CENTRAL HOLIDAYS

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Helpful Tips

Weather Overview

Egypt’s climate is hot and dry most of the year. Average daytime temperature in Cairo during the winter is 65/68

degrees and during the summer is 86/104 degrees. Winter is mild and has occasional light showers.

Time Zone

+2 GMT

Local Currency

The local currency is the Egyptian pound (LE). Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, most banks

and authorized exchange offices, where official daily rates of exchange are posted. Most tourist establishments

will accept credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express or Diners Club.

Food & Beverage

It is recommended to use bottled water, ensuring that the seal has not been broken on the bottle. Use it for

brushing teeth and remember not to have ice in your drinks. As for food, it is advisable to eat at well-established

hotels and restaurants.

Electricity

Egypt electrical current is 220V and sockets take the standard continental European dual round-pronged plug.

If you do not have the correct adaptor with you, your hotel housekeeping department may have one available

upon request.

Security

You should keep all travel documents, cash, passports and other valuables in your hotel’s or cruise boat’s safety

deposit boxes. Although street crime is at a minimum, as in any other country, travelers are encouraged to use

common sense and not wear ostentatious jewelry. It is also advisable to carry only small amounts of money.

Sightseeing

When traveling in Egypt, be prepared for early starts designed to avoid traveling during the hotter hours of the

day and to enjoy the monuments in the most favorable conditions. Sightseeing can also mean some strenuous

walking across sand or rocks and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Photographic Restrictions

There are a variety of rules governing photography of different sites and monuments in Egypt. At all open,

outdoor historic areas, photography is unrestricted, such as outside the Pyramids and the temples at Luxor and

Aswan. In some areas, a ticket must be purchased to use cameras and video equipment (LE10-100 approx.);

tripods and flashes are seldom allowed in those museums that do permit photography. At some museums and

tombs, you will be asked to leave your equipment in the care of the door custodian - your guide will advise you.

These restrictions are truly in the interest of preservation of these fragile sites. Tourists are strongly advised not to

photograph airports, military installations, strategic sites, docks, dams, bridges, police or soldiers.

Dress Code

People in Egypt are used to tourists visiting their country. You can wear walking shorts and a short sleeve shirt for

sightseeing excursions. On board Nile cruises, some clients like to dress 'smart casual' to dinner each evening.

Swimsuits are absolutely fine for the swimming pools and private beaches. On days that you visit Holy sites, you

should wear slacks, long skirts and long sleeves.

Tipping

In Egypt tipping is a general practice everywhere, even among the Egyptians themselves. It can be irritating,

but it is part of the lifestyle in Egypt. Although tipping is customary and expected, it is at your discretion and

entirely up to you whether to tip or not and how much to tip.