ns sommes alles 15j en avril , le caire/alexandrie/port said/ismailia/suez/le caire
un petit topo en attendant de faire le blog
Le caire :
hotel arabiannight
http://arabiannightshotel.com/ reserve sur le net en France, payé 4 € a ce moment pour la réservation .Tres bonne communication, le gerant ns a signalé qu’il y aurait la fete a ce moment et que ns risquions de ne pas dormir…(si vs prenez 3 nuits ou plus, un taxi vient vs chercher gratuitement. )120le la double avec sdb et petit déjeuner, internet gratuitement, , bouteille d’eau a l’hotel a 2,5
Le musée du caire: 60le et 30 avec reduc
La citadelle :50 le et 25le si reduction
Taxi 20 le pour aller de cet hotel a la place du musée ou ns avons logés a" l’hotel Vienna" 120 le avec sdb, pas de petit dej, pas terrible mais l’interet c’est qu’il est pres du musée(ds le même immeuble que le «dabah » ou ns etions l’an passé, assez degeu, et le « suisse » au 6eme
Train pour alexandrie 35 le /pers
Alexandrie
Très facile de se déplacer en ville, taxi, bus, microbus(0,5 à 1le), et surtout tram(0,25 le et 1 le pour le tram ancien aux sieges de bois)
La gare est sur la place, prendre en face la rue Daniel et la descendre pour se rendre a pieds sur la corniche
"Hotel Philip house" 130 le la double, mais pas de salle de bain, pas de petit dej, fenêtres donnant sur la corniche, très bruyant la nuit, les tapis et deco ne sont que de la poudre aux yeux!!
Pas terrible
Et surtout pas terrible du tout le café en bas « café de la paix »
Restaurant le Mohammed Ahmed , tout pres de la place, restau populaire
Restau « Gad » c’est une chaîne, mais celui-ci possède une salle de restau
Restau « el safawani » a la station de tram ibrahima
Nous avons préfère pour 10 le de moins" l’acropole" sur la place,27 rue chambre du commerce.Ramle station , au 120 le avec sdb et petit dej ds la chambre.Au même etage vs avez le « transit »il a l’air plus select et est plus cher
ACROPOLE_hotel@yahoo.com
Celui-ci a donc vu sur la place avec un petit balcon, et vue également sur la baie, plus au calme, même si on entends le tram
Le fort de kabey a faire a pieds par la corniche et retour par les 5 mosquées (ou réciproquement. Endroit très calme, peu de touriste étrangers.
Bibliotheque 10 le, consigne pour les sacs au niveau des guichets (assez mal fichu)
Abouk’ir
Microbus 1,5le a 28km d’alexandrie
Port said bus 22 le a prendre a la « nouvelle station » assez loin du centre, prendre un taxi 5 le
Hotel «el miriland » Digla et ramsis str 70 le pour 2 avec sdb, vieillot, mais correct(ils ns ont meme rendu de l'argent car la tv ne fonctionnait pas!!), très calme, pas de voiture ds la rue, petits commerces et bistrots ds le quartier, A voir le canal, la traversée en ferry gratuit pour port Fouad, musée militaire
Gare a proximité pour aller a Ismailia 15 le .Hotel Isis 50 le avec sdb , sur la place Orabi devant la gare, la ville est tranquille, beaucoup d’espaces vert, le canal, mais semble en travaux ds tout les coins!!
Train pour Suez a 8 le (comme ds les films!!)pas de carreaux, ou bien cassés, les portes ne se ferment pas, sieges plus ou moins entiers..et tj aucun touristes, mais de chouettes rendontres!
coiffeur homme pour 20le avec epilation au fils
Hotel « el madena » au calme, pas de passage de voiture, 90 le , bus en ville pour 0,25le pour aller au port et au canal, pas le droit de faire des photos
coiffeur femme avec une teinture a 100le et surtout un super bon moment passé (preparation d'une mariée)
Bus pour le caire 10 le, prendre un taxi (5le)pour aller a la station , est un peu éloignée du centre
Au caire hotel «ismailia » 90le avec petit dej , au 8eme etage sur la place eltahrir(musée du caire)
www.isamiliahotel.com devant la station de metro
Nilobus 1le se prend devant Maspero et vs laisse au niveau du jardin botanique, jolie balade ds ce jardin, au calme, avec expo de végétaux
Nilometre 15 le, 8 le avec reduc, descendre a la station « el malik el saleh » direction helwan
Pas loin, vs ferez une super balade ds le vieux caire, ne pas hésiter a vs enfoncer ds les ruelles et vs y arrêter prendre un the , et le quartier copte, le 23 fete de st george patron des grecques, grand rassemblement a l’église st georges
Juste un petit mot sur le "café de la Paix" à Alexandrie. Si effectivement, le lieu ne casse pas des briques, signalons que la shisha est d'une qualité rare en Egypte : le responsable shisha utilise le tabac de la marque émiratie Al-Fakher, réputée être la meilleure du monde, alors qu'en général en Egypte on trouve la marque locale Al-Nakhla qui est beaucoup plus difficile à fumer (rape à la gorge), le tabac étant de nettement moins bonne qualité. Donc, pour fumer une bonne shisha, allez tout droit au café de la Paix ! Quel dommage, toutefois, qu'ils n'aient que du tabac à la pomme.
salut gilles
et merci
c'est pas qu'il casse pas des briques, c'est que ils ne font pas les prix qui sont affichés sur la carte(qui se trouve d'ailleurs ds les pioles de l'hotel) plus chers, bien sur.. je pense qu'ils se souviennent de ns
qt à la shisha , j'avoue que ni pour compagnon(ancien fumeur)ni pour moi (pas fumeuse du tout, meme un petard ne me fait aucun effet!!😉)ca n'est pas pour ns un critere
mais j'ai cru comprendre que le tabac a la pomme est le plus utilisé, me trompe je?
Je suis étonné (et déçu) de ta mésaventure. Perso, j'y suis allé trois fois cette semaine, et les prix étaient corrects. Le fait que j'habite en Egypte et parle un peu l'arabe a du aider.
Tu as raison, le tabac à la pomme est effectivement le plus classique pour les shishas, pour une raison que j'ignore car c'est loin d'être le meilleur et il n'a, en fait, jamais le goût de pomme (plutôt anis d'habitude). Dans ce café, vu qu'ils avaient du tabac d'excellente qualité, on pouvait espérer un peu plus de choix. Mais, vraiment, pour fumer une shisha, je n'ai pas trouvé mieux en Egypte.
Mais la shisha ne fait pas d'effet particulier !Ca n'a rien à voir avec un pétard, et si tu n'y mets que du tabac, tu n'auras pas d'autre effet que celui du tabac. Si vous retournez à Alex, votre compagnon pourra tester sans risque de "replonger" car, il n'y a pas d'accoutumance qui se crée. Perso, je ne fume pas de cigarette mais je fume parfois la shisha. Je peux arrêter pendant deux ou trois mois sans problème et m'en refumer une à l'occasion.
le probleme est que ds la chambre etait indiqué un prix (pour le petit dej)et au moment de payer , c'etait bien la meme carte, mais les prix avaient ete corrigés(a la hausse)
ns sommes allés chercher le papier ds la chambre, ils ont bien convenus que ns avions raison..et au moment de ns donner la note, c'etaient bien les prix eleves qui etaient pris en cpte!! s'en ai suivi une discussion un peu houleuse!! C'est le principe qu'on a pas aimé, et les prix eleves ne se justifiaeint nullement
la shisha ne fait pas d'effet particulier , mais semblerait aussi (ou plus)nocive que le tabac.C'est la peur de replonger qui fait qu'il ne touche plus a quoique ce soit, car il est certain qu'il repriquerait au truc.Il parrait que c'est si bon (qu'il dit!!)
TU dis que tu ne fume pas de cigarette, j'en connais un aussi, shisha et chichon, jamais de cigarette😉 !!
Pour la nocivité, il n'y a pas d'étude réelle. Une étude provocatrice dit que fumer une shisha revient à fumer un paquet de cigarettes entier. Mais en fait, si on lit dans le détail, on se rend compte que la quantité de fumée absorbée est effectivement la même, mais que cette fumée n'est pas de la même "qualité" que celle de la cigarette et ne contient pas les mêmes cochonneries. Ainsi pas ou peu de nicotine donc pas d'addiction. Et une fumée de shisha plus froide qui serait ainsi moins nocive selon certains. Mais aucune étude vraiment poussée. Par exemple, comparaison de l'espérance de vie des fumeurs de shisha et de cigarettes (toute choses égales par ailleurs) ou taux de cancers du poumon...
Bon ce qui est sûr, c'est que shisha ou cigarette, ça n'arrange pas la santé ! Faut pas abuser comme pour tout.
En ce qui me concerne, j'aime beaucoup fumer le narguile - ce que vous appelez la shisha pour l'Egypte - mais je ne fume presque jamais de cigarette ; ou alors juste pour faire plaisir et partager, mais je n'aime pas ça... Vraiment pas....
Le narguile n'est certainement pas bon pour la santé, mais il ne développe chez moi aucune addiction, j'arrête du jour au lendemain, et pour des semaines ou des mois ; c'est infecte en France, car il faut des braises de qualité.
En ayant lu ce message jai plein d'interrogations car en effet moi j'envisge surement de partir pour la premiere fois seul et en egypte et pkoi pa essayer un combine croisiere histoire de faire 1semaine de visite et 1semaine mer rouge histoire de faire bapteme plingee et visite mont sinai et excursion desert
C'est pourquoi jaimerais savoir si d'autres personnes que moi envisage de partir en septembre en egypte que se soit seul ou a plusieur histoire de former ptit groupe ?
C'est pourquoi jaimerais savori quel sont les meilleure visites a faire pendant la semaine croisiere ?
aucune idée sur les croisieres, c'est le genre de truc que je ne fais pas(qd je serais vieille peut etre😉 ??)
mais si tu parts comme ca, je suppose que c'est organisé..donc , a voir avec l'organisme avec lequel tu parts
Bonjour,
De l'aéroport du Caire, je voudrais prendre un car pour me rendre à Port Said.
Où dois-je me rendre et quel car ?
merci à tous pour vos informations.
Je te remercie de ta réponse.
Par rapport à l'aéroport, je prends un taxi jusqu'à la gare ?
ou bien y a-t-il un autre moyen d'y accéder?
merci pour les infos
Cathy
Just back from Egypt: 2 days in Cairo, then a Nile cruise. Incredible Pyramids, but shocking pollution trash everywhere, even on the Nile. Visa scam (95 vs.…
I m stuck in the airport on a layover, so here s what I wish I d known before I left! :) When I arrived, I got scammed right away at the VODAFONE stand in the…
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
