Dear Traveler,
The land of the pharaohs is a destination that has fascinated people since antiquity. Egypt is the "
Gift of the Nile" that the Greek historian Herodotus described when he visited in the 5th Century BC. There are not enough words to describe the magnitude and ingenuity of Ancient Egyptian Engineering and the stunning colorful religious scenes carved in the temples and tombs -- you have to see it for yourself. As a Muslim country, the locals are conservative, but you will soon find that they are also genuine and helpful. The US dollar and the Euro are strong and go a long way.
For seamless travel, here are few tips to consider:
Our guide Youssef was from Aswan
- Hire a local guide and driver for your entire stay
While visiting Egypt, reserving a local guide and a driver is a must! In my humble opinion, unless you vacation only at the Red Sea Resorts, this is not a destination that can be self-exploratory. A licensed guide will explain to you the essential information related to must-see historical monuments, will show you local artesian shops where you can buy authentic souvenirs and restaurants, and in addition, will help you to arrange ticket entries to certain sites that require an advance reservation (like the tomb of Seti 1st in the Valley of the Kings). In Egypt, a local guide and driver go in a pair. Renting a car is not really an option: The country roads are extremely busy, most of the directions are in Arabic, and traffic lights are a rare occurrence. In order to travel, the Egyptian Tourism Board must issue you a road travel permit. In the countryside, there are security checkpoints every few kilometers.
- Egypt is not really a party destination
It is imperative before making travel plans to Egypt to know what to expect: The country is a mecca for so-called "Cultural Tourism" but it is not a Party destination. The daily activities are centered around visiting archaeological and historical/cultural sites such as the Pyramids, Mosques, the religious Temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Pharaoh's Tombs in Valley of the Kings. Due to the high temperatures during the day, most of the activities start at 8 or 9 am in morning. You get up early and go to bed early. Rarely can tourists be found walking on the streets, and the street cafes are not like the ones that you are used to in Europe and the US: they offer the hookah and mainly soft drinks -- Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country and the religion doesn't encourage the drinking of alcohol. In addition, you will soon find out, that while the hotel bars do serve alcohol, they only do so at Western prices. E.g. The local beer is $6 and a cocktail is typical $10-$12.
Travel tip: If the purpose of your vacation is to party, reserve an all-inclusive resort in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada (Egypt's popular resort towns), where you can find trendy bars and nightclubs in a short distance from your resort.
- Have small EPG bills handy for tips and odd items
First, understand that tourism is the main industry that drives the Egyptian Economy. Naturally, the majority of the locals are employed in the tourism service sector. Have small bills handy to tip your driver, the bell-boy, the toilet attendant, etc. (20 EGP for the hotel staff, 5 EGP for the toilet). The tips for the guide typically are not included in your travel package and are based on your discretion. Also, small bills in the local currency are handy if you decide to take a taxi or get a tea/coffee or buy cheap souvenirs outside the temples or nearby bazaars. There are currency exchange stores in every hotel. If you visit a specialized artisanal store and purchase higher-end merchandise, you can also use a credit card.
- Alcohol is served only in hotels and selected restaurants
Just to reiterate the point I made earlier, Alcohol is accessible, but mainly in the hotels and tourist bars and restaurants and you should expect to pay Western prices for it. In the sea towns, you might find mini-supermarket that sell beer.
- Bargain with respect when you shop
The Arab Spring Revolution in 2011 crushed the Egyptian economy and has since led to inflation from which the country is still recovering. In your search for souvenirs, you can still bargain, but you may find out that the prices are slightly higher than what you expect to pay, especially for custom/handmade goods. From my recent trip, I found out that being friendly/chatty and associating yourself with the locals (finding common ground: for instance, I've been passionate about Ancient Egypt and the store owners saw my tattoo with Ancient Egyptian symbols), can get you deeper discount rather than being rude.
Young Egyptians love to take pics with tourists
Except for vacationing at the Red Sea resorts, especially for women, you should be considerate in selecting your daily outfit. Wearing short shorts/skirts and t-shirts with deep cleavage is not appropriate. The majority of the Egyptians pray five times a day and the men wear a long shirt (called gallibaya) and the women wear hijab and long sleeve dress.
If you don't wish to get scammed and like to skip the stress involved with putting a multi-city itinerary together, searching/reserving hotels and licensed local guides/drivers, and issuing travel permits and visas, do yourself the favor and use the services of a travel agency. Advisors that specializes in cultural-focused travel, have established relationships with reputable local tour operators that will match your interest/budget and help take care of many of the necessary logistic factors.
Ready to start planning your journey to Egypt?
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