Egypt Travel Tips

Egypt Travel Tips

Climate/Clothing:

Spring: 70°F - 85°F; Summer: 80°F - 130°F; Autumn: 70°F - 85°F; Winter: 60°F - 85°F. Bring comfortable shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather coat. Sunscreen and a hat or sunglasses are also recommended. Some religious sites do not allow shorts or sleeveless shirts.

Language:

Arabic is the local language. Limited English is generally understood and spoken as well.

Passports and Visas:

Passport and visa required.

Currency:

The Egyptian pound is the currency of Egypt.

Tipping:

Tips are always a matter of personal discretion. No employees of Right Travel Egypt are permitted to request tips either personally or on behalf of other service providers. Although bills normally include a service charge, it is customary to add a small gratuity in restaurants and other places that cater to tourists. Tipping is considered by locals to be a part of their normal remuneration and some may approach you for additional compensation. There is no need to be intimidated by the request, nor should you feel pressured to pay more than recommended. If you become uncomfortable by any behavior you encounter, please advise your tour escort or phone our local office. Numbers have been provided in your documents for your convenience.

You may use the following as a guideline (as appropriate):

Porterage: 50¢ per bag

Hotel house-keeping staff: $1 per person per night

Waiter/Waitress: $1 per person (lunch and/or dinner)

Transfer buses: $1 per person per transfer

Driver/ guide: $6 per person per day

Bus Driver: $2 per person per day

Day tour guide: $2 per person per half day; $5 per full day

Cruise staff: $4 per person per night

Ferry to Philae Temple: $1 per person for roundtrip

Edfu carriage ride: $1 per person for roundtrip

Private Car tour guide: $10-15 per person per day

Electricity:

The voltage used is 220 volts.

*Note: The U.S. uses 120 volts and you can purchase a converter and transformer at most hardware stores for your 120V appliances.

Shopping:

Stick to the Egyptian bazaars offering colorful wares and great bargains, and be prepared to haggle. You may wish to avoid the street vendors, some of whom can be very aggressive. Egyptian tour guides do take visitors into pre-approved shops during the itinerary. Even shop owners at the most respectable stores tend to be somewhat aggressive. Again, should you be made to feel at all uncomfortable, do report the incident to your tour manager and/or Right Travel.

Health Precautions:

No inoculations are necessary when arriving in Egypt from the U.S. But consult with your health care provider before traveling.

*To prevent Montezuma's Revenge, avoid the tap water, including raw fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. Your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine just in case.

*For the latest overseas travel health information, call the Center for Disease Control's traveler's hotline at 404-332-4559. Or visit their web site at www.cdc.gov

Conservation/Code of Conduct:

Islam is the dominant influence and many traditional customs and beliefs are tied up with religion. The people are generally courteous and hospitable and expect similar respect from visitors. Handshaking will suffice as a greeting. Because Egypt is a Muslim country, dress should be conservative and women should not wear revealing clothes, particularly when in religious buildings and in towns (although the Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist destinations). Official or social functions and smart restaurants usually require more formal wear. Smoking is very common.

Luggage:

Right Travel tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person, plus carry-on bag. Additional baggage will be subject to handling charges of up to $100 per piece.

As Right Travel will not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage and personal belongings, you MUST report any loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and obtain a written report from the local authority for submission to your insurance provider. If you luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form MUST be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport.

Departure Tax:

There is no Departure tax levied in Egypt.

Travel Insurance:

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as additional security in the case of cancellation or interruption of travel plans, lost or damaged luggage, travel delays, illness, or accident. Keep all boarding passes, ticket copies and receipts for expenses paid during your trip if it later becomes necessary to file a claim.

Holidays:

Egypt: Public Holidays

Jan 7 Coptic Christmas Day

Jan 21 Grand Feast

Feb 10 Islamic New Year

Apr 25 Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only)

May 1 Labor Day

May 2 Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter)

Jun 18 Liberation Day

Jul 23 Revolution Day

Aug 15 Wafa’a el Nil (Flooding of the Nile)

Sep 11 *Coptic New Year

Oct 6 Armed Forces Day

Oct 24 Suez Victory Day

Nov 3 Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan)

Dec 23 Victory Day

*Note: (a) These holidays are not official, although Coptic Christians may observe them. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes the Bairam Feast, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some restaurants are closed during the day but most tourist attractions and hotels are not affected. Some disruption may continue into the 3-day Grand Feast itself.

Driving:

Traffic drives on the right. Besides the Nile Valley and Delta, which hold an extensive road network, there are paved roads along the Mediterranean and African Red Sea coasts. The road looping through the Western Desert oases from Asyut to Giza is now fully paved. The speed limit is usually 90kph (56mph) on motorways and 100kph (62mph) on the desert motorway from Cairo to Alexandria (there are substantial fines for speeding). Private motoring in the desert regions is not recommended without suitable vehicles and a guide. For more details, contact the Egyptian Automobile Club in Cairo.

For More Information:- http://www.righttravel.info/traveltips/egypt-1.html

Keywords:- Egypt Tours, Egypt Travel, Egypt Vacation, Egypt package, Nile Cruise, Egypt holiday, Egypt Tour, Egypt hot deal, affordable Egypt tour, vacation to Egypt, custom tour to Egypt, group tour Egypt, Egyptian tours, Grand Tour of Egypt, Egypt private Tours, Custom Egypt Travel, Egypt Vacation, Egypt package, affordable egypt tour, custom tour to Egypt, group tour Egypt