Travel Tips

Arabic is the official language in Egypt and the majority of the population are of Muslim faith. Egyptian Arabic is a separate dialect from the language spoken in other Arab countries with standard Arabic as the written form used for newspapers and literature. This will usually be understood in most places but there is a colloquial dialect or 'street Arabic' which varies throughout Egypt. The difference in speech between Cairo and Luxor is very noticeable. It has been said that the three most useful words in Egyptian are:

I = insha'allah (if it is the will of God)
B = bukra (tomorrow)
M = ma'lesh (it doesn't matter)

These three words illustrate the pace of life in Egypt - where nothing is important enough to need to be done quickly! But don't worry. Egyptians have an amazing ear for languages and most people who come into contact with tourists will speak English and/or several other European languages. Even before you speak your nationality will be accurately guessed by the way you dress and walk. In the most densely populated tourist areas children from two years old will know how to say 'welcome to Egypt', 'what's your name', in lots of languages! The government is now encouraging foreign languages to be taught in schools and older children love to practice their skills.

Cairo seasonal Averages
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
56F	60	63	70	75	83	85	83	80	75	67	59
13C	15	17	21	24	28	29	28	27	24	19	15
Luxor & Aswan Seasonal Averages
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
73F	80	86	95	105	108	108	107	106	100	90	80
23C	27	30	35	40	42	42	42	41	38	32	27

Weather
A hot, dry country, the temperature of Egypt varies from North to South. Most tourists visit the country in its 'high season' - October to March. Summers are extremely hot, especially in Upper Egypt, where temperatures can easily reach up to 50 C (122 F) in June and July. The average midwinter temperature in Aswan is usually around 25 C (77 F) and 10 C (50 F) in Cairo. In the winter as soon as the sun has set it can feel very cold because of the contrast in temperature. Rainfall is quite rare in Upper Egypt, but you can expect a little rain in the winter months in Cairo and the Delta. A strong dry wind known as the Khamsin (literally 'fifty') blows in March or April for around 50 days from the Western desert, spreading fine particles of sand over everything it touches.
The best time to visit Egypt is October through May. Temperatures vary between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The nights will be cool but most days are still sunny. December through February aren't the best times for swimming in the Mediterranean though, it gets quite cold and rainy. Watch out for dust storms from March until May. If you don't mind swampy temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and want to save a little money, visit Egypt in the summer.
Check temperatures in Cairo today and next 3 dayes . http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=CAIX

What to Wear
Loose, light cotton clothing is absolutely essential especially if you are travelling in the summer. Buy some clothes while you are there, it is always fun to shop for something practical in the bazaars. It is a good idea to bring a water bottle with you, sunglasses and eyedrops for the dust when visiting the temples and pyramids.
Egypt is a Muslim country and unless you are looking to offend, please dress conservatively. When visiting churches and mosques men should not wear shorts and women should not wear shorts, mini-skirts or tank tops. In fact it is inadvisable for women to wear anything short or sleeveless unless on the beach or by a pool. It will save you some unwanted attention. This article from Journeywoman.com gives more practical advice for women travellers in Egypt.

3)What Is the procedures for A passport and visa are required?

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required. Travelers can obtain a renewable, 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport for a $15 fee, payable in U.S. dollars. Visitors arriving overland and/or those previously experiencing difficulty with their visa status in Egypt should obtain a visa prior to arrival. Travelers arriving from Israel at the Taba border crossing without an Egyptian visa may be granted a 14-day visa valid for travel within Sinai only. Military personnel arriving on commercial flights are not exempt from passport and visa requirements. Foreigners can acquire a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower and Training to work in Egypt, and accordingly are authorized residency in the country. Work permits must be obtained through the employer. Foreigners are generally not allowed to change residency status from non-working to working status while in the country. Proof of yellow fever immunization is required if arriving from an infected area. Evidence of an AIDS test is required for everyone staying over 30 days.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Egypt is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Driving in Egypt, a country with one of the highest incidences of road fatalities per miles driven in the world, is a challenge. Even seasoned residents of Cairo must use extraordinary care and situational awareness to navigate the hectic streets of the capital. Traffic rules appear to be routinely ignored by impatient drivers. Any visiting Americans thinking about driving in Cairo should carefully consider the options, take the utmost precautions, and drive defensively. Drivers should be prepared for unlit vehicles at night, few if any road markings, vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, vehicles traveling the wrong way on one-way streets, divided highways, and connecting ramps, and pedestrians constantly dodging in and out of traffic and a variety of animals. Most traffic lights in Cairo appear not to function, but rather are staffed by policemen who use subtle finger movements to indicate which cars may move. Pedestrians should also exercise extreme caution when traversing roadways, especially in high-volume/high-velocity streets like Cairo's Corniche, which follows the east bank of the Nile River. Motorists in Egypt should be especially cautious during the rare winter rains, which can cause extremely slippery road surfaces or localized flooding.

Options to avoid driving include ubiquitous, inexpensive, and relatively safe taxis. Public mini- and micro-buses are not safe; the Embassy strongly recommends that its personnel not use them. Travel outside of Cairo is safer because of the decreased intensity of the traffic, but unmarked roads, stray animals, and other hazards can pose a challenge, especially at night. Disabled vehicles without lights or reflectors are among the many hazards that can be encountered on highway travel lanes after dark. Embassy personnel in Egypt are prohibited from traveling outside Cairo on official business after sunset. Intercity roads are generally in good condition. Some roads, especially in the Sinai and southeastern part of the country, are off-limits to foreigners. Traffic warning signs should be respected.

5) What About Medical Facilities And Health Information ?

Western-trained medical professionals in Egypt. There are many of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. Medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in tourist areas. Emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. Facilities outside Cairo, Alexandria, and Sharm El Sheikh fall short of U.S. standards. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner of uncertain qualification. Hospital facilities in Luxor and Aswan are inadequate, and they are nonexistent at most other ports-of-call.

Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are generally unpolluted. Persons who swim in the Nile or its canals, walk barefoot in stagnant water, or drink untreated water are at risk of exposure to bacterial and other infections and the parasitic disease schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

It is generally safe to eat properly prepared, thoroughly cooked meat and vegetables in tourist hotels, on Nile cruise boats, and in tourist restaurants. Eating uncooked vegetables should be avoided. Tap water is not potable. It is best to drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Well-known brands of bottled beverages are generally considered to be safe.

Egypt is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2) and operates Daylight Savings Time (+1 hour) from the last Friday in April until the last Friday in September.

The electricity current is 220 volts, 50 Hz, North American travelers are advised to bring a converter, sockets are designed for round pronged plugs, if you are coming from the UK, you will need an adaptor for your plugs.

The power plugs used in Egypt are 220 volts. if you are coming from a country using 110 please don't forget to bring you converter, the socket pins in the wall are the two holes type !

To call any countries outside Egypt, dial your country code and then your city code and number.
To call Egypt from abroad dial 002.
If you have friends calling you from the North America or Australia while you are in Egypt, tell them to dial 011 before dialing country code and city code.

The best and the cheapest time to place your call is after 8:00 PM. If you wish to make an international call simply buy a Mena-Tel card, ( will Cost you about 20 LE) It should give you around 3 minutes of calling time to any place in the world. You may make the call from the many the yellow phone box cabin in the streets around your hotel .

-If you wish to purchase a mobile phone for your visit, Both Mobinil and Egypt Voda vone offer a Tourist line for only 60 LE, it will give you an Egyptian number so that you can make phone calls and your friends and family can reach you and it would save the Roaming charges.

10) What Are International airports In Egypt ?

Cairo International (CAI), 24km (15 miles) northeast of the city at Heliopolis (travel time – 1 hour). There are bus services every 30 minutes, and taxis are available. Special limousines are offered by local and international operators. Hotel cars may also be available. Airport facilities include incoming and outgoing duty-free shops selling a wide range of goods, several car hire firms, post office, bank/bureau de change, restaurants and bar, hotel reservation service, souvenir shops, bookshop and travel insurance services.
Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the main international airport for Alexandria. It lies 60 km (37 miles) southwest of Alexandria. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, bank and exchange services, VIP lounge, post office and restaurant.
Luxor Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from Luxor. There is a regular bus service to the city center (travel time – 15 minutes). Special limousine and local taxi services are available. Airport facilities include car hire, bank and exchange services, and a bar and restaurant. Improvement works have taken place and are expected to continue to meet the increasing flow of tourists.

11) What Are Ways To Internal Travel ?

Air
Egypt Air operates daily flights between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Hurghada. For information on schedules, contact local offices or see online (website: www.egyptair.com.eg). Air Sinai operates services from Cairo to Eilat, El Arish, Hurghada, Luxor, Ras El Nakab, St Catherine, Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba.

Sea/River
There are slow and fast ferry services linking Hurghada with Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai. Slow ferries operate daily on Mon, Wed, Fri (travel time – five to six hours). Fast ferries operate daily on Mon, Tues and Sat (travel time – one hour 30 minutes). The traditional Nile sailing boats, feluccas, can be hired by the hour for relaxed sailing on the Nile. Regular Nile cruises operate between Luxor and Aswan, and sometimes between Cairo and Aswan, usually for the following periods: four nights, five days (standard tour); six nights, seven days (extended tour), and 14 nights, 15 days (full Nile cruise). There are over 160 individually owned boats of all categories operating on the Nile.

Rail
A comprehensive rail network run by Egyptian State Railways offering a high standard of service is operated along an east–west axis from Sallom on the Libyan border to Alexandria and Cairo, and along the Nile to Luxor and Aswan. There are also links to Port Said and Suez. There are frequent trains from Cairo to Alexandria, and also several luxury air-conditioned day and night trains with sleeping and restaurant cars from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan for the Nile Valley tourist trade. For the overnight train, bookings should be made one week in advance through New Star Tours agency On Egyptian state railways, children under four years travel free. Children aged four to nine years pay half fare. Holders of Youth Hostel cards can get reductions. For details of other possible reductions, contact the Tourist Office.

Road
Traffic drives on the right. Besides the Nile Valley and Delta, which hold an extensive road network, there are paved roads along the Mediterranean and African Red Sea coasts. The road looping through the Western Desert oases from Asyut to Giza is now fully paved. The speed limit is usually 90kph (56mph) on motorways and 100kph (62mph) on the desert motorway from Cairo to Alexandria (there are substantial fines for speeding). Private motoring in the desert regions is not recommended without suitable vehicles and a guide. For more details, contact the Egyptian Automobile Club in Cairo. Bus: The national bus system serves the Nile Valley and the coastal road. Main routes are from Cairo to St Catherine, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Ras Sudr, El-Tour, Taba and Rafah; from Suez to El-Tour and Sharm el-Sheikh; and from Sharm el-Sheikh to Taba, Neweiba, El-Tour, Dahab and St Catherine. Coach services operate between Cairo and Agami, Marakia-Mrabila, Marina-Aidda Sidy Abd El Rahman, Matrouh, Ma’amoura Beach and Hurghada. Taxi: These are available in all the larger cities and are metered (see also Urban below). Long-distance group taxis for all destinations are cheap. Fares should be agreed in advance. Car hire: This is available through Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and local companies. The driver must be at least 25 years of age. Documentation: Visitor’s own insurance and an International Driving Permit are required to drive any motor vehicle. Carnet de Passage or a suitable deposit is necessary for the temporary import of visitor’s own vehicle. All vehicles (including motorcycles) are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher and a red hazard triangle.

12) What About Weekends and Holidays In Egypt ?

Friday is the principle day off in Egypt with many businesses and banks closed on Saturday too. Official holidays are as follows:
January 7th - Coptic Christmas
February 22nd - Union Day
April 25th - Sinai Liberation Day
May 1st - Labor Day
June 18th - Evacuation Day
July 1st - Bank Holiday
July 23rd - Revolution Day
September 11th - Coptic New Year
October 6th - ArmedForces Day
October 23rd - National Liberation Day
October 24th - Suez Victory Day
December 23rd - Victory Day

15) Where Can I Shopping In Egypt ?

Shopping in the land of Pyramids can be a wonderful experience. You may find fantastic, one-of-a-kind merchandise. You may get terrific bargains. However, we advise you to exercise care and common sense when making any purchase. Always get a formal receipt and try to pay with credit cards, which are generally accepted in most shopping stores. And remember that, just like in this country, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!
New Star Tours recommend and guarantee some particular shops or merchants, where you will be provided with a guaranteed certification. This recommendation will be advised by local tour guide.