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White sand beaches. Coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Kid-friendly seaside resorts. In recent years, Egypt has become Africa’s answer to the Caribbean. Families – from budget conscious to luxury travelers - are flocking here. And while it may be tempting to spend a week or more building sandcastles and snorkeling, mummies, pharaohs and camel treks are equally exciting. Even for kids! Cruise the Nile from Luxor to Aswan or sail upriver on a felucca. Explore the ancient settlement of Abu, visit the Temple of Horus and tour the Valley of the Kings. Take a day trip to Abu Simbel and marvel at the Great Temple of Ramses II. Travel to Cairo and experience ancient and modern Egypt in a single day. Explore the Pyramids of Giza inside and out, ogle at King Tut’s tomb and stroll the narrow streets of Khan al-Khalili, an age-old bazaar. Head west over land and discover the eastern reaches of the Sahara. Take a camel trek in the White Desert and see, firsthand, the effects of weathering and erosion on the shape of the land. Follow the Great Caravan Route and tour living as well as abandoned desert oases. Make your way to Siwa and, in addition to learning the secrets of Shali, explore the Great Sand Sea. Yet as with any family vacation too much of a good thing can quickly become boring. Alternate history and culture with adventure and movement and get the kids involved in planning a family holiday to Egypt. What better place than Egypt, a cornerstone of most elementary school curriculums, for the kids to play travel guide and even teach mom and dad?
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For most families travel to Egypt will be by air. International airports located in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Marsa Alam provide quick and easy access to Egypt's principle tourist attractions. European low cost airlines, such as easyJet and transavia.com, offer service from Amsterdam, Paris and London to Hurghada but do not yet offer service to Cairo or elsewhere. Charter companies can be a valid alternative from select European cities.
Travel in Egypt is both cheap and easy. Egypt Air connects Cairo with the country's principal tourist destinations including Alexandria, Aswan, Hurghada, Luxor and Sharm el-Sheikh and provides direct service between the major beach and cultural destinations. Families traveling between Cairo and Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Port Said or Suez may want to consider the train. The sleeper service is operated by Abela Egypt. Buses are an alternative means of transport and may be the only choice for families traveling between Marsa Alam and Aswan or Luxor. Ferries connect Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh three times a week.
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return date. A tourist visa can be obtained in advance from the nearest Egyptian Embassy or Consulate or upon arrival in Egypt for most foreign nationals flying into Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Sharm el-Sheikh.
The best time of year for an Egypt vacation is late fall (October-November) and early spring (February-March). December and January, characterized by warm days and cool nights, are ideal months for touring Luxor and Aswan but often too cold for all but shore-based activities along the Red Sea and Mediterranean. From June to August the average daytime high exceeds 40°C (104°F) making desert expeditions and cultural touring all but unbearable.
Travel health & child safety
Traveler's diarrhea is the most common aliment afflicting tourists in Egypt. Avoiding tap water and unpasteurized milk are the cornerstones to prevention. Drink bottled water and eat cooked or peeled fruit and vegetables and packaged ice cream only. While the incidence of theft and crime is negligible big city caution and common sense are warranted when traveling to Cairo and elsewhere. Do not leave valuables lying about in your hotel room, be careful how you carry your money on crowded public transport, make you sure you have all of your luggage and bags when you alight a taxicab and keep an eye, if not a hand, on the kids at all times. Be sure to check your local government website for updated travel advice and advisories before you book travel and again before you depart.
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. U.S. dollars and Euros are widely accepted at hotels and shops but are not accepted at government run museums and cultural sights. Credit cards are grudgingly accepted at tourist shops in large hotels but rarely accepted elsewhere. At all but the largest hotels, a credit card fee will most likely be added to all credit card transactions. ATM cash machines are found throughout the country. Usage of cash cards abroad is governed by your local bank; inquire before you depart.
Foreign Exchange Rates
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The price of nearly everything is negotiable and hustlers are part and parcel of travel to Egypt. Be wary of individuals offering advice on local hotels and museum opening hours as well as those offering to broker services for a taxi or a tour, particularly in Cairo. But don't be rude just say 'No thank you'. Most goods, including diapers and baby food, are readily available in local stores but not all products are cheaper. Tourist necessities, such as high factor sunscreen and foreign language guidebooks, cost significantly more in Egypt than at home.
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