bvbellomo
Contributor
First post – skip reading this to get to the diving:
I’ve been planning a Red Sea trip for 2 years, this would be my 2nd dive trip, the first was Blackbeards in the Bahamas. I was a master diver with 50 logged dives. I choose the Tillis, based on price and trip reports and planned to go on my own, towards the end of 2019 I booked flights and a liveaboard for May 2020.
Covid cancelled everything last May – flights, hotels and liveaboard. I booked a portion of my travel with Kiwi and only got a small refund, but travel insurance picked up the rest. EasyJet only gave me credit. The Tillis allowed me to rebook, and hotels refunded me in full.
Rebooked everything for October. Travel was possible, but COVID restrictions were in place and Egypt required a COVID test within 96 hours of arrival. Lufthansa sold me on using their test at Frankfurt airport so I’d have no trouble with the deadline. 24 hours before my flight, the online check-in warned me I would not be allowed to board without a COVID test. I spent close to 2 hours on the phone with both Lufthansa and United (who ran the first leg of my trip) and both assured me I would have no trouble boarding. The United agents at the gate were of a different opinion, and I was denied boarding but allowed to reschedule for later in the week. I got a COVID test, but by the time I got the results, I missed the 96 hour window. Thankfully, the Tillis let me reschedule again.
Rebooked flight and liveaboard for May 2021, planning to do hotels and land tours ‘on the fly’ in case I didn’t go. By coincidence, the dive club “Just Add Water” that I did Blackbeards with scheduled a trip to Egypt the same 2 weeks. Although it was more expensive than traveling on my own and sold out anyway, I wished I would have joined their tour. 1 week before departure, the Tillis contacted me that a large group of Swedes all cancelled and the Tillis would not be leaving port. The Tillis refunded almost all of my money as cash, which I am very thankful for and I intend to rebook with them for a future trip. COVID restrictions reduced the number of guests allowed on a boat, and “Just Add Water” booked a 2nd boat and had space for me so I joined.
The first week was amazing but very busy. We saw the pyramids and museum in Cairo, I arrived a day early so I saw the Baron’s palace, Cairo tower and Zamalek on my own. We flew to Luxor and saw the Karnak and Luxor temples and the Valley of the Kings including a hot air balloon and drove to Marsa Alam. I’d definitely recommend 2 places of the 3 places (Cairo, Luxor, Red Sea) for a 2 week vacation – doing 3 was too much for the time we had.
I’ve been planning a Red Sea trip for 2 years, this would be my 2nd dive trip, the first was Blackbeards in the Bahamas. I was a master diver with 50 logged dives. I choose the Tillis, based on price and trip reports and planned to go on my own, towards the end of 2019 I booked flights and a liveaboard for May 2020.
Covid cancelled everything last May – flights, hotels and liveaboard. I booked a portion of my travel with Kiwi and only got a small refund, but travel insurance picked up the rest. EasyJet only gave me credit. The Tillis allowed me to rebook, and hotels refunded me in full.
Rebooked everything for October. Travel was possible, but COVID restrictions were in place and Egypt required a COVID test within 96 hours of arrival. Lufthansa sold me on using their test at Frankfurt airport so I’d have no trouble with the deadline. 24 hours before my flight, the online check-in warned me I would not be allowed to board without a COVID test. I spent close to 2 hours on the phone with both Lufthansa and United (who ran the first leg of my trip) and both assured me I would have no trouble boarding. The United agents at the gate were of a different opinion, and I was denied boarding but allowed to reschedule for later in the week. I got a COVID test, but by the time I got the results, I missed the 96 hour window. Thankfully, the Tillis let me reschedule again.
Rebooked flight and liveaboard for May 2021, planning to do hotels and land tours ‘on the fly’ in case I didn’t go. By coincidence, the dive club “Just Add Water” that I did Blackbeards with scheduled a trip to Egypt the same 2 weeks. Although it was more expensive than traveling on my own and sold out anyway, I wished I would have joined their tour. 1 week before departure, the Tillis contacted me that a large group of Swedes all cancelled and the Tillis would not be leaving port. The Tillis refunded almost all of my money as cash, which I am very thankful for and I intend to rebook with them for a future trip. COVID restrictions reduced the number of guests allowed on a boat, and “Just Add Water” booked a 2nd boat and had space for me so I joined.
The first week was amazing but very busy. We saw the pyramids and museum in Cairo, I arrived a day early so I saw the Baron’s palace, Cairo tower and Zamalek on my own. We flew to Luxor and saw the Karnak and Luxor temples and the Valley of the Kings including a hot air balloon and drove to Marsa Alam. I’d definitely recommend 2 places of the 3 places (Cairo, Luxor, Red Sea) for a 2 week vacation – doing 3 was too much for the time we had.