If you have read my first post on 10 Things You Need To Know Before Travelling To Egypt and feel as though you still need more information before you travel to this beautiful, history laden place, don’t worry. Here are 10 more tips to help you along… and because I love you guys so much, I’ve thrown in five more just for fun. So let’s make that 15 tips to help you along.
- Wall plugs are the round two pronged European type. Electricity: 220 volts, 50 cycles AC in Cairo.
- Since Islam is the main religion of Egypt, Friday is regarded as the weekly day of rest. This means that the “weekend” is generally a Friday and Saturday. Sundays are usual business days.
- Islamic Holidays are based on the lunar calendar which means it changes annually and Eastern Christian holidays are generally different than the western Christian holidays.
- Whilst most tourist attractions are open every day except on New Years Day, some sites will close for relevant religious holidays like monasteries and mosques.
- Tipping is allowed and should always be done for good service. These can applied to luggage handlers, bathroom attendants, maids, guides, drivers, waiters and cruise staff.
- While in Egypt drink filtered or bottle water and be mindful of fresh fruit juices as they may be diluted with local non-filtered water.
- It’s a good idea to let the hotel or someone back home know of your travel plans, especially if you are travelling alone and not using a well-known tour guide service. Keep your hotel and next-of-kin contact information with you at all times and be sure to set a time where you will check in with them. This way, should you get lost, they will then be able to act on your behalf.
- Local Egyptians drive of the right hand side of road.
- Don’t be afraid to say ‘no thank you’ or rather, “la shukran” if you don’t want to buy something. There are many local vendors who will try and pressure tourists into buying trinkets.
- Be wary when booking a felucca trip and do this through well-known agents. It is common practice for some captains to ask for an extra fee before the return journey.
- Take a small, pocket flashlight when visiting the tombs and temples. Many of the underground sites are not clearly lit and use as much natural light as they can to illuminate the surroundings.
- Be confident when bargaining at souks and markets. Keep as little Egyptian pounds in sight as this will help convince the sellers that you don’t have as much money as they expect tourists to have. Also, it’s a good idea to keep your dollars / euros out of sight. It’s common practice for some sellers to insist of dollars or euros instead.
- Be wary of people offering you camel rides around the Giza Plateau. Some locals may charge double or even triple the price. Rather head for the main stables if you want a camel ride. You can also arrange a package deal at your hotel that includes entrance to the Giza and other tombs.
- There are many boat cruises that run between Aswan and Luxor, as well as many felucca trips. If you’re planning on taking a felucca, take as little luggage as possible. Depending on the wind, many of the felucca’s over – may sway violently or tip over, meaning you could lose your luggage or even go for an unexpected swim in the Nile.
your blog is great, glad I found it 🙏 Ana xx