I have been financially compensated for this post by opinions are honest and my own.
When planning a stay in Egypt there are several factors you need to filter in. You need to know about where are good places to stay in Egypt (and where is safe/places to avoid); attractions to visit; and of course you also needed to think about a visa for Egypt.
Why we decided to Visit Egypt
The boys have been studying Egypt both at school and during their time of home education. Of course the Egyptians themselves in history have been very popular but we also have looked at travelling to Egypt ourselves to really get a better feel and understanding. Besides the Great Pyramid of Giza although not technically a wonder of the world is an honorary candidate and definitely a place to visit on my bucket list (I have already ticked off Venice and The Blue Lagoon).
Places to Stay and Avoid in Egypt
Egypt is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations and can be a great destination for families. This may be to do with the fact that there have been no major incidents recently, or that the Egyptian military’s Sinai campaign is going well. However, it is important to know which places are safe to stay and where to avoid in Egypt, as there has been a real threat of terrorism, civilians have been kidnapped and sexual attacks on women in parts of Egypt. Although crime rates in Egypt are low. The UK government does not advise anyone to travel to Nort Sinai, South Sinai, the west of the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta; plus avoid the borders, especially Libya.
Do not worry though as there are lots of safe areas in Egypt – Popular places to visit in Egypt include Abu Simel, Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, Hurghada, Luxor and The Red Sea – but remember that they all require you to have a visa to enter Egypt.
In these safe areas you will find various ancient wonders and desert oases: Great tourist attractions such as the Pyramids, Great Sphinx of Giza, hieroglyphic scrawls covering the walls of Luxor’s temples: The Valley of the Kings in Luxor; treasures housed in Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or maybe you fancy a cruise along the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.
You can make your stay more authentic by staying in someone’s home by booking through somewhere like Air BnB if you know what you are looking for – otherwise it may be safer to book through a travel agent. Pre-booked guides to attractions are less likely to be confronted by people aggressively looking for money or business.
An Egypt Visa
Both adults and children who are British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally need a visa. If you’re travelling to Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts for up to 15 days, then you will receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival. If you intend to travel out of these areas or stay longer than 15 days, you must get a visa.
You can easily apply for an Egypt Visa online which can be used over a period of three months and for a stay of up to 30 days from the date of arrival. Sorting out your visa before you visit ensures there are no errors before you arrive, helping to take some stress out of your trip.
Things to
Consider when Visiting Egypt
Local laws reflect the fact that Egypt is predominantly an Islamic country. You will need to respect the local traditions, customs, laws and religions and to keep yourself safe you need to be aware of your actions to ensure you do not offend the cultural or religious beliefs: This is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas
There are several things that you may want to take into account, for example it is best not to show public displays of affection (unfortunately particularly those who are LGBT), do not drink alcohol in the street, do not use illegal drugs, and you are best to stay away from political demonstrations, religious gatherings and celebrations.
Other things to keep in mind when visiting Egypt are to make sure you have insurance, have change for tips; dress appropriately, preparing for the sun and against mosquitos; keep your bags close and ignore anyone who says they know you. Finally don’t drink the water and make sure that food is cooked properly.
We decided that visiting Egypt would be a great way for the children to consulate their learning as well as being a fantastic experience for us all. Through researching Egypt we discovered that there are some great place to stay and visit as well as places and things to avoid. That each member of the family would require an Egypt visa but that this can easily be applied for online. That we need to be aware of the cultural and religious aspects of visiting Egypt and remember things to help keep us safe.
Images from UnSplash. This is a commissioned piece.