Tips for 1st Timers

[Sekhmet]

Don't worry, yes, I'm Nephthys on TA (Mistress of All Things Hidden, Sister of Isis....among other titles!)

[Finnsmummy]

Sekhmet - can you provide any more info on the Petra trip?

We visited Sharm this summer and I organised our own day trip to Cairo using EgyptAir and ReallifeEgypt (absolutely fabulous - see previous posts) but are returning next summer and wish to go to Petra but even the FC reps (why am I not surprised) did not have any info on what the itinerary would be

Thanks

[Sekhmet]

I adore Petra; been once off a cruise ship (1994)& once from Sharm on Xmas eve, almost 2 yrs ago & really hope that I have the chance to go again as I never tire of seeing the Pink City; that 1st glimpse as you go thru the narrow suk is amazing. It doesn't look real; it looks liek a back drop from a film.
I would imagine that the itineraries will be much the same, no matter who you book with. We went thru Thomson. It's another early pick up & 6am flight, which takes about the same time as going to Cairo. We were met by a Jordanian guide who sorted out all the visas in one go (�12) & off we set to Petra (about 2hr I think) with a comfort stop where everyone dashed into the shop to buy sweat shirts & extra layers as Jordan was cold compared to Sharm!
The coach takes you to a few hundred metres of the city entrance & you can browse round the shops as you come back out of the city. Similar goods to Sharm.
The walk into the city is quite long; you stop along the way just to hear snippits of history & be shown significant things in the rocks (carvings). You def need good walking shoes. There are Arab horses that can carry you part way & I did ride one in 1994 but not this time.
The stones & rocks under foot change as you near the centre of the city & become pinker but there are other different colours to admire too. Local bedouin kids try to sell you stone; the guide asks that you don't buy as they're trying to preserve the place. I picked up my own few bits that were loose under foot.
When you've seen the Pink Treasury, you go round to the right & see some more of the buildings which are also def worth seeing then we had a gathering round a bedouin camp fire, under a tarpaulin tent & some warm drinks before the long walk back. The rocks in this part look like someone has deliberately painted layers on them; there's pinks, reds, yellows, blue / black; fantastic.
Lunch was at a nice hotel (armed guards outside) & then we drove back to the airport for the flight back to Sharm. We returned in time to attend the hotel's Gala meal for Xmas eve (about 8.30 I think.
Jordan is a bit more expensive than Sharm but it's not too bad.

[Finnsmummy]

Thank you so much for that information I will have to decide if it is suitable for our son - he will be 8 1/2 by then as we are travelling next August - do you think there is too much walking?

He is very used to trips and managed at 6am-1am day trip to Cairo OK when he was 7 so hope this would be OK as sounds like a spectacle not to be missed

FC were offering the day trip at �210 each this year so hope it hasn't gone up too much next year but unlike Cairo I would be too nervous to arrange myself so this is our only option - are there any other hidden costs such as camel rides/tips/drinks?

[Sekhmet]

I think your son would enjoy it as it's where one of the Indiana Jones films was made. Seem to think a Bond film also featured it, but I could be making that up.
If he managed Cairo, he should be ok with Petra. There are camels to sit on outside the Treasury if you want; horse rides would be extra. I seem to remember there are also kaleshes (horse+carriage) rides down to the Traesury if you want (looked a bit unstable to me!) They will charge to sit on the camel so you can take photos.
Drinks will be extra, you can buy water at the entrance (not too badly priced from what i remember, lunchtime drinks may have been extra....can't remember but think they usually are. Tips are as usual, i.e. if you want to tip the Jordanian guide / driver. The visas, as previously mentioned, to enter Jordan were �12 two yr ago.
Our sons were 9 & 6 when we 1st went to Petra; they were fine.

[Sekhmet]

P.S. I have been told (altho I've not put it into practice) that you can go up to the Thomson rep or any rep in the hotels & book with them for any trip. I may try this for myself in Dec as I want to return to Jerusalem (went there twice in the 1990's) on a day trip, but hubby's not keen, so it may not happen. Thomson don't do it, but Longwood do & they have a rep in Jolie Ville, so may see if what I've been told is true. I wondered if this may be of use as Thomson may be cheaper than FC, altho there may not be much in it.

[Sekhmet]

Finnsmummy - just been reading on TA that someone booked Petra very recently thru Longwood & paid �175 each (sterling)

[Finnsmummy]

Sekhmet

Many thanks for the info - I think our son will love it.

Have not heard of Longwood can you tell me anything about them?

Found my FC price list for this year and was �210 adult and �179 child so expect this to rise for next year so would offer quite a saving for a family of 3

[Sekhmet]

Don't now that much about "Longwood Holidays". Only came across them ourselves when we booked for Sharm, for the 1st time, for Xmas / NY '04. We wanted to go with Thomson but had left it too late; our travel agent recommended Longwood. They don't seem to have brochures out on shelves for them; don't know why.
They were very good & offer just about the same trips as Thomson but excluded Dolphinella (thankfully!) & included Jerusalem.
They transferred us from the airport via minibus, which was a bit of a faff (trying to get all luggage on the roof & inside!) but they seem a good firm from what we can tell.
One lady (on TA) always goes with them & can't fault them. Our travel agent seems to think they're better than Thomson in some respects, but we didn't have an indepth conversation about them & have just slipped back into going with Thomson since. I haven't googled them.
There are usually a few people in our hotel, in Sharm, who are with them but they don't have the large numbers that Thomson / Thomas Cook do.

[Sekhmet]

Found the website & list of excursions / prices:
http://www.longwoodholidays.co.uk/
& http://www.longwoodholidays.co.uk/sharm/tours.htm