EGYPT -Any one been?

[tisme]

Hi, I really want to go to Egypt, but my OH isn't keen because of the troubles. I would love to see Cairo and Luxor. Is it safe? any tips......

[Sapphire2803]

Foreign office has travel info

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/egypt

[david]

Hi, I really want to go to Egypt, but my OH isn't keen because of the troubles. I would love to see Cairo and Luxor. Is it safe? any tips......

I have been. They reckon around 70% of tourists who go will become ill-I was one of the 70%. Would not go back..

[rfr10]

A friend of mine is going there during the holidays and they have been given a list of diseases present in Egypt which they must be vaccinated against. There are about 15 diseases on the list, about 5 of which are stated "High Risk" and very few which are low risk. I'd really like to go to Egypt myself but after seeing that list I'm not too sure. It also states that they must be given advice on how to avoid the diseases. Apparently, aswell, if you have red or blonde hair, you may have a few friends over there who come strangely attached to your hair.

[changilass]

We went a few years ago and really enjoyed ourselves, but we were in the Sharm area, but mums been to Cairo and Luxor a few times and highly recommends it.

Best bit of advice is not to shop too early or you will never get any peace, plus you get better bargains later when there are more folks about. Haggle for taxi fares before you get in the car, you can save yourself half of the fare.

[ak1]

we went to cyprus years ago and went on a three day cruise to egypt and israel I thought it was great as got to see main bits but without having to actually stay there, it was tiring but well worth it.

[zappster]

Yea we done the cyprus trip to cairo...Cairo's one crazy place but well worth a visit!!

[kriklah]

we went on a red sea cruise couple of years ago. the cruise itself was wonderfull.

flew into sharma el sheik (sp?) where right there at the airport, due to lack of proper instruction we got stung to buy visa stamps to travel within sharma which since going on the cruise we didnt need need to get!

took the coach trip to the pyrimids - 26 coaches with armed escort across the desert, and only had an hour at the pyrimids themselve, which were a bit of an anticlimax really, particularly the trip inside one. long tunnel downwards for 200 yards, then levels a bit where we met another fellow cruiser sat gasping for breath, another 200 yrds upward onto an empty room (empty except for the egytian holding his hand out for tips just to show you a hole in the ground where the body used to be!) very hot (even with the wee air conditoner in the empty room) then the trip back out where we find the gasping cruiser had made it outside, was laid on the ground a very unhealthy shade of purple. we later heard he'd died, suffered a heart attack which his pacemaker couldnt cope with.

so all in all werent too impressed with eqypt and doubt wed go again, but then we prefered the cruise part anyway.

[golach]

Yea we done the cyprus trip to cairo...Cairo's one crazy place but well worth a visit!!
Did this trip too, it was wonderful to touch the Great Piramid of Giza, and to see the Gold of Tutunkhamun in the Cairo Museum, and the Sphinx, but watch yourself, the locals, will steal the milk from your cup of tea, then come back and steal the sugar:(

[tisme]

Thanks, lots of mixed reviews, guess it's one of those things you have to experience yourself. Hmm we'll see. Cheers all.

[katarina]

I have been. They reckon around 70% of tourists who go will become ill-I was one of the 70%. Would not go back..

I would love to go too. I have a friend who goes often and loves it. She told me not to use the water at all. Use only bottled water to wash your teeth, and boil even the bottled water before drinking. adopt coke as your favourite soft drink as there is something in it that kills bad bacteria. Do not have ice in your drink. Do not eat salad or anything that has been washed in their water unless you wash it yourself in bottled water. If you do that you should avoid tutunkhamun's curse.

[AfternoonDelight]

Egypt is the most magical, wonderful place I have eveer been. :D The area from Aswan to Luxor has 30% of all the monuments in the whole world, it's history and stories are amazing, Cairo is the second busiest city in the world, it has the most famous river in the world, the friendliest people and the most glorious sunshine all year round.

If you are serious about going you need to think about what weather you can handle. Right now the heat can reach up to 52 degrees - not pleasant. But if you go in the winter it drops to the mid twenties - the only problem is that it is ten times as busy!

We never had any injections before we left - lots of sunscreen, paracetamol and immodium! It's good advice about the water though - don't touch it!

The people are really nice and will help you with anything. They will hassle you to buy things and come into their shops etc, but this is the way they make a living and the best way is too keep walking and tell them no thanks. If you do decide to go into the shop - be prepared to be there for a while while you sit and have a drink and are offered a myriad of gifts and souvenirs.

If you want any more advice - buy the lonely planet guide, it's brilliant. And if you are going - send me a pm and I can give you names and numbers of people in Luxor who can give you balloon rides at dawn, visits to the temples, the Valley of the Kings, Cairo, Giza, cruises on the Nile at sunset etc. We did it all - exhausting but exhilerating!!!

[Solus]

Go for it, I have been to a few places that pose risks to health, common sense prevails, wash hands, bottled water at all times ( and check the seal )peel fruit,and I always cut into my meat before eating it to check its cooked through.
Saying that I have eaten in some pretty dodgy places and lived to tell the tale:confused

[Melancholy Man]

Fancy a drink (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/21/egypt.saudiarabia)?

[porshiepoo]

Hi, I really want to go to Egypt, but my OH isn't keen because of the troubles. I would love to see Cairo and Luxor. Is it safe? any tips......

My mum went all on her lonesome and loved it. She did the Nile cruise too I think. But it was a few year ago now. She definately had a great time though.

[scotsboy]

Fancy a drink (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/21/egypt.saudiarabia)?

There are plenty of hotels in Egypt that sell Alcohol, and it seems one that does not.

[sjr014]

Also did a day trip from Cyprus to Cairo and it was amazing. A little intimidating at first with your armed bodyguards and as mentioned by others street traders. But an amazing place and the contrast is amazing from shanty town areas to posher areas, the scenery, the pyramids, mummies, cruising up the nile the list is endless, i'd defo go again!

[percy toboggan]

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Buy a picture book, or a dvd of the 'Mummy'

[Melancholy Man]

Mr Kurtz is still dead.


There are plenty of hotels in Egypt that sell Alcohol, and it seems one that does not.

In fact the inference of the article is that the local authories and those many tourist workers in Egypt do not hold such an intemperate denunciation of temperate drinking as the [actually quite large] complex [in the capital city] in question, and legal challenges are currently afoot to prevent this snowballing into similar bans by likeminded new hotel owners in the country.

[farmyard]

Yes, I would say go to Egypt, all of it, if you can. Been fortunate to go four times, been ill, but I am always ill on such holidays, but it doesn't stop me going. We have never felt threatened when in Egypt and find Egyptian people an education. If you can go for a cruise on Lake Nasser as well as the River Nile. It is a wonderful experience.

[jings00]

my mum and dad went, albeit years ago, they said it was a right manky place, but they enjoyed the experience all the same