Luxor



	Luxor is the site of the ancient Egyptian capital of Waset, or Thebes as it was known to the Greeks. Not much of the original buildings can be seen as they were all made of mud brick, including the palaces of the pharoahs. But the glory of Luxor are its two major temples, Karnak and Luxor, built in stone to ensure immortality.

			A welcoming sign in the Valley of the Kings! "Welcome to Alaska!" the taxi driver said. With the temperature close to 100, the irony was not lost. Luxor has been our base whenever we have been to Egypt, and we stay at the Luxor Hilton, which has beautiful Nile side gardens.The hotel is spacious, comfortable and friendly, and is definitely to be recommended. Yes, there are cheaper alternatives, but, when you are hot and sticky after a day in the Valley of the Kings, it is pleasant to spend some time in its air-conditioned rooms and bars! There are a couple of other reasons why we like this hotel - the most important one is that there is no single supplement chargeable - which is one of the most iniquitous surcharges that travel agents make, along with their ridiculously high holiday insurance premiums, and the second is that it is to the north of Luxor in New Karnak, out of the bustle of the town centre, but as it has a free hourly minibus shuttle service to the centre, that is no disadvantage.