Travel Tips
Visa Requirements
Non-Egyptian visitors arriving in Egypt are required to be in possession of a valid passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of travel. Entry visas can be obtained from the Egyptian Consulate in your country however, visitors from many countries may obtain an entry visa upon arrival in Egypt. Upon entering the airport in Egypt proceed to the bank tellers and ask for an entry visa (it costs $25 USD in cash). Once you have this stamp on your passport you may proceed to Passport Control.
Your visa is valid for 30 days (our assistants at the airport will help you with these formalities).
If you are not a holder of an American, Australian, Canadian, United Kingdom passport or European Union passport, please check with your nearest Egyptian Consulate for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.
Travel Essentials
- Hat/head covering for the sun
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Camera
- Travel alarm
- Personal toiletries
- Small bag/pack for daytime sightseeing
- Sewing Kit
- Power adapters – Egypt uses 220 volts, and you can use the same two prong Plug Adapter used throughout most of Europe. Many appliances, such as hair dryers and curling irons usually require a Plug Adapter and a Voltage Converter. Some appliances and/or electronics, such as laptops and many battery chargers only require the plug adapter. Please check your appliance directly for their specific requirements.
- Medications – you should bring adequate medication for your entire trip with a prescription slip or doctor’s letter explaining why you need this medicine in case you need further medication.
- Journal and/or Note Pad
- Snack items, such as energy bars, dried fruit or nuts.
- Water bottle with a sprayer and/or with a battery-operated fan attached, if you are sensitive to the warmer weather, especially during the summer months (May-September)
- An Extra (collapsible) Bag- if you plan to do any shopping. A bag, preferably soft,which can be crunched up and carried into Egypt in another bag will be handy for most people.
Safety
Egypt is very safe to travel to and tourist safety is a priority for the government. You should take normal safety precautions, the same as you would when travelling to any other country. Be mindful of your bags, your money and your passport and never leave your bags or your belongings unattended. You will see a strong government security presence whilst of visitors.
Weather
It is always sunny in Egypt! Well…almost always! It only rains on rare occasions, and mostly during the winter months. Egypt does experience seasonal changes in temperature, and wind conditions. You can consult HERE for updates on current weather conditions.
Clothing
Dress comfortably, loose cotton clothes are preferable – t-shirt, cotton pullover and cotton trousers, track pants or baggy jeans. Dress code is mostly casual, but you may want to bring something dressier for evenings if you wish. Bring a jacket or a warm sweater for the cooler evenings. During the winter months it is cooler during the day, and much chillier in the evening. Layering toes for walking through sand and stones on the Giza Plateau, and at the temples. Sneakers and socks are a good choice for our desert treks.
Egypt is primarily Muslim country and we recommend that you dress conservatively outside the hotels, cruise boat and swimming pool areas. Revealing clothing such as short shorts, or very low neckline
Money
US dollars, Euros and Sterling are all accepted forms of currency at many venues. You will need to convert some money into Egyptian Pounds. It is best to wait until you arrive in Egypt to convert your money, as the exchange rates are much better here than in most other countries. This can be achieved upon arrival at the airport, at most Hotels, and at Banks and Exchange Vendors that are found everywhere throughout all main towns and cities. Please note that many shops in Egypt do not accept credit cards. We also suggest that you carry a supply of US dollar bills, or Egyptian 1 LE notes or coins for tipping. Current Conversion Rate for USD to Egyptian Pound ($1.00 USD = 29.50 EGP). For up to date currency rates visit HERE
Language
Arabic is the official language in Egypt, the Egyptians have an amazing ear of languages and most people who meet tourists will speak English and/or several other languages.
Communications
If your mobile is equipped with ‘roaming’ then you will have no problem using it in Egypt, however, please note that international calls are expensive. If you feel you will need to make many phone calls, either local or international, while you are in Egypt, it is best to purchase a local Egyptian SIM card from a Vodafone, Orange or Etisalat shop upon arrival in Egypt. You can
then use your phone just as you would a pre-paid phone (our assistants can help you with this). To do this you must ensure your mobile is ‘unlocked’ and this must be done from your home country. Recharge cards are easily available. Please remember to bring your phone charger with you and an adapter. WiFi and Internet availability varies from venue to venue. Please inquire
about options if this is important to you.
Food & Water
Drink only well-sealed bottles of bought water – Although Egypt’s tap water is officially safe to drink, it is often heavily chlorinated, and the change in water content alone can be enough to upset a sensitive stomach. Avoid drinks with ice cubes. Hotels and restaurants serve a variety of Egyptian and Western dishes with plenty of vegetarian options. Food is generally safe to
eat and is usually of a good quality. It is also suggested that you do not eat unpeeled fruit or vegetables when you are not eating at Hotel or Tourist friendly venues during the first few days. You may want to bring along your own remedies for stomach ailments such as Imodium—and/or natural remedies like raw ginger, or ginger tea.
Health
No inoculations are necessary when arriving in Egypt. Consult with your health care provider before traveling. For further information regarding vaccinations please visit this website HERE
Alcohol
As Egypt is a Muslim country, alcohol is not widely available. However, to cater to tourists it is available in most hotels and on cruise boats. They offer both local and international brands. It is also permitted for you to bring your duty-free allowance into Egypt. If you have additional requirements, please ask for assistance.
Tipping - ‘BAKSHEESH’
Tipping is a part of life in Egypt. Salaries are very low, so most workers rely on tips to increase their earnings. Like in the West, tipping should be given for a service that you are happy with. As a guideline you should give small but regular tips of up to 20 LE (Egyptian Pound) or 1.00 USD to cleaners, bell boys etc. Toilet Facilities throughout Egypt will suggest or even require a 5-10 Egyptian LE fee to the attendants. It is customary to tip the cruise crew, motor coach, drivers and hotel staff as well, so we collect $150 per person and our team will make sure to distribute it among them all fairly.
Shopping
Popular shopping and gift items in Egypt are papyrus, statues and items made from marble, basalt and alabaster, perfumes & oils, shisha pipes, musical instruments, scarves and gallabeyas, gold and silver and of course – Egyptian cotton! Although bargaining is a common practice here, we recommend that you have a fair price in mind when you see an item that you like and negotiate within what you decide is a fair price range. Please ask for assistance when you are unsure!
Travel Insurance
It is recommended for you to have travel insurance, if you don’t deal with an insurance company you are advised to buy an online insurance. Please check your policy thoroughly to ensure it will cover all activities you may wish to do during your holiday.
