You’ve probably read quite a bit on this site by now. Good. Use it all — it’s yours. But here’s what I can’t put on a public page: which operators I’d never send you to and why. Which “exclusive” experiences aren’t. What the marketing doesn’t say. That kind of thing I only say in an email.
- Which major international tour company operating in Egypt — one you’ve almost certainly already looked at — charges premium prices for what is, on the ground, a standard package. And how their marketing is written specifically so you won’t see it until it’s too late — you’re already here.
- What is the real difference between a private visit, a VIP tour, and a private tour — and how many people book and pay for “VIP” and “private” thinking they are getting something they are absolutely not getting.
- Which specific experiences heavily marketed as exclusive, immersive, or life-changing are actually not! And what to book instead.
- The exact phrases tour companies use in their itineraries that signal a temple visit is an expensive add-on, and how many pages you have to dig through to find that out.
If any of this unsettles what you thought you’d already figured out — email me. Tell me where you are in your planning. I’ll be straight with you. maraegypt@gmail.com
“Mara was our Ace in the Hole. I came across her blog while researching our trip and I was hooked by her honesty of telling it like it is. I contacted her with our travel dates and trip desires. She put together an itinerary as well as made suggestions for a few extra sites not even on our radar. I took her advice and went with it. WOW!! Could not have worked out better. Awesome trip! Thank you Mara!”
— TripAdvisor Review, April 2026
Last updated on 05/06/2026 by Marie Vaughan