Travel advice wanted

During this summer, I will be traveling to Italy and Egypt for work assignments.  This will be my first visit outside of North America in 20 years.  If you have any advice or suggestions about traveling in these two countries, please share it with me.  Merci!   

Only thing I know is do not take any archeological artifacts out of Egypt, this can lead to some serious prison time. Also don't be shocked you will find mountains of trash in Cairo that can stock up higher than buildings (recently watched a documentary where they fould a beautiful Mansion of the 17th century or so under mountains of trash). In Italy there are quite a lot of nice coin shops but their prices are often outrageous. Oh and don't forget to bring sunscreen.

Would like to add to Egypt, the coin in this country can not be exported, but for $ 10 you can buy a souvenir coin set of Egypt, of course coins in this set different about 10-15 pieces in the set, but the condition of these coins weak

Where in Italy are you going? And what specific advice do you need?

In Italy, I will be in Latina province.

visit the Cairo museum , it's impressive

My wife and I went on a Nile cruise and I would highly recommend the temples & tombs of Karnak, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.

Quote: radrick007My wife and I went on a Nile cruise and I would highly recommend the temples & tombs of Karnak, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.

I really doubt that a  "work assignment" journey get sufficent free time to spend a wonderful week along the Nile to visit the wonders of ancient Egypt, or ... I'd love to work in the Cerulean's factory  

Egypt is pretty much a thin ribbon of fertile land running along the Nile with three major stops, Cairo, Luxor (ancient Thebes) and Aswan. Alexandria too but it's on the Med. coast rather than the Nile.

Cairo: the Museum for sure plus the Pyramids at the Giza Plateau. Be prepared for a slight disappointment, they don't stand in splendid isolation any more. Modern suburbs encroach all around.

Luxor: You can see both Luxor and Karnak temples in a single day if time is at a premium. They are very close together. Stay in the downtown Luxor Hotel rather than the 5 star Isis or Hilton and everything is on your doorstep. It's only 2 star but it's charmingly old and has a rooftop bar. To get to the valleys you will have to cross on the ferry. Hire transport on the East bank and you will avoid the queues later. There are three valleys - Kings, Queens and Nobles. Most people head for the KV but some of the most spectacular tombs are those of the high priests in the Valley of the Nobles. While you are there try very hard to see the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt's great female Pharaoh. It's quite massive and is unbelievably well preserved.

If you have to skip one, skip Aswan. I love the place, the Winter Palace Hotel is cheap and classy. The Nasser High Dam is a huge let-down if you are expecting something like the Hoover Dam. It looks like it was made from rocks and bits of wood over the weekend. Kom Ombo is worthwhile, but the statues are not in their original location, they were relocated after the Nasser Dam flooded the original site.

Don't wear expensive jewelry or watches, try to deal with Nubians where possible. They are a dignified and honest people. Skip church service and leave your Star of David pendant at home. If you do find yourself in trouble look  for the police with the "Tourist Police" armbands. If all else fails don't be afraid to lay out whoever is causing you grief, better than attracting a crowd.

Try to do as much reading as possible, it's much more rewarding if you can identify a cartouche and if the names mean something to you.

Buy a hat.

Also...if you are with someone else and people are trying to sell stuff. Pretend you are having an argument...that'll keep them at bay!

Haggling on prices is also big in Egypt so when you see something you like, they will first give you the super expensive American tourist price of let's say 200USD - if you're good you can maybe take that price down to 30USD, if you're too extreme though they will ask you to leave.

Hi Cerulean,

A lot has said above, so I limit to numismatics...
Regarding Egypt, if on a business trip, you'll end up in one of the hotels on the Corniche or even better the Marriott in Zamalek (island in Nile). Most of them have (hassle-free) souvenir shops selling recent coin sets in EF quality and some (namely in Marriott) they do sell 1-5-10 commemoratives, as well.
There is also a shop of the Central Bank at the airport, although opening times are very hectic, they sell a lot of the commemoratives at reasonably prices.
In Khan-Al-Khalili (the historic Souq (market)) there are various shops who sells coins, besides Egyptian, you can pick up nice trading dollars, if you are confident to distinguish the original from the majority of fakes. Patience there brings results, though!  
Coins or anything you buy in the Souq, bargain confidently! The first question you'll be asked: "What-country?" your answer will determine the price!... If your answer is "American" calculate a 400-500% mark-up (source: Souq sellers from Khan-Al-Khalili ) SO, if the quoted price is 500, aim at getting it for 100, so start the game at around 60, moving in smaller steps than the seller.
Ask for the price ONLY, if you really want to have the thing! - Your last weapon to achieve the best price is to slowly walk away ... chance is there, they will walk after you to complete the deal.
The other winning strategy is bargaining for something, and having another item in mind (of lower value of course) to ask as a gift at the very end of game.

It is difficult to find good quality coins in circulation.
Contrary to one of the above post, I have never experienced problems bringing coins out of Egypt, for other antiques, it might be true, though.