Egypt

Re: Egypt

Sally Seddon — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:26:43 GMT

Thanks Kimbo, ooh im so excited!!

We are hopefully gonna go on a quad bike excursion and also the excursion where you go into the desert and look at the stars, cant wait

Re: Egypt

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:25:03 GMT

Hey!

I went to Sharm last June and had the best time! We didn't go to Cairo because it's quite far away. Around the hotel you are fine to wear bikini's as it's all tourists. We did go into Naama Bay which is the local town but didn't stay there very long as we got harassed loads by the shop keepers!

The hotels themselves are lovely and the staff are very keen to please. We didn't feel that we needed to tip and only tipped the guy who cleaned our room at the end of our stay.

Take some snorkelling gear because it's amazing! We only had to walk to the end of the jetty at the beach and it was like something out of finding nemo! We also hired a speedboat and saw loads of dolphins!

I would highly recommend going on a quad bike excursion into the desert as this was loads of fun and you got to see how people really live in the desert! Make sure you buy a face thing that they sell as it's really dusty!!

Hope you have an amazing time! It really was the best holiday ever and would go back!

Re: Egypt

Sally Seddon — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:52:28 GMT

Thanks for your answers folks , some good tips!

Im staying in Sharm, i cant wait.

I was wondering about clothes around the hotel, im assuming i can wear a bikini?? I always cover up with a dress or shorts/top when i wander away from my sunbed anyway, is that acceptable? Sorry for stupid questions .

Re: Egypt

Tinky — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:55:13 GMT

[quote user="Dippy"]

Regarding tips, I can't even remember what the currency in Egypt is now but they DO expect tips, as with most countries.

Look out for the mounted police charging along (on camels!) at The Pyramids

[/quote]

The currency is Egyptian pounds - you'll get a better exchange rate if you take your money out there with you. Think when we went in October we got about 7.2 to the pound in the UK, and almost 8 while we were out there... we only changed £100 before we went, and changed the rest out there as and when we needed it.

Also with the money, don't handle it without disinfecting your hands straight after, as it's very mucky and may make you poorly!! I autoclaved my currency before I left the UK too!!

Re: Egypt

Tinky — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:52:38 GMT

Where abouts are you going? I've been to various places, and am going again in May.

Be prepared to haggle for EVERYTHING! They'll try and charge you a fortune, and you can generally get them down to about a third of what they want... Most of them are very nice people though, and I love going there.

If you're going to a proper city as opposed to a tourist resort, be prepared for begging - particularly from young children. It's horrible to see, so maybe take some food from your hotel's breakfast buffet to give to them.

Re: Egypt

Dippy — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:12:43 GMT

Regarding tips, I can't even remember what the currency in Egypt is now but they DO expect tips, as with most countries.

Look out for the mounted police charging along (on camels!) at The Pyramids

Re: Egypt

Dippy — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:11:05 GMT

I went although it was 14yrs ago this year! We did a cruise on The Nile for a week and then an extension in Cairo for 4 days to take in pyramids and Egyptian Museum. Fab holiday although will be extremely hot in June! My advice is don't go anywhere without a hat and a bottle of water - we went in September which is when it just starts to cool down a little and they still wouldn't let us off the boat on excursions without both of the above (and if they say that, presumably that means they see a lot of pastey white foreigners get sunstroke!)

Dress-wise, remember that you're visiting a Muslim country and respect their ways. I know lots of people who have felt hassled in the street when they've been there with another female pal but as I was married at the time, we found them to be genuinely interested, welcoming and friendly everywhere we went. I would suggest conservative dress however unless you're in hotel grounds/on a boat as I'm sure half the reason girls get hassled is possibly lack of respect for their culture and the fact that they may not dress appropriately (ie no cleavage/tiny belt-sized mini skirts!)

Feel free to ask any other questions as not really sure exactly what you'd like to know.

Re: Egypt

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:22:28 GMT

Have never been and am very jealous but regarding the thread, it's in the Off-Duty bit, anything goes! Hope you have a fab hol x