Accommodations
Features of Luxor holiday accommodation
Luxor has a huge range of accommodation, from camping sites to backpacker hostels and from basic one star hotels to modern five-star luxury resort hotels and everything in between.
The largest number of accommodation establishments is to be found on the East Bank, where you will also find most other tourist infrastructure such as restaurants, internet cafes et cetera.
All-inclusive
A popular option is an all-inclusive holiday to Luxor. Most of these holidays include flights from London, coach transfers, accommodation and either B&B, half-board or full board. Facilities at your accommodation establishment will usually include air conditioning, a swimming pool, satellite television, and private bathrooms. Most of the resort hotels are located on the banks of the Nile.
Many all-inclusive holidays to Luxor also include one or more sightseeing tours. There are even some that include a luxury boat trip down the Nile between Cairo and Luxor. An all-inclusive holiday package is a great option, if you do not like hotel and restaurant hunting and want your trip to be organised before you leave.
Other Options for Accommodation on Luxor holidays
There are also camping facilities in Luxor, as well as self-catering apartments. If you enjoy doing things on your own, this option will appeal to you.
Food
The fact that Luxor is a virtual paradise for vegetarians comes as a bit of a surprise to many people. If you are a meat lover, do not fear though: Luxor dining provides ample opportunities to enjoy local and international meat dishes.
A typical meal will begin with pita bread, followed by a mezze (starter) such as taboulé or baba ganoush. The main meat dish will most likely be beef or poultry, but pigeon or rabbit are also quite common. Meals are often accompanied by dairy products such as yoghurt or gibna bayda cheese (which tastes similar to feta cheese, except that it is much creamier).
The number of tourists ensure that you will never have to go far to find decent Western food. Evening meals are often a little on the small side for Western tastes, especially after a busy day sightseeing. It is advisable to eat a solid breakfast, and to drink lots of water during the day on your Luxor holidays to prevent dehydration.
Drink
Luxor is of course a Muslim country and as such, Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol or even to buy or sell it. The Egyptians understand that others do not necessarily share this sentiment, however, and you will find that you should be able to quite easily find beer or even Egyptian wine at your hotel restaurant. Vodka is also often available but can be expensive.