Your resort

Some useful details on what to expect in your holiday resort in Egypt, including some suggestions on tipping and dress code when visiting religious sites.

Safety in your resort

Egypt is a safe place for tourists, but crime is a fact of life in every country, so please take the same care for your safety, and that of your belongings, as you would at home. Take particular care in busy towns and at temples and sites of interest. Please see your representative for tips and advice on local customs, bartering and staying safe in resort.

Avoid approaching or feeding cats, dogs, birds and other animals as they may scratch or bite, and can transmit diseases such as rabies.

Beaches and the sea

Beaches may have rocky areas and rough coral sand. They also get very hot in the sun. We recommend wearing beach shoes. Beach shoes are also recommended when in the water as it can be difficult to see areas of sharp coral.

Some beaches are man-made and positioned away from the shore to avoid coral reefs. Access to these is via a jetty or pontoon.

Beaches may not be supervised by a lifeguard, so take extra care when in the water.

Resort service

All our brochure holidays include the service of the Red Sea Holidays resort representative team. Our team of English-speaking representatives will greet you at the airport, accompany you to your hotel, and invite you to a welcome and orientation meeting held on the following day. Your representative will also be on hand daily to answer your questions, help you get the most from your holiday, and to assist if you should have any problems.

Your representative will let you know when they will be at your hotel, and how they can be contacted in an emergency. Their details are also displayed on an information noticeboard in your hotel.

If you have a complaint about any aspect of your holiday, please let your representative know. They will do everything they can to liaise with the resort team and the UK Duty Office to solve the problem as quickly as possible and minimize any inconvenience.

Building work

Some areas of the resorts we feature are still expanding and being developed, so there may be building or construction work taking place in the vicinity of your accommodation. There may also be some general refurbishment taking place in your hotel. We have no control over such work, but it is important to us that you are aware of any significant building or refurbishment that may be going on during your stay. When we are informed of any such work we will tell you at the time of booking or, if you have already booked, we will contact you before departure. Please refer to the Booking Conditions.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs

Most resorts have a wide range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs in addition to those in the hotels themselves. We have included some examples of these in our resort guides for your information. The examples listed are for information only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by us. These establishments do not form part of your holiday package, and we cannot accept liability for the quality of service offered, or any issues arising from them.

Religious sites

When visiting religious sites such as mosques, monasteries and churches, you will be expected to cover up, wear long trousers or skirts, and in some cases a headscarf. You may also be required to remove your shoes. If you have any doubts, simply ask your representative what is appropriate.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a period of Islamic religious fasting that lasts for around 30 days. During Ramadan, some cafes and restaurants will close between sunrise and sunset, and there may be restrictions on the serving of alcohol. Service in our hotels should not be affected. Ramadan dates: 20 July – 18 August 2012.

Taxis & limousine service

Local taxis are widely available in the resort areas. Always agree the fare with the driver before you get in the taxi, and do not pay until you reach your intended destination. For security reasons, only specifically authorised vehicles are allowed into hotel grounds, so you can only hail a taxi outside the hotel, and your taxi will have to drop you at the hotel gates. Most hotels operate a limousine service. This is a private taxi service licensed to access the hotel grounds. Limousine service will be more expensive than using local taxis.

Tipping

Tipping, generally known as Baksheesh, is standard practice in Egypt. You will be expected to tip porters, waiters, pool attendants, barmen, boat crew, coach drivers and taxi drivers – anyone who offers you any type of service or assistance. The general rule is to tip little and often. It is advisable to keep plenty of small change/notes for tipping purposes.

Travel outside your resort

For your safety and security, transfers from one area to another, for instance an excursion outside your resort, may be escorted by a military convoy. Departure times for these transfers are beyond our control and subject to local conditions. Please call us or ask your travel agent for further information at the time of booking.

Religious sites

Nile cruises

Access

Access to Nile cruise ships is by gangplank, with some uneven areas, and it occasionally requires crossing another boat to reach the river bank. Ask your representative for assistance if needed. The ships are also on several levels. For these reasons, Nile cruises are not recommended for people with walking difficulties.

Sightseeing

When sightseeing it is advisable to take plenty of bottled water and wear sensible footwear as the ground can be uneven. Binoculars are useful, as is a torch for the darker tombs. Flash photography is often prohibited to protect the monuments. There may be charges for photography or use of video cameras.

Itineraries

The itinerary often involves early starts and long days to make sure all the sights are fitted in. Changes to the itinerary and excursions may occasionally be necessary depending on local conditions such as water levels and cruise boat traffic.

Tipping (Baksheesh)

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is an accepted custom in Egypt, and is expected for almost every service. It can be difficult to know who to tip and how much. On our Nile cruises we offer a system where the representative collects a suggested amount of £3 per person, per night, and distributes your tips to drivers, porters, temple guards and ship's crew, etc. This is voluntary, and the amounts are for guidance only.