Ask Away: The right riverboat

A Nile riverboat docked at Aswan, Egypt. Photo / Getty Images

Eli Orzessek finds the answers to your travel questions.

We intend to visit Egypt at the beginning of October, flying to Cairo, taking the overnight sleeper to Aswan, then a riverboat down to Luxor, which we will explore at leisure.

Do you have any advice about the Aswan-Luxor riverboats? There seem to be dozens of them, and it is confusing trying to decide. Would it be realistic to just go to Aswan and choose one on the spot, or is it advisable to book in advance?
Alan

This does sound like a confusing prospect. As it's not something I've experienced myself, I've reached out to my contacts at Flight Centre to get a few tips for you.

They say that booking in advance is definitely the way to go — this will increase your chances of securing the experience you're after and any special facilities you might require.

"Speaking from experience, bartering in a country where English isn't the first language can be tiring, stressful and often end up costing more. Not a great way to start what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!"

It would be a good idea to talk to your local travel agent — they can find the right option for you and help create an itinerary that works best for your needs, budget, timeframe and the type of experience you're after.

If you're seeking a stress-free, authentic experience, Intrepid have some great options available, which include sailing the Nile on board a traditional felucca. If you haven't yet organised your overnight sleeper train, these trips can be a great option as everything is organised for you. The eight-day Egypt Experience starts and ends in Cairo. Travel on overnight sleeper train from Alexandria to Aswan, then cruise the River Nile for three nights, stopping at small villages along the way before ending in Luxor and continuing back to Cairo. You'll have the benefit of travelling with a local guide to ensure you get the most out of your time in Egypt and experience the best of Nubian hospitality.

In my opinion, it's always best to keep things as easy as possible, so I'd definitely recommend sorting this out before you go. Perhaps some readers have suggestions for a good riverboat tour to book on to? Send them through!

Readers respond:

Carlene Mabey wrote in about travelling through Switzerland on a budget and said she stayed in Airbnbs on the mountainsides, complete with cows and bells. Sounds magical.

She rented a car and said things could get confusing while trying to get around — as well as an added expense to be aware of.

"We had three GPS systems going and they all told us something different; we didn't know which one to believe. The signals must bounce off the mountains. Two were telling us to do a U-turn on the motorway. We received three speeding fines a month after we arrived home, for doing 5km over the limit. We didn't see any speed limit signs like we have in New Zealand. The rental company charged us $75 to hand over our details for EACH fine then the Swiss police sent us the fine for around the same amount, so $150 for each of the three fines. We have heard the cameras only process the hire cars, revenue-collecting from the tourists."

• Send your queries by email to askaway@nzherald.co.nz. Eli cannot answer all questions and cannot correspond with readers