Arguably, one of my favorite things about traveling is doing the research beforehand on the location that I’m going to. I LOVE to read about new places and figure out an “itinerary” for each trip. Trust me, I also like spontaneity; but I loathe wasting time figuring out what to do, where to go, or running the risk of an activity I’m interested in being booked up already. So, I will spend hours and hours reading blogs, reviews, scrolling through Airbnbs, figuring out transportation, etc. I like to be as prepared as possible! But don’t worry, though it sounds like I’m a control freak, I promise I’m not; I also always leave “blank” days with no plans so that we are free to do whatever we feel like!
But I’ll be the first to admit; despite all the time I spent doing my research for this trip, none of it FULLY prepared me for Egypt.
Egypt still surprised me in many, many ways. Some good, some bad. So, if you’re like me and want to be somewhat prepared to face things you may not see in other blogs, keep reading! I’m going to be sharing things you should know before visiting this history-rich part of the world, some of which I knew prior and some that I had to discover on my own.
- Don’t trust anyone.
I hate to say it, but it’s true. We had not one, but TWO hotels, “forget” to come pick us up. I had arranged transport weeks in advance and had sent reminders what times our flights would arrive, and they still did not show (I even called both places while waiting to ask where they were and they informed me they had forgotten), which resulted in us having to haggle taxi prices (they really like to over-charge tourists, and I’m not the type to agree to the first price they give).
There are Ubers (which I’m told are very affordable and the drivers don’t bug you at all) in Egypt as well but it was so overwhelming with all the people bothering us that we did not want to wait and be harassed any longer than we had to be, plus having to find them in the airport-chaos didn’t sound fun. Of course, this is not the case for all hotels as we seen several picking up other people, just be aware it’s a possibility and be ready to figure out another option. I will say that the hotel in Luxor seemed much more apologetic about it and actually paid me back for the cost of the taxi, so that was appreciative!
- Speaking of being harassed…you will be. Everywhere. You. Go!
To the point it will drive you a bit insane. At the airport, at historical sites, on the street, doesn’t matter. People will get in your face and try to sell you something. I had been warned about it beforehand, but wasn’t too concerned because I’ve been harassed in other countries before, but this is way worse. They will literally follow you, no matter how many times you tell them no. The ONLY way to get them to quit is to be very, very stern…almost rude, honestly. If you aren’t, it will continue. While at the pyramids, our guide gave us some time to walk around on our own. Unfortunately, when you’re by yourself, you’re more of a target. While trying to take a photo we had a man literally walk in front of us and ruin the shot multiple times because he was trying to get us to pay to ride on his camel, and no matter how many times we moved away and told him no, he kept doing it.
Then, when we were walking around the corner from our hotel to pick up a pizza, a man was harassing my dad about buying a necklace. My dad tried multiple times to politely tell him no but he just wouldn’t leave us alone. I finally had enough and turned around and screamed “NO!” right in his face and he left us alone. My dad still says that he is “pretty sure a demon possessed me” when I did that because apparently my face was scary, haha! And these are just a FEW examples! Hopefully you’re getting the point now! I truthfully really hated being this way because I love visiting new countries, meeting locals, learning about their cultures, etc. but at times it really threatened to ruin our experience. Of course, we also met a lot of wonderful people on our trip and I’m very thankful for them, but dealing with all of it was mentally and physically exhausting.
- Tips are expected for absolutely everything.
And I mean everything. Holding open a door…taking your photo…heck, outside every public restroom we saw, there was a person standing there with their hand out for money before you could even go inside! The best thing to do is assume that nothing is free, no matter what they say. Keep change and small bills on you for this purpose. However, PLEASE don’t feel like a tip is a requirement for everything; be brave enough to say no! While we were walking to our taxi in Luxor, a man literally came up and ripped our luggage from our hands and carried it not even 10 feet, even after we tried to tell him no and take our luggage back, then demanded a tip for his “service”. He was not very happy when I told him I was not tipping for a service that I was clear that I had not wanted, and shut the door in his face. He then went to the OTHER side of the car and stuck his hand out to my dad, who told him the same thing. I felt bad but we were exhausted from lack of sleep & the heat, and when I say no, I mean it.
If you do feel like a tip is deserved, we found that they seemed to actually prefer receiving U.S. money vs. EGP (Egyptian Pound) because it is worth more. I suggest googling the exchange rate and keeping a tab open to be able to quickly convert prices to make sure you’re paying appropriately. Also, remember that money in general is worth a lot more to them. An average yearly salary for some of them is only $8,000 USD a year! We made sure that when we felt like a service was worth it, we tipped well. $1-$5 to us may not seem like much but to them it is. We typically did $1 for toilet attendants, $5 for taxis or luggage carriers, and up to $20 to the guide after a full day tour.
- I know it costs extra, but a tour guide is worth it.
I usually read blogs from other travelers to decide if an activity is something I can plan and manage on my own, and I’m so glad I took the advice of getting a private tour guide for everything we did. Not only will they pick you up and drop you off, but you’ll also typically get to skip all the lines and learn so much more about what you’re seeing than you would from just reading signs! Such as hieroglyphics, for example. Obviously, I can’t read them, but a tour guide will be able to tell you what they mean. They are also handy to have for translation purposes, and a GOOD one will help keep people from harassing you and make sure you’re not overpaying for souvenirs (one even helped me haggle the price of a t-shirt!).
But you also need to be aware that not all guides are good. Part of your tours will usually include visiting government-owned stores to learn more about history and have a chance to buy authentic Egyptian products, which can be really cool. We got to test out different oils and perfumes, see Egyptian cotton, learn how papyrus paper is made, and help carve a vase out of alabaster. And some of them…will take you places you don’t want to go. For instance, on our first day, our tour guide had a cool bracelet with his name spelled in hieroglyphics. He asked me if I liked it, and I politely stated that I did, and next thing I know, he whisked us off to his friend’s store for me to buy one! And all I had said was that I liked it! They were quite expensive ($65) and I told him that it was out of my price range and even in the U.S. I would not buy myself jewelry that costs that much. He was VERY offended, to the point he barely spoke to us for the rest of the time, and chided me saying I “didn’t understand the quality and shouldn’t have told him that I liked it if I wasn’t going to buy one”. He was the only guide we had issues with being pushy, because after our experience with him, we made it very clear with our other guides that we were not interested in being forced into buying anything.
- They drive crazy!
We saw very few roads with lines on them, so people just weave in and out wherever they please, and at whatever speed they please too! Bring some motion sickness medication, wear your seat belt, and DON’T rent a car is the best advice I can give you. And be prepared for lots of bumps!
Also keep in mind that most places aren’t like the U.S. where there are gas stations/rest stops everywhere. Most of Egypt lives along the Nile, so during our 4 hour ride from Luxor to Marsa Alam, our view pretty much consisted of sand and rocks. I regret not taking the bathroom break when our driver offered it because I came dangerously close to peeing my pants!
- We felt safe…but that doesn’t mean it IS safe.
I had a lot of people ask me after we got home whether or not I felt safe. Truthfully, yes! We never had a moment where we felt we were in danger, just annoyed from being harassed as I mentioned earlier. Egypt takes safety very seriously because they want tourists to be comfortable coming here.
I wasn’t aware beforehand of just how seriously they take it though! We frequently had to stop at check points along the road where our driver would have to show their license and explain where we were going. Many times, these checkpoints were military personnel with guns and ballistic shields. To get into some locations, they will even inspect your vehicle and walk around it with bomb-sniffing dogs. Almost everywhere required going through metal detectors and being patted down, and in the airports, you’ll even go through security twice (before checking your bags at the counter and then again afterwards). This seemed to shock a lot of people that I told, but these efforts made me feel so much safer.
Egypt has a history with terrorism and it made me grateful to see them doing everything they can to prevent it. However, I want to add that it doesn’t mean it IS safe. They clearly have all these precautions in place for a reason. As with anywhere, you should be cautious and aware of your surroundings at all times, and hold on to your valuables. No country is perfect and you’re at risk everywhere you go. In fact, I frequently tell people that the only time I’ve actually felt in danger, was in the United States! Don’t let stories and the news deter you from seeing the world.
- Dress respectfully.
Personally, I chose to follow other’s advice and wear appropriate clothing that covered my knees & shoulders (until we got to the resort on the Red Sea where it was more acceptable). However, we saw a lot of people NOT doing this. It is definitely not a requirement so feel free to wear whatever you want I suppose, just be aware it can be offensive to some people or considered disrespectful and at some of the historical sites you may not even be allowed entry. Egypt may be more progressive than it used to be, but it is still a Muslim country, so try to be modest.
I found that long, lightweight dresses were the most comfortable item to wear, especially in the heat (even though a taxi driver told me I looked like a farmer in them, haha!). For men it is acceptable to wear knee-length shorts and t-shirts. We were definitely careful not to wear any logos or patterns that could possibly be perceived as disrespectful as well (camouflage, religion, flags, etc.)
- Not all sites are worth the extra fee.
Even after paying the entrance fee for some locations, you may still have to pay another fee to see certain parts of a site. For instance, it costs extra to go inside the Great Pyramid in Cairo. Our guide was very honest with us that there is truthfully nothing worth seeing inside of it, and since we had been inside Saqqara the day before (which was incredible), she recommended we skip it.
Same goes for King Tut’s tomb and his mummy in Valley of the Kings. He is only famous because his tomb was the only one discovered that hadn’t been robbed yet. His tomb itself is very tiny and not well decorated. If you have never seen a mummy before, sure, go ahead and pay extra. Since we saw some at the museum already, our guide told us not to waste our time and visit other tombs instead.
- It is hot. Like really, really hot.
And we were even visiting during the “cooler” time of the year! Make sure you stay hydrated, eat well, wear loose/breathable clothing, and stand in the shade as much as you can. It is the type of dry heat that sucks the life out of you very quickly, sometimes before you even realize what is happening. My dad almost passed out in Luxor due to it! Thankfully our guide had an umbrella and frozen water bottles and we were able to make it the rest of the day. Try to visit during October-March unless you want to fry yourself in the summer heat.
- You don’t need a Visa beforehand.
Contrary to popular beliefs, a passport is not the only thing you need to visit other countries. Many require a Visa, a conditional authorization granted to a foreigner to allow entry from the country itself. While you can apply online beforehand, it isn’t necessary. There is a place in the airport (I believe either right before or after baggage claim) where you can get one in person within minutes. They are $25 cash (you need EXACT change in USD, I knew this beforehand and had already stuck it in our passports so it was ready) and last for 30 days. Make sure you get it before going through Egyptian customs, as many people didn’t know they needed one and waited in line just to have to backtrack and go get it before getting in line again.
11. Egypt is more than just a desert!
Yes, it’s true. Most people associate Egypt with miles of sand, camels, the pyramids, etc. However, Egypt has shores along not one, but TWO large bodies of water; the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea! Believe it or not, the main reason for our trip was to actually spend the last half of it diving in Marsa Alam, which is along the Red Sea. The diving is absolutely fantastic and the water is beautiful, making it a great vacation destination for much of Europe. Spending the last few days at a resort along the beach was the perfect way to end our trip! Also, you can’t forget the Nile River. As the longest river in the world, the lands along it are extremely fertile, making many areas lush and green and perfect for farming.
Egypt is truly an incredible place and I hope parts of this blog post didn’t deter you from visiting. Was it my favorite country ever? Truthfully, no. But I gave it a fair chance and loved it nonetheless and would definitely still return someday. Egypt is working on becoming a place people want to visit, and I’m proud of them for putting in the effort and continuing to make improvements. I highly recommend you make a trip over someday because it’s worth it! If you’ve been before and have any other tips you would like to add, please leave them in the comments because I’d love to save them for next time! Thanks for reading!
Fun read! Thanks for sharing! Hoping to go someday