Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Egypt

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We had purchased both LP and Rough Guide for our Egypt trip this past April (2005). I was reluctant to get RG for two reasons: 1. I generally think LP's are better and am used to their user-friendly format. 2. RG's most recent edition was published in early 2003 and with all the recent uncertainty in the area, I was nervous to rely on information from 2-3 years ago. However, for this trip, the RG was far better! The main reason it was more useful than LP was that it contained much more detailed explanations of the sites/museums. This book contained maps to almost all the major sites/museums with corresponding letters to explanations of the hieroglyphics/objects within the sites/museums - Far more information than LP. Of course, it also had the usual practical information (hotels, restaurants, getting around, etc.) which we relied upon as well. If you want to choose just one book to take with you as an independent traveler, my advice is to take this one.

While my companion and I had four guide books between us for our two week trip, the Rough Guide was the one that we constantly referred to. After a while, we didn't even look at the others, even though they had fancier and more colorful illustrations. By far, the Rough Guide gave us more, and more useful, information on the locations we visited than the others. The descriptions of the various neighborhoods and the sights along the way were most helpul in our planning for the one free day in Cairo that we had from our group tour. We also appreciated the discussion of customs and practices (the notes on baksheesh, for example, helped us gain a better understanding of a practice that many Americans found annoying). An added benefit: it weighed less than the fancier guides with glossy pages, so it was far easier to carry with us.

Overall I was quite pleased with this guide. It provided accurate information for transportaion details, hotels and restaurants and gave good basic introductions to the sites and cities, as well as what to expect in the culture. The city maps were accurate and the maps of ancient egyptian monuments were helpful and enough for me, though anyone with a serious interest in them will want to pick up something extra (the guide recommends titles). DOn't rely on the arabic section at the back - if you need to teach yourself any arabic for a trip you'd do best to buy an egytian arabic phrasebook as the rough guides section is small and can mislead your pronounciation.

I just returned from a month in Egypt. I bought this book at a bookstore in Cairo and I can't tell you how amazing it is. It is so richly packed with information including walking guides through Islamic Cairo and the Cairo Museum. Brilliant book. The author knows Egypt inside and out and I cannot stress enough... if you are going to Egypt.. BUY THIS BOOK! Great maps, language section and very easy to reference in a hurry. The prices are a bit outdated but you will learn what is standard shortly after you get there anyway.

I bought this guide before I left for Egypt this past spring and let me tell you, I was amazed at how useful it proved to be. I spent 5 months in Cairo and I took it with me every time I went out! It has all the information you need to visit the most popular places, as well as some of the most innaccesible areas. I was able to figure out bus schedules for trips to Maadi, Giza, Mohandeseen & Saqqara, as well as entertainment information and cultural advice. I learned from it how much I should pay for a taxi and where to find belly-dancing outfits at Khan-el-Khalili. Also, I used it to go around Islamic Cairo and visit some of the most wonderful mosques, all on my own. Their maps and nformation are invaluable! They even cover trips to the oasis, Sinai and places only an Egyptologist would know of! (I was amazed).
In addition, it has useful arabic phrases, guides to cities and ancient sities with descriptions and historical background. Really, get one before you leave! I used the Rough guide to Syria and it is just as good...