Egypt, a land of ancient wonders and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for many. If you're planning a trip from Atlanta to Egypt, preparation is key to a smooth and enriching experience. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your journey.
Currency and Money Matters
When traveling to Egypt, it's essential to be prepared with the right currency. Here's what you need to know about handling money during your trip:
- US Dollars: Take US cash with you. You can use your US dollars and put them into an ATM and they will exchange right into Egyptian currency. Yes, you can take US dollars and exchange them in machines in most hotels.
- Local Currency: Plan to get some local currency (Egyptian pounds - EGP) from an ATM.
- Exchange Rates: You can also exchange to local currency, but try to avoid the airport exchange bureaus as they give poor rates. I read somewhere that the exchange machines are heavily regulated, and the fees/markups are the same at any machine.
- Small Bills: The most challenging part is getting enough small bills for tips. You will be surprised at how many 5 and 10 EGP notes you go through. We finally wound up going to a local bank to exchange $100 for a bunch of small bills.
One of my tour group contacts advised me to bring crisp bills because they are more accepted. Tipping with US dollars was not a problem in Egypt. The only reason to have pounds was for the toilet tip, since one dollar was way more than needed.
Cash vs. Credit Cards: Until 2023, all tourist attractions and activities needed to be paid for in cash. Now, attractions are only accepting credit cards.
Tipping: Have as many small bills and coins that you can get your hands on. EVERYONE has their hand out for a bakeesh ( tips).
Read also: Atlanta Nigerian Passport Services
ATMs: I stayed mostly in Western owned chain hotels (Marriott, Movenpick, Le Meridien), and they all had ATMs in the lobby for obtaining local currency. You can also find ATMs in airports, I think. We withdrew all of our Egyptian pounds from ATM’s in Egypt. There are ATM’s in the Cairo International Airport, so this is a great place to make your first withdrawal. The maximum any ATM would ever allow us to withdraw per transaction was 3,000 EGP.
Packing Essentials and Clothing
Packing appropriately for your trip to Egypt is crucial for comfort and cultural sensitivity. Here's a packing checklist and clothing advice:
- Clothing: You don't mention where you are visiting, but the further south you go, the warmer it gets....so plan for some layers. You will see some tourists in skimpy clothing, but respectful clothing should be considered. Shoulders covered, longer shorts, and if you are a woman, cover cleavage, and aim for below knee hemlines...skirts, dress or shorts. Capris are fine. Loose linen pants and shirts were perfect.
- Weather Considerations: I would pack 1 hiking/khaki pants, 1 loose linen pants (mine came from Orvis), 1 jeans (but that's just me -- I wear jeans all the time), 1 long sleeve button up shirt, a light fleece, and a half dozen short sleeve t-shirts along with sturdy walking shoes, a good sun hat, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. Also, those rayon elephant pants are comfy and cool, and they weigh next to nothing.
- Dust Storms: One thing about traveling in March is that dust storms are a real possibility. Fortunately, I had packed a keffiyeh, and it was great for protecting my face from the blowing dust. You can buy cheap ones at most markets in Egypt.
- Jacket: It will be warmer in March and Jan, but we were surprised by how chilly it was at night, in the early morning and evening. The cruise ships and one hotel in Aswan were top ships, but didn't have heat, and we had to bundle up. Be sure you take a good jacket, I took my nice leather jacket.
Cultural Considerations
Respecting local customs and traditions is essential for a positive travel experience. Here are some cultural points to keep in mind:
- Ramadan: Ramadan starts March 22nd, so eating during daylight hours in front of locals may be insensitive.
- Conservative Attire: No matter where I travel, it is my desire and aim to respect all local customs, expectations and rules - spoken or unspoken. Thus, you’ll want to pack clothing that might be considered “conservative” by western standards. I mostly wore items that were long sleeve, flowy, long or at least shin length. I also wore head wraps and bandanas often, which is purely optional. You don’t need to feel obligated to cover your hair. But, I’d definitely avoid anything ‘revealing’ and shorts altogether. Also, showing the “sole of your shoe” is also considered rude. So, keep both of those feet on the ground.
- Public Displays of Affection: Egypt is very conservative. If you’re traveling with a partner or mate, save the PDA for the privacy of your room. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. I’d avoid any intimate behavior (cuddling, kissing and even hand holding).
Health and Safety Tips
Staying healthy and safe during your trip is paramount. Here are some essential health and safety tips:
- Food and Drink: Don’t buy or consume food prepared and offered on the street. Also, never eat street food. Best to only eat in top restaurants in the equivalent of four or five star hotels. Do not drink anything, water, beer, wine, sodas, unless you open the bottle or watch someone open it. Never drink tap water and even wash you toothbrush in bottled water. It will be hot during the day and you will need lots of bottled water.
- "Diet Coke Test": We had a running joke about the "Diet Coke test." If Diet Coke is available, you are in a tourist area. If the only "sugar free" drink you can get is non-alcoholic beer, or if they look at you as if you're from Mars when you ask for a Diet Coke, you are not in a tourist area.
- Travelers Tummy: Make sure to not consume or swim in fresh water in Egypt. Drink bottled water only! If you want to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.
- Security Checks: As you enter most sites, as well as many hotels, you will go through security.
- Military and Police Presence: It is common to see armed guards and armored vehicles at the sites you will be visiting and along the roadways.
Visa and SIM Card
Before you travel, make sure you have the necessary visa and communication options:
Read also: Nigerian Consulate in ATL
- Visa: In the Cairo International Airport, just before passport control, there is a bank window where you will purchase your visa. It costs $25 USD and you will pay cash. Take the visa and your passport to passport control. The officer will add this visa to your passport and stamp your passport. At minimum bring $25 cash for your entry visa.
- SIM Card: If you want a SIM card for your trip to Egypt, there is an Orange kiosk in the Cairo International Airport (near baggage claim) that can provide you with a SIM card. The process is fast and relatively cheap. You will need to show your passport and make sure that your phone is unlocked before your trip to Egypt. We have also had very good luck using Airalo, which is a company that sells e-SIM cards, in various countries in Europe. You can purchase your e-SIM prior to your trip and activate once in Egypt. This saves you time, since you don’t have to buy a SIM card once you arrive in Egypt.
Must-See Destinations and Activities
Egypt offers a plethora of historical and cultural sites. Here are some must-see destinations and activities:
- Giza Plateau: Sure, everyone is familiar with the great pyramids on the Giza Plateau, but there is a lot more to Egypt than just the pyramids.
- Saqqara and Dahshur: The lesser known and more fun to visit pyramids in Saqqara and Dahshur are well worth the day trip from Cairo.
- Luxor: In Luxor, not only can you visit the exquisitely decorated tombs of the ancient kings and queens of Egypt, but there is also the enormous Karnak Temple and the Temple of Luxor. The West Bank contains so many tombs and temples that it takes days, yes days, to see all of them. You should definitely visit both Karnak temple and Luxor temple while in Luxor. If you can only visit one temple at night, definitely choose Luxor temple.
- Abu Simbel: Abu Simbel, a temple that is located near the border with Sudan, is well worth the time. This temple is dedicated to the Ramesses II.
- Beaches: Surprisingly, Egypt has some glorious beach towns. Basically, the highlight of these beach towns is the absolutely incredible water. Clear. Hues of Turquoise. Warm. There is an abundance of diverse marine life and corals, as well. It’s a great place for swimmers, divers, ocean lovers and snorkelers.
Here's a summary of the best times to visit Egypt:
| Month | Temperature | Rainfall | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| November - March | Cooler months | Low, especially in Luxor and Aswan | Best time to visit; haze can be an issue in Cairo mornings |
| Summer Months | High, up to 40°C (104°F) or higher | Unlikely | Temperatures can be oppressive |
Transportation Tips
Navigating transportation in Egypt can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get around:
- Traffic: For one, traffic - particularly in Cairo - is absolutely horrendous. I’ve never seen traffic as bad anywhere else in the world except, maybe, my hometown of Los Angeles. Secondly, the parking situations in Egypt are not anything you’re going to want to come close to dealing with.
- Private Transport: There are pubic transportations options, however, I would recommend booking a tour that comes with a private, air conditioned car, guide and driver. If you are a very, very experienced traveler, there are quite a few public transport options available. They have a bus system and Cairo metro (a rapid transit system), taxis and even Uber. But, unless you speak a considerable amount of Arabic and also have a fair amount of extra time for navigation and transport, I don’t recommend it.
- Driving: The roads in Egypt are congested and chaotic. The streets of Cairo and Giza are so congested and chaotic that it is not worth the stress of navigating them yourself. Cars fill every available space on the road and there is no effort to paint lines on the road, since they would be ignored anyway. All the while, it is an almost constant cacophony of car horns. The horn plays a vital role in friendly communication between drivers. On the rural roads, there are security checkpoints and you need to be able to effectively communicate with the officers. Finally, the rural roads are just as crazy as the city roads, but in a different way. Congestion is lower but speeds are higher. These two-lane roads are treated as three lane roads. The center of the road is the passing lane, for both directions of traffic. That means you will play a lot of games of “chicken” with the oncoming cars.
10 Best Places to Visit in Egypt - Travel Video
Tour Guides and Safety
Consider hiring a tour guide for a more enriching and hassle-free experience:
- Benefits of a Guide: For each day of our trip in Egypt (with the exception of our day trip to Abu Simbel, which we did independently), we had a guide and a driver. This took away all of the hassles of transportation, negotiating fees for certain services, and knowing the best times to visit each place. Most unwanted occurrences will be thwarted by a knowledgeable guide.
- Safety: Never once did we feel unsafe. Yes, there is a big police and military presence. Seeing guards with rifles and driving past numerous police checkpoints on the roads can be unnerving at first. But all of this is being done to keep tourists safe. The Egyptians are some of the friendliest, most welcoming people we have met. If you stick to the main tourist areas, which include Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel, Egypt is safe. During our visit, we never felt unsafe in Egypt.
Read also: A Taste of Africa in Atlanta
Popular articles:
tags: #Egypt
