Travel to Egypt; advice on guides and such?

July 4, 2009 3:23 PM

Travelling to Egypt from the UK next week; any advice for someone who's never been before? Specifically; "gifts" for the kids rather than "tips", and hiring a guide for a day.

My girlfriend and I are travelling to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt next week. We're going all-inclusive and won't be taking much cash with us.

First, I hear that there are often kids around who pester for "tips" and try to "befriend" you. Many websites say that you shouldn't give them money, and one suggested "gifts" instead such as pens. I'm wondering whether there's anything I can bring from the UK that would be small, reasonably cheap, and would be really appreciated by these kids.

Secondly, we're quite keen on seeing the Valley of the Kings and don't want to get ripped-off by the Hotel/Rep. We're happy "going it alone" in Spain and Greece but Egypt is new to us. The websites recommend getting a guide and/or taxi-driver for the day, but don't give much more information about how to obtain one. Any thoughts you could provide would be great!

Also, if there's anything else that comes to mind advice-wise that you can give us from your own experiences in the region we'd be very grateful!

posted by refactored to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

Oh, just as an addition; we're not too bothered about visiting the mosques. I'm sure they're lovely, but they don't really appeal to us.
posted by refactored at 3:34 PM on July 4

Just out of curiousity, are you planning on flying to Valley of the Kings - you aren't going to Valley of the Kings for a day unless you fly there and back. It's about 16 hours drive, or alternatively, a three-hour ferry trip and a 5 hour drive (the ferry often only runs once a day, and is cancelled about 70% of the time. It's also about 8 hours to Cairo if you're thinking about the pyramids. You can day trip to Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's monastery but be warned, despite what your hotel might tell you the climb is not that easy, and it can be chilly at the top, even in the summer. You won't see much in the way of mosques or other islamic architecture, so it's a good thing you don't really want to visit those.

Don't worry too much about the kids - frankly Sharm el Sheikh is very touristy resort town, and you won't see that many locals unless you make a real effort to. If you do go into more local areas, they aren't that big a deal - don't bother with pens (most just sell them anyway), most like sweets and cookies, or if you don't want to rot their teeth, even little flag pins or patches. Be warned though, as soon as you give something to one, every child within 100m will be over for their share so don't do it if there are many around.

Because it's Sharm, there won't really be much in the way of culture shock - frankly it's a very different experience from the rest of Egypt.
posted by scrute at 4:02 PM on July 4

Forgot the best part! What's really worth doing in Sharm is the diving and-or snorkelling. The reefs are amazing and the water clarity in the Red Sea is amongst the highest in the world so if diving isn't your thing, no worries, the snorkelling provides just as much (if not more) bang for your buck!
posted by scrute at 4:04 PM on July 4

Don't know if it applies for Egypt, but in Asia I'd start each morning in the market, buy a bunch of fruit (usually bananas) and hand those out.
posted by furtive at 4:05 PM on July 4 [1 favorite has favorites]

Dates/Figs would come to mind, or those delicious little arab pastry/cookies.
posted by furtive at 4:05 PM on July 4

from the UK ? bring POLO mints or Fruit Pastilles.

As for Sharm, it's NOTHING like the rest of Egypt. Start the evening off at dinner at the Buddha Bar / Lounge, then dance the night away at Pasha Club sister club to Pasha in Ibiza.

Seeing the Valley of the kings while being based in Sharm is really not practical. Luxor is a long way away. But if ou do make it there I recommend Hot Air Ballooning at dawn over the valley. I used Hod-Hod, They were good. Then joining a tour later that day would be the best bet. Unless you speak Arabic, it will be difficult to find a RELIABLE driver. Although it will cost more, hiring a tour guide / company will result in a much more satisfying experience.

I spent 3 weeks in Egypt, as a guest of a friend who's family is friends with the prime minister and had lots of political clout and contacts, doors closed to others magically opened for us, and I still found it the MOST ANNOYING and FRUSTRATING country to travel in. Example; Staying at a 5 star hotel, I went to the front desk to change a large note for some smaller ones as you have to tip EVERYONE in Egypt. The clerk refused and directed me to the next person over who was standing a foot away. this person was apparently the cashier. Fine. I hand over the note and even though the clerk had heard my request I had to patiently explain once again what I needed. To which I was told to go to the bank. All this at 4am as I was checking out to catch an early flight. All this to change the equivalent of 5 bucks. When I threw my arms up in frustration and asked quite loudly I admit that I just wanted change to tip the doorman and why was it so hard to get change from the cashier, she relented and provided the change.

Another time in a different hotel I wanted a croissant from the hotel cafe. The waiter then explained that he couldn't sell me one as they were for the making of sandwiches. I politely explained that I would pay for a sandwich and just take the croissant. He had to make a phone call and I got my croissant about 30 minutes later. The next day, I tried again and the waiter couldn't get his head around the idea of me wanting just a croissant, and in the end refused to sell me a sandwich or croissant.

I also took a cruise down the Nile and it took 2 days of sitting in the travel agent's offices to get the booking done even though all the arrangements had been made and paid for beforehand via internet and my friend's personal secretary prior to our arrival in country.

Anecdotal yes, but these left a bad taste in my mouth.

Egypt ? Nice place to visit. Once.
posted by dawdle at 11:00 PM on July 4

Please, please do not be just giving out money, candy, toys, or whatever crap you can carry a couple hundred of. This type of activity discourages independence, entrepreneurship, etc... In lieu of repeating myself verbatim, just check out my and others` comments in a previous thread.

If you HAVE TO give them something to feel somehow less guilty, make it something that you can buy there, generates little trash, and will encourage interaction. If you can take their picture and show or give it to them, that is most awesome.
posted by whatzit at 5:24 AM on July 5 [1 favorite has favorites]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I checked out our location on Google Earth, and it looks like the Valley of the Kings is out, at least for this trip.

As for the kids, we'll take the advice on board and try injecting the cash into the economy rather than sweets/pens/etc. I think we'll likely only take one or two days out of the hotel anyway.

Additional question:
Should we have innoculations done before we go, and should we worry about mosquitos?
posted by refactored at 11:53 PM on July 5

The only innoculations you need are your Polio/tetanus booster (both are common in the country) and typhoid. Ignore anyone who says there is a malaria risk - it only occurs sporadically in an isolated, distant (relative to you) area of the country. There will be mosquitos, but they don't carry anything that you need to be alarmed about.

I worked with tourists in Egypt for two years - feel free to mefi mail me if you have other questions.

And for the record, I disagree with dawdle - Egypt is an amazing place to visit and work, but if you go into it thinking that things are going to work the same as they do at home, you will be endlessly frustrated. It's a developing country - cut them some slack.
posted by scrute at 11:26 AM on July 6