12 month visa and Egyptian hotel prices?

[Teddyboy]

I may well be going a bit funny in the head with advancing age, who knows? But I seem to remember that when we used to get 12 month visas we then became eligible for Egyptian prices (i.e. half price!) when booking hotels in Egypt.
Was that right? And, more pertinently, is it still the case and is it at all possible to get a 12 month visa nowadays?

[crewmeal]

Teddyboy - just s a matter of interest what was the rate to the English pound in those days? Did you get 'more money for your buck' like now? (33LE=£1)

[Teddyboy]

Brain like a sieve here, crewmeal! When we were first regular visitors (late 90s) it was about 5 or 5.5 to the English Pound. Then it ranged from 10 to 12 for a few years before the revolutions. It was just over 36 here yesterday.

[Chris]

Yes, a 12 month visa is still available

[Gordon292]

If a 12 month Visa is still available what would be the cost and no doubt only available by applying at the Egyptian Embassy in London.

[Chris]

It is called a 'Foreign Residence Card' (it is like an Egyptian ID card) and mine was issued by the Luxor Passport Office, I think I paid about 1500le

[Teddyboy]

Thanks ever so, Chris!
If leaving Egypt for a while during the 12 months, is a re-entry visa still required? From (poor) memory, this only ever applied to Luxor anyway. And, do you know if the hotel discount is still applicable, please?

[Chris]

Yes, I have a re-entry visa for two reasons 1, it stops me having to queue at the bank at the airport to buy the visa or get one online and 2, it works out cheaper because I leave the country many times during my 12 months. Bear in mind that the re-entry visa is only valid for six months so you will need to renew it after six months

[Teddyboy]

That sounds the same as it used to be, then. Thanks for your help, most appreciated!

[Teddyboy]

A bit of an update:
This morning, whilst taking tea at the WP, I asked if a 12 month resident card would get me Egyptian price there. "Of course it would!" came the answer, without hesitation. This prompted a pleasant stroll up to the Passport Office, obviously!
However, my excitement was soon quashed by the youth whom I encountered there. After explaining that I had lived in Luxor for over 15 years, and explaining that I had owned my own property for 17 years, he exclaimed, "Not allowed!"..... "Why not?" said I. ..... "Instructions from Cairo." He wouldn't brook any discussion or argument just, again, "It's not allowed!"
I'm rather disappointed, to say the least, but I'm not exactly sure that he's actually acting according to the Residency (temporary or otherwise) regulations.
If I cannot get any further here in Luxor, I think I may write to the Egyptian Embassy in London, when we return there for our summer holiday. One can but try?