Sure Egypt wasn’t on the original itinerary but am I sure glad we made it there. With an unplanned trip like this, everything was off the cuff and completely spontaneous. In a lot of ways that made things a heck of a lot more interesting and with the way things turned out, I can’t complain one bit.
Read more about about Africa
- How To Plan A Safari In South Africa
- South Africa Travel Tips Guide
- What It’s Really Like To Safari In South Africa
- 13 Of The Most Beautiful Places In Africa
How to get the best deals in travel
- Hottest deals – Bookmark the travel deals page.
- Car rentals – stop getting ripped off and learn about car rental coupon codes.
- Hotels – Use corporate codes or get Genius 2 tier with Booking.
- Flights – Have you ever heard of the “Everywhere” feature?
- Insurance – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about where to buy the best travel insurance
So just like my inside look into Omo Valley, I kept the tape rolling on my GoPro Hero 4 Silver. What you see here is 6 days of unedited fun in a country where there was so much history, culture and food to take in. In fact Egypt turned out to be the perfect complement to Ethiopia. Where Ethiopia was definitely a lot more off the beaten path, uncomfortable, and raw, Egypt was more relaxed, luxurious, and larger than life.
It’s honestly hard to compare the two legs because of how different and unique they were but one thing that’s hard to deny is that Egypt is much more developed and the tourism industry is more mature. As a result, we could do things like a sail boat cruise that was built to be a throwback to the late 18th century, drive a quad in the middle of the desert, and dive in the Red Sea.
Even with all the adventure that we did, what is perhaps the most memorable about Egypt was the step back in time we did as we hopped from one Ancient Egyptian ruin to another. Normally ruins get kind of boring after awhile if I’m to be honest. You see so many and they all kind of look the same. Not the case here. I have never had a guide so good at telling compelling stories, educating, and keeping a group engaged all the way through.
There’s more to tell in upcoming posts so stay tuned on more exciting stories and the ultimate itinerary we followed in Egypt.
More Africa
See my other posts where you can see exactly what I packed for the trip and my official trip announcement which at the time only included Ethiopia.
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.
Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.
Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.
Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.
Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.
eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.
- AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
- Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
- KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
- AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
- Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
- Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.
Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.
Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).
Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.
Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.
- HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 5% discount!
- RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
- SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
- Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
- InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.
If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
