miz

travel to Egypt in March . Cairo, cuise on Nile, Luxor, Aswan

Need some suggestions on:

1. clothing
2. footwear

3. pharmacy items

4. misc items

5. what to leave at home,what you took that was unecessary

6. where to change money, type to take

7. packing & luggage

8. what did you NOT bring you wish you had packed


Thanks

jerseysusan

Hi miz - I just returned from Egypt a few weeks ago. I'll try to answer what I can.

1. I don't know the temperature range to expect ofd hand but make sure to dress in layers. It is much cooler in the evening.

2. Bring comfortable footwear. Do not wear sandals as you will sometimes be walking in sand or on uneven dirty streets. Bear in mind the rules about covering up in Egypt.

3. We were concerned about mummy tummy but waited to buy antinol? in Cairo. It is readily available and very inexpensive. Take bug spray with you. Also take hand wipes and purell.

4. We tend to buy fragile souvenirs so we always bring bubble wrap and duct tape.

5. There is very little chance of rain so don't take an umbrella.

6. We stayed in the Cairo Marriott which had at least 2 banks in the lobby as well as several ATM machines. We were told that all banks will give you the same exchage rate. Once you get Egyptian
pounds get lots of one pound coins. They are worth about 18 cents. You can use them for tips. I brought a lot of US dollar bills with me. You can often pay for souvenirs with them. Although you can use your charge cards in many places, there are situations in which you are advised not to. We were advised not to charge in certain shops (We were on a GCT tour so our program director would advise us).

7. Try as I might I always pack too much. Yes I know all the advice.

Hope this helps, I'll post again if I think of anything else. Have a great time.

Casual_Cairo

Hand wipes, OFF bug spray and anti bacterial stuff is also available in the Pharmacies here and they will probably be less expensive here if you can get the locally made kinds.
Keep in mind that most all drugs are available here for much less than they cost in the USA and you don't need a prescription. If you need any antibiotics or whatever, see your local Pharmacist.

miz

Thanks jerseysusan & Casual_Cairo..great info!

jerseysusan did you get any vaccinations before going? I did post about that and I got a "not needed" reply but my friend told me she read that some were recommended.

I know that the "dress code" is important also so how did you manage to stay "covered" and cool at teh same time in the heat?

Elizabeth_S

There aren't mandatory vaccinations, but it is always a good idea to make sure your regular vaccines are up to date (tetanus, polio, etc) and do the Hep A/B combination.

Also we take an oral vaccine for traveler's tummy called DUK-ORAL - available in Canada by prescription. Never had a problem. If you can't do that you might consider taking Pepto Bismol tablets morning and evening while in Egypt - apparently they give your stomach a few more tools to find bacteria. (don't take the liquid - prolonged use turns your tongue temporarily black!)/

We took about $40 in US $1 dollar bills - in some places the "tip/fee" is expressly $1US.

Don't forget sunscreen!

And have a great time!

baracuda2

HI, I agree with all that's been said above but would add a few things. We brought very small lightweight flash lights to better see dark areas on tomb and temple walls. We also had a notebook to use as a diary, write down directions, record info. etc. We also took some power/nutrition bars "just in case", although the food was wonderful, we never know if we would wind up in the middle of no place. We also had a small first aid kit. Never needed it, but it made us feel better just having it.
Be sure to have a sun hat. Bring socks... your shoes and feet may get really dirty from sand and if you visit some mosques you may need to remove your shoes and you will be glad you are wearing socks.
Have a wonderful time! By the way, I had a Hep A shot before I left.

sf7307

We had NO vaccinations before we left, except for making sure our tetanus shots were up to date.

Re pharmacy items, they are really cheap in Egypt. We bought Afrin for $.60 (brand name, same size bottle as at home) and cough medicine for less than $1.00.

Before we went, people on here advised me "no shoulders, no breasts, no knees" for women, so I wore capris and a t-shirt or other short-sleeve top everywhere. For dinner, I sometimes wore a skirt or dress, however, the skirts were lined and that was a mistake because the lining was super sweat-inducing LOL! FWIW, we saw many many women in Cairo and elsewhere dressed in a manner you might consider disrespectful -- short shorts, tube tops, etc. At the Great Pyramid, we saw a woman in a bathing suit and see-through coverup!!

Money-changing: the rate is the same throughout Egypt, and it sounds like it hasn't changed since we were there in August - 5.3 LE (Egyptian pounds) to the US dollar.

We brought purse packs of hand wipes, purel and toilet paper. It was nice to have them, but we brought back more than we used!

Footwear - although the young women (my daughter and two others) and my 23-year old son all wore flip-flops everywhere, I don't recommend it at all. Some of the sites are dirt floors, lots of gravel, debris, etc. I wore a pair of washable beige Skechers with velcro straps.

Hope that helps.

Lolo12

If you usually hair conditioner, bring it because you will not likely find it in the hotels. Also, I don't like using the kind of soap/shampoo that is attached to the wall, so bring some of your own. Or, if you are in a hotel that has it, bring some for the next hotel that probably won't.
If you have a foreign hair dryer, bring it. Many hotels will have them, but sometimes they don't work or are inconveniently located.

I agree about bringing bubble wrap, flashlight, purel, pepto bismol and leaving the umbrella at home.

If you are bringing Cipro(or something similar) - keep it with you as you never know when you might need it.

When you get $ from the ATM, try to change the larger bills into smaller ones so you have pound notes for tips.

jerseysusan

Hi again miz-

I was lucky in that the weather is in the 70's in January so it was easy to dress appropriately. You should bring a hat with you to help with the sun.

I did get the Hepatitus A/B combination vaccine and a tetanus shot. My doctor thought I should take malaria pills but I decided against them.

I agree about bringing extra socks. Definately have them on when you visit a mosque. I also made sure to have a plastic bag with me that day to put our shoes in.

Again have a great time. I loved it there.

sf7307

You don't need malaria pills for Egypt unless you are going outside the main tourist destinations -- there is no malaria in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, etc.

miz

Thanks for all this great advice!
can anyone comment on:

1. clothing for the cruise ship on the Nile? Would it be any different

2.travel insurance you were happy with

3. how much luggage to take
Thanks

Elizabeth_S

Re clothing for the cruise - what boat are you on? We were on the Oberoi Philae (5 star deluxe I think) - and dress was quite casual. Obviously people wore quite casual clothes during the day for the excurions and at night slightly more dressy casual clothes. One night was a Black and White theme (about 75% of people wore b/w) and one night was a Galabaya party - Egyptian costume party - about 60% of people participated somehow from a simple as a scarf to a full robe/etc.

Lolo12

Dressing on the boat is very casual - some people did not even change from what they wore all day.

As for travel insurance - I usually use Travelex, but that has to be purchased at the time you make your original arrangements. I don't know if you have already booked your trip but you can always check with any insurer.

Luggage - all you need is one suitcase (I used a duffel) and 1 carry-on. Laundry can be done along the way. Just make sure you give yourself enough room for the treasures you will be bringing back.

frogoutofwater

I haven't been to Egypt (yet - we're going this fall), but have been to Morocco and Oman - some of my tips might apply here as well.

- A pashmina is very useful: blanket for your upper half on the plane (I keep the plane's blankets away from my face); a shawl to throw over your shoulders for warmth and to use in mosques etc; also doubles as a lightweight blanket - perfect for afternoon naps so you stay comfortable but not hot.

- Anywhere I travel, I also pack some blister-packed medicine as follows: immodium (as others have mentioned) but also tylenol cold and flu, antihistamine tablets (good if you react badly to bug bites or get heat rash), ibuprofen and strong cough candies. I prefer blister-packed medication because it's labelled and easier for officials to identify if they search your luggage.

- When I travel to countries with strict drug laws (e.g. Middle East, Singapore, Thailand, South America), I am careful to empty out my luggage, purse etc before I go, to make sure I don't accidentally bring along anything with codeine or other narcotics.

- In addition to cipro, I carry a prescription for the special pain killer doctors give for bladder infections - you never know.

- Clothing: While my usual summer weekend uniform is a tshirt plus capris, in places like Morocco and Oman, I prefer to wear an untucked button front shirt - usually a striped, 3/4 sleeve wrinkle-resistant or seersucker shirt (LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Land's End, etc). I do so for two reasons. First, I have been told that in countries like Morocco, Oman, Egypt etc, the local population perceives tshirts to be the equivalent of underwear - so a button front shirt is more modest. Second, I realized that the button front shirts were a lot more comfortable in the heat than sweaty, heavy knit tshirts.

italybound01

Excellent tips posted here!

Don't bring traveller's cheques--they are a pain to convert.

It can get awfully cool at the night or early morning. I took the first flight out to Abu Simbel to see the sunrise. I thought being so close to the Sudan border that it would be warm. We were freezing!

Pick up Antinal as soon as you get there at a local pharmacy. $1 US and it works!!

Definitely bring your own stash of toilet paper so you are not at the mercy of the washroom attendants who dispense you only a few squares of toilet paper.

And I completely agree with the other poster about bringing snacks from home: power bars, granola bars, etc. Sometimes when you are busy sightseeing you don't have time to stop to eat so it's a lifesaver!

Have fun!
Sue

Lolo12

You don't have to bring toilet paper from home - just take a stash from your hotel. It's good to have some of your own with you.

sf7307

However, Charmin makes little travel packs of tp and toilet seat covers that I found quite convenient to carry.

http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=7354

Leslie_S

Not much I can add - you've gotten great tips already. I used Travel Insured and they quickly reimbursed me(& with no questions asked)for one doctor's bill I paid in Egypt -- which was on a very unofficial looking receipt so I had worried it would be denied.

One good site to look at is tripinsurancestore dot com. They have major insurers and you can plug in info about your trip and get side by side comparisons of policies & prices. Very helpful staff also. You can buy online or by directly calling the insurance companies themselves.

I did wear sandals at times but on any of the days you're in the desert you would want closed shoes. Altho' I did see one woman in stillettos at the pyramids - I'm not kidding!

I second the vote for picking up Antinal the first time you pass a drugstore - super cheap and works perfectly on their particular bugs.

Agree also that 3/4 sleeve button-front cotton shirts are the way to go. You are much cooler with your skin covered out in the sun rather than roasting it in short-sleeves.

Have a great trip!

TMP

We traveled to Egypt in March of 2008. The weather was fine, not too hot during the days and cooler in the evening.

Off bug spray is a must, especially when you get around Edfu.

When you start your crusie, you will notice that it is hotter than it was in Cairo. The air is very dry and March is a time for sand storms. If you have any issues with sinuses, bring along a saline nasal spray and pack your sinus meds & bring some cough drops! Everyone on our tour had some form of sinus/allergy/throat issue by the end of the cruise.

If you use washcloths, you may want to pack a few. We stayed at the Nile Hilton and were on the M/S Ramadis cruise ship, and washcloths were in short supply at both places. I brought along a bunch of cheapies I bought at K-Mart. We laughed, because every day when they made up the room, the wash cloth I had out disappeared, never to be seen again!

Laundry service was available at the hotel and I had the pants & shirt I wore on the plane laundered for the return plane ride home and spent about $8.00 (USA) My wife and I also washed out several outfits during the trip (little bottles of travel size Tide at K-Mart), so we each had a large suitcase and a carry on for the plane.

I second the suggestion of bringing along snack bars, especially when you have long days at the Valley of the Kings and Luxor/Karnak. My stash of Hot Tamales and Sour Patch Kids was a life saver when I needed a sugar rush for more energy!

We exchanged money at our hotel and the exchange rate was a fair one. Not sure if you are on a tour, but we arranged a sightseeing trip to the laser light show at the pyramids (loved it) our first night in Cairo through a travel agency inside the hotel. The trip was half the cost that our tour company wanted for the same trip.

UNSOLICITED RECCOMENDATION: When in Cairo go to the restaurant "Abou Tarek" for kushari, a wonderful Egyptian dish. We arranged a taxi ride to the restaurant through our hotel and had some of the best laughs and food of our trip!

Enjoy Egypt!

miz

What are we NOT allowed to bring back to the USA?

Also the financial limitation for customs?

Best book to get/take (Rick Steves maybe?)

Have you ever stayed?
Le Passage Heliopolis Hotel
Sofitel El Gezirah Hotel,Cairo
Cruise Ship Sonesta Moon Goddess