Egypt is a very price-competitive destination, so much so in fact that in 2015 it was ranked the world's second cheapest country for international visitors based on hotel prices, taxes and purchasing power parity. Issued by the World Economic Forum, the annual Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report highlights that Egypt is a bargain travel option, especially for those coming from the West. In terms of eating out, you can expect to pay around $10 per person for an inexpensive restaurant meal, though of course you will pay more depending on how many courses you have! A litre bottle of water will cost around $1.20, whilst a bottle of beer tends to be priced at around $4, though it is likely to be a bit more expensive in the hotels. When travelling on a group tour, which includes your accommodation, sightseeing, breakfast and transportation, we recommend budgeting between USD $40-50 per person per day to cover additional meals, snacks, drinks, souvenir and odd purchases.
One of the pillars of Islam requires Muslims to fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the month which commemorates the divine gift of the Koran to the Prophet Mohammed. From sunrise to sunset, those who fast must refrain from eating, drinking and smoking. There are good and bad aspects of visiting the country during Ramadan. On the bright side, people hit the streets after the sunset "breakfast" ready to sing, play cards, enjoy some of the special musical and theatrical entertainments and just generally have fun. Shops re-open until the early hours, and many hotels create special Ramadan Tents where they offer traditional holiday snacks and drinks, live entertainment, water pipes, backgammon boards, card games and the like. The other side of the coin is that many aspects of "business as usual" don't apply during the month. Banks and offices all have shorter working hours, some restaurants close for the entire month, and about an hour before sunset the roads and streets will be full of people racing to buy last-minute supplies and get home in time for Al Iftar(the evening meal). If you plan to visit during Ramadan, you should understand that the touring day will be shortened. There will still be plenty of restaurants open and serving lunch, especially in the tourist areas, but it would be very bad manners to eat, drink or smoke in the sight of passers-by. Do remember, if you visit during Ramadan, that your dress should be a bit more circumspect than usual. Some women who do not normally cover their heads do so during Ramadan, and often feel that make-up, perfume and other "vanities of the flesh" should be given up during this month.
The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (LE), which is divided into 100 piastres. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Egypt. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and all major towns have ATMs. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in the government-run stores, most hotels and Red Sea resorts. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.
Definitely! Young and old alike are sure to be wowed by Egypt's legendary treasures, from the Pyramids to Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Activities such as camel rides and felucca cruising on the Nile are also perfect for the whole family. Along the Red Sea there are plenty of family-friendly resorts with dedicated kids' play areas, swimming pools and activities. This means parents can relax while the children are entertained and looked after. On our group tours we welcome young adults aged between 16-18 years accompanied by a parent/guardian. If your chosen tour includes nights on board a felucca, those aged between 16-18 years are required to upgrade to our Nile Cruiser for this section of the holiday. Our private journeys and Tailor-made holidays cater for all travellers of any age.
With succulent grilled meats, fish and vegetables, Egyptian cuisine has something to appeal to most eaters, though in order to avoid stomach troubles while on holiday, it's worth taking a few precautions. As tap water is highly chlorinated it's best to avoid salads unless dining in upmarket restaurants, hotels and cruise boats. Any food you do eat should be piping hot to ensure it's been cooked properly - avoid food that looks like it has been sitting around for a while. Try taking a probiotic a few weeks before and during your holiday to build your own natural defence against bugs that may come into contact with your stomach. Egyptian cuisine is not unlike the cuisine of Turkey, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries. The basic staple centres on pulses - fuul medames (fava beans often served with vegetables and boiled egg) and ta'amiyya (chickpea patties), though visitors to Egypt are more likely to encounter a delicious spread of meats accompanied by salads, rice, seasoned vegetables, and mezzes. Houmous and other yoghurt-based dips, coupled with fresh pitta, schwarma (similar to a Turkish doner kebab), kofta (a skewered spiced meat dish) and fiteer (a kind of pizza) are other popular dishes. The lunchtime bargain has to be kosheri, which is a curious but delicious mix of noodles, rice, lentils, fried onion and spicy sauce. It's very tasty and exceedingly cheap. Bread is a staple of Egyptian cuisine and you'll be offered a variety of some sort with every meal. Vegetarians should find plenty of options with stuffed peppers, grilled aubergine and baked squash popular meat-free dishes in Egypt. Exotic juices freshly squeezed from the fruits of mango, guava and other seasonal varieties are also widely available, as is fresh fruit. Alcohol is not readily available as Egypt is a predominantly Islamic country. Despite this, the major hotel chains usually offer a well-stocked bar for guests to use.