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It Could Be Time to Add Egypt Back to the Bucket List

Sept. 20, 2018
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3 min read
EGYPT-TOURISM-ARCHAEOLOGY-PYRAMIDS
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Over the weekend, Egyptian archeologists unearthed a new sphinx — just the latest in a series of exciting new discoveries in a nation famous for its ancient wonders.

The more than 2,000-year-old sandstone statue was found in the temple of Kom Ombo, near the city of Aswan. And though its stature is rather diminutive compared to its more famous man-headed, lion-bodied cousin, the Great Sphinx of Giza — it's 14 inches tall, rather than 66 feet — it may be just another reason to visit Egypt now.

Photo courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via CNN

Returning tourists

According to Reuters, Egypt's tourism numbers surged 41% in the first half of 2018 — a strong indicator that the sector is recovering after the 2011 revolution and years of subsequent upheaval.

Safety remains a concern. Many travelers, however, have booked trips to Egypt, or visited recently.

Jarrad H., for example, visited during a long layover. "We hired a private guide and driver for insanely little," he said in a post on the Facebook TPG Lounge. "[We] felt perfectly safe and taken care of by them."

Court B., who "didn't feel super safe," also hired an inexpensive driver and armed guard through a Marriott in Cairo this June. Despite her security concerns, she "loved" the trip.

Favorable prices

Drivers and guards aren't the only things that are affordable in Egypt right now. At this time, a single US dollar will get you nearly 18 Egyptian pounds.

And with contagion concerns stemming from the currency disasters in Argentina and Turkey, Egypt is vulnerable to an "exchange rate crisis" of its own, the Financial Times said. For this reason, travelers interested in even deeper savings should watch the exchange rate carefully for the next 12 months.

There are also attractive discounts on cruises and attractions. Uniworld is currently offering up to $1,649 off a 12-day Nile sailing this year.

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New attractions and hotels

In December, a St. Regis will open its doors in Cairo, offering Nile river views, subtle Egyptian decor and luxe elements, such as nightstands with mother-of-pearl inlay and marble and mosaic-clad bathrooms. Cash rates aren't available yet, but the Category 5 property can be booked for a standard rate of 35,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.

As with many hotels in Egypt, the nightly room rate is significantly lower than comparable properties in other destinations. The St. Regis New York, for example, is a Category 7 property requiring an average of 70,000 points per night.

Hilton, meanwhile, has announced plans to add 2,500 hotel rooms and "take on seven more projects" in Egypt by 2022.

Of course, Egypt's famed attractions remain a major draw for tourists around the world. In addition to the classics — the Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx of Giza chief among them — the nation just opened the 4,000-year-old Tomb of Mehu to the public.

And before the end of the year, Egypt expects to open the 5.2 million-square-foot Grand Egyptian Museum: the largest museum on Earth devoted to a single civilization, according to CNN.

TPG reached out to the Egyptian Tourism Authority for information on viewing the sphinx statue, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Featured image by AFP/Getty Images

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.