Egypt Family Trip-Ep01. From UK Flight Tips to West Bank Lodging Secrets
"Experience a winter escape from the UK to Luxor, Egypt. From navigating EasyJet's baggage fees and securing a 34% discount on Booking.com to the essentials of Egypt's Visa on Arrival, this guide covers everything you need for a perfect family trip to the Land of Giants."
1. Prologue: The Bone-Chilling Cold and the Afterglow of Luxor
The 23rd winter in England was exceptionally harsh. The "bone-chilling cold" unique to the UK’s high humidity is enough to break anyone’s spirit. After a recent trip to Korea and Japan, I made a resolute vow: "Never again will I travel to a cold country in winter."
As I searched for an alternative, memories of Egypt in 2014 flickered through my mind. It was our first Egyptian journey with my parents and my son, Yedam, who was only four at the time. I remembered the "Magic Hour" just before sunrise in the Bahariya Desert—shivering in the cold so intense I thought I might die, yet witnessing the most beautiful moment of my photographic life. The sight of hot air balloons rising over the ruins of Luxor remained etched in our family’s memory. Even now, we reminisce about it whenever we gather. Thus, this Christmas season, we found ourselves searching for tickets to Luxor once again.
2. The Capitalist Jungle: A Battle of Wits with Budget Airlines
The excitement of travel often collides with harsh reality. Thanks to some diligent searching in September, I snagged round-trip tickets from London Gatwick to Luxor on EasyJet for about £300 per person. However, their cabin baggage policy was staggering. I ended up paying a whopping £220 just to add two 23kg bags. One suitcase cost nearly as much as my seat.
Their relentless effort to squeeze every penny out of customers made the check-in process as agonizing as a constipated patient’s trip to the restroom. Watching the staff, I thought to myself, "I really need to get rich," while glancing at my stock portfolio. If it weren't for my ChargePoint stocks (now delisted), which I bought believing in the rosy future of EVs, I could have treated my kids to a more luxurious flight. Kids, Dad is sorry!
3. Save a Penny, See the World: The Art of the 34% Discount
Some might call me a cheapskate, but our family philosophy is firm: save where you can so you can see and experience more. For accommodations, I swear by Booking.com, where I’ve reached "Genius Level 3."
These days, Airbnb feels like a riddle where the "tail wags the dog"—once you add cleaning fees and mysterious service charges, it’s often pricier than a hotel. On the other hand, by combining Booking.com Genius discounts with cashback sites, you can save up to 34%. These savings allow us to wander the world for 3 to 4 weeks, three times a year. (💡 If you’re curious about my 34% discount know-how, leave a comment. I’m happy to share.)
4. The Traveler’s Table: "Dasida," the Greatest Korean Invention
When you travel for a long time, your body eventually craves the food it remembers. As much as we enjoy local traditional cuisine, the comfort of Kimchi stew made in our lodging is vital. That’s why our bags always pack the "magic seasonings": soy sauce, gochujang, sesame oil, and what I believe to be Korea’s greatest invention—Beef Dasida. With these, I can whip up a hearty meal anywhere using local meat and vegetables. Sugar, salt, and oil are easy to find locally. Having lived in the UK for 23 years and traveled to over 40 countries, I’ll eventually share my tips on packing and traveling with elderly parents.
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5. Arrival Scenes: Between Hospitality and Tension at Luxor Airport
Flight EZY8749 from Gatwick touched down at 4:20 PM. As the doors opened, the air that rushed in was entirely different from the damp cold of England—it was a dry, heavy heat. Luxor’s winter greeted us with its desert climate: scorching by day and chilly by night.
Egyptian immigration is an enigma of procedures. The first hurdle is the Visa on Arrival. Before heading to the passport control, you must buy a visa sticker from one of the bank counters in the hall. It costs $25 per person. Unlike Europe, where cards are king, you MUST have US Dollars in cash. Since getting change in dollars is difficult, bringing crisp, small denominations for the whole family was a stroke of genius.
While waiting in the long visa line, I witnessed an unbelievable sight: I ran into one of Yedam’s school classmates right there in the middle of the queue! It turns out their family had also "skipped" school for a day to fly to Luxor, trying to save every penny on airfare. The look on the kids' faces—seeing each other in a Luxor visa line when they should have been in a classroom—was priceless. They burst into laughter like accomplices caught in a secret plot.
(Note: In the UK, airfares triple during school holidays. Many parents prefer to pay a £100 fine for their child's absence rather than pay thousands more for tickets by leaving a day early or returning a day late.)
After getting our stickers, we stood in the immigration line, where people kept cutting in front of us. In contrast to EasyJet’s cold corporate greed, the arrival process in Luxor felt loose and analog—a unique form of local "hospitality." The hustle of travelers buying SIM cards and rushing to exchange money only added to the realization: We are finally in Egypt.
💡 Tip: Usually, airport exchange rates are poor, but in Luxor, the rate was surprisingly similar to the city center. Once you pass immigration, you’ll only find ATMs that charge fees and offer worse rates. It's better to exchange some cash at the bank counters before passport control. Also, ask for small bills. Egypt has a culture of "Baksheesh" (tipping). If someone helps you even slightly, they will expect it. It's not mandatory, but to avoid awkwardness, keep 10 EGP notes handy. I’ll be sharing many more "Baksheesh" episodes throughout this series!
6. Arrival at the Lodging: Did Giants Live Here?
Leaving the chaos of the airport behind, we crossed the Nile to the West Bank. I had booked "Mohamed Ali House"—named after the legendary boxer—based on reviews and facilities. Mohamed’s cousin picked us up for $12, bringing us safely to our destination. By the time we stepped into our private rental, the Luxor sun was hiding below the horizon, staining the sky a deep orange.
We immediately dubbed the place the "Giant’s Kitchen." It wasn't just because of the massive ruins visible outside; it was the height of the furniture. From the sink to the countertops, everything was significantly higher than average. Standing there to cook, I felt as if this country had been designed for giants.
On that oversized counter, my precious tubs of Gochujang and Beef Dasida from London took their place. Travelers crash-landing in the land of giants, preparing a taste of Korea—it was a mysterious yet harmonious comedy. After a long day, I finally relaxed with a cold glass of water in this "fortress" found through Genius Level 3 persistence.
After a quick dinner of Jin Ramen and rice made in our tiny travel rice cooker, we went for a stroll to a nearby market. Even at 8:00 PM, children were playing ball outside. They looked at us with curiosity and greeted us with "Nihao!" and bright smiles. It wasn’t racism; to them, most Asians are Chinese or Japanese, and most Koreans they’ve met probably didn't bother to stop and explain the difference. So, I simply replied with their greeting: "Salam Alaikum."
Yeseo was shy under the spotlight, likely the most attention she’d received since she was a toddler waddling through a mall. Yedam, on the other hand, inherited his mother’s curiosity and dove into a crowd at a dusty local street stall. He signaled to his mom while watching two chefs in an open kitchen. We ordered a dish of spiced lamb and beef sautéed on a griddle between pizza and pita bread. It was a popular spot, and as we waited, locals kept greeting us. I felt a bit like a monkey in a zoo, but in a friendly way. We returned to the lodging with water, snacks, and our takeout.
7. Epilogue: Ending the First Day
The first thing I did back at the room was re-confirm the pickup time for the tour I’d booked via TripAdvisor. I chose a package with a driver and an English guide from EMO Tour. I later learned they are the largest agency in Egypt, but size doesn't always mean seamless service. Despite the great reviews and low price, their confirmation was late, keeping me on edge until late at night.
The fierce preparations in England, the mental battle with budget airlines, and the intense tension at immigration—after navigating all those waves, our family finally settled into our first night in Egypt. The night air was dry and silent. I could feel the lukewarm breath of the stones and earth that had soaked up the day’s heat. Now, my wife, the kids, and I prepare to press the shutters of our hearts once more.
Everything here is unfamiliar and vast. Even the kitchen counter that towers over us makes it feel like a "Land of Giants." But as a photographer, my gaze doesn't linger on the scale of the monuments. Instead, I look for the small, daily lives filling the gaps between those giant ruins—the sweat of the ancients who carved the stone, or the time our family spends preparing food in this high kitchen.
What I want to capture is not a grand heritage frozen in a museum, but the beautiful, persistent "vitality" that flows through time. Above a countertop a hand-span higher than average, the smell of Kimchi stew begins to boil, drifting through the shadows of ancient ruins. Our first day in Luxor ended like that—a warm, mysterious blend of the most Korean scents and the most Egyptian landscapes.