Types of Travel To Egypt

Beach Vacations
We currently believe that more people come to Egypt for beach vacations then for any other reason. This might be a surprise to many who would believe that classical tours would lead the pack. But for many Europeans, Egyptian beaches offer the least expensive means of a sand and sea holiday. Traditionally, the Sinai and Sharm el-Sheikh specifically was for wealthier vacationers, while the Red Sea Coast and Hurghada provided the low-end resorts. However, El-Gouna, just north of Hurghada, has provided the Red Sea Coast with a high-end draw. While these locations are packed with vacationers, a less frantic upper crust vacation can be had in locations such as Soma Bay on the Red Sea, or Taba on the Sinai. Less crowed budget areas include Safaga on the Red Sea and Nuweiba and Dahab on the Sinai.

It is not uncommon for beach vacations to include some classical or religious sightseeing. Many beach goers in the Sinai will take some time to visit St. Catherine's Monastery, as well as some of the other religious monuments located on the peninsula. And from either the Sinai or the Red Sea coast, visitors often arrange day or two-day tours to Cairo, Luxor and/or Aswan.




Scuba Diving Vacations

Egypt's Red Sea has some of the best scuba diving in the world, and people come from everywhere to explore the underwater wonders, including pristine reefs and many shipwrecks. Most destinations for scuba diving are the same as for beach vacations. In Sharm el-Sheik, Taba, Dahab and Nuweiba on the Sinai and El Gouna, Hurghada, Soma Bay and Safaga on the Red Sea coast, one will always find dive shops as well as great places to dive. We have also found that many, many people come to Egypt to receive either initial or advanced diving training. Obviously, scuba diving holidays can and usually do involve an element of a standard beach vacation, and most everything pointed out above about beach vacations can be applicable to a scuba diving vacation.

The Importance of Add On Tours

What makes Egypt really special is the ability to mix and match add-on tours. One may come to Egypt for a classical pharaonic tour, but add a wonderful beach vacation to the itinerary, or come for scuba diving and add a Kenya Safari. Many tour operators are set up to provide almost an endless variety of add-ons to their standard tours.

Add-on tours are most common for either classical or religious tours. However, most any tour or vacation to Egypt may have an add-on, and some add on tours end up being complete tours for some people. Add on tours usually involve a specific destination. They include:

Western or Eastern Desert

The Western desert is becoming more and more popular with tourists. The current rage is the Bahariya oasis, where the valley of the golden Mummies was discovered not too long ago, and where new discoveries seem to be cropping up almost continuously. However, the Siwa Oasis where Alexander the Great visited the Oracle of Amun in 331 BC has been for many years a consistent favorite among the oasis. While the Western desert is sometimes the primary destination for tours, it is more often an add-on for the more common classical tours. The Eastern desert is virtually never a primary destination for tours.

The Sinai

The Sinai is often a primary destination for beach vacations and even occasionally for complete religious and trekking tours. However, it is also often an add-on, particularly for religious tours, to various other tours for the same reasons.

Jordan (Petra)

Add-on tours to Petra in Jordan are common, and usually involve only a day or short tour from Egypt. Jordan is very hospitable to tourists. Tours to Petra are most often an extension of a classical tour.

Kenya

Surprisingly, more then a few people who come to Egypt arrange for a Kenya safari, either before and or after the Egypt leg of the trip.


Religious Tours

One might say that there are four different types of Religious Tours. The first type might be considered Islamic tours, but this is outside of the scope of most westernized tours. While westerners frequently visit a few ancient mosques, they usually do not plan an entire tour around Islamic monuments. The other three types of Religious tours include the Holy Family Route, the Exodus Route and unstructured religious tours. Unstructured religious tours simply have no grand plan, such as following the Holy Family or Exodus Route. On the other hand, they may present a more balanced survey of all religious sites in Egypt, including those of both the Holy Family and Exodus Routes. Simply put, the Holy Family and Exodus tours attempt to follow the routes of these holy journeys, while unstructured religious tours may cover a spectrum of religious sites including those on both the Holy Family Route and Exodus Route. In any event, many such religious tours can and often do include visits to the most important pharaonic sites such as the Pyramids and the Egyptian Antiquity museum. Furthermore, unstructured religious tours and the Exodus tours will often include the Sinai, so even a short beach stay might be included.

Adventure and Specialty Tours

Adventure and specialty tours are very often combined with a classical pharaonic tour, though they need not be, and in some specific cases, rarely are. However, some specialty tours are in fact classical tours with a twist. These types of tours very considerably and we cannot probably name every variety possible. However, they include:

Golfing Tours



Golfing tours almost always include a classical element. This is not a traditional tour at all, so it is difficult to say what the normal tour will include. However, most usually they include one or two courses in Cairo, then perhaps Luxor and possibly the Red Sea coast or the Sinai. Many such tours are set up for a morning or afternoon of Golf, with the remainder of the day spend sightseeing. However, getting in a round of golf in Egypt does not necessitate taking a golfing tour. A round of golf may be arranged at several locations on a classical tour, or for that matter most any other type of tour, as there are now a variety of courses spread out over Egypt.

Fishing Expeditions



One may, of course, fish most anywhere along the Nile, and visitors will see Egyptians doing so even on the bridges and banks in Cairo. However, of growing popularity, as well as being unique, is Lake Nasser fishing. Here, one may find some of the largest fresh water fish in the world, and there are regular fishing expeditions. Because Lake Nasser is just south of Aswan, fishing expeditions to the area may include some classical sightseeing, though often they will not.

While somewhat rare, there are also deep sea fishing opportunities in the Red Sea, though one must look around to find them. Specifically, we know of deep-sea fishing boats in Hurghada on the Red Sea Coast and Nuweiba in the Sinai.

Birding Tours

Bird watching has been more and more popular in Egypt, as Egypt is on the migratory path of many species of birds. While birds may be found throughout the Nile Valley and the Sinai, the most popular areas appear to be near Aswan, and the Northern Sinai. Bird watching around Aswan is almost always accompanied with a classical tour, and may simply be an addition to a standard classical tour. However, there are few ancient monuments in the Northern Sinai, so these tours rarely involve a classical component.

Nature Tours



Most commonly, nature treks occur in the Sinai, and specifically in the mountainous region of middle southern Sinai. Actually, such treks in the Sinai mountains are as much spiritually oriented as nature oriented.

Simple Holidays

Simple holidays in Egypt are a European tradition dating back over 100 years, when people would visit Aswan and Luxor not for the antiquities, but simply to relax around a pool in a nice hotel and watch the traffic slip down the Nile. Obviously, it would be simple to include a classical element to such holidays, but many people who come to Egypt for this purpose have seen the sights before. They usually come for the warm, dry climate and they include mostly mature adults and families. A good example of a hotel that caters to these vacationers is the Movenpick Jolie Ville in Luxor, which is a complete resort including a golf course.

Types of Travel to Egypt

There are alot of people who wish to travel to Egypt, but have no idea what sort of tours or holidays are available. Actually, people go to Egypt for many different reasons and for many different types of vacations. And vacations to Egypt do not have to fall under a specific type of travel, as many visitors mix and match various types of travel.

Classical Holidays to Egypt

The classic tour of Egypt is mostly Pharaonic (Ancient Egypt), though most of the time this will also include some religious and Islamic sightseeing. The most common classic tour is usually 10 to 14 days, and generally includes Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, though not particularly in that order. Classical tours are often arranged with, or without a Nile Cruise.

Typically, such a tour will begin in Cairo, as that is the major airport where most tourists enter Egypt. However, tours of the Cairo area are frequently split between the beginning and end of the trip. For example, a tour might cover the Giza Pyramids (Great Pyramid), as well as Saqqara (Step Pyramid) and even the Egyptian Antiquities museum on the first day of the tour. Then, after traveling to Luxor and Aswan and returning to Cairo, tours will often visit the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili market in Islamic Cairo and the churches and Coptic museum in Old Cairo. Of course, the tours may not be in this specific order.

After the first day or two in Cairo, such tours usually move on to either Luxor or Aswan, usually by air but possibly by train. However, other forms of travel are often arranged, including bus travel. If this is the case, the bus may stop at antiquity sites along the way, such as some of the antiquities near the Fayoum. The next leg of the tour usually begins in either Luxor or Aswan.

Luxor is often arranged as either a one or two day tour. In the morning, or one day of a two-day stay, the tour visits the West Bank where many monuments and tombs are to be found, including some of the finest in Egypt. This usually takes place in the morning in order to avoid the heat of the afternoon. Then, one afternoon or one day will be reserved for the east bank, where the Luxor and Karnak temples are located, as well as the excellent Luxor museum. Other activities might include a visit to the local bazaar.


For Aswan further south in Egypt, a day tour is usually sufficient for many, and may include visits to Elephantine Island, St. Simeon's Monastery, the unfinished Obelisk, the Nubian Museum, the High Dam and Philae Island, though time may not permit most standard tours to visit all of these sites. However, a frequent addition to the standard classical tour is the temples at Abu Simbel. This will usually add a day to the Aswan tour. Most tours fly to Abu Simbel and back in one day, leaving some of that time open to expand on the visits to Aswan sites. Other less common tours may bus to Abu Simbel, possibly with a stay in a local hotel there.

If, after Cairo, a tour first ends up in Luxor, the next destination will usually be Aswan, or if Aswan is the first stop, the next destination will usually be Luxor. The most common forms of transport between these two destinations are tour bus or Nile Cruise boat. While one may take a train or even fly between the two destinations, this is usually not done due to the antiquity sites such as the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, which are located between the two cities.

Online Investment Fraud

The types of investment fraud seen online mirror the frauds perpetrated over the phone or through the mail. Remember that fraudsters can use a variety of Internet tools to spread false information, including bulletin boards, online newsletters, spam, or chat (including Internet Relay Chat or Web Page Chat). They can also build a glitzy, sophisticated web page. All of these tools cost very little money and can be found at the fingertips of fraudsters.

Consider all offers with skepticism. Investment frauds usually fit one of the following categories:

The "Pump And Dump" Scam
It's common to see messages posted online that urge readers to buy a stock quickly or tell you to sell before the price goes down. Often the writers will claim to have "inside" information about an impending development or to use an "infallible" combination of economic and stock market data to pick stocks. In reality, they may be insiders or paid promoters who stand to gain by selling their shares after the stock price is pumped up by gullible investors. Once these fraudsters sell their shares and stop hyping the stock, the price typically falls and investors lose their money. Fraudsters frequently use this ploy with small, thinly-traded companies because it's easier to manipulate a stock when there's little or no information available about the company.

The Pyramid
Be wary of messages that read: "How To Make Big Money From Your Home Computer!!!" One online promoter claimed that investors could "turn $5 into $60,000 in just three to six weeks." In reality, this program was nothing more than an electronic version of the classic "pyramid" scheme in which participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting new participants into the program.

The "Risk-Free" Fraud
"Exciting, Low-Risk Investment Opportunities" to participate in exotic-sounding investments – such as wireless cable projects, prime bank securities, and eel farms – have been offered through the Internet. But no investment is risk-free. And sometimes the investment products touted do not even exist – they're merely scams. Be wary of opportunities that promise spectacular profits or "guaranteed" returns. If the deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Off-shore Frauds
At one time, off-shore schemes targeting U.S. investors cost a great deal of money and were difficult to carry out. Conflicting time zones, differing currencies, and the high costs of international telephone calls and overnight mailings made it difficult for fraudsters to prey on U.S. residents. But the Internet has removed those obstacles. Be extra careful when considering any investment opportunity that comes from another country, because it's difficult for U.S. law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute foreign frauds.

The SEC Is Tracking Fraud
The SEC actively investigates allegations of Internet investment fraud and, in many cases, has taken quick action to stop scams. We've also coordinated with federal and state criminal authorities to put Internet fraudsters in jail. Here's a sampling of recent cases in which the SEC took action to fight Internet fraud:

Francis A. Tribble and Sloane Fitzgerald, Inc. sent more than six million unsolicited e-mails, built bogus web sites, and distributed an online newsletter over a ten-month period to promote two small, thinly traded "microcap" companies. Because they failed to tell investors that the companies they were touting had agreed to pay them in cash and securities, the SEC sued both Tribble and Sloane to stop them from violating the law again and imposed a $15,000 penalty on Tribble. Their massive spamming campaign triggered the largest number of complaints to the SEC's online Enforcement Complaint Center.

Charles O. Huttoe and twelve other defendants secretly distributed to friends and family nearly 42 million shares of Systems of Excellence Inc., known by its ticker symbol "SEXI." Huttoe drove up the price of SEXI shares through false press releases claiming non-existent multi-million dollar sales, an acquisition that had not occurred, and revenue projections that had no basis in reality. He also bribed co-defendant SGA Goldstar to tout SEXI to subscribers of SGA Goldstar's online "Whisper Stocks" newsletter. The SEC obtained court orders freezing Huttoe's assets and those of various others who participated in the scheme or who received fraud proceeds. Six people, including Huttoe and Theodore R. Melcher, Jr., the author of the online newsletter, were also convicted of criminal violations. Both Huttoe and Melcher were sentenced to federal prison. The SEC has thus far recovered approximately $11 million in illegal profits from the various defendants.

Matthew Bowin recruited investors for his company, Interactive Products and Services, in a direct public offering done entirely over the Internet. He raised $190,000 from 150 investors. But instead of using the money to build the company, Bowin pocketed the proceeds and bought groceries and stereo equipment. The SEC sued Bowin in a civil case, and the Santa Cruz, CA District Attorney's Office prosecuted him criminally. He was convicted of 54 felony counts and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

IVT Systems solicited investments to finance the construction of an ethanol plant in the Dominican Republic. The Internet solicitations promised a return of 50% or more with no reasonable basis for the prediction. Their literature contained lies about contracts with well known companies and omitted other important information for investors. After the SEC filed a complaint, they agreed to stop breaking the law.

Gene Block and Renate Haag were caught offering "prime bank" securities, a type of security that doesn't even exist. They collected over $3.5 million by promising to double investors' money in four months. The SEC has frozen their assets and stopped them from continuing their fraud.

Daniel Odulo was stopped from soliciting investors for a proposed eel farm. Odulo promised investors a "whopping 20% return," claiming that the investment was "low risk." When he was caught by the SEC, he consented to the court order stopping him from breaking the securities laws.

Investment Fraud

Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams
The Internet serves as an excellent tool for investors, allowing them to easily and inexpensively research investment opportunities. But the Internet is also an excellent tool for fraudsters. That's why you should always think twice before you invest your money in any opportunity you learn about through the Internet.

This alert tells you how to spot different types of Internet fraud, what the SEC is doing to fight Internet investment scams, and how to use the Internet to invest wisely.

Navigating the Frontier: Where the Frauds Are
The Internet allows individuals or companies to communicate with a large audience without spending a lot of time, effort, or money. Anyone can reach tens of thousands of people by building an Internet web site, posting a message on an online bulletin board, entering a discussion in a live "chat" room, or sending mass e-mails. It's easy for fraudsters to make their messages look real and credible. But it's nearly impossible for investors to tell the difference between fact and fiction.

Online Investment Newsletters
Hundreds of online investment newsletters have appeared on the Internet in recent years. Many offer investors seemingly unbiased information free of charge about featured companies or recommending "stock picks of the month." While legitimate online newsletters can help investors gather valuable information, some online newsletters are tools for fraud.

Some companies pay the people who write online newsletters cash or securities to "tout" or recommend their stocks. While this isn't illegal, the federal securities laws require the newsletters to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. But many fraudsters fail to do so. Instead, they'll lie about the payments they received, their independence, their so-called research, and their track records. Their newsletters masquerade as sources of unbiased information, when in fact they stand to profit handsomely if they convince investors to buy or sell particular stocks.

Bulletin Boards
Online bulletin boards – whether newsgroups, usenet, or web-based bulletin boards – have become an increasingly popular forum for investors to share information. Bulletin boards typically feature "threads" made up of numerous messages on various investment opportunities.

While some messages may be true, many turn out to be bogus – or even scams. Fraudsters often pump up a company or pretend to reveal "inside" information about upcoming announcements, new products, or lucrative contracts.

Also, you never know for certain who you're dealing with – or whether they're credible – because many bulletin boards allow users to hide their identity behind multiple aliases. People claiming to be unbiased observers who've carefully researched the company may actually be company insiders, large shareholders, or paid promoters. A single person can easily create the illusion of widespread interest in a small, thinly-traded stock by posting a series of messages under various aliases.

E-mail Spams
Because "spam" – junk e-mail – is so cheap and easy to create, fraudsters increasingly use it to find investors for bogus investment schemes or to spread false information about a company. Spam allows the unscrupulous to target many more potential investors than cold calling or mass mailing. Using a bulk e-mail program, spammers can send personalized messages to thousands and even millions of Internet users at a time.

First Date Conversation Starters and Ideas

There is nothing worse, when meeting someone for the first time, than that awkward silence after the initial greeting. Kick the silence into orbit with these conversation starters:



» How was your day?

» You look really nice, where did you get (item in question)?

» How was work?

» Have you seen any movies recently? How did you like it/them?

» What kind of music do you listen to?

» What sports do you play or like? How long have you played for?

» What interesting things did you do this weekend (week)?

» Have you ever been to (a local restaurant)?

» What kind of foods do you like?

» Where are you from?

» Where did you go to school/college?

» Have you read any good books lately? Was it interesting?

» What do you normally do for fun?

» Do you like (an interest of yours)?

» What's the neatest place you've traveled to?

» What's one place you haven't traveled to yet that you really want to go?

These simple ideas will get the conversation flowing and you will find out what the other is interested in. Be sure to listen carefully to what the other person says so that you can ask follow-up questions while learning new things.

Is it Love or Lust?

How to Know if Your Love is Real

You've met someone great online. The two of you seem to have hit it off and memories are building with each passing day. But how do you know if it is truly love that will last or if your feelings and the relationship are just a temporary attraction?
In a lifetime, the average person falls in love at least four times. But is it really love? Here are the communication, love, and respect signs to be aware of before you decide if the one you're dating is the right one for you:
I. CommunicationBeing honest with each other in a relationship is very important and it is also important that you get to know the person properly before you commit yourself. How well do you know each other? Is the only talking you do bedroom talk?
Good Signs:
» You talk openly about life issues such as finances, children, things that frighten you, and each other's ambitions in life.
» You can argue and come to some sort of compromise at the end of it.
» You are open and honest with each other about your feelings.
Warning Signs:
» You only know his favorite color and what paper he reads. You are afraid to ask him in-depth questions about his life for fear of rejection or for fear of what you might find out.
» You don’t discuss how you are feeling with each other and the frustration builds up in each of you, often causing you to resent each other.
» Neither of you is willing to forgive the other.
II. LoveA long lasting relationship/marriage can rarely survive without love. So is it love or are you just kidding yourself?
Good Signs:
» In a crisis you stand by each other no matter what the result.
» You make sacrifices to make the other person happy.
» You are truthful and honest and don’t keep secrets from one another.
» You are emotionally, physically, and mentally compatible.
» You are friends as well as lovers.
Warning Signs:
» When the going gets tough, your partner gets going.
» Your partner has an eye for members of the opposite sex and has proved to be untrustworthy.
» Your partner lies to you about where he/she has been and only confesses when you find out the truth.
» There is little physical affection, laughter, or communication between the two of you.
» Your has been unfaithful on numerous occasions.
III. RespectA relationship is about friendship, respect, and acceptance of one another. When there is lack of respect for the other trust and respect is replaced by suspicion and can slowly grow to hatred.
Good Signs:
» You are aware of your partner’s faults and are able to accept some imperfections.
» You support and encourage each other’s individual interests and identity.
» You take the time to listen and understand the other’s point opinion.
Warning Signs:
» You criticize each other in front of others.
» Your partner will not give you space to indulge in your interests and wants to spend every minute of the day with you.
» You are constantly struggling to live up to your partner's standards or the person you think your partner wants you to be.
» You can’t forgive and/or forget each other’s mistakes.
Be aware and objective about your relationship. If you can't nurture it, then it may be time to leave. If it's strong, then building upon mutual love, respect, and communication will only make it stronger.

Online Dating Magazine 1

First Date Ideas

First date ideas are not always easy to brainstorm. Here are some inexpensive, expensive, and extravagant ideas to get your creative juices flowing as you plan the first date:
Inexpensive First Date Ideas:
1. The beachTake a picnic, a bottle of wine and a rug and spend the day catching the sun together. Or you could take a dip together. All that splashing is bound to be great fun.
2. Picnic by a riverPrepare a basket of goodies, a chilled bottle of wine, and enjoy the day relaxing in each other's company.
3. The moviesLet your date choose the film. It will show a good gesture if you don't have the same taste in films. Select a unique theater (i.e. leather seating) to enhance the experience and arrive early to provide plenty of time to get to know each other.
4. Theme parkBig or small, everybody loves theme parks. Triple loop roller coasters, dodgems, etc. is the ideal date for the big kid in us.
5. Eat inShow off your culinary skills and ask them round for dinner. Don’t over do the candles and music or you may frighten them away.
6. Indoor ice skating - or roller blade in the parkYou can lean against each other for balance and warmth.
7. A sporting activity that you both like If you are both big basketball fans, then take a trip to see a professional basketball game together.
8. Kite flyingIt's a lot more fun than you may think!
9. A trip to the zooEveryone likes animals so a trip to the zoo makes for a perfect date.
10. Local museum or art galleryThis is only a good idea if you are both interested in museums.
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Expensive First Date Ideas:
1. Go to a concertTake them to see their favorite band in concert and dance the night away.
2. Go for an expensive mealHave her serenaded by one of the waiters with a bottle of champagne and a dozen red roses.
3. Horseback ridingTake a trip to the nearest horse farm. Spend the afternoon horseback riding and stopping to take in the scenery and afternoon lunch in a local inn.
4. Candle lit dinner for two aboard a yachtTake her out to sea. Put on the full works, captain sailing, champagne on ice and lobsters for dinner.
5. Take in a showGet dressed up for the evening and go along to watch one of your favorite shows at a theatre house. Or go to a premier of a big blockbuster movie.
6. Horse drawn carriage at nightTake a trip around the city and through the park on a horse drawn carriage. Have it take you to a swanky restaurant and wait while you dine.
7. Under the sea - Go scuba divingThere's three worlds to explore on Earth. What's under the surface, what's on the surface, and what's above the surface. Take your date on an adventure to discover what wonders the ocean holds.
8. Take to the sky - Go for a trip in a hot air balloonThe thrill and beauty of a hot air balloon ride is a very romantic and exciting date. And that's no hot air.
9. A trip to New York for the afternoonFly her to New York and back in an afternoon. This is the ultimate first date destination (especially if it is her first time there).
10. On top of the worldPrepare a basket of caviar, prawn cocktail, strawberries and cream and champagne on ice and take to the skies.
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Extravagant First Date Ideas:
1. Fly her to Paris and backTake in all the sights that Paris has to offer. Finish the date with an expensive meal in one of the swanky restaurants in Paris.
2. Helicopter rideGo for a flight over the city in a helicopter.
3. Become a Vegas WhaleDress up to the nines and go blow a fortune in a top casino.
4. Parachute jumpTake to the sky for the high of a lifetime. This is cannot be a surprise date unless you are sure this is what they want.
5. Climb to the top of the worldGo mounting climbing on a clear summer’s day. Don’t forget the flag for when you reach the top.
6. Go swimming with dolphinsThis has to be the ultimate experience of a lifetime and if you aim to impress, this is the way to do it.
7. ParasailingTake to the sea, have lunch, then the sky's the limit.
8. Eat inHire a top chef and waiting staff to prepare a meal and evening that your date won't soon forget.