Egypt

I bought three travel books for Egypt (also Rough Guide and Lonely Planet), and this was my favorite. It is loaded with pictures and 3D layouts of the tourist attractions and cities. It lists the sites not to be missed and gives a great summary of the places and history. The section on practicalities of travel is also complete and helpful. Although the latest Rough Guide to Egypt has more in-depth coverage, the DK book will be going with me to Egypt.

I've been highly satisfied with the Eyewitness Travel Guide series, and this Egypt edition does not disappoint. Maps are clear and helpful, photos help to explain all of the rich history and culture of Egypt. We brought the Lonely Planet Egypt book with us as well, but we found the Eyewitness Travel Guide to be clearer and simpler to use. The only issue that we found with the book was viewing a performance of the whirling dervishes in Cairo. The book directs us to a place near the bazaar, but the mosque where they normally perform is under renovation. As a result, the performances were being held at the Citadel during the time of our visit. This isn't the book's fault, as this was new and even the conceirge directed us to the wrong place. That being said, the book guided us to the right places many other times. We especially appreciated the tip on the Egyptian Pancake place in the bazaar!

In this guide, Egypt is divided into: Cairo, Around Cairo, The Nile Valley, Sinai & the Red Sea Coast, The Delta & The North Coast, The Western Desert. There is a portrait of Egypt which explains Daily Life, Religion (Islam is explained in more depth on two pages later in the book) and Culture, Politics and Economics, Egypt Today. Then there is a section on the history of Ancient Egypt, Hieroglyphics, Temples and Religious life, Mythology, Burial Traditions and Daily Life. The Egyptian Calendar is crowded with Muslim, Christian, national and local festivals and these holidays are listed. Next you find The History of Egypt in a Timeline format. Cairo is divided into: Central Cairo, Islamic Cairo, Rhoda Island & Old Cairo and Giza & Heliopolis. You will also find cutaways and floor plans of major sights, easy-to-use maps and plans, advice on exploring the pyramids and ancient tombs, information on boat tours on the nile and diving in the red sea. With 1,000 full color photographs in all, this is a beautiful guide you will enjoy looking at long after your trip. Where to Stay - hotels divided into areas and price categories. Where to Eat - Interesting information on Sugar Cane juice. Shopping - Fun shopping rituals, have tea and bargin for items. Entertainment - Belly Dancing, Opera and Ballet, Cinema, Coffee House Culture, Golf, Snorkeling, Horse and Camel Riding, Hiking and Hot-air balloon rides. Practical Information - Passports and Visas, Customs and Duty-Free Allowances, Language, Public Conveniences, Electrical adaptor information, currency, communications and conversion chars. Some useful phrases you will want to know. Travel Information - The cruise option sounds interesting and can you just imagine floating down the Nile river, now that is romantic! They also mention things like taking sterilizing tablets for water and they also say you shouldn't swim in the Nile. So these types of things are really important to read about before leaving on your journey. A short section on phrases completes this book. The Best Travel Guide for Egypt I've seen so far! ~The Rebecca Review

This is a beautiful book filled with interesting articles and photos. I found it most useful in getting around the various sights and orienting myself in the towns and cities - thanks to its clear maps and diagrams. It isn't perfect - I would recommend using it in conjunction with the Lonely Planet/Rough Guide book which has a wider range of hotels, restaurants and nightlife, but it is excellent for the sights. The history and ancient egypt sections are fascinating. Best of all it can be read over and over again after your holidays as the pictures are so evocative. The practical sections are also useful.