Planning the Perfect Trip to Egypt: Must Know Pros & Cons

Everything You need to know Before Going to Egypt

Egypt is an incredible travel destination for rich history and some of the most iconic landmarks on the planet. Millions of tourists visit every year to see the famous pyramids in Giza, the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. Before you take a trip to the African continent, there is a lot to prepare to make sure everything goes smoothly. Here’s the essential tips for your first trip to Egypt.

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Is Egypt Safe?

Just to clear up some misconceptions and put your mind at ease, Egypt is very safe, despite some negative media portrayal. As long as you stay within the big cities like Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, Aswan, etc. there is no need to worry. However, some regions like the Sinai Peninsula, the western desert, and international borders should be avoided due to terrorist activities and highly militarized zones. We traveled to many cities around the country and never felt any danger.

Planning Your Trip to Egypt

There may be many added travel bans due to the coronavirus, but Egypt is one of the few countries allowing tourism. It’s not exactly the easiest country to traverse with many areas in extreme poverty and a militarized police presence. Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare before starting the journey.

• Covid-19 PCR Test – You’ll need to printed copy of your negative PCR test results from an accredited lab taken no more than 72 hours before flight departure time. (96 Hours for travelers from North America and a few other countries)
• (October 2021 update) – Those with an accepted vaccination card are now allowed to enter without a negative covid test!
• Visa – Americans and citizens from 45 other countries will need a visa to enter Egypt. You can secure an e-visa online or at the airport upon arrival.
• Proof of Medical Insurance – No one asked for ours, but its good to have your healthcare coverage card with you just in case. No vaccinations are mandatory but there are a few that are recommended. Just try to avoid street meat when possible and only drink bottled water and you should be fine.
• Travel Insurance – In these times of increased travel uncertainty, you might want to get some travel insurance.
• Clothing – Egyptians have a very religious culture, so modest attire is recommended so you don’t stand out too much. Cover the shoulders, don’t wear shorts, and remove shoes before entering mosques or other sacred places of worship.
• Climate – Egypt is blazing hot in the summer, so it’s best to visit during winter months between October and April. You can also visit cities like El Ghouna or Hurghada along the Red Sea for a relaxing beach vacation.
• Currency – The national currency is the Egyptian Pound, but everyone would gladly accept your USD. Be sure to take out EGP from an ATM and have as many smalls bills as possible for tipping.

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Pros & Cons of Egypt

Egypt is a fascinating country to explore, but is definitely not for rookie travelers. With all the amazing landmarks comes some inconveniences to be aware of. Here’s our pros and cons of visiting Egypt.

Pros:

• Some of the best sightseeing on Earth
• The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only remaining artifacts from the 7 ancient wonders of the world
• Super cheap 5 star hotels and other lodging
• Rich history and religious culture
• Amazing Egyptian cuisine and fresh foods
• Generally very friendly people and service
• Exchange rate is great, so good buying power for USD
• Weather is always hot and almost never rains
• The price on EVERYTHING is negotiable so you can usually haggle for great prices

Cons:

• Hustlers pestering you every square inch of the city. They will relentlessly harass you to buy stuff if you so much as gaze in their direction
• Absolutely horrendous traffic. They follow no road rules whatsoever and drivers are hectically driving all over the lines with a chaotic atmosphere on every street
• Air quality is not great. There are clouds of smog around the city due to the pollution and everyone smokes cigarettes all the time
• Transportation is a hassle. Traveling between different regions of Egypt can be stressful as they will stop you at every single checkpoint. Just keep your passport on you at all times. Taking the day train from Luxor to Cairo might be one of the easiest modes for transportation though.
• Constantly having to dress conservatively. Especially when it gets extremely hot
• Foreigners are usually charged extra if not double for entry tickets, taxi rides, and souvenirs
• Its possible to get sick from contaminated food or water so there’s always an added risk in eating street food
• The tipping culture in Egypt is obsessive. You are expected to tip for pretty much anything, even someone lifting your bags into the car, room service, holding a door open, etc.

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Despite all the negative experiences, the magnificent sights of the ancient world are a good enough reason to visit Egypt. None of the cons are meant to deter anyone from planning a trip there, it just helps to be aware of these issues to mitigate any unexpected surprises. Egypt is a place like none other and I encourage everyone to experience it for themselves. So will you love Egypt? Will you hate it? If you go mentally prepared and avoid all the mistakes I made, it can become one of your favorite trips. Stay tuned for more travel content to the amazing country! Until then, thanks for reading and keep leveling up!

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