Most people feel much safer using the hotels organized tours rather than going with a complete stranger that may or may not be trust worthy, I would rather pay the extra money and be safe.

Travel

I wouldn't exchange my life for a meer cheap tour guide that can be easily found in the streets. I too would choose to ask for guidance at hotels. Although its really expensive, at least my life would be safer.

I think all of you guys have valid points. I think a local guide could be much more fun and possibly even know things others don't. You don't need reservations and can stay more flexible.

But at the end of the day I think I would opt for safety too. Generally I try to avoid guides at all cost, so I can focus better on my photos.

Andre

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Andre is right,there is also an advantage in booking a local guide. However, make sure that the guide has references, he/she must be somebody you know your recommended by a friend of yours. Sometimes, you can also negotiate with the guide additional activities and places you'd like to go, which you can't do when in groups, in travel tours.

In my case, I sometimes find myself wanting to travel on my own and know the way around by asking and commuting and savoring the things that the place can offer.

hotel tours suck, i took one in cuba (frikkin expensive!): bus pickup at our hotel at 8, bus arrives 9:30 (he, thats still "on time" in cuba!), get into the bus, get out, take a picture, back into the bus, get out and take some more pictures here, uh sorry about this dirty suburb, we really dont want to remind you of the poor people living here while youre on holiday, get into the hotel, nobody who tell you what to do and what to see till next morning, back to the bus, back to our hotel were we started, but on a different route, stop at some tourist attractions pepole have already seen 100x on pictures, in magazines, tv, cool travel sites on the internet ;) and then back to the hotel - dudes, thats BOOOORRRIIIINNNNGGGG and a waste of money!

now image this:

use a local guide who does not speak english, showing you all his friends (each has some "unique" tourist souveniers for sale of course) across the country in his 40y old car, at least one breakdown in the middle of nowhere, you meet locals and not just this rude idiots from your country and you can have a great time with the money you just didnt spent at a hotel tour (i guess you could get at least 5 threesomes and some exotic std's in cuba for the 150$ you just saved )

Ewwwwwww!!! LOL

But anyway...... I'd agree with the others who'd take the hotel tour just to be safe. Safety should be your first priority. It's just not worth saving a few bucks if you're potentially putting your life at risk.

I recommend wearing a watch with an alarm. I use mine to tell me when it's time to leave the museums and go on to something else!

I stay in museums until I get bored, tired, hungry, or they kick me out because they are closing.

I did Egypt on a tour, the same overlanding company that I used through Africa.  We camped some places, like Luxor and Abu Simbel, and stayed in inexpensive hotels other times.

One of the highlights of the trip was the overnight on a felucca.  Waking up in the morning, drifting down the Nile was magical.  I don't know if Iwould book one on my own, though.  I stay in budget places, so even when I book a tour through them, they tend to be more of a backpacker type thing, not too expensive, small groups of eight or so, meal stops where the guide says, "There are lots of cheap restaurants around, just be back in an hour." 

I usually travel alone, and as a single woman in a foreign country, I feel safer going with established tours. If I had a few friends with me, however, I think it would be fun to give the local tour guide a try.  

One good tip I've used in countries where I'm a little concerned about traveling alone is to check out websites for American universities in those countries.  Usually there are students who want to make an extra dollar or two who you can get to take you around.  I've made some good friends that way too.

I have always tended to take the hotel tours in someplace that I have never been. One tip I would give for Egypt is always barter because you will get a better deal if you do. They almost expect it of you.

University students!  What a great idea!  Is there a website where students register?  Or do you just show up at a school and start asking around?  How exactly do you arrange it?

To be honest, I would rather be safe then sorry. Although I can undertand saving some money and helping out some people, but I would also prefer life over death.

You have to weigh what you lose over what you gain.  The chances of losing your life are relatively small. 

Of course, you could just stay home.  Never leave your house.  You'd still have to deal with one of the most dangerous rooms in the world, the bathroom, of course.

 (Why is it the most dangerous?  Water, easy to slip, and lots of things to crack your head and limbs against.

How dirty is YOUR bathroom!

And the chances are small, but I would rather go with some big company to see it then risk it. Then again, I think when I do travel to Egypt I may have changed my mind.

It has nothing to do with dirt and everything to do with slip-and-fall accidents.

I like being in crowds of people. It makes me part of something. Also like one of the people said above me, I can't just trust a complete stranger.

Of the local guides at these tourist spots, some will be self-styled and some will be authorized by the Ministry of Tourism. It's better to become a part of the group that's taking a tour guided by the government guide. Of course nothing beats having a guide to you and your friend; especially if you are a history freak like me.

If, while on your Egypt holiday, you run out of cash and an ATM is not close by; you can walk into any of the Misr Bank branch to get your dollars converted but remember that the banks are unwilling to accept dollar currency issued before 1992.

I'd rather be with a group of people than ask a stranger for advice.

Hey I went to Egypt and went on those "overcrowded, over-priced 'cram in as much as possible in half a day' organised tours to archaeological sites" and they where great!

I found it better to be with a crowd then on my own, the locals rrreeaalllyyy don't take no for an answer!