First time going to Egypt - Need some advice!

[pedro47]

What about the OP safety in Egypt ?

 

[ScoopKona]

What about the OP safety in Egypt ?

Egypt is a police state. Police states are generally safe. There was a big problem with Hamas sending terrorists across the Gaza border into Egypt to kill Western tourists -- particularly Americans. Egypt responded by closing the border.

I was there pre-2001, so the religious conservatism and extremism which swept that region wasn't there. Dress codes were about the same as southern Europe. Other than the food issues, there weren't any problems.

I've had friends go there recently -- which is why I no longer have my Lonely Planet guide. One reported no problem at all. The other met a shopkeeper who refused to touch US currency. Other than that, no worries. Standard rules apply -- don't be loud, obnoxious, wave stacks of cash in the air with one hand and a US flag with the other, while wearing a Rolex, an 8-karat diamond ring and haute couture.

 

[pedro47]

Are they still dumping garage in their streets and what about all the scammers at The Pyramids?

 

[ScoopKona]

Are they still dumping garage in their streets and what about all the scammers at The Pyramids?

Touts are easy to avoid -- don't engage. Most people are incapable of saying no and moving on. That's why there's so many touts. It's much worse in Morocco.

I always had fun with them.

"What is your country?"

"Mars!"

"Oh, I have brother in Mars. Come buy rugs!"

There simply aren't many options for the average Egyptian. Getting out is tough. Moving up in society is tough. There aren't many opportunities and competition is fierce. So people have to hustle. And lacking other opportunity, separating Western tourists from their money is a way to make a living. I never worried about it because I could leave any time I wanted.

 

[JudyH]

I was there in 2018 for 12 days and 6 in Jordan. It was 12 of us and we had a professor guide the whole time. Soo much information.
Personally I would not waste the time at a sea side resort. Too much to see. (Not a pun).

I also got Pharohs Revenge at a restaurant near the pyramids. Not sure what it was but I was the only one of us to get really sick. The night before we flew out. I took Coca Cola, Ondansetron, and my magic potion from Amazon DiaResQ Rapid Recovery formula. I swear by it. I got on that plane and all was ok.

 

[ScoopKona]

I would not waste the time at a sea side resort. Too much to see. (Not a pun).

It's some of the best scuba diving on the planet. I learned to dive there. Changed my life.

As good as all the ancient stuff is, my favorite part of Egypt is the Red Sea. I much preferred the Sinai to the rest of the country from a quality-of-life standpoint as well. Anyone who is into scuba, snorkeling, or just wants to see what Jacques Cousteau was on about should go there.

 

[dioxide45]

I've never had much desire to go to Egypt, and well, this video has basically cemented that thought. To hell with that *bleep*.

 

[SusanRN]

Whether you choose to visit any country should be determined by the political and governing situation at that time. Now is not a good time for Egypt, I imagine.
When I was there in April 1981 Anwar Sadat was in charge and the Camp David Accords had been in place for a couple of years. Everything seemed fairly calm. I was actually on one of the first commercial flights permitted to fly directly from Cairo to Tel Aviv. Then in October of that year Sadat was assassinated by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. I'm not sure there's been a good time to visit since then.
Maybe if you are still able to travel in another 10 years....there are many fascinating things to see there.

 

[pedro47]

In 2024 in Egypt Sadat is not a national hero.

 

[stmartinfan]

We didn't feel unsafe when traveling in Egypt last fall, but we were part of a group tour with a local guide and driver. But the Egyptians are clearly worried about tourist safety, after the terrible economic hit they took after a terrorist group killed some tourists at one of the destinations near Luxor.

When our bus would leave for a tour we would have a guy dressed in a suit and armed with a holstered pistol join our bus and stay with us until we went back to the hotel. It was interesting to watch him at the Pyramids, scanning all the people who were around us looking for trouble while we all gawked at the sites. The day we went to Alexandria a police car met us at the edge of town and escorted us until we left again. Every time you enter a hotel, a museum or other enclosed space, you and your bags get scanned, although it seemed pretty perfunctory without the workers really watching the screen or stopping anyone. Even when the body scanner beeped noone seemed to care!

The hawkers were busy at the Pryamids and when you leave many sites to reach the parking lot you have to run a gauntlet of venders set up with souvenirs to sell. But we generally found them friendly and willing to back off with a firm no or to negotiate if you found something you wanted to buy. One of our group did fall for the ”picture on a camel” ploy at the Pyramids (despite firm instructions from our guide not to do so because he had arranged for a camel ride later). Of course, she got stuck on the camel facing demands for a tidy sum to get put down until the security guy was able to rescue her. As you might expect she was also the one who paid way too much for the scarves everyone was hawking and other items.

I’d forgotten that we did travel with an antibiotic that helped with an attack of stomach stuff. Can't remember the name but it’s the tri-pack our international travel clinic gives us when we’re going somewhere it can be a problem.

 

[pedro47]

On our last visit to Egypt our tour guide had an armed security person on our tour bus from the time we left the ship until the time we return to the ship.,

 

[pedro47]

We didn't feel unsafe when traveling in Egypt last fall, but we were part of a group tour with a local guide and driver. But the Egyptians are clearly worried about tourist safety, after the terrible economic hit they took after a terrorist group killed some tourists at one of the destinations near Luxor.

When our bus would leave for a tour we would have a guy dressed in a suit and armed with a holstered pistol join our bus and stay with us until we went back to the hotel. It was interesting to watch him at the Pyramids, scanning all the people who were around us looking for trouble while we all gawked at the sites. The day we went to Alexandria a police car met us at the edge of town and escorted us until we left again. Every time you enter a hotel, a museum or other enclosed space, you and your bags get scanned, although it seemed pretty perfunctory without the workers really watching the screen or stopping anyone. Even when the body scanner beeped noone seemed to care!

The hawkers were busy at the Pryamids and when you leave many sites to reach the parking lot you have to run a gauntlet of venders set up with souvenirs to sell. But we generally found them friendly and willing to back off with a firm no or to negotiate if you found something you wanted to buy. One of our group did fall for the ”picture on a camel” ploy at the Pyramids (despite firm instructions from our guide not to do so because he had arranged for a camel ride later). Of course, she got stuck on the camel facing demands for a tidy sum to get put down until the security guy was able to rescue her. As you might expect she was also the one who paid way too much for the scarves everyone was hawking and other items.

I’d forgotten that we did travel with an antibiotic that helped with an attack of stomach stuff. Can't remember the name but it’s the tri-pack our international travel clinic gives us when we’re going somewhere it can be a problem.

I liked your true account of your visit to Egypt and the Pyramids. Egypt is a beautiful country full of history.

IMHO, Egypt will again play a very important role in the Middle East, just liked in biblical times.

 

[SusanRN]

In 2024 in Egypt Sadat is not a national hero.

I'm not surprised, but I won't say more because it is political

 

[ScoopKona]

\ One of our group did fall for the ”picture on a camel” ploy at the Pyramids (despite firm instructions from our guide not to do so because he had arranged for a camel ride later).

It could be worse. A group of Germans in Dahab got really, really, really wasted one night and bought a camel. Not a camel ride. A camel. They woke up the next afternoon the proud owners of a camel.

They gave everyone free rides and then sold it at a loss and flew back to Germany a few days later.

 

[ValHam]

I

 

[ValHam]

We went to Luxor for 6 nights and Cairo for 6 months and afterwards Hurgudha to rest. Fantastic - Cairo is unbelievable. We spent 2 days at the museum. Not enough time - Now I think they have built the gem museum out at the pyramids. Required more time. Stayed in Cario Marriot - Gorgeous.

 

[stmartinfan]

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) by the Pyramids is not officially open yet, but I did see they are letting people book for trial visits to limited areas. It is supposedly opening late spring, but I think there have been lots of delays. I know before we went last year there were stories in places like National Geographic highlighting it. I think they had pitched stories to those publications far in advance but then weren’t really open when they appeared in print.

 

[ValHam]

We went to Egypt last year - We spent 6 nights in Cairo and 6 nights in Luxor and 10 nights on the Red Sea - Sinai area - wonderful. We did not get sick from the food. Only ate at hotel - We stayed at Marriott - very nice and wonderful restaurants. Awesome Holiday

 

[samara64]

I've never had much desire to go to Egypt, and well, this video has basically cemented that thought. To hell with that *bleep*.

I saw the video and I do agree that security personnel is everywhere and it will go on your nerve but it is better than getting blown up or having no border security at all. Better be safe than sorry as Egypt has been through a lot. Other neighboring countries have even way more security than Egypt as you could be interrogated for hours for having the wrong name and I know of cases like that of a 21-year-old American student.

So if this group makes videos everywhere, they should know how to check the country's requirements before going there and they should know that drones are a big no-no. Also to do videos in public, a permit is required. And we are not just talking about taking some pics or videos on the street.

Also, one note about the video, most of the pictures, except for the food, are from Ethiopia, not Egypt which is weird. Looks like they were coming from Ethiopia and had more material there to use.

When I was there last in Feb 2022, I went through the security line X-RAY when leaving to return to the US. I left my wallet and glasses at the security checkpoint. I did not realize that until I went to the Airline counter and started looking for my glasses to read something. So I thought it was gone. I went back to the security line and when they saw me an officer said you left your wallet here and they had it on the desk. He handed it to me and insisted that I check the wallet's contents. Then he called in the waki-taki for someone to inform them that they located me as they put an alert at customs and passport control. I liked the service a lot and tried to give them something but they refused and wished me a safe trip.

In 2024 in Egypt Sadat is not a national hero.

In my opinion, Sadat will always be a hero in Egypt and the Middle East especially now with all that is going on. He did what others could not or would not do.

Yes, he made FATAL mistakes but still, people think positively of him in Egypt, and will always be a national hero. JMHO

 

[dioxide45]

So if this group makes videos everywhere, they should know how to check the country's requirements before going there and they should know that drones are a big no-no. Also to do videos in public, a permit is required. And we are not just talking about taking some pics or videos on the street.

I'm not sure you watched the entire video. They did state they had a permit. While they didn't get their permit to film until after arrival, even having the permit didn't allow them to get their equipment back and having the permit didn't prevent them from being hassled when filming. The did acknowledge the drone and thus why they turned it over immediately. It seems their issue was mainly with the lack of processes and controls. Egypt have no process to follow, they just keep moving you to someone else. No one wants to or has the power to make a decision and they just keep moving them along to someone else who also doesn't have power or authority to make a decision. His issue also seemed to be mainly with hotel security where they spent six hours going through their stuff. The people had no clue what the stuff was, how it worked or what to do. They have no laws or guidelines to follow. They must make it up as they go. At least based on the information provided in that video.

 

[samara64]

I'm not sure you watched the entire video. They did state they had a permit. While they didn't get their permit to film until after arrival, even having the permit didn't allow them to get their equipment back and having the permit didn't prevent them from being hassled when filming. The did acknowledge the drone and thus why they turned it over immediately. It seems their issue was mainly with the lack of processes and controls. Egypt have no process to follow, they just keep moving you to someone else. No one wants to or has the power to make a decision and they just keep moving them along to someone else who also doesn't have power or authority to make a decision. His issue also seemed to be mainly with hotel security where they spent six hours going through their stuff. The people had no clue what the stuff was, how it worked or what to do. They have no laws or guidelines to follow. They must make it up as they go. At least based on the information provided in that video.

Agree with your point.

As I said, there are issues for sure that I hate as well but I have to say it is getting better. The last 2 administrations left the country a mess for the last 30 years so a U-turn is not as easy but happening and will take time.

Just open the news and see what is going on in the region and you will understand the security risks there and why they have the guard on all the time.

 

[pedro47]

I saw the video and I do agree that security personnel is everywhere and it will go on your nerve but it is better than getting blown up or having no border security at all. Better be safe than sorry as Egypt has been through a lot. Other neighboring countries have even way more security than Egypt as you could be interrogated for hours for having the wrong name and I know of cases like that of a 21-year-old American student.

So if this group makes videos everywhere, they should know how to check the country's requirements before going there and they should know that drones are a big no-no. Also to do videos in public, a permit is required. And we are not just talking about taking some pics or videos on the street.

Also, one note about the video, most of the pictures, except for the food, are from Ethiopia, not Egypt which is weird. Looks like they were coming from Ethiopia and had more material there to use.

When I was there last in Feb 2022, I went through the security line X-RAY when leaving to return to the US. I left my wallet and glasses at the security checkpoint. I did not realize that until I went to the Airline counter and started looking for my glasses to read something. So I thought it was gone. I went back to the security line and when they saw me an officer said you left your wallet here and they had it on the desk. He handed it to me and insisted that I check the wallet's contents. Then he called in the waki-taki for someone to inform them that they located me as they put an alert at customs and passport control. I liked the service a lot and tried to give them something but they refused and wished me a safe trip.



In my opinion, Sadat will always be a hero in Egypt and the Middle East especially now with all that is going on. He did what others could not or would not do.

Yes, he made FATAL mistakes but still, people think positively of him in Egypt, and will always be a national hero. JMHO

When you visit Egypt ask your tour guide or the average citizen of Egypt how they feel about Sadat and ask them what happened to all the Sadat statues?

 

[samara64]

When you visit Egypt ask your tour guide or the average citizen of Egypt how they feel about Sadat and ask them what happened to all the Sadat statues?

Thanks, Pedro. In this day and age, I rather turn to Twitter for that.

Sadat was great for outside politics but was a disaster for politics inside Egypt. I know of people that hate him for sure. The people that he helped and got out of prisons, where Nasser rightly put them in it like the terrorist Moslim Brotherhood, killed him.