1-The crime rate in Egypt is low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching, pickpocketing and petty theft do occur. Valuables such as cash, jewellery and electronic items should not be left unsecured in hotel rooms or unattended in public places.Victims of crime should report the incident to the tourist police immediately. Failure to do so before you depart Egypt may make it impossible to seek prosecution at a later date.
2-Taxis and minibuses often overcharge tourists for airport transfers. You should ensure that you agree with the driver a charge for the ride before taking it.
-If you must take a taxi, then it would be best if you asked the reception/ concierge of your hotel to get you one. They have certain assigned taxis that they know very well, and deal with on a daily basis
3-You can drive in Egypt on an International driving licence for up to six months. If you intend to remain in Egypt for a longer period you must apply for an Egyptian driving licence.
-In Egypt they drive on the right, be careful when crossing roads. Take special care in Cairo, where the traffic is a lot busier than in other Egyptian cities – especially outside the Egyptian museum! UK and Japanese travelers should be extra careful, as you will be used to traffic driving on the left.
4-Drinking in the street and anywhere other than a licensed restaurant or bar is not allowed and can lead to arrest.
-Although devout Muslims refrain from drinking alcohol, beer, wine, and hard liquor are available in bars, restaurants, and some grocery shops. Imported beer and wine are the most expensive, but the local beer called Stella is a light lager that is quite good .
5-Never drink the tap water! It is okay to wash, shower and clean your teeth with it, but not advised to drink. Bottled water is cheap and plentiful; use it instead!.
-Buy (and drink) plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops, than buying at your hotel or cruise boat. You may not drink a lot of water at home, but make sure you do in Egypt. It is very easy to become dehydrated if you don’t.
6-When you pay for a group excursion, the price includes everything except for tips (sometimes admission prices are not included). This includes transport, a driver, a tour guide, tolls etc. Some longer excursions may even include a stop for lunch (often included in the price too). Many will take you to places where Ancient crafts are still practised, giving you the chance to buy good quality merchandise at low prices.
7-Remember that Egypt is a 3rd world country, and has many poor people who think that all tourists are rich, no matter where they come from in the world! Learn the phrase “La Shukran” (No thank you!) and don’t be afraid to say it to anyone who tries to sell you anything, or asks for “baksheesh”. Believe it or not, it does work. Please do not say “Emshi” (as many tour books advise), this can be taken as an insult.
-If you forget the expression “La Shukran” just politely say “No thank you” and walk away. Don’t get abusive to the trader; he is only trying to feed his family.
8-Have respect for Egyptians culture, and for them as individuals. Consider not taking any pictures of the local people at all. If you do, ask first .
9-Bring medication for intestinal problems (safety pins, plasters (different sizes), antiseptic cream, diarrhoea tablets, headache tablets and sun cream (high factor advised)). Try to avoid uncooked food as much as possible and don’t drink water that does not come from a bottle that was sealed when you bought it.
10-You will need to bargain on the prices in most shops, except those where there are price-tags indicating the prices.
11-Speak to the local people, don’t wait for them to say hello, say hello yourself,Make eye contact.
12-If you are lost don’t be embarrassed to ask for directions. Better ask at shops because they tend to know the area they work in. Write the name of the hotel on a piece of paper and take it with you in case you don’t pronounce it clearly. Better ask more than one person to be sure.
13-If you sit at a cafe and smoke a shisha be careful because it is much stronger than cigarette ! exhale a little amount first to know the feeling.
14-Ladies, if you intend visiting the inside of one of the pyramids, please wear trousers (or jeans). You may have to ascend/descend ladders and/or crawl through narrow passages. For the same reasons, I would advise men to avoid wearing short trousers.
15-Do not buy anything from the traders inside the Giza Plateau! The items they are trying to sell you can be bought a lot cheaper at places like the Khan El-Khalili. Also beware the many people offering you camel rides, as they are not all genuine! Head for the main stables if you want a camel ride, or better still, arrange one at your hotel.
16-To call any country outside Egypt, dial your country code, then city code then number.
-To call Egypt from abroad, the country code is 002.
-If you have friends calling you from North America or Australia while you are in Egypt, tell them to dial 011 before dialling country code.
17-Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. If you have international calling on your phone, you should be able to use it – AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while cruising up the Nile, but for most people these days a cell phone is fine. But cell coverage is extensive. Each of the 4 star hotels Spirit Quest Tours stays in offers wireless in all the rooms and internet at the business center. Just remember there is a 7-10 hour time difference .