Are You Sure You Have a Hotel Booking? Hidden Pitfalls with Online Reservation Systems
Ever received a hotel confirmation email and thought you were set? I did — until I almost arrived in Egypt without a room! Here’s how to avoid the trap.
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Thinking of Visiting Luxor’s West Bank? Not that easy.
Returning to Luxor after years away, I encountered unexpected challenges crossing to the West Bank. Learn how to avoid taxi pitfalls, safely navigate local transport, and explore with guided tours for a smooth, stress-free experience.
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How Many Days in Luxor?
Not sure how long to stay in Luxor? I’ve been welcoming guests here for years, and this guide gives you the perfect itinerary to see the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Abydos, Dendera, and more — without feeling rushed.
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Eat Like an Egyptian – fun
Western meals often mean waste. In Egypt, meals are shared, small, and full of variety. At Mara House Luxor, our Salahadeen Feast brings this beautiful tradition to life — come and taste it for yourself.
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Cairo Airport – Lost Luggage Problems
Lost luggage in Egypt isn’t rare — it’s recurring. After hosting guests without bags yet again, I’m sharing what to do, how to prepare, and why you must stay proactive.
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Scota – Ancestor of the Kings of Ireland
Above is the roadside monument near Scota’s grave – Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland “There are variations of this story—Irish and Scottish alike—and I encourage you to explore further if it intrigues you. This is the Irish version, and for context, you may wish to read my article on Akhenaten to understand why Egypt’s royal family…
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Good Reads
Some of my favorite books on subjects apart from Egypt – hope you find one you like. This page includes links to affiliate websites. If you click and purchase I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only link to books I have read myself, found interesting, informative and enjoyable,…
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Is it safe to go to Egypt 2022?
Egypt is one of the safest places in the world – but there are things you should do and things you should NOT do as a tourist to stay safe.
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Booking Your Holiday in Egypt – First 3 Priorities
Dreaming of Egypt? Before diving into Nile cruises and pyramids, set three priorities: insurance, budgeting for hidden extras, and vetting accommodation. Skip these and your dream trip might turn into a horror story.
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Sustainable Tourism & Responsible Travel
In recent years there has been a growing awareness, especially within Europe, regarding the planet and the need to develop sustainable tourism and encouraging responsible travel. Following are some suggestions of areas directly within our control as tourists and global travelers. It is entirely up to you how far you want to go with these…
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Travel Lite – Packing for Egypt
You will find the contents of this post now here “What to Take to Egypt”
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A Man’s Gotta Do What A Man’s Gotta Do – Part II – April 2021
Where I left the story of our street – it was supposed to be tarmacadamed by Aug 2020 at the latest…. On the morning of the 7th April our street finally woke up to the early morning sound of front loaders and earth movers! Follow are the precious videos of the end of our 5…
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A Man’s Gotta Do What A Man’s Gotta Do!
Luxor was dug up in 2017 to install natural gas in all the homes – great! However, 3 years later our street is one of the last streets in Luxor still waiting for tarmacadam. This is the story of the shocking mess we were left with, and how Amr and our guys repaired the damage…
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How Do I Handle the Fear that I’m Feeling?
Have you ever had an experience where it was like you were “out of body”, separate from your body and calmly standing back, watching yourself do something? Yes, I know, sounds nutty but actually I think that is what awareness is. I’ve experienced it in a few dramatic situations but these days it’s more constant…
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Latest Measures in the fight against COVID-19 in Egypt.
The Prime Minister at a press conference in the council of ministers decides: Starting tomorrow Wednesday. (this is a google translation so I don’t understand some of it) Ban the movement of citizens all over the republic or move on all roads from 7pm to 6am for two weeks All public and private mass transport…
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Community Life Winding Down in Egypt
update on coronavirus in Egypt
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“It’s Like Riding a Bicycle” – Not!
Get ready to pedal through my first Luxor cycling adventure – fear, coordination quirks, and all. Let’s chat about conquering challenges, how society shapes us, and finding our brave side. Plus, I’ll spill the beans on how Egypt’s handling COVID-19.
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Egypt March 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-9)
Maybe when I’m dead, some people will say I was an entrepreneur. What’s that? Dictionary definition: “a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.” Yes, I been trying to do that since about the age of 21. I never succeeded until Mara House, but I…
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Slow Travel in Egypt – good idea or not?
What Is Slow Travel, Really? “Slow travel” was a new phrase to me until recently—but the idea isn’t. I’ve been talking to solo travelers for years, and many of them say the same thing: “I don’t want to be rushed from temple to temple.”“I like to take my time, explore alone, and soak things in.”…
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Resurrection: Ertugrul – A “must see” film/series
Resurrection Ertugrul would be on my list of “Must Watch” TV/Film Series before coming to Egypt – it’s a Turkish film with english subtitles –
