Product Description

Covers: Cairo and its surrounding areas, the Nile Valley, Sinai, the Red Sea Coast, the Delta, the North Coast, and the Western Desert region.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #678149 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Turtleback
• 352 pages

Review
Encyclopedic in scope, it's meant to be used before, during, and after your stay. (Travel & Leisure) Both novice and experienced travelers will be captivated. (U.S. News & World Report) Each book is a visual as well as informational feast about a particular place. (The New York Times) The best travel guides ever. (Sky Magazine) For comprehensive advice that is attractively presented, publisher Dorling Kindersley's guides for serious travelers are tough to beat. (US News & World Report) Hats off to DK for the Eyewitness Travel Guides...[they] raise the bar for all others. (Dallas Morning News) The most graphically exciting and visually pleasing series on the market. (Chicago Tribune) Eyewitness Travel Guides are marvels of writing, color photography and illustration. What makes these so special is their thoroughness. (New York Times Syndicate) This is a guidebook series that always seems to inspire smiles...You feel, looking at them, as if you could close the book and step into the street. (Contra Costa Times ) Want to know where to get a great espresso on your way to the Uffizi? Or how much to tip a hotel maid in New York City? Try these travel guides, each an intricate trove of 3-D aerial views, landmark floor plans, color photos and essential eating, shopping and entertainment info. With titles covering Paris, Prague, and London, these pocket-sized guides are like a Michelangelo fresco: deliriously rich in detail. (People Magazine) Eyewitness Travel Guides, considered to be the world's best travel resource to over 30 destinations around the world, make it easier to plan a splendid vacation. (North American Press Syndication) Each new Eyewitness Guide adds more of the world to this wonderfully visual series.... What sets these guides apart from others is their striking, three-dimensional cutaways of key sites. (New York Daily News)

Customer Reviews

Highly recommended
I've been highly satisfied with the Eyewitness Travel Guide series, and this Egypt edition does not disappoint. Maps are clear and helpful, photos help to explain all of the rich history and culture of Egypt. We brought the Lonely Planet Egypt book with us as well, but we found the Eyewitness Travel Guide to be clearer and simpler to use.

The only issue that we found with the book was viewing a performance of the whirling dervishes in Cairo. The book directs us to a place near the bazaar, but the mosque where they normally perform is under renovation. As a result, the performances were being held at the Citadel during the time of our visit. This isn't the book's fault, as this was new and even the conceirge directed us to the wrong place.

That being said, the book guided us to the right places many other times. We especially appreciated the tip on the Egyptian Pancake place in the bazaar!

excellent overview
Excellent, detailed information re: sites. Plenty of tourist maps to help get you oriented. Illustrations of major sites to show multiple views and overview. Only drawback is hotel listings - they leave out important hotels, sometimes even the best bet in the city. All else, is terrific.

Visual Tour of Egypt
In this guide, Egypt is divided into: Cairo, Around Cairo, The Nile Valley, Sinai & the Red Sea Coast, The Delta & The North Coast, The Western Desert.

There is a portrait of Egypt which explains Daily Life, Religion (Islam is explained in more depth on two pages later in the book) and Culture, Politics and Economics, Egypt Today. Then there is a section on the history of Ancient Egypt, Hieroglyphics, Temples and Religious life, Mythology, Burial Traditions and Daily Life.

The Egyptian Calendar is crowded with Muslim, Christian, national and local festivals and these holidays are listed. Next you find The History of Egypt in a Timeline format.

Cairo is divided into: Central Cairo, Islamic Cairo, Rhoda Island & Old Cairo and Giza & Heliopolis.

You will also find cutaways and floor plans of major sights, easy-to-use maps and plans, advice on exploring the pyramids and ancient tombs, information on boat tours on the nile and diving in the red sea. With 1,000 full color photographs in all, this is a beautiful guide you will enjoy looking at long after your trip.

Where to Stay - hotels divided into areas and price categories.
Where to Eat - Interesting information on Sugar Cane juice.
Shopping - Fun shopping rituals, have tea and bargin for items.

Entertainment - Belly Dancing, Opera and Ballet, Cinema, Coffee House Culture, Golf, Snorkeling, Horse and Camel Riding, Hiking and Hot-air balloon rides.

Practical Information - Passports and Visas, Customs and Duty-Free Allowances, Language, Public Conveniences, Electrical adaptor information, currency, communications and conversion chars. Some useful phrases you will want to know.

Travel Information - The cruise option sounds interesting and can you just imagine floating down the Nile river, now that is romantic! They also mention things like taking sterilizing tablets for water and they also say you shouldn't swim in the Nile. So these types of things are really important to read about before leaving on your journey.

A short section on phrases completes this book.

The Best Travel Guide for Egypt I've seen so far!

~The Rebecca Review