FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
February 2009
2009 / February 2009
Feb 1, 2009

Fiesta Americana Grand Chapultepec Mexico City, Mexico

Arrival/Check-in: After a four-hour fog delay on a redeye flight, I arrived disheveled and exhausted at the Fiesta Americana Grand Chapultepec. The taxi door opened at the curb to reveal a bellman already in possession of my bag, ready to assist me out of the cab. The lobby was small but the desk staff efficient, and checking in was effortless. The bellman showed me to my room and explained every detail to insure my enjoyment and comfort. (30/30)

Explore Egypt on the Most Extraordinary Tour Ever

Picture this: You’re standing in front of the Great Pyramid, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in complete silence, with no crowds in sight. As you step inside, your guide leads you to hidden chambers inaccessible to other tourists. Here, you’re granted a rare chance to delve into the deepest mysteries of ancient Egypt.

2009 / February 2009
Feb 1, 2009

InterContinental Citystars Cairo, Egypt

Arrival/Check-in: The hotel offers check-in service at Cairo International Airport (CAI), allowing the jet-lagged traveler to head straight for the shower upon arrival at the hotel. But to the hotel’s credit, this service doesn’t save much time; my check-in at the front desk was swift and painless. Besides, I wanted to soak in the atmosphere of that lobby — a marbled hallway opens up into a light-filled, high-ceilinged space with soaring columns, sleek furnishings and an imposing obelisk flanked by four sphinxes. The lobby, populated with Westerners in suits and Cairenes and Saudis in their dishdasha and checkered head scarves, is busy yet relatively hushed, the noise never enough to disturb a conversation. The hotel is adjacent to the Middle East’s largest retail and entertainment complex, but the location doesn’t take away from its exclusiveness; and the hotel’s security is reassuringly tight, with guards and metal detectors at every entrance. (30/30)