Egypt Travel Advice?

We also just got the visa at the airport. You have to pay in exact cash.  Our hotel offered a free service to have someone meet us at the airport and actually go through the buying the visa process and passport control and then gave us a ride to the hotel. It was very helpful.   We could have done it on our own, as we did the previous week when buying a visa in Turkey at the airport, but it was nice to have the additional assistance.

it was really easy... you arrive buy two stamps and put them in before the passport control. or so it was in 2004

Right, just explain this a little more detailed for me if you don't mind. DH and I, too, were thinking of a trip to Egypt and just wanted to get it all right.  So, you arrive at the airport, disembark the plane then go where to buy the visa or stamps?

Right, just explain this a little more detailed for me if you don't mind. DH and I, too, were thinking of a trip to Egypt and just wanted to get it all right.  So, you arrive at the airport, disembark the plane then go where to buy the visa or stamps?

Yes, that's it.

June

But go where to get the stamps?

Right before the passport control line is a little booth (with a ton of people pushing and crowding) around a window that says you can buy the Visa there. There will also be a large board on the side of the window that outlines the payment required depending on which country you are from and the payment amount in cash in USD/British Pounds, etc. You can't miss it!

Thank you very much!  That has been very helpful! 

Another question, how should non-Muslim women dress in Egypt?  I've heard long sleeves and long pants (and a scarf when visiting mosques)...is that true?

I didn't visit any mosques... it seemed like a very male dominated thing where we went... particularly on a Friday.

In general, if you are just around town modest dress is fine. No worries about scarves. In tourist areas you can get away with more ( less?)... i.e., resorts, sites- shorts, skirts, sleeveless tops. From my travels in Africa, I always thought I gained a little more respect by being modestly dressed.

In general, if you are just around town modest dress is fine. No worries about scarves. In tourist areas you can get away with more ( Wink less?)... i.e., resorts, sites- shorts, skirts, sleeveless tops. From my travels in Africa, I always thought I gained a little more respect by being modestly dressed.

I second that!  Also, with the hot sun, it is better to cover your skin with a light cotton anyway to protect yourself.

We didn't go to any mosques in Egypt, but we did in Turkey. I chose to wear a head scarf inside the mosque out of respect for the cultural customs, but there were women who did not have them on inside.

Ooh egypt.

I want to try and do a tour (like contiki or similar) next summer or something.

Anyone done this?

I did an overlanding one through Africa. It really depends what kind of traveller you are. Many of these organized overlanding companies really are travel with lots of drinking between campsite to campsite. Some people love it others hate it. But if it is just you, sure why not give it a shot! Have a look around because there are LOADS out there. Try to google via the UK site because I met some Canadians who had a hard time finding companies when googling from the US... so they had little option. Many of these tour operators are UK based.

oh, and summer is sweltering in Egypt

I understand clothing norms for adults but how are small children (under 5s) expected to dress?  Are shorts or sundresses acceptable for them?

Sorry, by that I mean kids who are tourists, not Egyptian children. 

For anyone interested in travelling to Egypt (or just interested in Egyptian history) I'd recommend watching the BBC series titled Egypt: Rediscovering a Lost World.  We just rented it through Amazon.co.uk and thought it was really well done.

I understand clothing norms for adults but how are small children (under 5s) expected to dress?  Are shorts or sundresses acceptable for them?

Sorry, by that I mean kids who are tourists, not Egyptian children. 

children are generally fine with their western clothes especially if you stay in the tourist areas.