Is Egypt Safe for American Family Travelers?
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:12 AM
#61
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I NEVER had a gun pointed at me. I never felt threatened by any of the guards with guns or any of the people.
I felt safe in our Cairo suburb, in downtown Cairo, in the resort areas, and out in the middle of the desert.
I felt safe in our Cairo suburb, in downtown Cairo, in the resort areas, and out in the middle of the desert.
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:16 AM
#62
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I have holidayed in Egypt for the last 3 years and will certainly do so again.
I've never had any concerns about visiting.
Nor have I ever had guns pointed at me by security staff - or anyone else.
Steve
I've never had any concerns about visiting.
Nor have I ever had guns pointed at me by security staff - or anyone else.
Steve
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:30 AM
#63
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Let me tell you how it was in 2007.
Actually you can have a nice holiday in the resort. The resort, a few km away from Safaga was about 500m away from the main road, accessibly through two small roads which were secured by two bunkers with, I think, about 5 soldiers each (I counted the guns). You must walk through their range of fire, if you want to leave the resort.
The side of the roads were secured with barb wire, the roads itself had a mechanism to slit tyres and concrete blocks to prevent breaktroughs. On the seafront, the area is alight at night from a larger structure close to the town, guarded by soldiers to.
I do believe once you reach your resort, you can have a nice stay there. The food was GREAT. Just I don't like very much living in a fortress.
Roadblocks and checkpoints are every few kilometers on the main road.
Actually you can have a nice holiday in the resort. The resort, a few km away from Safaga was about 500m away from the main road, accessibly through two small roads which were secured by two bunkers with, I think, about 5 soldiers each (I counted the guns). You must walk through their range of fire, if you want to leave the resort.
The side of the roads were secured with barb wire, the roads itself had a mechanism to slit tyres and concrete blocks to prevent breaktroughs. On the seafront, the area is alight at night from a larger structure close to the town, guarded by soldiers to.
I do believe once you reach your resort, you can have a nice stay there. The food was GREAT. Just I don't like very much living in a fortress.
Roadblocks and checkpoints are every few kilometers on the main road.
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:48 AM
#64
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The resorts I stayed at in Sharm (2 different ones), El Gouna and El Alamein were nothing like that at all. The hotel in Luxor did have guards by the little one-lane bridge that went to the private island, but that was it. In Sharm, we were too far away to walk to the boardwalk area in Na'ama Bay, so we took taxis. But in El Gouna is was a short, quite pleasant walk to the center of the little town.
Where else did you go/stay in Egypt? I certainly have not heard of anything that severe.
Where else did you go/stay in Egypt? I certainly have not heard of anything that severe.
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:57 AM
#65
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Things must have changed. Hurghada and Luxor a few years ago was nothing as severe like that! But I think they won't let "non security cleared" people live there anyway. (At least that goes for Hurghada).
The worst thing is that you don't have the slightest alternative not walking through the line of fire of those young soldiers. Who knows what they're up to. I don't need to put up with this s*it on a holiday!
The worst thing is that you don't have the slightest alternative not walking through the line of fire of those young soldiers. Who knows what they're up to. I don't need to put up with this s*it on a holiday!
Feb 26th, 2008, 06:03 AM
#66
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Well, I haven't been to an Egyptian beach resort in 2+ years, but 4 different families from our current location have gone to either Sharm or El Gouna (north of Hurghada) in the past year and none of them mentioned anything like that. And TRUST ME - 2 of these families are very "skittish" about that sort of thing. And one friend moved there last summer and they are at the beach resorts ALL the time. Again, no comment about that.
I don't know what resort you stayed at - but that is certainly not the norm from my experience.
I don't know what resort you stayed at - but that is certainly not the norm from my experience.
Feb 26th, 2008, 08:43 AM
#68
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I AM staying away from Egypt Grcxx3. I have nothing bad to say about it either. But if you and others keep saying it is a safer place to visit then ANY city in the USA you're either anti Amercan or out of your mind! It's is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I am sure Egypt is a safe place to visit.. In the areas that are guarded and patrolled, just not safer then an American city. Unless you are comparing an American ghetto to embassy row in Cairo? then maybe you have a point.
Feb 26th, 2008, 09:24 AM
#70
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I keep getting interrupted while trying to type posts-
New Orleans has a HORRIBLE reputation (somewhat well earned, I must admit) for crime. However, it RARELY touches the tourist crowd, with most of the crimes being drug/gang related in particular areas of the cities (areas where tourists don't go).
In Egypt, while tourists MAY have been the target of the violent attacks (as opposed to groups just trying to make a political statement) - the majority of deaths have, sadly, been Egyptians.
While I won't say that you are "safer" in Egypt than in the US, I WILL say that the chance of you being the victim of a violent crime (murder, mugging, armed robbery) is slim. It just doesn't happen much. Petty crime like pick-pocketing.. yeah, that happens. But outside of a major terrorist attack, tourists and resident alike are generally safe from the type of violent crime that plagues American cities.
Our last year in Cairo, an expat woman was murdered in our area. It was a HUGE deal. The last time that had happened had been 15+ years before. It just isn't something you worry about when you live there. On the contrary, as a resident of New Orleans, it was something I worried
about all the time.
New Orleans has a HORRIBLE reputation (somewhat well earned, I must admit) for crime. However, it RARELY touches the tourist crowd, with most of the crimes being drug/gang related in particular areas of the cities (areas where tourists don't go).
In Egypt, while tourists MAY have been the target of the violent attacks (as opposed to groups just trying to make a political statement) - the majority of deaths have, sadly, been Egyptians.
While I won't say that you are "safer" in Egypt than in the US, I WILL say that the chance of you being the victim of a violent crime (murder, mugging, armed robbery) is slim. It just doesn't happen much. Petty crime like pick-pocketing.. yeah, that happens. But outside of a major terrorist attack, tourists and resident alike are generally safe from the type of violent crime that plagues American cities.
Our last year in Cairo, an expat woman was murdered in our area. It was a HUGE deal. The last time that had happened had been 15+ years before. It just isn't something you worry about when you live there. On the contrary, as a resident of New Orleans, it was something I worried
about all the time.
Feb 26th, 2008, 09:41 AM
#71
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Guns didnīt bother me. I was there after those tourists were shot in front of the Hatsepsut (spelling?) temple. And guns were really everywhere. But I was just rather impressed, and the gun guys were smiley. In Karnak temple I watched a gun guy who in his turn watched the empty space behind the temple area. I could see that there was nobody but he really kept watch, his eyes just kept sweeping the area. No terrorist could have got past him.
Most I enjoyed the people and their hilarious sense of humour. I really laughed during that week. The funniest people I have ever met.
Most I enjoyed the people and their hilarious sense of humour. I really laughed during that week. The funniest people I have ever met.
Feb 26th, 2008, 01:59 PM
#73
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>none of them mentioned anything like that.
That may well be, because they
a) never left the hotel
b) only went on tours with a tour bus.
The hotel felt safe, because it was guarded like fort knox.
Reggs didn't show up again.
That may well be, because they
a) never left the hotel
b) only went on tours with a tour bus.
The hotel felt safe, because it was guarded like fort knox.
Reggs didn't show up again.
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:38 PM
#74
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To end the story:
When I was passing in front the machine gun nest on the first day one of the soldiers was outside, taking a break. I asked if there was a way around their "installation" and if I could pass behind it. He did understand but showed me, that the only way was to walk in front of the guns.
I went back a few meters and crossed the street to put some distance between me and them. Then I crossed again to get back to the hotel.
I wanted to avoid passing half a meter in front of a loaded MG pointing at me. Anyway this is how it happens every day, and how it happened to me!!! I didn't leave the hotel very frequently and was the only foreigner in town inspite of all the tourists in the hotel.
I'm aware that in places with only few tourists, security might not be as tight, this place however gave me the creeps.
When I was passing in front the machine gun nest on the first day one of the soldiers was outside, taking a break. I asked if there was a way around their "installation" and if I could pass behind it. He did understand but showed me, that the only way was to walk in front of the guns.
I went back a few meters and crossed the street to put some distance between me and them. Then I crossed again to get back to the hotel.
I wanted to avoid passing half a meter in front of a loaded MG pointing at me. Anyway this is how it happens every day, and how it happened to me!!! I didn't leave the hotel very frequently and was the only foreigner in town inspite of all the tourists in the hotel.
I'm aware that in places with only few tourists, security might not be as tight, this place however gave me the creeps.
Feb 26th, 2008, 05:46 PM
#75
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Again, I think you're experience is HIGHLY unusual.
My friends did leave their hotel, did see the sites without at tour (with a private guide at some times and by themselves at other times), and did very much enjoy their stay.
My friends did leave their hotel, did see the sites without at tour (with a private guide at some times and by themselves at other times), and did very much enjoy their stay.
Feb 26th, 2008, 06:05 PM
#78
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Anyway, those are the things I, logos999 experienced there in January 2007. I swear! Whatever you claim to be "highly unusual".
The food was great, the wine was diluted. ;-) The hotel staff were very helpful.
I won't be going back, because I'm really pi*sed about their "security". Tunisia is so much nicer!
I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH GUNS POINTED AT ME DURING A HOLIDAY!
If you like guns that's fine, I'm a pacifist.
The food was great, the wine was diluted. ;-) The hotel staff were very helpful.
I won't be going back, because I'm really pi*sed about their "security". Tunisia is so much nicer!
I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH GUNS POINTED AT ME DURING A HOLIDAY!
If you like guns that's fine, I'm a pacifist.
Feb 26th, 2008, 06:16 PM
#79
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Just out of curiosity -
Did you spend your whole holiday there or did you also do Cairo, Luxor, Nile cruise (the usual tourist stuff)?
How did you choose Safaga? It is not a place I ever wanted to go and is not anyplace any of the expats I know went. If someone wants a beach resort, I recommend Sharm (still not my favorite) or El Gouna.
Did you spend your whole holiday there or did you also do Cairo, Luxor, Nile cruise (the usual tourist stuff)?
How did you choose Safaga? It is not a place I ever wanted to go and is not anyplace any of the expats I know went. If someone wants a beach resort, I recommend Sharm (still not my favorite) or El Gouna.
