Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 - (Page 17)

THE FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS’ pools provide the perfect oasis to escape the desert heat. BY NICK GOSLING Little captures the Egyptian experience better than a cruise on the Nile. We were lucky enough to sail recently with Wings Group’s (www.wingsegypt.com) newest addition, the M/S Tamr Henna, one of five luxury riverboats that operate between Luxor and Aswan. Built in 1999, the ship underwent a complete overhaul in 2005 and now presents a mix of elegance, with hanging chandeliers, wood paneling and a classic piano bar. Modern conveniences were also added, including a pool, health spa and gift store. We stayed in a “cozy yet comfortable” room, No. 205, on the boat’s third deck, where a narrow outdoor balcony was the ideal venue from which to watch the desert scenery pass by as we cruised upriver. It was also the place from which to easily bargain with the boat sellers who swarmed around the Henna, as it sailed through the Esna Locks. The boat has 52 cabins, including one Junior Suite, two Honeymoon Executive Suites, nine Luxury Jacuzzi Suites and two Royal Panoramic Suites. On Deck 3, the two Royal Panoramic Suites have spacious bedrooms and living areas, which have access through a sliding glass door to a private outdoor deck, perfect for sunning. Insider Secret: A great place to relax onboard is in the cabanas on the ship’s top deck, where we could savor the Egyptian vistas while escaping the sun. Another favorite pastime was soaking in one of two Jacuzzis in the ship’s health club, where floor-to-ceiling windows provided a view of the Nile River and surrounding riverbanks. Value Factor: All sightseeing is included in the cruise tour package. Whenever we disembarked for an excursion, guides and transportation were always ready and waiting for us with luxury air-conditioned coaches, ready to whisk us away to sites such as the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Kom Ombo in Aswan (at night!), the Cairo marketplace and the Aswan High Dam. Other excursions included the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, the Mosque of Mohamed Ali and the Coptic Hanging Church. Those who prefer optional tour arrangements can make them through the ship’s 24-hour front desk. Contact Magdy Keryakos ADVISOR INSIGHT: Malaka Hilton, owner and president of Admiral Travel Gallery, advises clients to not do Egypt on the cheap, but rather stay at the finer hotels and spend money on an Egyptologist to show them around. Must-see destinations include Luxor and Port Ghalib. “I suggest that [clients] feel the energy of Cairo,” she says, advising that visitors go out at night to explore the city and not to just dine at the hotels. “I suggest they travel during the winter months, but if they must travel in the summer due to the school holidays, do the tours early in the morning—it will be less crowded and the weather is much better.” 17 www.luxuryta.com January 2009 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR http://www.wingsegypt.com http://www.wingsegypt.com http://www.luxuryta.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Lucca Egypt Provence Great Honeymoons Cover Story: Dan Flannery Girlfriend Getaways Croatia The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Meetings & Incentives Supplement Aruba Turks and Caicos Los Angeles Laguna Beach, CA

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

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