Matthew Firestone

I used this guide for a March 09 trip, and found that it's a) more up-to-date than the Rough Guide, and b) not quite as detailed. The perfect guide would have the maps and detailed descriptions of the sites from the Rough Guide and the rest of the practical information from this Lonely Planet.

I miss some of the very funny bad reviews from their guide I used before visiting Egypt in '98; it does make sense to focus on recommending hotels instead of warning people away from all the bad options available in a huge city like Cairo, but I miss the "musty, dusty, and ill-lit" gems.

This '08 edition has slimmed down from the big guide available in '04, which added some very useful maps.

I'd suggest using Tripadvisor and Expedia in concert with this guide; they have a few hotel recommendations that this guide hasn't included.

The pages and maps can be cramped at times, but I suppose the book is kept pocket-sized on purpose. I've read other reviews that complain about the guide being short on interpretation of the ancient sites; the Rough Guide was useful as a supplement.

I appreciate the estimates of fair cab and tour costs, as well as the admission prices for monuments; it was really helpful as I planned.

One note; a few of the restaurants we visited in Luxor and Cairo on Lonely Planet's recommendation had hiked their prices and gone much more upscale. For instance, Sofra, in Luxor, must have almost doubled their prices. A nice place to go, but no longer the deal in the guide! Salt and Bread and the koshari joint west of the train station were an exception to this - but terrible bathrooms at the koshari place.… (más)

Guillermo's Historical Autobiography
Hello my Name is Guillermo Orellana (aka Memo).Im 13 years old and i was born on August 14,1996 yes im
im a Leo.i think the Leo Zodiac Fits me because i am lazy sometimes,yet im nice generous and very social.Any-
ways i grew up here in Los Angeles,Calfornia.But I also have visited other parts of the globe like,SantaAna,
El Salvador (my ethnicty),Vancuver,Canada,New Orleans,Louisiana,And New York City,New York.

My family is very huge!I have 18 cousins,1 aunt,3 uncles from my moms side in El Salvador.Also
1 aunt,and 2 cousins here in California that are from my moms side.In my dads side i have 12 cousins
3 uncles,and 3 aunts here in L.A.In total i have 5 aunts,6 uncles,and 30 cousins!last but not least but
not least is my family,First there's my dad German Orellana who is very talented and smart,second
there's my brother Johnny Orellana who is hilarious and very funny.third theres my best sister
Genesis Orellana who is idealistic and creative.Finally my mom Mirna G Alvarado Orellana
who was Sweet and peacful died on July 22, 2007 of heart failiure and kidney cancer.Ever since that day my happpiness flushed down the toilet but the rest of my familly helped me stand with my two fight with strength.… (más)