Hints And Tips
Here are some hints and tips that should help you throughout your stay in Egypt:
If you must take a taxi, then it would be best if you asked at the reception desk of your hotel to get you one. They have certain assigned taxis that they know very well, and deal with on a daily basis. If you are travelling alone, or in a couple, and wish to organise everything yourself, also let the hotel know your plans before you leave. If you should get lost, the hotel will be able to act on your behalf! Take a note of the hotel’s name and telephone number, in case you do get lost, or change your plans.
Egypt is a Muslim country, so please respect their faith. Many things that you take as the norm, such as kissing and/or fondling your partner in public, wearing revealing clothing etc., are frowned upon here, so try to be more conservative in your attitude. Homosexuality is actually illegal in Muslim countries!
Do not rely, solely, on travel books such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. Though they do give a lot of good information, they do not explain everything, or how to help if you get into problems. Too many people have come to Egypt armed with one of these books, and have left, very disappointed with their trip, vowing never to return again!
trip
If you wish to organise everything yourself, be prepared for the occasional “rip-off”. Like many other tourist destinations, Egypt has its “wolves”, those who prey on unsuspecting travellers. Often the total cost of an excursion can be a lot more than if you had arranged it through your hotel, or a travel agent, and a lot less enjoyable.
In Egypt they drive on the right, be careful when crossing roads. Take special care in Cairo, where the traffic is a lot busier than in other Egyptian cities: especially outside the Egyptian museum! UK and Japanese travellers should be extra careful, as you will be used to traffic driving on the left.
Buy (and drink) plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops, than buying at your hotel or cruise boat. You may not drink a lot of water at home, but make sure you do in Egypt. It is very easy to become dehydrated if you do not.
Remember that Egypt is a 3rd world country, and has many poor people who think that all tourists are rich, no matter where they come from in the world! Learn the phrase “La Shukran” (No thank you!) and do not be afraid to say it to anyone who tries to sell you anything, or asks for “baksheesh”. Unbelievably, it does work. Please do not say “Emshi” (as many tour books advise), this can be taken as an insult. If you forget the expression “La Shukran” just politely say “No thank you” and walk away. Do not get abusive to the trader; he is only trying to feed his family.
If you feel that someone is being too pushy, let a member of the Tourist Police know. You will see them everywhere in Egypt and their job is to protect you.
Admission to all sites is payable in LE, so make sure that you carry enough with you. Try and plan each day in advance, work out how much you will need for admissions, and keep this money separate from your spending money.
Take a small, pocket, flashlight with you when visiting the sites. Many tombs, temples etc. use the natural light for illumination (including a local with a large mirror, reflecting the light!) and a small flashlight can be very handy. A small mirror, such as the one in a ladies make-up, can also be used to highlight a relief. Please Note: Do not take one of the really bright halogen torches; you could cause damage to the monuments!
Make up a small “medical-kit” before you go! Include things like safety pins, plasters (different sizes), antiseptic cream, diarrhoea tablets, headache tablets and sun cream
(high factor advised)
When shopping for bargains, keep your own currency and credit cards out of sight, and separate from your LE. It is easier to haggle over a price if you can show that you have only a few Egyptian pounds in your possession! Plus, some traders may try to insist that they meant $ or £, instead of LE, if they see that you are carrying them.
Wear sensible footwear when visiting the various sites. High heels and open toe shoes are not advisable. The floors of most sites are either sand or rough-cut, uneven stone. Inside many tombs, wooden floorboards have been installed, but thin heels could get caught in the gaps between the floorboards.
Many monuments have signs that say “No Flash Photography”, please obey these signs (you can be ejected from the site if you ignore the sign!). The very bright flash can cause serious damage to some of the ancient paintwork! Some reliefs have depictions that show male genitalia – this is not pornography, so there is no reason to be offended! If you are part of a group (of any size) the leader/guide will explain the reason for the depiction.
If you on a “multi-centre” holiday and you will be returning to your first hotel before your departure, arrange to leave some of your luggage, and items you have bought, with the hotel. Most hotels offer this service free of charge (or for a very low cost) and it saves you having to carry too much to your next destination.
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