Sharon's Visit to Egypt

October 2007

Page 4

TIPS FOR TRAVELING IN EGYPT

Before I left for Egypt, I did some research and got advice from friends about how to be prepared to stay healthy and comfortable while in Egypt. I'd like to pass some of that wisdom along to you, now adding my own experience.

	NEVER drink tap water anywhere in Egypt, and beware of ice cubes. This will help you avoid the most common malady for travelers: Pharaoh's Revenge!
	If you do get an attack of Pharaoh's Revenge, have your tour guide help you get the local medication as soon as it hits. It's cheap and effective.
	DO drink a lot of bottled water. Egypt is in the desert, so you lose a lot of moisture, but it evaporates, so you don't feel sweaty and may not realize how much you've lost. On a typical day of sightseeing, I downed 3 to 4 small bottles. So, carry a bottle of water with you at all times.
	DON'T eat any raw vegetables or fruits that you can't peel. Avoid salads, except in reputable hotels and cruise ships. If you have a sensitive stomach, also stay away from fruit juices.
	At buffets, pace yourself. It's tempting to try all the culinary delights, but you don't want to be out in the heat on a full stomach.
	Wash your hands often, and especially before handling food and after handling money — the one pound notes are particularly filthy (this is money that could use some laundering!). Keep moist towelettes and/or hand sanitizing gel with you at all times.
	Be prepared for sightseeing with comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. A fan can be helpful for dealing with the heat on those walks in the desert and visits to tombs. There are mosquitoes, but they're harmless and the bites heal pretty quickly. Using insect repellent didn't seem to help much, but you might want to have it handy.
	Dress modestly. It's okay to wear walking shorts and tank tops, except when going into modern holy places (where knees and shoulders should be covered), but exposing your abdomen won't go over well and might lead to some unwanted attention.
	Carry toilet paper with you at all times. Many of the public restrooms are pretty disgusting, and the attendant (who will expect a tip) will only give you maybe 10 sheets of paper. In some places, no paper was available at all. You can get compact rolls at drugstores and travel shops. You can also take a roll from home that has a depth of 1" of paper left on it. Remove the cardboard core to make it more compact. For a 2-week trip, 2 of these should suffice.
	Bring American money in small bills — $10, $5 and especially lots of $1 bills. These are readily accepted in all the areas that travelers frequent and will come in handy for small purchases and tips. A $1 bill is considered a nice tip for a hotel porter or housekeeping. Currently, $1 is worth about L.E. 5 (L.E. means Egyptian pound).
	Also, hoard L.E. 1 notes for tips to washroom attendants and others. L.E. 1 is worth about 18 - 20 cents, but remember that the average income in Egypt is considerably lower than what we expect in the U.S. and Europe, and this is considered a decent tip. For hotel housekeeping, you might want to leave L.E. 5, or about $1 a day.
	Tipping in Egypt is called "baksheesh." Just about everyone in the tourist trade (outside of the hotel) is going to want baksheesh. The motto is "tip little and often." That's where those L.E. 1 notes will come in handy. Sometimes people will ask you for baksheesh even though they haven't done anything for you; you're not obligated to tip them. Also, avoid giving baksheesh to children. Once you tip one, you'll be surrounded by a swarm of kids. Also, we were warned that some kids will skip school if they have money in their pocket, and we don't want to encourage that.
	NEVER use credit cards in markets and bazaars. Pay only cash (Egyptian or American). Only use credit cards in hotel shops, on your cruise ship, and in stores approved by your tour guide. (When in doubt, ask.)

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