What should I know about Egypt when I go on a trip there?

Answer 1

If you go through the valley of the kings, they take all photographic and film equipment off the tourists until they reach the end of the tour. I don't know any protocols though.

Answer 2

It is illegal to take any stone from any of the pyramids in Egypt.

Go to the "City of the Dead" (it's a dramatic name for an impoverished area that was built around graves due to a housing shortage) - there is a little shop there where they make hand blown glass. It's beautiful and the money goes directly to the people who make the glass.
In Cairo, there is a Sudanese Christian church that sells goods made by Sudanese refugees. The money goes right back to them. They are the most unique and beautiful items. It is across from the Sheraton Hotel El Gezirah Towers & Casino.

Make sure you ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS bargain.
Never take the first price.
Hint: If they refuse your price, pretend it's too expensive and start walking away. Most will give in.
Never let the shop keepers see your wallet and how much is in it. Keep one with small bills, and when you go to a shop in spend it - step outside and replace it.
Try to buy in markets instead of hotels or near hotels
Also, A LOT of the shops sell the same goods in a market, so if they are being unreasonable, you can get it for your price a few shops down.

You will be using the term (as pronounced with english phoenetics "la - shook - ron," which means "no thank you."

It is impolite for a woman to sit in the front seat of a cab. This is not backwards, it is just cultural. Do not take it as an offense.
Speaking of traffic, if you want to cross the street you will have to learn to walk into traffic.

Bring a scarf with you when visiting any religious sites. It is polite to do so, and some may now allow enterence. (Coptic Christian or Muslim).

Take the subway. Front cars are reserved for women only. It's something you have to experience!

You're going to have a great time! Wish I was going again!

Great readings
Egyptian Politics: The Dynamics of Authoritarian Rule
by Maye Kassem

Islam in Contemporary Egypt
by Denis J. Sullivan and Sana Abed-Koteb

The Yacoubian Building
by Alaa Al Aswany

Answer 3

really wonder for all those strange answers which you got, most of answers is really not serious or it is fake i can't understand.
about dressing and all that stuuf it is all belong for which area you will visit and it seem you first time plane come here so all the area which you will visit will be touristic area, so if you wear shorts on those places it is not that big probem as some said, now we gonna go to winter time and weather is really fantastic those days special here in the south, so it could be warm for you at day time and bit chelly at night, i do agree you will find many flys here and bother mosquito so sure you will need some cream or spray for that. you can find many hassele to buy some souviners, if you alone single women you will get many proposal.
all those u can not feel it if you are with a group or through travel agent, but advice i not recomind you make trip with a big group, if you are couple or small family i think u will enjoy more alone.
for any more question you can contact me back at any moment.
wish you nice trip

Answer 4

there in 1942 and the flies in those days were enough to send you mad buckees you heard all the time from someone on the tap ,ride a camel and scratch for hours after with fleas especially around giza the pyramids and 30 mins is long enough there, Cairo at night time every one seemed to sleep in the square, but i haven't been back since so i guess its all changed by now Have a good trip you might like it ! If you get to Ismalia thats about half way down the canal bitter lakes that was always pleasant and i daresay still is
ll

Answer 5

Hii,, i'm Egyptian ,, in my opinion you just have to know what you want to do & just do what u want to do Dont listen to the offers, dont buy from the first time speicaly the souvenir.. look for different places & hear the prices,, then compare & u can try to make the prices a little bit low if u talked with the seller about you saw it in a different place with low price, that's about the shopping

about the people in Egypt ,, all the people is kind & they all like to help ,, just care from 3 kinds of people ,, the taxi drivers" if u will take a taxi first ask about how much u will pay & u can ask egyptian man if he taked a taxi how much would he pay to the same place which u want to go " ,, the people who sell souvenirs, beggars ,,
i want to tell u more but it will be too much :D

Answer 6

Egypt is hot so you must take care of that as i think the weather the place you live in is cold for us :)....Egypt has many beautiful places like pyramids,sphinx,sakara pyramid,Giza tower,Cairo musem,boats on the Nile,riding horses there is wonderful as you see the pyramids also but ride horses from a place called nazlet El seman,also riding camel will be something new and cool,shopping is good there go to city stars there it got many shops...that's some thing when you will be in Cairo...but say which place will you go in Egypt and you will find many answers

Answer 7

Don't beleive the idiots who answered negatively. I was in Egypt last year. I had fun, i went on a cruise on the nile, it was a five star cruise ship, and the hotels are very clean, better than what we have here in the U.S. and Egyptian people are very friendly, and it is safe to be out at night late, we used to go eat out at 2am in the morning and it was pretty safe, go to places where people get together at. Just don't wear shorts, cause guys there, will give u horney looks.

Answer 8

If you can, try and not hang out with too many tourists. Not only will you enjoy yourselves more 'off the beaten track' but sadly, tourists (and big groups of them) are a good target for terrorist attacks. Not trying to get your worried - but just be vigilant.

When you visit any of the major sites, you will have lots of local people trying to flog you rubbish. Buy some of it. Their income really depends on this - lots of the vendors will be little kids and that might shock you. Be careful though - they are sharp wee things and know how to sell stuff like hot cakes!

Buy lots of cheap biro pens. If you want to take photos of kids, locals etc, you will be asked for 'Bak-sheesh' - and if you dont want to give change, the kids love pens!

Lots of people get struck down with 'Pharoh's Revenge' - nasty tummy upset. Don't forget to stash your immodium and Diocalm!

If you are a female its always better to dress modestly, but shorts are not too frowned upon -although if you are out and about I still think its best to respect the Islamic faith and dont show off too much flesh.

Coffee is bitter and black and takes some getting used to - but the back street cafes are a must to visit! Be safe at all times and dont carry too much cash - just be street wise.

One thing that might strike you as odd is that men walk around holding each others hands. They arent gay - its just a friendship thing!

Answer 9

Only eat cooked food as the water the salads have been washed in is dirty. Visit the monuments early in the morning because it get to hot towards lunch time. You will get fed up of the beggars and street vendors chasing you around. Never pay the asking price for anything always barter.

Answer 10

neal: what is wrong with you? dnt shake hands? are we dirty or something??

rebel chick : o come on!!! we DO have bathrooms. we dont eat snakes... y dnt u go there and see wat its like?

and this is to all you ignorant ppl out there :
egypt is not a desert we dnt live in tents, we dnt ride camels. we have cars normal buildings..normal streets normal houses normal clothes..we r normal ppl. yes and we are advanced. we might not be the ppl inventing all that hi tech gizmo...but we do possess them

it figures..only those comments would come from an american.


egypt is a great place to visit. everyone here is friendly and i mean EVERYONE. its very very safe to travel by yourself. but i admit...the teenage guys here can be a bit freaky..but they wnt harm you..they'll just throw some comments

so dnt wear shorts..miniskirts or rlly open tops...u'll get stares


and we dont shoot tourists!!!! what is wrong with you ppl??