EGYPT
Sleep and Eat in Egypt
I used and was very happy with Memphis Tours. They took care of all transfers, sightseeing, guides, internal flights, cruise, etc. for a very reasonable price. They're also very accommodating. I wanted to book my own hotels in Aswan and Cairo because I wasn’t excited about some of the ones they used. That was no problem. There are some optional tours that are not included in the base price, and I liked the ones we took. Also, be prepared to tip EVERYONE in cash. US dollars or Egyptian pounds are fine for tipping. Be sure to take US dollars in small denominations with you.
Aswan
Nuba Dool Guest House — Very basic guest house on Elephantine Island. Run by a friendly Nubian family. Super clean and with a terrace overlooking the Nile. Great authentic feel and nicely away from some of the chaos of Aswan. Ask them to cook you lunch or dinner!
Cairo
Great Pyramid Inn — Clean, updated hotel overlooking the Pyramids. Get a view room. Nice rooftop restaurant overlooking the Pyramids. You can watch the sound and light show at the Pyramids while you have dinner on the terrace. The stray dogs were howling at night, so it was noisy, but that may have been a function of the time of year.
Royal Residence Inn — good hotel if you need to be close to the Cairo airport for a night.