Travel advice

Travel advice for those planning a holiday in Egypt.

Passport and Visa information

The information in this section applies for British citizens only. Passport and visa requirements for citizens of other countries and territories may vary; if you are in any doubt, please consult the relevant embassy or consulate.

Passport

It is your responsibility to ensure that everyone in your party has a passport with the required validity, and that the names on the booking match those on the passports. If you do not do this you may become liable for amendment or cancellation fees, or be refused permission to travel.

The name on your passport must match the name on your ticket or you will not be able to travel. All children need to hold their own passport if they are to travel abroad. If you 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.

The passport and visa requirements for each country are shown below:

Egypt

• A full British passport valid for 6 months beyond the date of return travel.
• Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam: A visa is required by all visitors. This costs around £25, can be obtained on arrival, and can be paid for in Pounds, Euros or US Dollars.
• Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and Taba: No visa is required to stay within the resort area itself or to take a boat trip from the resort. A visa is required if you go diving or to visit any other area of Egypt such as Cairo or Luxor. The visa costs around £25 and can only be purchased at the airport, either on arrival or later on.
• Embassy: call 0300 222 0000.

Advance passenger information

The UK Government e-Borders scheme requires airlines to provide passenger information, including passport details, for border control purposes. This Advance Passenger Information (API) may be required prior to tickets being issued, we will inform you at the time of booking if this is the case.

Currency

Currency such as Pounds Sterling, Euros and US Dollars can be exchanged in local banks or bureaux de change (many hotels have these).

Major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are available in all major resort centres, and in some hotels. Your bank or credit card company may charge transaction fees for card payments overseas, and also fees/interest on cash withdrawals; please check before you travel.

Travellers cheques are not widely accepted. They can usually only be cashed in main bank branches, which may be some distance from your accommodation.

Egypt

• Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP / LE).
• Euros, pounds sterling and US dollars are widely accepted.

Health precautions

Inoculations

No compulsory inoculations are required for the countries available on this website.

A pre-travel Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travel to Egypt.

Advice can change, so we recommend that you consult your doctor before travel regarding your specific needs and any precautions they may recommend. Other sources of information include: www.fco.gov.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your GP or a specialist travel clinic. Sun

You will find that the sun is much more intense than at home, 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 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!

Water and plumbing

In most countries untreated tap water is not safe, so we advise against using it for drinking, brushing teeth, in drinks or for washing food. Use bottled water instead; it is inexpensive and widely available. Note that locally produced bottled water can have a higher mineral content than that at home. Tap water in most Greek resorts is drinkable, but bottled water is widely available if preferred.

Water is scarce in some areas so you may experience low water pressure on occasions. Many properties use solar heating, so hot water can be in short supply early in the day, late at night or on a cloudy day.

Some areas have narrow plumbing, and require separate disposal of used paper in the bins provided. Please follow these instructions to avoid problems. The bins will be emptied regularly.

Upset stomachs

It is not uncommon to suffer a stomach upset when on holiday. Prevention is better than cure: washing your hands regularly, especially before eating and drinking, is one of the best ways to avoid picking up bugs. We also suggest avoiding undercooked foods and ice in drinks. Dehydration and heat stroke can also cause stomach upsets, so drink plenty of bottled water and avoid spending too much time in the sun. If you do get an upset, your Red Sea Holidays representative can usually arrange a consultation with a doctor. You may wish to ask your pharmacist for advice on remedies to take with you to resort.

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 Insurance

It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have adequate travel insurance cover for the duration of your holiday. Hopefully you will never need to claim on your insurance but just in case the worst happens it is important to make sure that you, your family and your belongings are properly covered. If you don’t already have travel insurance, we can offer great value insurance cover tailored to your holiday. Give us a call for a quotation.

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 or ask your travel agent.

Weather and natural disasters

North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean have a relatively stable climate, with consistent sunshine and hot summers. 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 at 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. 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 and 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. Please refer to our Booking Conditions, for details of our responsibility to you in these circumstances.

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