What no one tells you about Egypt – Tips for first timers

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What no one tells you about Egypt – Tips for first timers

If you’re an adventure seeker, then, baby, buckle up. Egypt will deliver adventure alright. That, and potentially so much more. Listen. Did I love my time in Egypt? Absolutely. Would I go back again? I genuinely can’t wait to. Afterward, did I feel extremely worn? Yes. Beat up, almost. Should this deter you in going? No. Besides, even if you have all the knowledge, are aware of everything you should do and should avoid, there is still always an air of unpredictably about traversing the globe. After traveling many countries, Egypt is perhaps the most raw, real and rugged travel experience I’ve had to date. Definitely go. However, before you do, here are some essential Egypt tips for first timers.

It’s easy to get sick in Egypt

Cough, cold, flu – you name it

Emphatically, I’m going to lead with this, because this one could have the potential to really create an imposition on your trip.

Despite hearing and reading multiple times prior to embarking on my adventure that it’s, “very easy to get sick in Egypt,” if I’m being completely frank, I was incredulous.

I’ve never gotten sick on a holiday or journey before – or since. Certainly, I thought, “this must be an exaggeration.” I try to eat healthily and if nothing else, high quality. I take loads of vitamins, prioritize getting good rest and drink lots of water. Surely, I’ll be fine.

After a couple days in Cairo. Boom.

Sick as can be.

Thankfully, I didn’t have a high fever, but it was more a really horrid head cold. Mild headache, coughing, runny nose… feeling run down. Indeed, it was the pitts. I’m grateful, though, that it did not impede on any plans or make me miss out on anything scheduled. Part of that, was sheer will. I also received excellent support from my accommodation – The Fairmont Nile City in Cairo.

Instead, I focused on taking hot showers (thankfully, it was October), resting well around any planned activities, and drinking lots of EmergenC (a vitamin powder and immunity booster that I packed). The Fairmont brought me up a box of tea, on the house, which I also drank incessantly. They also did an air treatment on the room, for what that was worth.

Ways to help prevent getting sick in Egypt – Tips for first timers

I say the above words with caution. Firstly, I’m not a medical professional. Secondly, despite knowing that there is a high propensity for falling ill in Cairo and taking precautionary measures, you still might get sick. That said, I recommend consulting your personal primary care physician (or if you don’t have one, a medical professional you can trust) for their directives.

Further, though, I’d urge you to do your best to “bulk up” your immune system prior to your trip. If you can, pack vitamins, immunity boosting powders and drink lots of tea while you’re in Egypt.

I drank endless hot Egyptian mint tea while in Egypt, in addition to using a lot of peppermint essential oil that I bought at a shop in Cairo. This actually helped me tremendously. It was soothing to my respiratory and helped open up my nasal passages.

Tip: I visited in the fall. It’s an ideal time to visit in terms of moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. However, I’ve been told that the lower temperatures combined with the extreme dry air can increase your odds of getting sick in Cairo.

It’s easy to get ripped off

Pay attention, know what to expect and be vigilant

Let’s not mince words here. There are plenty of ways to be swindled in Egypt. This is another very important Egypt tip for first timers. However, instead of writing out an exhaustive list of all the potential scams you may encounter, I’d rather say this: hire a good, trustworthy guide. Most unwanted occurrences will be thwarted by a knowledgeable guide. One whom will keep you informed and, well, guide you.

Otherwise, know that this is one of the most aggressive places I’ve visited in terms of asking for tips, selling things, interrupting to try to get your attention and more.

Although, this is by no means exclusive to Egypt.

Furthermore, there are some instances where you can’t avoid the trickery. For example, in Luxor, we visited an alabaster and onyx pottery shoppe. Basically, there are no price tags on anything. You collect the things you want, they take you into a sitting room, serve you tea and then you’ll proceed to play “let’s make a deal.”

In an instance like this, there is no work around other than you deciding what you’re willing to pay. Because, when we left, I kinda wondered if we overpaid for a beautiful alabaster vase and an onyx candy dish. I love them, but did we get a fair price? I did some research when we returned home and come to find out, authentic alabaster and onyx home goods can sell for quite a pretty penny. After all negotiations were said and done, we got a good deal.

When I say be vigilant, I don’t mean be scared. I never, at any point, felt unsafe. I simply mean be prepared.

Travelers Tummy is a possibility

It might just be slight discomfort and can pass

Many travelers visit Egypt every year and do not experience travelers tummy or “Egyptian tummy bug.” Despite it being a potential occurrence, many travel to Egypt and are fine the entire time. Usually, those travelers are extremely discerning (read: unadventurous) with their cuisine during their sojourn. Markedly, I once heard a traveler share that they went to Egypt and only ate pizza. Everywhere they went. The entire trip. While that seemed to successfully circumvent travelers tummy sanction, I would not be happy doing that. Would you?

Don’t get me wrong, I love pizza as much as the next person. But, as a foodie-adventure-traveler, indulging in the local cuisine is a big part of the experience for me. Therefore, I did, in fact, experience a slight bout of “Egyptian tummy bug.” I was completely fine in Cairo, but, in Luxor, my fate took a turn.

In Cairo, except for a few meals, the majority of food I consumed was at my (high end) hotel. In Luxor, I didn’t go on a local food spree with reckless abandon, however, in hindsight, I realized fruit and fruit juices were the culprit.

Tip: Make sure to not consume or swim in fresh water in Egypt. Drink bottled water only! If you want to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.

Be prepared for tipping

Don’t forget to tip and tip in exact change

Tipping is expected. Moreover, you’ll find some aren’t coy about letting you know it, either. Coming from the USA, which has a widespread and pronounced tipping culture, this was not unusual for me.

I didn’t personally experience this, but, I’ve heard that a potential scam is not being given the correct change. Particularly, if you ask for change when tipping. Again, this is not something exclusive to Egypt. To alleviate any potential issues, try to tip exactly the amount you want to give, without requiring change.

Photography is not allowed inside the pyramids, should you decide to go inside them. There are attendants that work inside the pyramids that might offer to take a picture of you. They will expect a tip. Somehow, my husband and I got swept into getting photographed. When we went to give him a tip, he straight up said “it wasn’t enough.” So, we sheepishly gave him more (and we are very generous tippers). In hindsight, I don’t think he is supposed to be taking photos of it anyway, so make sure you avoid this entire situation when you go.

Tip: In the majority of cases, you’ll find ‘normal’ instances where someone is grateful for the tip you give them. Keep in mind, tipping is the cultural standard. Not tipping is considered rude and disrespectful. Overall, 10 -15% is pretty standard, but you can always give as much as you feel compelled.

Understand communication and cultural differences

You may encounter some things that might… surprise you?

The first thing to know, is that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Specifically, the country is about 85-90% practicing Muslim. The majority of the rest of the population are Coptic Orthodox Christians.

This is important to keep in mind for two reasons. In the Muslim religion, drinking alcohol is forbidden. That means, if you enjoy being a lush on your vacations, this is a dry country and it will not be that kind of trip. You will find that the vast majority of places do not serve alcohol, even at hotels.

The next reason, is in your attire. No matter where I travel, it is my desire and aim to respect all local customs, expectations and rules – spoken or unspoken. Thus, you’ll want to pack clothing that might be considered “conservative” by western standards. I mostly wore items that were long sleeve, flowy, long or at least shin length. I also wore head wraps and bandanas often, which is purely optional. You don’t need to feel obligated to cover your hair. But, I’d definitely avoid anything ‘revealing’ and shorts altogether.

Thumbs up and Finger pointing are offensive

Yeah, so I definitely recommend avoiding both. Also, showing the “sole of your shoe” is also considered rude. So, keep both of those feet on the ground.

Save the PDA for your hotel

Egypt is very conservative. If you’re traveling with a partner or mate, save the PDA for the privacy of your room. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. I’d avoid any intimate behavior (cuddling, kissing and even hand holding).

Some interactions might feel rude, don’t take it personal

As soon as we deplaned, we hightailed it through immigration. We were next in line to have our passport stamped, and suddenly two Egyptian men, deliberately and pointedly cut in front of us, were taken care of first and then smiled at us as they proceeded into Cairo. Welcome to Egypt.

While nothing else that obvious happened, it’s important to keep an open mind. For example, I was walking with my husband and guide and an Egyptian man kept calling to me, trying to get my attention from behind. I didn’t turn around, so he rushed to catch up with us. When he was next to me, he held up my bracelet. I had dropped it and had no idea. He handed it over to me and I profusely thanked him and he left without expecting anything in return.

Make sure to hire a Guide and Driver

This will ensure the best possible trip

If you’ll be traveling to Egypt on a large tour bus or group tour, you can skip this part. If you are traveling to Egypt independently, please know that getting around Egypt is very different than anywhere else I’ve ever visited.

For one, traffic – particularly in Cairo – is absolutely horrendous. I’ve never seen traffic as bad anywhere else in the world except, maybe, my hometown of Los Angeles.

Secondly, the parking situations in Egypt are not anything you’re going to want to come close to dealing with. There are pubic transportations options, however, I would recommend booking a tour that comes with a private, air conditioned car, guide and driver.

If you are a very, very experienced traveler, there are quite a few public transport options available. They have a bus system and Cairo metro (a rapid transit system), taxis and even Uber. But, unless you speak a considerable amount of Arabic and also have a fair amount of extra time for navigation and transport, I don’t recommend it.

Especially because booking a private tour is so reasonably priced for the value you will be receiving.

Visit both Karnak and Luxor Temple

But if you can only visit one at night, this is the one you should visit

You should definitely visit both Karnak temple and Luxor temple while in Luxor. Both are absolutely incredible sights to behold. The giant pillars at Karnak temple are surreal, and you have to do some laps around the holy scarab for luck and prosperity. However, if you can only visit one temple at night, definitely choose Luxor temple.

While Karnak temple has an entire show and performance at night that you need to pay extra for, I haven’t heard the best feedback about it. However, the energy at Luxor temple at night is palpable. It’s almost a dreamlike ambiance, one that you’ve only seen in movies or read about in books. It’s incredible.

Egypt has beautiful beaches

Stunning, crystal clear, warm waters, too

Perhaps, it’s likely that beaches aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Egypt. If that’s the case, I can hardly blame you. Whenever Egypt comes to mind, I think of pyramids, vast desert, camels and Cleopatra. Another big Egypt tip for first timers, is consider including one of the beach towns on your itinerary.

Surprisingly, Egypt has some glorious beach towns. Basically, the highlight of these beach towns is the absolutely incredible water. Clear. Hues of Turquoise. Warm. There is an abundance of diverse marine life and corals, as well. It’s a great place for swimmers, divers, ocean lovers and snorkelers.

So, after you’ve checked out the ancient cities and world renowned landmarks, a great way to close your trip is enjoy fun in the sun.

Some destinations to consider

Here are some of the popular options:

Hurghada

Dahab

Sharm el Sheik

Marsa Alam

Tip: I visited Marsa Alam. You can find out more information about what Marsa Alam has to offer: here.

Have you been to Egypt yet? Do you agree with these tips? If you have any questions about what to expect when visiting Egypt for the first time, drop them in the comments below!

Headed to Egypt?

Check these out!

Discover Amazing Things to Do in EGYPT – Cairo Edition

The Fairmont Nile City Hotel Cairo – a GREAT Place to Stay

7 Spectacular Things to do in Alexandria Egypt

How to see magical Luxor in one day

Here is the truth about glamorous Djorff Palace in Luxor

Marsa Alam Egypt: Diving with Dolphins in the Epic Red Sea

Glamping at Marsa Nakari – a unique, unforgettable Experience

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Tags: Africa, Africa Destinations, Alexandria, Cairo, Egypt, Egypt Tips, Luxor, Marsa Alam