More and more SB users are traveling to Egypt and asking the same questions so I thought I would write some tips.
Egypt is a safe country and very friendly to foreigners whatever nationality they are.
After all the major state income comes from tourism.
So now the useful tips wherever you are going there.
The bacteria in this part of the world is different than ours and is causing stomach problems the points below are the way to avoid it.
1. Dont drink tap water use bottled mineral water even for washing teeth. Avoid drinks with ice ice is made of tap water
2. Dont eat fresh vegetables and fruits
3. Go to the local pharmacy and buy a medicine called ANTINAL (no prescription needed) this is the best remedy for stomach problems
4. Bring from your home country a bottle of alcohol such as vodka or whisky small shots do help.
Hotels:
1. Be aware that everything takes time. So if you think that bellman will come immediately youre wrong. Simply be patient they do have a lot of time
2. If you want to tip the staff. They are all earning almost nothing, so in this way you are helping them. Bakshish a word used by all of them (it means tip) comes from the religion in Islam you are obliged to share with others bakshish is one of the ways.
3. When ordering anything extra in the hotel (drinks) you sign a check with your room number and pay at the end.
Traveling in the city:
In different places it differs. All hotels have shuttle buses taking you to the city center.
1. In Hurghada there are mini buses the price shouldnt be higher that 2 Egyptian pounds.
2. In Sharm el Sheikh are taxis lets say that from whichever hotel to Naama Bay it shouldnt be more than 20-25 Egyptian pounds.
Be aware of their way of driving there is no code and no rules. Everything is allowed.
Money:
1. You can exchange it everywhere in the hotels or special places.
2. Rates (made even):
a.1 US $ = 6 Egyptian pounds
b.1 Euro = 7,5 Egyptian pounds
3. There are cash machines. But most of them accept only credit cards.
4. Hotels accept only credit cards
Shopping:
1. Always try to get smaller price than you are told. Standard bargain should be finally even down to 50% of the original price
2. Worth buying there besides Cleopatra and camels figures cotton clothes (Egyptian cotton is one of the best), coffee and spices.
Diving:
1. Its better to contact diving center before going and book diving in advance.
2. If you havent done this be careful with choosing the center better seek advice
3. Standard for Egypt are 12 liters alu tanks, mostly INT (with the possibility to change to DIN).
4. The price of diving includes air (nitrox costs extra), weights, soft drinks on the boat and transport from the hotel to the jetty and back.
5. Lunch can but not everywhere is included in the price
6. After you are done with diving give some tips to the boat crew
7. Standart prices for 5 days (10 dives) in Hurghada - 150 US$, in Sharm - 200 US$ but note that most of the diving centres moved to Euro with the rate 1 US$=1Euro
Partying:
1. Hurghada Papas Beach the best bar&disco
2. Sharm Pacha (Sanafir Hotel Naama Bay) and Bus Stop (they are together)
3. Sharm Camels Bar its a bar mainly occupied by foreign divers working in Egypt
4. Drinks (alcohol) are expensive there is 400% tax on alcohol
Usuful expressions (I tried to write them phonetically)
No = La (or if you need to stress it you can say Laa)
Yes = aiwa (pronounced as the Japanese electronic equipment producer)
Thank you shokran
Youre welcome (answer to thank you) = aphwan
Whats your name = easmak e
My name is = ana (as the girls name Anna) easmak
Go away = emshi
Good Morning Salem Aleykum
Good Morning (the answer) = as salam aleykum
Good Bye ma salam
OK = meshi
Water = maya
Please (said to a man) = mean fadlak
Please (to a woman) = mean fadleak
Stop it = halas
how much is this - Beckam di or beckam dah
Boat - Markeb
Tomorrow - Bokra
Today - Enaharda
Yesterday - embare'h
cool (as in "everything is cool") - Esh'ta
Popular expressions:
In shallah If God permits
Hamdulilla Thanks God
A note for Italians, Spanish, French and Portuguese you have to pronounce h which in Arabic is the strongest vowel said from the depth of the throat!!!!!!
Ok, I think Ive captured the most important things. Hope it will help at least some of you going there for the first time. And I'm sure that once you go there you keep on coming back.
Mania
Egypt is a safe country and very friendly to foreigners whatever nationality they are.
After all the major state income comes from tourism.
So now the useful tips wherever you are going there.
The bacteria in this part of the world is different than ours and is causing stomach problems the points below are the way to avoid it.
1. Dont drink tap water use bottled mineral water even for washing teeth. Avoid drinks with ice ice is made of tap water
2. Dont eat fresh vegetables and fruits
3. Go to the local pharmacy and buy a medicine called ANTINAL (no prescription needed) this is the best remedy for stomach problems
4. Bring from your home country a bottle of alcohol such as vodka or whisky small shots do help.
Hotels:
1. Be aware that everything takes time. So if you think that bellman will come immediately youre wrong. Simply be patient they do have a lot of time
2. If you want to tip the staff. They are all earning almost nothing, so in this way you are helping them. Bakshish a word used by all of them (it means tip) comes from the religion in Islam you are obliged to share with others bakshish is one of the ways.
3. When ordering anything extra in the hotel (drinks) you sign a check with your room number and pay at the end.
Traveling in the city:
In different places it differs. All hotels have shuttle buses taking you to the city center.
1. In Hurghada there are mini buses the price shouldnt be higher that 2 Egyptian pounds.
2. In Sharm el Sheikh are taxis lets say that from whichever hotel to Naama Bay it shouldnt be more than 20-25 Egyptian pounds.
Be aware of their way of driving there is no code and no rules. Everything is allowed.
Money:
1. You can exchange it everywhere in the hotels or special places.
2. Rates (made even):
a.1 US $ = 6 Egyptian pounds
b.1 Euro = 7,5 Egyptian pounds
3. There are cash machines. But most of them accept only credit cards.
4. Hotels accept only credit cards
Shopping:
1. Always try to get smaller price than you are told. Standard bargain should be finally even down to 50% of the original price
2. Worth buying there besides Cleopatra and camels figures cotton clothes (Egyptian cotton is one of the best), coffee and spices.
Diving:
1. Its better to contact diving center before going and book diving in advance.
2. If you havent done this be careful with choosing the center better seek advice
3. Standard for Egypt are 12 liters alu tanks, mostly INT (with the possibility to change to DIN).
4. The price of diving includes air (nitrox costs extra), weights, soft drinks on the boat and transport from the hotel to the jetty and back.
5. Lunch can but not everywhere is included in the price
6. After you are done with diving give some tips to the boat crew
7. Standart prices for 5 days (10 dives) in Hurghada - 150 US$, in Sharm - 200 US$ but note that most of the diving centres moved to Euro with the rate 1 US$=1Euro
Partying:
1. Hurghada Papas Beach the best bar&disco
2. Sharm Pacha (Sanafir Hotel Naama Bay) and Bus Stop (they are together)
3. Sharm Camels Bar its a bar mainly occupied by foreign divers working in Egypt
4. Drinks (alcohol) are expensive there is 400% tax on alcohol
Usuful expressions (I tried to write them phonetically)
No = La (or if you need to stress it you can say Laa)
Yes = aiwa (pronounced as the Japanese electronic equipment producer)
Thank you shokran
Youre welcome (answer to thank you) = aphwan
Whats your name = easmak e
My name is = ana (as the girls name Anna) easmak
Go away = emshi
Good Morning Salem Aleykum
Good Morning (the answer) = as salam aleykum
Good Bye ma salam
OK = meshi
Water = maya
Please (said to a man) = mean fadlak
Please (to a woman) = mean fadleak
Stop it = halas
how much is this - Beckam di or beckam dah
Boat - Markeb
Tomorrow - Bokra
Today - Enaharda
Yesterday - embare'h
cool (as in "everything is cool") - Esh'ta
Popular expressions:
In shallah If God permits
Hamdulilla Thanks God
A note for Italians, Spanish, French and Portuguese you have to pronounce h which in Arabic is the strongest vowel said from the depth of the throat!!!!!!
Ok, I think Ive captured the most important things. Hope it will help at least some of you going there for the first time. And I'm sure that once you go there you keep on coming back.
Mania