Egypt travel advice

Travel advice for those planning a holiday in Egypt.

Passport and Visa information

Passport

For travel to Egypt a full 10 year passport is required for all British, EU and EEA members, with at least six months validity beyond the return date of your holiday.

The name on your passport must match the name on your ticket or you may not be able to travel. All children who are already included on a valid British passport need to hold their own passport if they are to travel abroad. Children who were included on a passport before 5 October 1998 may continue to travel with the passport holder until either: the child reaches the age of 16 years; or the passport in which the child is included is replaced or amended resulting in a new passport. If you are over 16 years and do not yet have a passport, you should apply for one at least six weeks prior to your departure date. The Passport Service will need to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and they may also require you to attend an interview.

General passport enquiries should be directed to the Identity and Passport Service. Please visit their website: www.ips.gov.uk or telephone 0870 521 0410.

Advance passenger information

The UK Government e-Borders scheme requires that we collect your passport or identity card details before you travel. As above, it is vital that the names on the booking match the names on your passports.

Entry Visa

Hurghada (including Makadi Bay and El Gouna) Luxor and Cairo: a visa is required for all British, EU and EEA citizens. This costs around £10-£15, can be obtained on arrival, and should be paid for in Pounds, Euros or US Dollars. Visa stamps can be purchased from our airport representative to avoid queuing, subject to availability. 

Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and Taba: purchase of a visa is optional for all British, EU and EEA citizens. No visa is required to stay within the Sharm el Sheikh area itself or to take a boat trip from Sharm el Sheikh. A visa is required if you go diving, or to visit any other area of Egypt such as Cairo or Luxor. Visas can only be purchased at the airport, so if you discover later in your holiday that you will need one, you will have to return to the airport. 

For up-to-date visa costs and requirements, please contact the Egyptian Embassy on 020 7235 9777.

Currency

The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP) often written as LE. At time of going to press, there are roughly 9 EGP to 1 Pound Sterling. The Egyptian Pound can only be exchanged in Egypt through banks or bureaux de change (many hotels have these).

Pounds Sterling, Euros and US Dollars are widely accepted, though change may be given in EGP. We recommend that you carry most of your spending money in travellers cheques for security. Major credit cards are widely accepted but you may incur transaction charges. ATMs are available in major resort centres.

Health precautions

Inoculations

There are no compulsory inoculations required for visiting Egypt, but advice can change, so please take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible. Sources of information include: www.fco.gov.uk, www.hpa.org.uk and www.nathnac.org.uk, your GP or a specialist clinic.

Sun

The sun in Egypt is much more intense than in the UK, and severe sunburn is possible within a very short time. Take plenty of sun tan lotion with you, apply it regularly, and limit your sunbathing at first. Remember to reapply sun tan lotion after swimming. Watch out for redness and sunburn and don't be afraid to cover up with a hat or T-shirt.

With very hot sun and a seaside breeze, it is extremely easy to get dehydrated without noticing. Watch out for signs of heat exhaustion or sunstroke (drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and nausea) and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Remember, you can get sunburned or dehydrated even in the shade!

Hygiene

Often forgotten, but washing your hands regularly, and especially before eating and drinking, is one of the best ways to avoid picking up bugs.

Drinking water

Tap water in Egypt is not generally safe for drinking. You should only drink bottled water, which is inexpensive and widely available. You should avoid ice in drinks, and ideally, use bottled water when brushing your teeth. It is worth noting that locally produced bottled water can have a higher mineral content than that in the UK.

Insect bites

Biting insects (including mosquitoes) are common. Insect repellents can be useful in helping to prevent bites; the most effective are those containing DEET. You can also reduce the risk by wearing clothes that cover your skin, including your arms and legs, especially during the evening and at night.

Travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit issues frequent updates for those travelling outside the UK. You can check the latest travel advice at www.fco.gov.uk

Travellers with disabilities

Many hotels offer a degree of accessibility for holidaymakers with restricted mobility, such as ground floor rooms, lifts, level public areas, and beachside promenades, but few are equipped with specific disability-friendly features such as wheelchair ramps, wheelchair accessible bathroom facilities, etc. In addition the terrain and layout of resorts can be difficult for wheelchair users.

It is important that you advise us of your particular needs so that enquiries can be made about the suitability of resorts, accommodation, and transport before you book your holiday. Some special arrangements may require an extra charge. If you do not tell us in advance about special needs or requirements that would affect your holiday experience, we cannot compensate you should we fail to deliver them.

If you require assistance at the airport or on your flight, let us know and we will pass on your requirements to the airline.

For support or advice prior to booking, please contact our Customer Service team on 0845 026 5980 or ask your travel agent.

Weather and natural disasters

Egypt has a relatively stable climate, with year-round sun. As a desert climate it can get cold inland at night. It does not rain very often, but when it does it can be very heavy and can cause flash floods, which may disrupt transport. We recommend checking the latest FCO Travel Advice www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

When a storm or natural disaster occurs, travel and accommodation arrangements may be disrupted. It is extremely difficult to predict the actual path, duration or effect severe weather and seismic activity may have and the effects of actual or threatened bad weather and natural disasters are beyond our control (please refer to our booking conditions, for details of our responsibility to you in these circumstances). If it is forecast that a storm or natural may affect one of our destinations, we work with local and international authorities, our Health and Safety / resort teams and local agents to try to minimise disruption and keep you well informed. In the event of changes to your holiday due to actual or threatened bad weather, we are unable to offer any compensation.

Volcanic ash guarantee

Red Sea Holidays is committed to looking after its customers every step of the way and in every eventuality.?Our new ‘volcanic ash guarantee’ is just one example of that dedication.

• We will contact you directly to keep you up to date with all developments
• If overseas, a member of our resort staff will contact you personally to offer help and assistance
• We will get you home as quickly as possible. Should you have to stay in resort, we'll cover the cost of your hotel accommodation and board* so you don't have to claim anything back upon your return.
• We will get you away on your holiday as quickly as possible.
• Should we have to cancel your holiday, we'll help you secure an alternative holiday on a later date or offer a full refund.

*We will pay for your accommodation and board on the same basis as your original booking. This will be at the same hotel wherever possible but if circumstances require it, we will arrange alternative accommodation of an equivalent standard.

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