Rana & Christoph

TRAVEL INFO

December in Egypt is perfect for tourism. Temperatures, while 'cold' to Egyptians, are still pretty warm for visitors from most other countries.

Average temperatures during the daytime are in the mid 60s F (20 C), with nighttime temperatures reaching lows of about 50 F (10 C). While this means you might need a sweatshirt, it also means that it is the perfect time for doing some more physically exhausting activities like walking tours or visiting the Valleys of the Kings & Queens.

Nearly all passports, including US, Canada & Germany (EU) will require a visa to visit Egypt which is easily obtained upon your arrival into Egypt.

Instructions: Once you land in Cairo you'll deplane and walk a short distance to baggage claim. Visas are available at the bank counters near the baggage carousels located right before the customs lines. At the bank counter simply ask to buy a single entry ($25 USD) or multiple entry ($30 USD) visa. Payment for the visa is in US Dollars or Euros (cash). Credit card may be accepted however will incur extra fees.

Pro Tip: Ask for the change in Egyptian Pound (LE) so you already have cash on you. Ideally in smaller bills (5-20 LE bills).

Uber is in Cairo and it is very easy to use. Please note that because the traffic in Cairo is awful you will likely wait longer for your ride than you would in the United States.

Uber drivers nearly always speak English. Even if they don't, the driver already knows where you are heading via the app.

There is also a Cairo based ride-share app called Careem. They operate the same way Uber does.

Another cab-hailing company (great for hotel/airport route) is London Cab Egypt where you can pre-schedule a ride.

Both apps accept credit card payment (potentially not American Express) and cash payment. It's a great solution to the hit-and-miss quality of Cairo's regular taxis.

1 USD = ~16 Egyptian Pounds (L.E.)

1 EUR = ~18 Egyptian Pounds (L.E.)

We recommend paying in Egyptian pounds for tips (expected, but not required), souvenirs, camel rides, local taxis, and small purchases. Most restaurants will accept credit cards.

Exchange US or Euros easily in the airport, once you've landed while buying your entry visa or use ATMs available at many large hotels. The reception at the hotel will also be able to exchange dollars and euros for pounds however the exchange rate may differ/be higher.

Visa & MasterCard are widely accepted. American Express less-so (you can always ask as it is accepted at large hotels/chain restaurants).

Nearly 40% of the population lives on or below the poverty line with many earning very low salaries depending on tourism. Many of these serviceworkers depend on tips or "baksheesh" for their families.

The Egyptian term for “tip” is “Backsheesh” and you will definitely hear service workers use this word. A “Backsheesh” will be requested of you from anyone who offers you a service and even by some who have not. Of course, don’t ever feel obligated to tip someone who has not provided you a service. Egyptian service workers may look disappointed or comment rudely about the amount of your tip, implying that it is too low. Don’t let this bother you; It's simply part of tipping etiquette in Egypt. Allocate at least 1,000 LE in cash for souvenir shopping and tips (broken by 5s, 10s, 20s, 50s) for your trip. This is around ~$63 USD total.

Clothes: Bring plenty of linens & cottons for sightseeing. Make sure to also pack a hat, sunglasses, swimsuit (you may find it warm enough to jump into the pool), comfy shoes, light layers/jackets and your cocktail & formal party wear!

Regarding shorts (for men & women): In mosques & religious sites such as the hanging church, women are required to cover their shoulders & knees (light pashmina/scarf works too), while men should not wear shorts for such sites either.

Women: Short-shorts and swimwear is okay to wear around the hotel and at beach resorts but are not recommended for walking around Cairo, especially Old and Historic Cairo. Egyptian women dress fashionably and are in tune with current trends however are fairly modest in their clothing (e.g. no cleavage, short skirts..etc.).

Helpful Misc. Items: Small backpack or purses for tours as many venues have size restriction at entry. Sunscreen, masks, travel adapter, battery power bank and hand sanitizing gel/wipes. Immodium (just in case).

Electricity: Egypt's electrical current is 220V, and sockets take the standard continental European round-pronged plug.

Do NOT bring (even in checked baggage): Drones, more than one Liter of alcohol

Egypt depends heavily on tourism and you'll find that Egyptian Hospitality is in full effect across the population. Despite a lot of negativity from the media, Egypt is safe to visit and Egyptians are known to be very friendly, curious and quick witted. They will try and guess where you're from by your accent and attempt to make small conversations with you. Pick-pocketing and theft is rare in Egypt but beware being over-charged/scammed in touristic areas. Vendors will expect you to haggle and walk away if you are not happy with the price.

Timing and Business Hours: Egyptians run on EST (Egyptian Standard Time), meaning that they value flexibility and are almost always late, while all events will be scheduled in advance, please note that things will likely change/be delayed.

Athan (Prayer Calls) and Prayer Time: Egypt is a majority Muslim country, so you will likely hear the prayer calls five times a day from nearby mosques. Many businesses may also close for a few minutes during prayer time.

Nothing is actually "Free": Including taking photos of the camels or a "free" camel ride. Beware scammers at touristic locations and do not accept "free" souvenirs, politely say no thank you (La'a Shokran) and walk away. Camel rides are notorious for scamming, please ask the tour guide to arrange a camel ride on your behalf instead.

Professional Egyptian Drivers: While there are (miraculously) very few car/traffic accidents, please do not rent a car and drive on your own in Egypt. Designated lanes and signalling simply does not exist. All stop signs in Egypt are 'Stoptional'. Use ride-share or taxis.