See the Luxor page for getting to the Luxor area.
From The Train Station
Taxis are available but, if on a budget and if you're reasonably mobile, it is a short walk to the ferry jetty from the railway station. Walk straight up al-mahatta and then round the tip of the Temple of Luxor to get there. A taxi ride from the station to the jetty should run to about LE10. Hotels on the west bank are all within easy reach of the jetty.
From The Airport
Taxis 100LE are the only reasonable option. It is easy to find taxis when you arrive but, unless you are adept at bargaining, it is better to arrange a pick-up in advance from your hotel. Expect to pay anywhere between 50LE and 100LE depending on your bargaining skills for this 20km ride.
By Ferry From The East Bank
By far the quickest, most authentic and romantic manner of crossing the Nile to the west is by ferry or motor launch.
There used to be two ferry services until recently: a tourist ferry now superseded by the road bridge and the local residents' ferry baladi ferry. The baladi ferry costs 1LE for foreigners, 25 pt for locals, and departs from its dock close to the ticket gate for the Temple of Luxor. There is no set schedule: ferries depart when they have filled up or until a decent period of time has passed.
Make an effort to smile and chat with the locals - you'll be using their ferry boat after all! But do be wary of the very few high pressure salesmen who might be on board, hoping to snare you for a taxi fare or accommodation offers - check their offer out, feel free to bargain.... if it's good, take it, otherwise a firm, but polite "No, thank you" la shukran should do the trick.
Motor launches have no set dock - they set out from wherever they can pick up an agreeable customer. Prices shoulf be around 5-7LE, 1-1.50LE per person if travelling in a group of 5 or more. The advantage of a launch, of course, is being able to get going immediately.