cigarettes, instead of four of each.



The same source revealed that the new measures have stirred a crisis both in the company and airports, predicting negative repercussions for the company sales.



As part of the new initiative, custom exemptions will also be limited for merchandise and presents brought into the country through airports, the source added.



Alcohol and cigarettes will only be available for buyers in official EFSCO stores upon their arrival at the airport, the source said.



He said that price tags must be placed on items sold at the EFSCO's airport branches to ensure they are not resold outside. The Finance Ministry will provide the company with the price labels, he explained.



Recently authorities at Cairo International Airport have apprehended a number of its workers who have been borrowing the passports of passengers to buy cigarettes and alcohol which they resold to merchants outside of airports in return for hefty sums.



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Flats in Luxor - Jane Akshar - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor

Great Review on Trip Advisor. BTW They have changed the rules for owners of businesses and you have to enter a credit card to prove who you are. Flats in Luxor - Jane Akshar - Review of Flats in Luxor, Luxor, Egypt - TripAdvisor: We travelled to Luxor in June, shortly after Egypt’s Arab Spring revolution and stayed one week with Flats in Luxor. We opted for the Al Gezera (West Bank) self-catering apartments for the views over the Theban Hills. At 5am we’d watch balloons sailing over the Hills and in the evening watch the red sun setting behind the Hills, which were then lit up overnight.

The apartments are spacious and comfortable with air conditioned bedrooms and comfortable beds. We always slept well. The summer heat is extreme and can go as high as the 50 degree mark, making a dip in the pool welcome. There’s also a jacuzzi and a roof terrace with pool table, plus 24 hour security. If you’re not eating out that day, it’s easy to order meals. We had several tasty and generously portioned Egyptian meals brought to us from the Goubli restaurant that were set up in the apartment for us.

Jane, her family and Staff are also very accessible and friendly. This makes it easy to book trips; ask anything you want to ask, or have fetched anything you want fetching. For example, we were grateful for the boxes of water brought to us from the village, which we’d have struggled to manage ourselves. If you do want to go into the village, the shop keepers are pleasant and we bought things like fruit and juice without any problems. The village comes alive at night (when it’s coolest) and though it’s safe to walk about, conservative clothing is best.

We booked all our trips through Jane and considered this well worth it. We had the use of a comfortable, air conditioned car with driver and we could go at our own pace and we felt safe with the people who were taking us about Luxor. Also, we felt that our tour guide was a cut above the rest as his knowledge and interest in Ancient Egypt is extensive. This was especially noticeable when we had the chance to listen in to some of the hotel tours doing the rounds, which were variable to say the least.

We experienced a range of tomb and monument tours and excursions, organised through Jane, and the quality and enjoyment was always there. We were never let down and our holiday was truly enjoyable. Particularly notable was our trek up the Theban Hills on a donkey, which I’d recommend as the experience and the views across Hatchepsut’s Temple and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens are stunning, but I’d soaked up far too much sun to fully appreciate the traditional Egyptian breakfast at Ibrahim’s (which is well worth it, especially for the cultural experience).


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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Lots of best wishes for the holiday season from all at Flats in Luxor.

Dinner on "The Roof" in front of Luxor Temple

I am very fond of Snacktime but had never eaten in the Egyptian restaurant on the roof. The views are even more spectacular than lower down and it is a great place to study the temple in detail. I had the Lamb Chops and the Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream others had the mixed meze salads and the kebabs and we all enjoyed it. Recommended

Food in Luxor

One of the joys of staying in a self catering villa or Flat in Luxor is the chance to cook with fresh, organic, tasty food. Or not!!! So you can choose to eat out all the time or too cook or a combination of the two. These videos should make your mouth water.

Here is shopping in Luxor


And here is eating in Luxor

A Nubian "Green" Holiday Village in Luxor, Egypt - Green 2b

A Nubian "Green" Holiday Village in Luxor, Egypt - Green 2b: Villas in Luxor from Flats in Luxor, the perfect holiday escape experts.

Its creators aimed at constructing a Nubian village in the 21st century, respecting the local architecture and the natural environment.

Thus, the one bedroom villas are set amidst newly planted fruit trees and a thriving vegetable plot which supplies the complex's restaurant, and they were built by craftsman from Edfu with traditional domes and arches.

The accommodation consists of a large main room or studio with a double bed and dining area followed by a wet room with shower, toilet and wash hand basin and a small kitchen. Outside a shady veranda overlooks the Theban Hills. Stairs lead to the roof, perfect for bird watching and star gazing, just one mile away from the Nile!

Residents of the village have access to a swimming pool, children's pool, library, free Internet and restaurant.

As Jane Akshar, co-owner of the complex says "Looking for that hassle free holiday, want to help the local economy, need a more adult environment then our villas could be perfect for you. A hotel room with a kitchen set in lush grounds, admist the local Egyptian village. Within view of historical sites like the temple of Hatshepsut. This is what Egypt is all about!"

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March Madness from Flats in Luxor

March is my birthday and I want to spread some Egyptian holiday fun. Want a great Luxor holiday bargain? Let us match any Luxor self catering flat offer for the month of March. Yes that is right, send us details of any offer you have had and we will match the price. Don't forget we are the only Luxor flats with a swimming pool so you get better accommodation for the same price. To get this great Egyptian holiday offer for a spring break in Egypt, please quote MM2012. Email us info@flatsinluxor.co.uk

Unrest in Egypt unlikely to pose threat to tourists: MD

Unrest in Egypt unlikely to pose threat to tourists: MD: I write to clarify a tremendous misconception that is being purveyed about Egypt and the problems facing it.

The press in general is portraying Egypt as a country in considerable disarray. At worst, the common misconception is that the situation in Egypt is extremely dangerous and that the country should not be visited.

I spent the last two weeks in Egypt. I visited Cairo, Kom Ombo and Edfu, Aswan, Luxor and Sharm el-Sheikh. I visited all accompanied by my wife and my daughter, Stephanie. While we were always accompanied by a tourist guide and people who had invited us, there was never, for one moment, a question we were in danger or threatened in any way. We of course did not venture to Tahrir Square, nor to any area where there was news of disturbances.

But let's be realistic. This is a matter totally between the Egyptian people and their government, which is currently a military dictatorship.

No guest or visitor is in danger. In fact, an Arabic principle is that guests are protected. Visitors are revered and treated well. We were treated like royalty - pampered, in fact. While it behooves visitors to be responsible and use common sense, one can still visit Egypt safely and in comfort. We are very glad we were in Egypt. We cherish our memories and we have made many new friends.

Dr. Barry Lycka, Edmonton

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New Bakery in Al Gezera

Finally got to try the new bakery, omg totally wonderful

Finessing The Art Of Market Haggling | Fox News

So pleased with this artillery by Fox News about bargaining.

Finessing The Art Of Market Haggling | Fox News: Jane Akshar co-owner of Flats in Luxor Group lives in Egypt and advises Westerners on how to shop. She says knowing a little of the language goes a long way and displaying a good sense of humor is the ultimate price charmer. “The most useful phrase is ‘fil mish mish’ which literally means ‘when the apricots bloom,’” says Akshar of the Arabic phrase. “It is like saying ‘you haven’t got a snowballs chance in hell.’ This is a colloquial saying and immediately identifies you as someone in-the-know.”

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Holiday Deals in Luxor | Special Offers for Holidays in Luxor

Here are our special offers for 2012. Holiday Deals in Luxor | Special Offers for Holidays in Luxor: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Latest Press Release

Flats in Luxor is delighted to announce that they are now the official Luxor home of the Theban Mapping Project, under director Kent Weeks. The new facility will comprise accommodation for the offices of TMP as well as a public reading library A long-held dream of Kent's has been to provide guides, tourists, students, foreigners and local Egyptians with a library where they can learn more about Egypt and Egyptology, Egypt's natural history and its modern people, read English and Arabic novels, and generally enjoy books. No such facility has existed in Luxor--until now. Flats in Luxor had the ideal flat that could be converted to perform this function, in the heart of the west bank.

Kent Weeks said ‘I often get Egyptians on my team who are keen to learn more and want books. This library will be my gift to them, opening the world of literature and knowledge.”

Jane Akshar said “We are privileged to be able to provide a home for this wonderful educational facility and to Theban Mapping Project. We look forward to a long and happy association. “

Theban Mapping Project http://www.thebanmappingproject.com
Since its inception in 1978, the Theban Mapping Project (TMP, now based at the American University in Cairo) has been working to prepare a comprehensive archaeological database of Thebes. With its thousands of tombs and temples, Thebes is one of the world's most important archaeological zones. Sadly, however, it has not fared well over the years. Treasure-hunters and curio-seekers plundered it in the past; pollution, rising ground water, and mass-tourism threaten it in the present. Even early archaeologists destroyed valuable information in their search for museum-quality pieces.
Today, however, we realize that the monuments of Thebes are a finite resource. If we fail to protect and monitor them, they will vanish, and we and our descendants will all be the poorer. The TMP believes that the first and most essential step in preserving this heritage is a detailed map and database of every archaeological, geological, and ethnographic feature in Thebes. Only when these are available can sensible plans be made for tourism, conservation, and further study.
During the last decade, the TMP has concentrated on the Valley of the Kings. Modern surveying techniques were used to measure its tombs. From the data collected, the TMP has prepared 3-D computer models of the tombs. And of course, the TMP is continuing its excavation of KV 5. For the TMP staff, sharing their work with the interested public is just as important as what they do in the field. This has been done through a series of publications and this growing and award winning website.
Flats in Luxor http://www.flatsinluxor.co.uk
Established in 2003 by Jane Akshar and Mahmoud Jahlan, providing quality accommodation to independent travellers and long stay visitors to Luxor. Now with 2 swimming pools, a restaurant, 27 apartments and 5 villas, it has featured in Sunday Times, Boston Globe, Lonely Planet and A Place in the Sun.