Egyptian Odysseys - Egypt 101

Egypt 101

Helpful info when travelling in Egypt

Alcohol
Egypt is a predominately Muslim nation and alcoholic drinks are forbidden for strictly observant Muslims.

However many Egyptians tend to adopt a relaxed attitude towards alcohol for non-Muslims and foreigners. It is tolerated by the vast majority of Egyptians and consumed by a sizable number of them (including less strict Muslims).

All major Western hotels, tourist restaurants and resorts serve alcohol. It is recommended that one consumes alcohol in moderation whilst in Egypt as a sign of respect for local laws and customs. A glass or two of wine with dinner or a couple of beers in the afternoon on the deck of your cruise ship or in your hotel lobby are completely acceptable.

Public drunkenness however is definitely not accepted and could lead to a night sobering up on the cold floor of a local police cell.

That being said it's rare to see drunken tourists, even in the most intense tourist area.

Climate
Generally, the summers are hot and dry and the winters, moderate. October through April are the most comfortable months for travel in Egypt. From about May, the temperatures in the south can climb above the 40°C mark.

December and January are usually the coldest months of the year, although it is normally warmer the further south you go and within the bigger cities. Temperatures average between 19-24°C during the day, however can drop to below 20°C once the sun sets.

Peak °C High / Low	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Alexandria	18/28	15/24	11/20	9 /18	10/19	11/21	14/24	17/27
Cairo	18/30	12/24	10/20	9/19	10/21	11/24	14/27	17/32
Luxor	18/35	12/30	2/25	5/23	7/25	11/29	16/35	21/39
Aswan	19/37	14/30	10/20	8/24	9/26	13/30	18/36	21/39

Off Peak °C High / Low	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Alexandria	20/28	23/30	23/30	21/29
Cairo	20/35	22/35	22/35	20/23
Luxor	23/41	24/41	24/41	22/39
Aswan	24/42	25/42	25/41	22/40

Cuisine
Fabulous food! Not too hot, not too spicy and with lots of flavoursome herbs that make up a fantastic taste sensation.

Whilst on our tour cruising the Nile, all meals are catered for. This is a perfect opportunity to do some taste testing as every night there are popular Egyptian dishes on offer.

We will also provide the opportunity to eat at local restaurants along the way for more chances to sample this fine cuisine.

Currency
The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). The currency is often written as LE or by using the pound sign £.

ATMs are common place and generally the best option for obtaining Egyptian currency. All major hotels also offer good rates for exchanging currency.

1 AUD = 5.66828 EGP
1 NZD = 5.25692 EGP
* as at 9 Nov 2015 (source www.xe.com)

It’s a good idea to save as many £1 & £2 coins as possible as these are regularly needed for tipping bathroom attendants at the tourist sites.

Language
The official language of Egypt is Standard Arabic, though Egyptian Arabic is the modern Egyptian vernacular and the most widely spoken and understood colloquial variety of Arabic.

More than 90 million people, mainly in Egypt, speak it. It is used in everyday speech, comics, advertising, song lyrics, teen magazines, plays, and TV shows, but rarely in novels, newspapers, and never in news reporting, which use Modern Standard Arabic instead.

The majority of those employed in the tourism industry can speak English, so you shouldn’t have any problem communicating.

It’s always recommended to learn a few common phrases in a foreign country to get you by just in case you get stuck.

(see some helpful phrases at the bottom of the page).

Population
The approximate population of Egypt is 83 million people, with 20 million living in Cairo. The rest of the population live in rural areas and in close proximity to the Nile River as the remainder of the country is vast desert.

Religion
Up to 90% of the Egyptian population is Muslim, with the remaining 10% being Coptic Christians.

The Muslim call to prayer occurs five times a day and no matter where you are, you will hear it.

Security
Nearly everywhere you go in Egypt where there are tourists, you can find the tourist police. They are very friendly and helpful. Some with gladly show you around sites or offer to take a photo, but be warned many expect a tip.

Although the Egyptian culture is very different, the Egyptian people are kind and respectful and at this time, many will go out of their way to accommodate you because you are a tourist visiting their country post 2011 Revolution.

Smoking
Unlike Australia, it is quite common practice for people to smoke in hotel lobbies, restaurants and cafes.

Smoking is prohibited at all tourist sites.

Shisha is a common pastime of Egyptians and can be found in local open-air coffee houses along the streets. A few tables and chairs, men of all ages, backgammon boards, sipping coffee and indulging in a shisha is common place. It’s actually an Egyptian institution. And don’t be surprised to see a western tourist or two at the tables.

Tipping
Tipping is the main source of income for those working in the service and hospitality industry, as the monthly salary/wages are more often not enough to survive on.

Thus almost everyone will be looking for a tip even if they did the smallest thing. Nobody will take offence if you don’t tip; yet the tip will be appreciated when given.

Some general guidelines:

Bathroom attendants (not in government buildings/airports): LE 3
Cruises: LE 30 day, to be divided by all staff on board
Guides: LE 40 per day
Hotel bellman: LE 10 for all bags
Hotel doorman: LE 10 for services rendered (such as flagging down taxis)
Restaurants:
- In fancier restaurants, a service charge (10-12%) is added to bills, but a 5-10% tip on top of this common.
- In fast-food places, tipping is unnecessary.
Site custodians: LE5 if they do something useful for you, otherwise tipping is unnecessary.
Taxi drivers: 10% on metered fares, but not necessary if you agreed the fare in advance
Tour drivers: LE 10/day

Visas
As a major tourist destination whose economy is dependent upon tourist money, Egypt is relatively easy to enter and/or obtain visas for if necessary.

Non-Egyptian visitors arriving in Egypt are required to have a valid passport. Entry visa may be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic Bodies abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). It is, however, possible for most tourists and visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Entry Ports.

Note made 23 April 2015: There has been mention that individual visas are soon not to be granted on entry, however if you are travelling with a tour group/company a visa can be obtained. Please check with the nearest Egyptian Consulate for specific details and regulations relevant to your nationality.

Tourist Visas are usually valid for a period not exceeding 3 months and granted on a single entry basis.

Note that Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Egypt for the most up-to-date information.

As with all travel, make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

What to pack
Sunglasses, sunscreen, swimmers, thongs, scandals, shawl (for women if you want to visit a mosque), long skirts and pants, light long sleeved shirts. And a light jumper/pullover just in case.

What to wear
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Egypt, particularly for women. Away from tourist resorts, women should dress modestly with your legs and upper arms covered. You should take care not to offend. If in doubt, your tour director / facilitator will be able to advise you.

Ladies: Although there aren’t laws on what you can and can’t wear, respect for local customs is common sense. Revealing, provocative and extremely short shorts / skirts will attract unwanted attention. Shorts and skirts to the knee are acceptable whilst visiting tourist site with the group or on-board our cruise ship, but if you wish to take a trip into the local towns along the Nile, long pants/skirts and covered arms are highly recommended.

Gents: t-shirt and shorts to the knee are acceptable. Try to avoid tank shirts and shorter (stubby) style shorts.

Bring one or two smart casual outfits for evenings or just to get out of your tour clothes!

And don’t forget to pack a swimsuit, as the hotels and cruise ship have nice, warm, swimming pools.

Thongs/scandals in the warmer parts of the year are completely acceptable for anyone to wear out and about.

Water
Always drink bottled water. Avoid ice in drinks from local restaurants as well.

Western hotels and Nile Cruise ships however have proper ice making facilities and use quality filtered water.

Our tour offers complimentary bottled water every day.

Helpful phrases

hello	ah'lan
Good morning	sabah el kheir
Good bye	ma'as salaama
Yes	aywa / nam
No	la
Excuse me	an iznak / isnik /isniku (m/f/pl)
May I? / Do you mind?	mumkin?
Sorry	as-sif / as-sifa (m/f)
Please	min fadlik / min fadlak (m/f)
Thankyou	shukran
Where are the toilets?	fay nil tawaleet?
How much is it?	bikan da?
tea	shay
coffee	ah-wa
sugar	sukka
milk	labban
water	el-maa