I got a vacation from Terka for my 30th birthday, which she organized herself. We spent a few days in Egypt, so don’t expect a full travel diary as usual, but rather a few tips that will come in handy if you decide to go on vacation to Egypt. Let’s get started.
Cestropa??
After our travels in the Philippines, we took a break from traveling. I mainly due to the most nutritious networking Meet&Deal. I managed to plan and organize a total of 4 events and I have to say it was very nutritious.
Terka granted me the well-deserved time off. It’s just that due to our packed calendars, the time frame was very limited and therefore the options were limited as well. Egypt won and despite all the crap that BlueStyle threw under her feet while dealing with it, it turned out quite well. But we certainly won’t be flying with them again, because their approach and customer service is absolutely appalling and the fact that the delegate didn’t show up for the announced meeting and didn’t even apologize is just the icing on the cake that proves it all.
So what do you need to know before you head to Egypt? And what should you definitely take with you?
Before you go…
To go to Egypt, you need a passport that will be valid for at least six months after arrival. Visa can be obtained directly at the airport (costs $25, preferably in cash), or you can arrange it online in advance. Or through a travel agency. But with a travel agency it is usually more expensive and in the end it takes the same time as obtaining it upon arrival, because you still have to stand in line for the stamp and sticker in the passport.
I recommend having a copy of your documents stored on your phone and somewhere in the cloud, because you never know.
What to pay with?
The official currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). It’s most advantageous to bring dollars or euros with you and exchange them on site if needed. But you don’t really need to exchange it. In most cases they also accept euros and dollars. Dollars will also come in handy for tips. Egyptians are used to it. And if you leave a dollar in the room before the cleanup, you’ll find all sorts of animals made of towels there.
Credit cards work more in hotels and large stores, but as soon as you head to the market or take a taxi, have cash ready. ATMs are here – usually right in the hotel, but the withdrawal fees are higher. Plus, the ATMs are not always 100% functional.
Watch out for the pharaoh’s revenge
Egypt is quite safe in terms of health in the tourist areas, but definitely don’t underestimate the basics. Drink only bottled water. Watch out for ice in cocktails, in some places they already make it from bottled water, in others not. Better ask. Because you don’t want the pharaoh’s revenge. Then you can’t move from the room.
Bring anti-diarrheal medications and some probiotics with you. You usually find a shop or pharmacy in the hotel, but the locals take advantage of the situation and like to charge you more because they use the situation when you need the medicine. The same goes for headache medications (some ibuprofen or paracetamol). I also recommend taking a repellent. Sometimes there are too many flies in Egypt, for which the standard repellent doesn’t work very well.
I would consider getting vaccinated against hepatitis A+B or typhoid fever if you haven’t already. I always take hand sanitizer on trips. It comes in handy everywhere, not just in Egypt.
Different country, different customs
Whether you’re in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor or the market in Aswan, remember to respect the local culture. It’s better to cover your shoulders and knees, especially outside the beach destinations and when visiting monuments.
Taking photos of people without asking is not appropriate and be prepared for haggling. In Egypt, it’s a bit of a national sport. And since Egypt is a Muslim country, try not to eat and drink in public during Ramadan.
When you leave the hotel
You’ll get around the cities most comfortably with Uber or the Careem app – it works reliably especially in Cairo. But sometimes even in Uber they prefer cash so they don’t have to declare the income.
In tourist resorts, you’ll usually only find classic taxis, where you have to agree on the price before the ride.
How to stay in touch with civilization
How’s the internet and SIM cards? Here, be careful – from my own experience and thanks to a tip from Dan, I know that tourist SIM cards in Egypt often don’t work as well as one would expect. The signal can be weak, the data disappears quickly and sometimes there are a lot of unnecessary complications.
I solved it through the eSIM app Airalo, where you buy data before you arrive. If you want to try it too, you can use my code ANDRE5430 and get $3 off. The difference in comfort is huge – you land, turn on the data and go.
Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, but they often do it sneakily, so the signal is only in the lobby and rarely reaches the room, the pool or God forbid the beach. But you can also use that to disconnect from the online world for a while.
Additional tips that will come in handy
Finally, I have a few small things that will make your trip easier:
– Tip (bakshish) – it’s expected almost everywhere, have small bills ready, preferably dollars
– Sun – sunscreen is a must, local versions are expensive and often fake. Watch out for sunburn. It can ruin a few days of your vacation
– Power sockets – the same as in our country, you don’t need an adapter. This is okay
– Time rhythm – Egypt is one hour ahead of us. Also keep in mind that everything here flows a little slower and with a smile
Egypt is great, especially if you decide to leave the hotel and discover some monuments – the pyramids in Giza, the temples in Luxor, the capital Cairo or the ancient city of Alexandria. It’s also worth exploring the underwater world of the Red Sea, so take your goggles and snorkel with you.
We stayed at the Blue Reef Resort in Marsa Alam, which is ideal for Czechs because most of the staff understands Czech. We made friends with Hassan, who runs a Shisha bar right in the resort. He spoke perfect Czech and played cards, so if you’re looking for a quiet hotel, almost without children, I can only recommend it. Stop by and play a few games with him, you might even win a few times like us.
Overall, the resort was good, good food, animators who don’t bother you and understand NO and then can entertain you as part of the evening program. Check out the reel from our vacation here.
