Money Saving Tips to Travel to Egypt

If you're planning a trip to Egypt, here are some great travel tips and some money saving secrets to help make your Middle East adventure a success.

When it comes to traveling to a foreign country, it pays to partner with the best in the business, people who know where to go, what to see, and what to do in the region. The licensed travel guides at America Israel Travel (AIT) have years of experience operating escorted tours to Egypt which are second to none. Whether you are traveling alone or as part of a group, AIT offers the best value for your money, allowing you to discover the ancient secrets of Egypt at prices you can afford. So fasten your seatbelt as we take off and get an up-close view of what an AIT trip to Egypt entails.

Your first money saving tip begins even before you set foot in the Land of the Pharaohs. To cut costs on your dream trip to Egypt, book your travel dates early with America Israel Travel or take advantage of AIT's reduced combination rates, all-inclusive packages, and the 5% per-person discount offered when you make reservations for six or more passengers. Traveling during the off-season is another great way to save money.

Next, decide which of AIT's many affordable tour packages to the region best suit your budget. Fortunately, you'll have many options to choose from, including:

• 4-Day Cairo Extension Tour
• 8-Day Classical Egypt Tour (including Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan)
• 7-Day Cairo and 3-Night Nile Cruise Tour
• 15-Day Into the Promised Land Tour (taking you through Egypt, Jordan, and Israel)
• 13-Day Egypt Tour including a 7-Night Nile Cruise

So how can you begin to enjoy the best that Egypt has to offer without breaking the bank? A great place to exchange your local currency for Egyptian currency is at the Cairo International Airport where you will be met by an AIT representative. While most major hotels accept credit cards, cash is the preferred mode of payment, and tipping in Egypt is expected by Egyptian waiters, taxi drivers, bellhops, porters, and even the ladies manning the public toilets. If you don't want to be milked for your money on account of looking and sounding like a tourist, it's also a good idea to pick up some basic Egyptian-Arabic language skills. Fortunately, when you travel with AIT you'll be treated not only to first-class accommodations but to first-class transportation, meaning you won't have to worry about hailing a cab or getting lost trying to find your way around the country.

By far one of the greatest benefits of traveling to Egypt with America Israel Travel is that every step of your trip is planned by industry leading experts who are masters at crafting itineraries tailor-made to your interests and needs. No matter which Egyptian attraction you visit, its rich history will be further enhanced by the expert knowledge of your friendly AIT guide, allowing you to intimately connect with the geography, history, and religion of the land. Of course, you'll also receive plenty of personal attention and great tips on where to find the most affordable Egyptian restaurants and where to locate the best Egyptian beaches to work on that beautiful Middle Eastern suntan.

If you are traveling to Egypt alone and are looking for inexpensive ways to experience Egyptian culture, a great money saving ploy is to simply enjoy the sight of the towering Egyptian pyramids from a distance. Fortunately, if you are part of an AIT group, your admission and tour expenses to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and other famous pyramids are all included.

During your free time, check out Cairo's medieval market, Khan-el-Khalili, where you can find cheap souvenirs, jewelry, spices, and more. Walking through the marketplace is free, and your AIT travel guide is the perfect person to offer you some advice on how to haggle like a local in order to avoid paying exaggerated tourist prices.

For a bite of Middle Eastern cuisine which won't take a bite out of your wallet, try these deliciously inexpensive eating-out options in Egypt:

• Eat falafel for breakfast, lunch, supper, and as a nutritious snack
• Buy cheap locally grown fruit such as heavenly mangos, melons, and guavas
• You can get a great inexpensive seafood meal for the whole family at seafood restaurants located inside the local fish markets

Finally, no trip to Egypt is complete without a cruise down the Nile River, the world's longest river which dates back to Biblical times. For an unforgettable journey into the past while you enjoy all the luxurious amenities of the present and the future, check out AIT Nile cruises today.

This is a sponsored post from America Israel Travel. If an Egyptian vacation is in your future, make sure to check them out. You can also find them on

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48 Fun Hours on a Budget in…Las Vegas

This is a new series showing you how easy it is to budget travel anywhere, where I also give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-hour itinerary.

A lot of us fancy a short getaway throughout the year and need to balance a good time with smaller travel costs, because if you spend too much on your getaway, you won’t be going on that big vacation you’ve been dreaming of all year. We tend to stretch a weekend for a quick trip – 2-4 days – and then go on our 1-2 week trip in the fall. If you ask me, taking some mini vacations during the year can really keep you sane, but can also drain your bank account if you aren’t careful. Just a bit of research can go a long way to saving you big.

I love Vegas, but I can easily go overboard with my spending there. If I plan out my time, I spend more time walking and enjoying what he city has to offer and less time losing all my money at the slots. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still going to dump a few quarters in and hope for a big win, but with just two days, I’m going to make the most of my time.

Day 1

Breakfast Buffet! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so load up on protein and carbs to get you through your morning activities at an affordable buffet:

• The Fantasy Market Buffet at the Palms ($7.99) 
• Circus Buffet at Circus Circus ($10.49)
• Studio B Buffet at M Resort ($10.99)
• French Market Buffet at Orleans ($6.95)
• Ports O’ Call Buffet at Gold Coast ($6.95)
• Any of the Fremont Street casinos offer super cheap buffet prices, if you are willing to get up early enough to make it over there.

Wander the streets of Paris (at the Paris) and New York (New York New York).

Visit the lions at MGM Grand. This is one of my favorite things to do in Vegas, because lions are awesome, and trainers come through every so often talking about the lions and teaching starers about their habits and characteristics.

Explore Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden at The Mirage. ($19.95)

Head over to Caesar’s Palace to grab lunch – maybe at the Cypress Street Market – and then through the shops to witness the Fall of Atlantis. You could marvel at the statues and gold paneling in the casino for quite some time, too.

Play pinball and marvel at games you used to love or have never seen at Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame Museum. (Free admission, though it costs $.25-.50 to play each machine.)

Treat yourself to a truly unique dining experience at Dick’s Last Resort in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. Or go to the Hard Rock Casino and get a table at Mr. Lucky’s. Ask for the “Gambler’s Special”, which is not on the menu, and receive an 8oz flatiron steak, three jumbo shrimp, salad and mashed potatoes for just $7.77. Winner!

Make your way to the Bellagio and wander the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Admission is free and it’s open 24 hours a day. Once you’ve had your fill of beautiful plants and flowers, wander outside to catch the free Fountains of Bellagio show. Of course if the weather is uncooperative, you can always see them well from the windows across from the shops upstairs.

Go down the street to Treasure Island and see the free Sirens of TI pirate show. If fire is more your thing, head back to the Mirage instead and watch the new Volcano show, complete with water show, flames and rockin’ music. Don’t forget to duck into the front entrance to admire the hard work of four gardeners with the atriums indoor rainforest. Wow!

Try your luck at the casino or call it a day.

Day 2

Get off the strip and head over to Ellis Island on the street behind the Paris. You can get a delicious and hearty breakfast for just $6.99.

Put some of your hard-earned money on the tables or in the slots and cross your fingers, then ride the free tram over to the Rio and wander the colorful floor, before making your way upstairs to browse shops and wait for the Mardi Gras Show in the Sky. The best time you’ll have outside of Rio de Janiero and New Orleans.

Take your beads and get a dose of Hawaii at the Hawaiian Marketplace near Polo Towers. You can find anything you could possibly want – and a lot that you don’t – at the vendors here as well as be entertained by live music, shows and dancing. If you’re looking for a cheap lunch, you’ll find it here. Or you could:

Linger over a Parisian lunch at JJ’s Boulangerie at the Paris Hotel and Casino. (Average $10/person) Once rested, take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and take in the strip and Vegas as far as the eye can see. ($10.50, which saves you $5 if you go before 7:30pm)

Ride over to Fremont Street to take in Fremont Street Experience and also engage in some ziplining. Yes! Ziplining in the middle of the city! It’s a bit spendy, but when will you ever have a chance to do something similar again? Only the next time you’re in Vegas. ($16-20)

If it’s not dark yet, splurge on a trip to The Mob Museum at the Golden Nugget. Sure, tickets cost $18, but it promises you “The story of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” If you’re into learning about the city’s seedy (and kinda glamorous) past, then you can’t miss this attraction.

Head into the Golden Gate Casino and get a $1.99 shrimp cocktail from the San Francisco Shrimp Bar & Deli, watch more cool stuff out on the streets and then find dinner at the Four Queens Hotel and Casino’s Magnolia’s Veranda and get a prime rib dinner for just $8.95 or indulge in another buffet (it’s not a trip to Las Vegas unless you’ve been to one or two) and treat yourself to the $18.99 dinner buffet at the Golden Nugget.

At this point I would head back to my room and pack up for my trip back home. Two days crammed full of unique and traditional Vegas awesomeness and not too much money left on the tables. An average of $120 would be spent per person if you hit up all attractions and recommended eateries. Use VegasHotelOffers.com to find the latest room deals, BookIt to find a solid bargain on a hotel and airfare package or shop the Expedia and Travelocity summer sales to stay on your budget. 

What are some of your must-do things in the City of Sin?

Party in "Las Vegas" 6.27.12

Giveaways that are still open: Runnur mini "backpack" | $100 in Paypal cash

If you asked anyone what my two obsessions are (not including my family, which is a given), they will tell you travel and costumes. Yes, I do love to dress up, but more specifically, my costume obsession revolves around my love of theme parties and I think costumes just help make them that much more convincing. Often, I will ask folks to dress up for a birthday party that is in December or even June. Just because we are adults and no longer trick-or-treat, doesn’t mean that we can’t still have some childish fun.

Anyway, a couple weekends ago, I teased a Vegas party that I threw for my husband. I meshed my two (THREE!) loves together and since we couldn’t fly everyone to Sin City for the weekend, I threw a Vegas Buffet theme party for our family instead. As promised, I took some candids after decorating and setting out food. Unfortunately, none of us dressed as cocktail waitresses or dealers, but maybe next time!

Here’s what was on the menu:

Hot buffet

Seasoned grilled chicken breast

Spicy meatballs (special request of the birthday boy)

Beef tips

Black & White bowtie pasta

Parmesan asparagus

Buttered green beans

Garlic carrots

Red-skinned mashed potatoes

Herb and cheese biscuits

Sauces: marinara, lemon piccata & mushroom

Cold buffet

Coleslaw

Green salad with veggies

Assorted fruit

Bruschetta with two cheese spreads

Dessert Station

Piña colada cupcakes

Strawberry daiquiri cupcakes

Rhubarb pie (special request of the birthday boy)

“Money” wrapped butter mints

Bar/Beverage Station

Ice water

Mojito ice tea

Mango pineapple ice tea

Wine (white and sparkling)

Beer

Soda

Eric partaking in the cold buffet 

Yes, I do go all out when it comes to food that matches a theme. I find it’s one of the most important parts, after the décor. Generally, I can spend a few days just decorating the house, but I didn’t do as much as I could have, as we were only having about a dozen people over and also between work and other commitments, I didn’t have the time to do more. You can see how I turned the house into a mini Vegas casino and buffet. The food was plentiful, but mostly nutritious (not usually what you would expect at a traditional casino buffet) and we didn’t lose all our money at the tables. Everyone’s a winner! (If you really want to go to Las Vegas on a budget, don't forget to check out this awesome infographic.)

Craps gift table 

My next post will be the first in a new series called 48 Fun Hours on a budget in... This one will focus on Las Vegas. I hope you like it!

Do you go all out when it comes to birthdays and special occasions? Or do you create a vacation destination in your home/yard to feel like you're getting away?