Hello Janev
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JaneV Wrote:
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> Most of the guests who come on our trips have
> never been to Egypt before – hey, some of them
> have never left their country before! We want to
> make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do
> always get the same questions in advance of a trip
> and after ten years, I thought this should be the
> first thing I address in my brand new blog!
>
> 1. How safe is it? Everyone ALWAYS wants to know
> this one. The answer is, it’s incredibly safe,
> and if you’re traveling in one of our groups,
> it’s even more so! Our groups are registered as
> VIPs when we enter the country, so we always have
> a special escort with us. If you’re traveling
> with another group, check with them to see what
> their procedures are.
> The simple statistical fact is that Egypt is a
> much safer place than the US or any country in
> Western Europe. Personal crime rates are much
> lower than in the west, and violent crime directed
> at tourists is unheard of – Egypt thrives on
> tourism – I think it’s the 2nd largest
> national product these days – so they really
> don’t want anything happening to you. We ran
> some stats comparing death by violence in Egypt to
> those in Washington DC, and you are something like
> 75 times more likely to be killed while
> vacationing in our fair capitol.
> By far the biggest threat you will face in Egypt
> is from clever friendly locals who are very adept
> at getting you to buy souvenirs.
>
> 2. What shots/medical preparation do I need? In a
> word? None. Surprisingly to most people, nothing
> is required, or even recommended, and after
> watching hundreds of people vacation there, I
> don’t think those who went to the doctor
> stateside fared any better once the trip began.
> The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is
> politely called “Pharoah’s Revenge”. The
> bad news? You probably won’t eat for a day.
> The good news? We were all eating like pigs prior
> to this, so perhaps it’s not so bad after all.
> The thing that knocks out Pharoah’s Revenge is a
> regionally produced antibiotic – Antinol –
> which is Egypt’s answer to Cipro, and is
> available at every pharmacy for $1 a box. DON’T
> drink local water, DO drink bottled water, avoid
> the skins of fresh vegetables, and you’ll be
> fine. We do recommend travel insurance, though,
> in case you get sick before you leave, or
> something comes up on the trip (even lost
> luggage).
>
> 3. What should I wear? If you’re lucky enough to
> visit Egypt between November and February, pack a
> sweater. You’ll need it – the desert gets
> chilly at night. During the day, the temperature
> will be balmy and comfortable. Any other time,
> pack like you’re going to Phoenix or Vegas in
> August. It’s a dry heat When you travel with
> Spirit Quest, we make sure to schedule most
> activities in the morning or evening, so you can
> siesta by the pool in the afternoon. Plan to wear
> natural fabrics – cotton, silk, or linen are
> best bets. Yes, you can wear sport clothes
> designed to wick the sweat off, but breathable
> fabrics are always my suggestion. Bring sturdy
> walking shoes, ones you can get sand or dirt in,
> unless you plan to stay in your hotel the whole
> time. If you are lucky enough to take a Nile
> Cruise (we always include a 4 star cruise on our
> trips, because it’s a great way to see most of
> the country while only having to unpack once, and
> there’s nothing like sailing the Nile for
> relaxation) you can wear sporty, casual
> beach-style clothes. Really dressy resort wear is
> hardly appropriate anywhere, and besides, once
> you’re there a few days you will likely buy a
> floor length caftan (both men and women) called a
> galabeya. If you need something fancy, you can
> always put this on. For the ladies, bathing suits
> are normal if there’s a pool where you’re
> going, but leave the string bikini/thong at home
> – it is a Muslim country, after all. Last, if
> you are planning on visiting any mosques or
> certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to
> plan on bringing something that comes at least to
> the elbow, and no shorts for men or women in those
> areas. A note on shopping – it’s wonderful
> there, especially many outdoor markets where you
> can bargain, and everything is very cheap. Many
> many of our guests end up bringing back an extra
> suitcase, and you can always pick one up for about
> $20 US.
>
> 4. What special things do I need to pack? One of
> my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt
> is an Evian Mister, an atomizer with a fine mist
> of Evian water. You may be able to find it in
> your local drug store, or else click this link to
> buy it [
www.spiritquesttours.com]
>
> Spray a little on your face or head, and your body
> temp will feel like it’s dropped 10 or 15
> degrees. Yes, you can use it with make-up, but
> trust me, if you go when it’s hot, you may want
> to leave your makeup at home, at least the
> foundation and mascara. I’ve seen more women
> travel up the Nile with raccoon eyes because they
> weren’t willing to adapt – just a suggestion
>
>
> Other items include your camera (duh, but you
> would be surprised how many people forget theirs;
> power adaptors (you need the kind that work in
> England, no matter what anyone else tells you!);
> sunblock – the highest SPF you can find, and try
> a baby sunblock, which usually is the highest, as
> well as the gentlest; extra batteries (nothing
> like standing a the Colossus of Memnon bargaining
> for batteries you could have bought for $3 at
> home); and oh! Ladies, don’t forget tampons and
> pads – they’re available in the pharmacy, too
> – but only one kind of each, and that may or not
> be what you’re used to.
>
> 5. How do I communicate with home? Internet cafes
> are plentiful everywhere, especially Cairo, Luxor,
> and Alexandria. If you have international calling
> on your phone, you should be able to use it –
> AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for
> sure, but make sure you have the international
> coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are
> certain to need coverage in the middle of the
> country, like while cruising up the Nile, but for
> most people these days a cell phone is fine. But
> these days cell coverage is extensive. We’ve
> made calls from the peak of Mount Moses in the
> Sinai!
> Each of the 4 star hotels Spirit Quest Tours stays
> in offers wireless in all the rooms and internet
> at the business center. Just remember there is a
> 7-10 hour time difference… and you’re on
> vacation!
>
> 6. Here’s a bonus, since you stuck it out to the
> end… the most important piece of advice I can
> give you is, learn a few words of Arabic before
> you go. Thank you = shokran (show-krahn’); Good
> morning = saba al khir (sah-bah’ al –
> khear’); Tea with milk = chai bi laban (shay’
> bee la-bahn’) This means the world to the
> Egyptians, and they do love Americans. You will
> find that even saying “thank you” in Arabic
> will bring a smile to everyone’s face. It will
> make you more than just a traveler; it will allow
> you to be what you really are by traveling to this
> foreign country halfway around the world – an
> ambassador of peace.
>
> Jane Vu – Ecommerce Manager
> Sunway Hotel Hanoi
> 19 Pham Dinh Ho Street
> Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam
> T +84 4 3971 3888
> F +84 4 3971 3967
> E
ecommerceshh@sunwayhotel.com.vn
> Website: [
hanoi.sunwayhotels.com]
Thanks,
Deepak Nangla