Egypt... trip details...

So over the years we have travelled a lot. And we've packed and unpacked and repacked. A lot. And we've finally gotten to a place where we realize that we don't need two suitcases to go away for a long weekend and we can get by with carry ons. 

Before every trip I check the weather (duh) and pack accordingly. However, with that being said, please realize that 64 degrees to us is a hell of a lot colder than 64 degrees to people who deal with an actual winter. So we brought long sleeves and sweaters and jackets. Egypt is also predominately muslim so I packed my normal stuff I wear in Bahrain... though I did pack a less conservative bathing suit for the resort since its a lot more western.

My stuff...

Everything packed away in my bag. PS...I highly recommend investing in a good, large backpack. This one is an Osprey Ozone 46 and though I balked at the price at first ($160), it has been more than worth it! This bag has been all over the world and each time I pack it I'm amazed at how much I can fit in it and how comfortable it is to wear, even filled to the max. 

All of Stellas outfits (side note...those are new shoes on my bed, not dirty ones...lol)

Everything all packed in her bag!

And Christophers stuff. He packed it all in that Osprey duffel (another expensive bag, but it too is amazing!) and also carried the camera in that smaller black bag. Not pictured: his jacket.

So when planning a trip I always start with a list. I start with a list of things that we want to see, do, and eat and I go from there. I have to write everything down to get a better idea of the plan and how its shaping up and there's just something about putting pen to paper that really helps me organize my thoughts and see things clearer. I also make packing lists so that everything makes it into our bags.

I knew that Egypt would be fairly expensive because we would have to hire drivers and travel with a guide the whole time. Here's the breakdown of cost for the trip:

Flights from Bahrain to Cairo: total for 3 tickets- $791.40 

Visas upon arrival- $25 each so $75

CAIRO

Hotel- Le Meridian Airport- $388.52 for 2 nights 

Room Service Breakfast two mornings- $20

Tour Guide and Driver (including entrance ticket fees for the Cairo Museum and the Pyramids and Sphinx, and lunch at an Egyptian restaurant)- $350

3 Entrance tickets to Royal mummy room at museum- $28 (500 Egyptian pounds)

3 Tickets to go inside the great pyramid- $57 (1000 Egyptian pounds)

Our guide was amazing and got us $15 worth of small change in Egyptian pounds so we could have it for tips (it was about 260 Egyptian pounds in all 5 pound notes and we used all but 60 pounds for tips). 

CAIRO/GIZA total: $858.52

LUXOR

Flights from Cairo to Luxor on Nile Air- $347.51

Hotel-Hilton Resort and Spa- $431.20 (We ended up using some Amex points and getting a night for free!)

Airport transfer to and from hotel-$30

Tour guide- $100

Car and Driver- $105

Tickets to temples and tombs-$85

Hot Air Balloon-$285

Lunch out- $30

Hotel lunches, dinners, and drinks by the pool- $300

LUXOR total: $1713.71

Extra costs:

Souvenirs- $48

Papyrus art-$113

Perfume oil- $100

Trip total: $3699.63

Yes, it was expensive. Was it worth it? Abso-freaking-lutely. We have prioritized travel and adventure at the top of our life lists so we plan for our trips and spend the money because it's important to us. No price tag can be attached to watching Stella climb through the Great Pyramid of Giza, or seeing the sun rise over the Nile and light up the Valley of the Kings from a hot air balloon, or piling in on a hammock by the Nile and watching the sun go down. Those moments and those experiences are more important to us than stuff and things. I would gladly give up my worldly possessions (with the exception of the art we've collected on our travels and all my Christmas stuff...lol) to spend the rest of my life searching out all the corners of the world. You can keep your big houses and fancy cars... I just want to see the World!