http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31194 If you don't mind that Tony Blair had a suite there, its worth a couple of nights.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31194 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22818 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22818 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21374 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21374 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16887
Just across the road from the bazaars and the coach-park at the Hatshepsut temple a jumble of mud-brick remains marks the cemetery of el-Asasif, site of some of the largest and most spectacular tombs anywhere in the country.

Three of its tombs are open to the public: that of Kheruef of the 18th Dynasty, and those of Pabasa and Ankh-hor of the 26th. Their subterranean ‘sun-courts’ are unique to this area, and each of the tombs preserves beautiful relief decoration of varying styles.

I would highly recommend taking a walk from here back to the road through the crumbling remains of tombs yet to be investigated; at the road I recommend hailing one of the local service taxis and riding back to the river with the locals for a few piasters, rather than taking a private car for 100 times the price.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16887 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16886
For those looking for archaeological adventures away from the hordes, I highly recommend making arrangements (in hotels or with taxi drivers) to join the daily convoy down-river (north) from Luxor to see Dendera and Abydos. The former is the site of one of Egypt’s best preserved monuments, the Ptolemaic and Roman temple of Dendera, with scenes of Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) and her son Ceasarion; at the latter the atmospheric temple of Sety I and his son Ramesses the Great features some of the most beautiful relief decoration anywhere in Egypt.

The drive is fairly lengthy but provides an excellent opportunity to see the Egyptian countryside.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16886 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11787 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11787 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11783
We enjoyed many a night here in February this year. Try the duck or kebabs. Tell them Caroline and Paul sent you, they assure us you will get a free drink!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11783 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11450
It is cheaper to book it yourself than through the travel agents in Luxor itself. The train leaves Luxor around 9pm and gets into Cairo at about 7am.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11176
The sunset concert mixed with the sound of the evening chorus of birds and the sight of fellucas sailing gracefully by is hard to beat. It's open to non-residents so just turn up and watch the sun go down with your partner.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11176 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10360 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10360 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9712 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9712 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6860 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6860 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6467
Typical costs are £39 per person for a visit to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepshut's temple and the Valley of the Queens. Included in this price are the ticket prices (approximately £9.50 per person).

To hire an air-conditioned minibus and a guide, and to visit temples and tombs that you wish to see, will cost at most 200LE (£20) for up to six people (total price), so adding the cost of the tickets, the trip will probably cost an individual in this situation about £12.

The other plus of this is that you can actually spend as long as you wish at a site, and not have to rush back to take in the obligatory visit to an alabaster or papyrus shop, for which the tour leader on the coach can make up to 50% of your purchase price in commission.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6467 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6346 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6346 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5103 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5103 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5102
Alternatively, there are plentiful taxis on the other side waiting to take you the remaining 3-4km to the sites. All tickets for the sites must be pre-purchased at ticket booths 1km inland. A general ticket for the Valley of Kings or Queens costs 55LE (approx. £5.50) and gives admission to three separate tombs, although Tutankhamen’s tomb will set you back a further 70LE.

As with many other attractions in Egypt, ISIC holders receive a 50% discount. A word of warning: don’t feel obliged to take an unofficial tour of a tomb by one of the wardens: they will expect and occasionally demand, a tip for the service.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5102 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5101
Karnak is one of the world’s most celebrated monuments: a vast complex of different temples built over 1300 years including the spectacular Hypostyle Hall with its 134 giant columns. It’s worth seeing in daylight (afternoon is less crowded) and at night with the sound and light show. It’s about 2.5km north of the town centre and can be reached by walking either along the Corniche before turning right when you see the sign for Karnak, or directly up Sharia El-Karnak. Alternatively, take a caleche or taxi from the centre. Entry is 40LE.

The impressive Luxor Temple is right in the centre of town on the Corniche. Entry is 30LE. The small Luxor museum just up the Corniche houses a number of interesting artefacts and will take an hour or so to cover and is probably worth visiting. Entry is 30LE.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5101 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5100
For example, the recently-opened Indian restaurant at the Sheraton has received excellent reports and is well worth a visit. Other hotels such as the Hilton and Emilio also house very good restaurants and are open to non-residents. At the budget end, there are several good-value ‘tourist’ restaurants.

The Ramses restaurant adjacent to the Emilio on Sharia Yusef Hassan, is a very reasonable, basic place somewhat undiscovered by the bulk of tourists.

The restaurant at the St Marks Hotel on Sharia El-Karnak is cheap with pleasant service but in need of a facelift. The Amoun and El-Hussein which are next door to each other further down Sharia El-Karnak and attract large numbers of tourists, both are good value serving mainly western dishes.

Although the town isn’t renowned for its nightlife, some of the larger hotels such as the Etap and Sheraton have discos until the early hours where you can also see bellydancing shows.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5100 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5099 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5099 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5098 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5098