Things to Know Before Traveling to Egypt

Hints and Tips When Traveling to Egypt

· If you must take a taxi, then it would be best if you asked the reception/concierge of your hotel to get you one. They have assigned taxis that they know very well, and deal with on a daily basis.

· First and foremost, prepare yourself for a culture shock! Many seasoned travelers are amazed when they first visit Egypt and find that it is unlike any other country that they have previously visited!

· Egypt is a Muslim country, so please respect their faith. Many things that you take as the norm, such as kissing and/or fondling your partner in public, wearing revealing clothing etc., are frowned upon here, so try and be more conservative in your attitude. Homosexuality is actually illegal in Muslim countries!

· Never drink the tap water! It is okay to wash, shower and clean your teeth with it, but not advised to drink. Bottled water is cheap and plentiful; use it instead!

· In Egypt, they drive on the right, be careful when crossing roads. Take special care in Cairo, where the traffic is a lot busier than in other Egyptian cities – especially outside the Egyptian museum! The UK and Japanese travelers should be extra careful, as you will be used to traffic driving on the left.

· Get your entry visa at your destination airport; it often works out cheaper than getting it at home. Also, you can exchange your $, £ or Euro at the same time – the conversion rate is far better in Egypt!

· Internal flights by Egypt Air must be booked in advance as well.

· Buy (and drink) plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops than at your hotel or cruise boat. You may not drink a lot of water at home, but make sure you do in Egypt. It is very easy to become dehydrated if you don't.

· Remember that Egypt is a 3rd world country and has many poor people who think that all tourists are rich, no matter where they come from in the world! Learn the phrase "la shukran" (no thank you) and don't be afraid to say it to anyone who tries to sell you anything, or asks for "baksheesh". Believe it or not, it does work. Please do not say "emshi" (as many tour books advise), this can be taken as an insult.

· If you forget the expression "la shukran", just politely say "no thank you" and walk away. Don't get abusive to the trader; he is only trying to feed his family.

· If you feel that someone is being too pushy, let a member of the Tourist Police know. You will see them everywhere in Egypt and their job is to protect you.

· Admission to all sites is payable in LE, so make sure that you carry enough with you. Try and plan each day in advance, work out how much you will need for admissions, and keep this money separate from your spending money.

· Be prepared for delays when entering some sites. Because of the threat of terrorism, you will have your personal belongings (camera bags, carrier bags etc.) searched before gaining admittance. Though this is annoying, it is for your safety! Also, on some sites, they may find video equipment, which they will take from you. Don't worry, you will get it back! It is just that certain sites do not allow videos to be used.

· Take a small pocket flashlight with you when visiting the sites. Many tombs, temples etc. use the natural light for illumination (including a local with a large mirror, reflecting the light!) and a small flashlight can be very handy. A small mirror, such as the one in a ladies makeup, can also be used to highlight a relief. Please Note: Do not take one of the really bright halogen torches, you could cause damage to the monuments!

· Once developed for cleaning the parts underneath a babies nappy / diaper, "Wet Wipes" (the small, damp, tissue usually bought in a plastic tub) are becoming more and more popular with adults. They are also very useful when traveling in Egypt. When you have felt the relief's in a Temple, touched the hieroglyphs in a Tomb, caressed the stones on the Pyramids etc., you only have to take one of these wipes out to instantly clean your hands. No more looking for a washroom!

· Make up a small "medical-kit" before you go! Include things like safety pins, plasters (different sizes), antiseptic cream, diarrhea tablets, headache tablets and sunscreen (high factor advised).

· Take a box of cheap ballpoint pens. The children (and many adults) are very happy when you hand them out, handy for baksheesh.

· When shopping for bargains, keep your own currency and credit cards out of sight, and separate from your LE. It is easier to haggle over a price if you can show that you have only a few Egyptian pounds in your possession! Plus, some traders may try and insist that they meant $ or £, instead of LE, if they see that you are carrying them.

· Wear sensible footwear when visiting the various sites. High heels and open toe shoes are not advisable. The floors of most sites are either sand or rough-cut, with uneven stone. Inside many tombs, wooden floorboards have been installed, but thin heels could get caught in the gaps between the floorboards.

· Many monuments have signs that say " No Flash Photography", please obey these signs (you can be ejected from the site if you ignore the sign!). The very bright flash can cause serious damage to some of the ancient paintwork!

· Some reliefs have depictions that show male genitalia – this is not pornography, so there is no reason to be offended! If you are part of a group (of any size) the leader/guide will explain the reason for the depiction.

· When visiting the West Bank sites at Luxor, again take plenty of water with you! You will be there for either ½ day or a whole day (with a break for lunch) and it can become very hot, drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration!

· Ladies, if you intend visiting the inside of one of the pyramids, please wear trousers (or jeans). You may have to ascend/descend ladders and/or crawl through narrow passages. For the same reasons, I would advise men to avoid wearing shorts.

· Do not buy anything from the traders inside the Giza Plateau! The items they are trying to sell you can be bought a lot cheaper at places like the Khan El-Khalili. Also beware the many people offering you camel rides, as they are not all genuine! Head for the main stables if you want a camel ride, or better still, arrange one at your hotel.

· If you go to the Citadel, try and ignore the traders selling "papyrus" pictures, as the "papyrus" is made from banana leafs, they are not genuine papyrus! Also, if you buy some from one trader, another will approach selling you "pictures that the other man did not have"! To get mementos here, there are some stalls between the bus park and the old bank, where the traders are better to deal with, and not so pushy.

· And don't forget that is always a good idea to bring mosquito repellent for open-air night events! It helps to minimize the "mosquito annoyance factor"!

· You know what your stomach is like! Just because you are on holiday don't treat it differently, if you have a sensitive stomach and tend to stay to a certain type of diet, try and do the same when you are Egypt. Err on the side of caution; you do not want to ruin a great holiday because you have eaten something you would never have tried at home. Some people are lucky, they seem to be able to consume anything and everything, others become ill by simply looking at a different food. You may feel brave by trying something different, but sometimes you are better by being a coward and enjoying your stay.

· Wash your hand always before eating. this contributes a lot to the cause of your travel sickness.

· Only bottled water must be used, as waters in the Egyptian cities is said to be highly chlorinated. Also, there should be ample care taken when eating out to prevent the occurrence of travelers' diarrhea, which is a very common health concern that most people face when traveling to a new country.

· And finally: Please do not let this list put you off going to Egypt. It has been compiled from questions that people regularly ask, and complaints that travelers have experienced. This list is to help make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

Source: https://www.ask-aladdin.com/egypt-travel-tips/ things to know before traveling to egypt travel tips for egypt egypt tips