EGYPTIAN HOTELS

 Cairo

 Abu Simbel

 Aswan

 Luxor

 Alexandria

 Taba

 Hurghada

 Marsa Alam

 Dahab

 Sharm EL Sheikh

 Newba

 Baharyia

 ST.Kathrine

EGYPT INFORMATION

 Country Profile

 Maps

 Weather

 Visas

 money

 Vaccination

 Transportation

 Gear

 Entrees fees

 Insurance

 Flights

Egyptian Cities

 Cairo

 Luxor

 Aswan

 Hurghada

 Sharm El Sheikh

  Travel Tips

A notice stamped in passports on entry into Egypt says “registration within 7 days” but arrivals in Cairo should in fact be registered within 48 hours, either at the nearest police station or at the Mugama’a. Visitors need re-registration at each new city visited for for the sake of the tourists' safty. Hotels perform this service routinely, but visitors staying in private houses, must make other arrangements to be registered. Their hosts may be held responsible for failure to do so.

The visitor is permitted to enter the country with 250 grams of tobacco, or 50 cigars, one liter of alcohol and personal affects. Animals must have a veterinary certificate attesting to their good health and a valid rabies certificate
Cairo International Airport is one of the few airports that has a duty free shop upon arrival and departure.
Persons traveling with expensive electronic equipment such as cameras, video cameras, or computers may be required to list these items in their passports to ensure that they will be exported upon departure.

Most international airports in Egypt are equipped with baggage trolleys available free of charge. There are also porters with larger trolleys to service individuals and groups.

Visas may be renewed at the Mugama’a. They are valid for 15 days after the expiration date, but if not renewed a letter of apology from your embassy must be presented to the Mugama’a or you will have to pay a small fine. You may extend your stay for over one month one week before the end of your visit, if required.

Travelers are free to buy and export Egyptian goods. There are restrictions on certain items that are not permitted to leave the country. Under no circumstances are antiquities, either ancient Egyptian or Islamic, permitted to be exported. Nor are precious jewels, carpets, paintings or other works older than 100 years.

Egypt is a conservative country and visitors should respect this attitude. No topless or nude bathing is permitted.
On the practical side, leave your synthetics at home as they will prove to be too hot in summer and not warm enough in winter - bring materials that breathe. It is advisable to wear cotton in summer as the heat can be like a furnace. In winter wear layers that can be taken off during the heat of the day and put back on for cool evenings.
Wear loose and flowing garments, which are not only modest, but practical in a hot climate. Have you ever wondered why the Bedouin wear layers of flowing robes? Why they cover their heads and the back of their necks? Centuries of living in desert climates have taught them that loose garments keep one cooler and layered garments allow wind to enter and circulate, creating a natural ventilation system. Protecting the head and neck from loss of moisture prevents heat stroke.
Bring comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and temple floors are far from even. In summer, wear a hat to protect yourself from the heat of the Egyptian sun.

Above all travel light. Get wheels for your luggage and leave heavy items at home. If you don’t bring a camera you will be sorry. Sunglasses are a must as the sun is very strong in Egypt.

Egypt’s  official   language  is  Arabic,  however,  the   Arabic   spoken  in  Egypt,  known   as  colloquial Arabic,  differs   from   that   of   Classical   Arabic,  which  is  the  lingua  franca  within  the Arab world.

    Yes: naam, aywa
    No: la
    Perhaps: yemken
    Possibly: mumken
    Impossible: mesh mumken
    Necessary: daruri
    Please: men fadlak (m.) men fadlik (f.)
    Thank you: shukran
    Your Welcome Ahlan beka اهلاً بك
    Sorry/Excuse Me: assef
    Good Morning: sabah el-kheir صباح الخير
    Good Evening: masa el-kheir مساء الخير
    Good Night tesbah ala kheir تصبح علي  خير
    Welcome: Marhaba
    Goodbye: salam (peace)
    My Name Is: esmi
    My Name is Jena Ana esmi Jena اسمي جينا
    What Is Your Name?: esmak eh? or Ma Esmok? ما اسمك؟
    How Are You?: ez zayyak? (masc) ez zayyek? (fem)
    Nice to Meet You Saadot belkak سعدت بلقائك
    Today: en-nahar da
    Tomorrow: bukra
    Yesterday: imbarih
    I Speak English: ana batkallem englizi
    I Don't Speak Arabic?: ma-batkallamsh `arabi?
    I Don't Understand: ana mish fahem
    Do You Speak English?: int betetkalem inglizi?
    Can You Help Me?: mumken tsaa'dni?
    Information: istiilaamaat
    What Time Is It?: el-saa kam?

In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. You can find small, inexpensive establishments that serve good Egyptian food for only a few pounds. If you're in a hurry, try the local snack bars. While the cubbyholes off the street (which probably have running water) are generally safe. The larger cities even have Western-style fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they're relatively expensive. In cities both food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets.

Although Egyptian eating habits may seem erratic, most natives begin the day with a light breakfast of beans (or bean cakes), eggs, and/or pickles, cheeses, and jams. Most families eat their large, starchy lunch around 1400-1700 and follow it with a siesta. They may take a British-style tea at 1700 or 1800 and eat a light supper (often leftovers from lunch) late in the evening. Dinner parties, however, are scheduled late, often no earlier than 2100, with the meal served an hour or two later. In restaurants lunch is normally 1300-1600, dinner 2000-2400.

In Egypt, as in the rest of the world, restaurants are only as good as the cooks they employ, and cooks seem to be continually changing. For current information on the best restaurants, the expatriate community is unbeatable, and the magazine Cairo Today includes monthly tips listing places to try, and publishes an annual dining guide. Most establishments use native ingredients and will offer fruits and vegetables in season. Menus are in both Arabic and English except in Alexandria, where they are in Arabic and French. In large restaurants, the maitre d'hotel will speak English, French, and possible German, Italian, or Greek. These establishments serve a mixture of international cuisine but often include Egyptian or Middle Eastern fare as well. Most hotels also maintain 24-hour coffee shops.
Many of the smaller, Egyptian-style restaurants specialize in basic meat and fava-bean dishes. They are simple and inexpensive. Waiters speak little English, so use your phrase book.

Although devout Muslims refrain from drinking alcohol, beer, wine, and hard liquor are available in bars, restaurants, and some grocery shops. Imported beer and wine are the most expensive, but the local beer called Stella is a light lager that is quite good, provided it has not sat in the sun too long. It comes in large (about 20 oz.) bottles and runs about LE4-5. Stella Export, available in bars and restaurants, is more expensive (LE4), comes in smaller bottles, and is stronger--closer in alcohol content to most Western beers. Marzen, a dark, bock beer, appears briefly during the spring; Aswanli is the dark beer made in Aswan.

Brandy is drinkable only when diluted, and the local rum is not much better. However, zibib, the Egyptian version of Greek ouzo or Mexican anasato, is good either on the rocks or diluted with water (which turns it milky) as a before-dinner cocktail. Other hard liquors are imported and therefore are limited (the ports at Suez and Alexandria seem to have the widest variety) and expensive. If you drink regularly, plan on stocking up at a duty-free store before you enter Egypt.

 Tipping is a way of life in Egypt, if someone does something you would consider as an extra effort, he expects to be tipped. You should only tip if you feel you want to, you are under no pressure to do so, but it would leave a good impression, and many Egyptian people survive on very little.

Tip appropriately and please, don't give small notes or coins as a tip to people who helped you all the way throughout your trip, such as drivers, tour leaders, and tour escorts, it would be an insult to them, Also, do not offer tips to professionals, businessmen, or others who would consider themselves your equals, as you may seriously offend them by your act.

Evidence of Yellow Fever and Cholera immunizations is required from persons who have been in an infected area within six days prior to arrival. These immunizations must be recorded in the International Certificate of Vaccination, the WHO card, issued by the World Health Organization. This document is obtained from authorized doctors in most countries. Persons without the proper immunizations are subject to a 36-hour quarantine at Cairo Airport.

In Egypt, a woman traveling alone is generally safe, but she will be noticed, less in large cities than in the country. However, if problems do occur, seek help from the police or any shop nearby.
Although you probably will never be accosted, take simple precautions as you would anywhere: don't walk in deserted areas alone. Although most invitations are innocent, don't accept them from strangers.

Major tourism mosques are open to the public unless services are in progress (the main service is on Friday at noon). Other mosques are not. Keep in mind that a mosque differs from a western church in that Christian churches are considered houses of God, while mosques are more a gathering place for the faithful of Islam. Unless otherwise posted, tickets to some that have been restored are sold by the caretaker for about LE3-6. All visitors to mosques, mausoleums, and madras as must remove their shoes. Most Muslims walk around in their stockings but those mosques that are major tourist attractions have canvas overshoes available; a tip of 50PT to LE1 is in order for the people who put them on for you. Women must cover bare arms and should also have a hat.

Crime in Egypt is nearly nonexistent, and violence is usually limited to family feuds. However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty thieves may exists, so be careful and remember that the ever helpful tourism police are usually nearby. Women must be cautious, especially in out-lying areas. Stay completely away from drugs and leave yours at home.