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Egypt Opens 4,600-Year-Old 'Bent' Pyramid To The Public

July 17, 2019
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3 min read
Bent pyramid at Dahshur, Cairo, Egypt.
Egypt Opens 4,600-Year-Old 'Bent' Pyramid To The Public
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Those considering traveling to Egypt have two more reasons to visit. Egypt has opened the "bent" pyramid for visitors to explore for the first time since 1965, as well as a satellite pyramid. The pyramids, located 25 miles south of Cairo in UNESCO World Heritage Site Dahshur, re-opened to visitors on Saturday.

The "bent" pyramid, formally known as King Snefru's Bent Pyramid, allows tourists to venture down a 260-foot narrow tunnel into two rooms. The 4,600 year-old pyramid is unique for its two internal structures and the way the angle of its slope decreases towards the top of the pyramid, making it bent.

The smaller, 59-foot satellite pyramid was possibly built for King Sneferu’s wife Hetepheres and is open to the public for the first time since 1956. The Ministry of Antiquities also announced archaelogists have uncovered funerary masks, mummies and wooden sarcophagi near the pyramids.

Egyptian tourism has been recovering since visitor numbers fell after the 2011 revolution. Almost nine million tourists visited in 2018 compared to 5.4 million in 2016, according to government figures.

Getting to Cairo

With the addition of two pyramids, it could be a convenient time to add Egypt to your bucket list. EgyptAir just launched a nonstop service from Washington, DC to Cairo in early June with its new Boeing 787, a major improvement over its existing inflight product. It also flies to Cairo nonstop from New York JFK and Toronto. EgyptAir is part of the Star Alliance, so you can use United miles (a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner) or Avianca Lifemiles (a Citi ThankYou and Amex Membership Rewards partner) to book award seats. A one-way business class award from New York to Cairo would run you 80,000 United miles or 78,000 Lifemiles.

A St. Regis is opening in Cairo in December, which can be booked for 35,000 Marriott Rewards points per night. Hilton has plans to add 2,500 hotel rooms by 2022. In the meantime, there are other points hotels you can book:

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Marriott

The JW Marriott Cairo and Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino both begin at 25,000 points. For a Category 2 option, Le Meridien Heliopolis begins at 12,500 points. If you'd like to splurge on a Category 5, the The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo begins at 35,000 points or a 35k free night certificate.

Hilton

For Hilton Honors devotees, there are a few properties to choose from as well. The Ramses Hilton begins at 20,000 points, or check out the Conrad Cairo beginning at 30,000 points.

InterContinental Hotels Group

Lastly, IHG Rewards Club members can stay at the InterContinental Cairo Semiramis and the InterContinental Citystars Cairo both beginning at 25,000 points. For slightly less, the Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars begins at 20,000 points.

Bottom Line

Cairo has no shortage of other historic attractions as well. The Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx of Giza are both located an hour n orthwest of the "bent" pyramid. The Tomb of Mehu, a 4,000-year-old tomb from the time of King Titi in the Sixth Dynasty, opened to visitors in September of 2018. Egypt also plans to open the Grand Egyptian museum, the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilization, by the end of the year.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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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.