One more for the road, Joanna. And I miss you!

Other Facts

Airlines

Delta: I hadn't used a US carrier for transatlantic and was quite worried, especially when I found out that business class didn't even have flat beds, just the old type of business seat. Service was superb and food was excellent. Seats and storage were old school and could use improvement, but the Delta experience was excellent.

Egypt Air: Short flights, old aircraft. Thank goodness

Jordan AIr: Modern, comfortable economy. Enjoyed the flight

I always felt secure. Security was not oppressive, but enough to make me comfortable.

Hotels

Cairo:

Four Seasons Residence (Giza): Large, nicely appointed rooms, wonderful, extensive breakfast, strong security, elegant hotel. Internet not included. Good hotel restaurants and lobby bar and tea room. Connected to expensive mall. Rooms overlooking pyramid and zoo were noisy. Other rooms overlooking Nile were quieter. Luxury, 5 star

Fairmont: Large, nicely appointed rooms, very good breakfast. Internet included. Good restaurants. Near a US like mall, but this is a 5 star airport hotel. Luxury, 5 star

Aswan: Movenpick: Lovely setting on island; rooms have lovely views from balconies; some rooms have showers and some bath/shower combos. Reminded me of Disney hotel rooms like Caribbean Beach Resort…clean, neat, well located, decent size….comparable to Marriott Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, etc. Nothing wrong, but not luxury. You aren't going to find better in Aswan at present.

Petra: Movenpick: Great location right at visitor center entrance, so you can walk right into the site. Elegant lobby and tea room, bar area. Rooms were fine. Make sure you get king size bedded room and not twin bedded rooms as they are bigger and nicer. Some rooms have balconies, which is nice. Internet and mini bar are included free. Room is like that in Aswan. You aren't going to find anything better.

Amman: Hyatt. Nice Hyatt Room. Internet included. Nice breakfast. Very nice, but not as nice as Fairmont or Four Seasons.

Food

Not a foodie trip.

Movenpick buffets were for the masses. Edible and lots to choose from.
Four Seasons breakfasts were the best I have ever had
Fairmont was very good.

Look at my reviews for restaurant recommendations: At Four Seasons, Lebanese recommendation was excellent. When we stayed at Fairmont, we went to the mall and went to the Egyptian restaurant on the 6th floor. It was really good and very reasonable. In Amman, we had a nice lunch at Hyatt. Loved our dinner at the Lebanese restaurant I reviewed. It was one of the best meals of the trip.


Shopping

Egypt: Really just souvenirs…Cartouches in either silver or gold. Some ankhs or other silver charms. Hawkers sell necklaces and bracelets as Nubian. They aren't. They are from India. Pay about $3-5 max for them if you like them and don't buy as local handicraft, but because you like it. Mother of pearl set into wood items…for a 5 by 8 box that is well made, it should be $15-25. Luxor had the best prices. Cotton wasn't such a great deal, but you could get decent deals on t-shirts, golf shirts with your name in cartouche for $15. Casual cotton shirts for women well priced ($5-15); alabaster is nice…small tea lamp size should be $10-15.

Jordan: Really nice souvenirs…VERY expensive. Mosaics, mosaic covered ostrich eggs, hand painted metal vases, brass items…all will be over $200 to start. Dead sea salts, mud, soap, cosmetics good prices. Bedouin jewelry is same Indian jewelry sold in Egypt as Nubian jewelry.