Travel Tips

People often ask for tips when travelling in Egypt. From my short experience here are some to consider:

Before you leave:

Get all your shots.
Take a first aid kit that includes prescription antibiotics, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhoea drugs. Hope you'll never need them.
Buy water purification tablets - again just in case.

Make two photocopies of passport, tickets, credit cards etc and leave one at home with someone and the other separate from the real thing.
Think about money. Don't expect to be able to use your credit card just any where - and forget EFTPOS. Changing travellers' cheques may not be that straightforward out of tourist areas - even in hotels.
Consider at least learning the Arabic symbols for the numbers.

Drink only bottled water. Yes, most of the water is "safe" to drink - but chances are your digestive system will first have to "adapt" - out of 25 of us only two escaped mild to serious problems.
"Water" includes ice and what your wash your teeth in.
Buying water at shops rather than hotels is much cheaper - just remember to check the seal. It is not unknown for empty bottles to be filled at the tap and sold.
Avoid raw vegetables - no salads - they would have been washed in local water.
Avoid fruit you don't peel yourself and water melon (skin is permeable) and oranges (can be "pumped" up with water)

I went as part of a tour - and would again. Here are some of the reasons why:

Using local transport is fraught (we have difficulty even getting a taxi without an Arabic speaker).
Although there is some English in tourist areas it is often limited.
Street signs are non-existent.
Cultural norms are different - especially if you are without a male protector.

Khan el Khalili is well worth a visit - or two. Just do not get lost!
In most places bargain - it is part of the culture and is expected and built into the offered price. No-one will sell below a price which gives some return.
However, Madame Abla doe not bargain - at least for individuals. Nor does she take credit cards. A cash deposit will be expected for custom-made costumes and expect it to take 10-15 days. Leave at least one free day after your costume is supposed to be ready in case of problems.
Meissoun has a comprehensive list of places to shop for belly dance goodies at www.meissoun.ch