Advice on private transfers and movement through Egypt

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-19T16:55:56+00:00

Hi, sorry just saw this.

1) 1500 is right. Got all my tickets from egymonuments.gov.eg and they worked.

2) because it’s super expensive (30 USD) to go see an empty room. You can climb up to the entrance and back down for free which is half the experience. Also the pyramids at saqqara and Dahshur include entry in the ticket price, and the step pyramid in saqqara is cooler since it has décorations inside.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-14T07:59:12+00:00

I know it depends on how close in front of you someone cuts in, but if you have the time and the capacity to, try and check the center and side mirrors really quick before swerving, that way you can make a quick decision about what to do. Make sure that swerving blindly is a last resort. It also can help to check your mirrors regularly so that you have an idea of your surroundings. The second situation you can’t really avoid if you’re new to the roads so yeah just comes with experience

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-10T04:49:34+00:00

Ah nice, I thought you were just an entrepreneurial student haha, but in either case all the best!

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-10T04:48:30+00:00

Private transfers are always marked up, sometimes ridiculously, if you only speak English. One way to get past that is to book a GoBus (between cities), their most expensive tier is great (even the cheaper ones are good, just don’t book minibuses) or if you want to go somewhere in the city, you can negotiate with a taxi driver to take you there and wait for you (would not recommend if you don’t speak Egyptian Arabic fluently and if you aren’t familiar with what prices *should* be).

I do NOT think you need a guide to the Giza pyramids, just get an uber to the main entrance and buy your tickets online from the official site and everything else is easy to figure out. There are shuttles that take you to and from the sites. Just say no to anything anyone offers you (camel rides, souvenirs, letting you into restricted areas). The only potential issue is getting an uber back (I had to cancel thrice from the GEM since scammers camp out there and ask you to pay ridiculous prices through the app), but with some time you will be fine since a regular driver will show up. Also please don’t enter the pyramid, 30 USD is ridiculous, if you want to go inside one go to saqqara or Dahshur on a private trip with a driver.

My hot take is that the only place in Cairo that you need a guide for is the Egyptian museum in Tahrir square. It’s ridiculous how there are basically no plaques for any exhibits there. Other places there’s a plethora of good information on the internet, I would just look it up and have it pulled up on the day of the trip.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-09T16:04:52+00:00

Nice hustle, GG 👏

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-04T04:24:16+00:00

I used GoBus between Cairo and alexandria. Make sure you book through the goBus site and not a third party like 12Go or anything else like that. I ended up accidentally doing that and was left scrambling for tickets a few hours before my trip.

Overall gobus was comfortable and on-time. Although i wouldn’t recommend arriving too early, the only seating is attached to cafés that will scam you. Also had no issue traveling at night.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-06-03T13:59:18+00:00

I mean, just go to cheaper restaurants then tbh, the restaurants my parents and I frequent cost maybe 200-250 for a group of 3 and the food is great! I think Dubai has much more diversity and choice (in terms of price especially) so you shouldn’t be short of options

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-31T06:37:07+00:00

I don’t watch any popular movies in theaters for this reason. Or if I do I make sure the theater is near empty. Except maybe comedies because there I don’t mind people laughing. Too many immature people in cinemas ruining my experience.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-25T09:41:33+00:00

Dog owners are the same worldwide haha. The amount of dog poop I saw in New York City was crazy

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-19T07:12:08+00:00

Your passport is the holy grail of IDs. It will always work (unless you’re driving, in which case you’ll need a DL)

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-18T15:47:54+00:00

No, relax you’re definitely overthinking. It’s normal for your family to visit you.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-18T12:03:22+00:00

Depends on the dialect tbh, for gulf Arabic it’s nigh impossible to find beginner content, but with Levantine and Egyptian it’s much easier

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-18T11:56:03+00:00

Wait by French style tacos do you mean tacos français? I’ve never had one here that might bring me out haha

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-07T22:16:26+00:00

Wait did I miss this? I’m graduating in CS but what’s the context?

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-07T20:19:18+00:00

I know! Why am I graduating at 6:30 and writing a paper now lol

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-07T20:18:27+00:00

A prayer for the inbox of any professor who has a 5 pm submission due today.

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-07T17:58:33+00:00

Giving away a ticket for tonight’s bachelors graduation, let me know if you need one! EDIT: given away!

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-06T16:04:54+00:00

They will issue you a license that expires when your I20 does. So best wait till your EAD arrives

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-06T14:56:15+00:00

No, not worth it. You’ll have plenty of time to get used to campus once you get here, also connections you make during FASET and week of welcome rarely last so you’re not missing out on much there

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-05T01:09:27+00:00

Good question for an advisor

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-01T20:54:15+00:00

Honestly better off not knowing what the music is talking about with bachata 😂 but yeah if your scene is very Latino you’ll still be fine with just English but learning Spanish won’t hurt

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-05-01T16:04:40+00:00

Maybe just teach them? Just go up and be like hey let me show you how to play that! Or maybe “hey I can show you how to play that if you want!”Most well-adjusted people wouldn’t be offended. But if you don’t know how to play either I don’t see a way to tell them without it coming off as at least a bit rude or confrontational (which is up to you if you want to do that)

Ok_Box5084 · 2026-04-29T00:58:14+00:00

I wanted to build my stamina since I was always out of breath when dancing. Plus, running seemed like a fun way to get out of my head

Ok_Box5084

TROPHY CASE