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Original poster

Booked hol to Egypt - panicking as no vaccine! HELP!!!

84 replies

Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 00:35

Apologies not AIBU but worried and need the traffic!

Yesterday, in a flurry of excitement due to a good deal, we booked a holiday to Egypt in 5 weeks time, with Tui. It’s to a 4+ star holiday village, all inclusive, we do not intend on leaving the complex.

Today it dawned on us about vaccines. Our GP practice can’t see us for a few weeks. There is no private vaccine clinic near us (not be within 40miles anyway) and it would cost us £240.

According to gov travel site Typhoid and Hep A are recommended. And 6 weeks in advance.

Now panicking because if we cancel we’ll lose 70% of the cost of the holiday. We can switch to another destination we think, but probably something not as good.

Im Googling like mad. The vaccines are suggested/recommended, not essential to travel.

What on earth do we do??!! We have a 9 year old daughter who has had all her usual childhood vaccines.

Have you been to Egypt? Did you get vaccinated? Am I worrying unduly? Argh!

OP posts:
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researchers3 · 02/04/2025 08:15

Sorry op, I've just seen your update. Sorry you didn't enjoy your holiday.

researchers3 · 02/04/2025 08:12

Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 01:03

I work in the NHS (as a clinician) so I have had loads of vaccines, but due to brain fog and panic I can’t remember which. I definitely have Hep B but I think I probably do have Hep A too. I also have a feeling I had typhoid vaccine when I was in my 20’s. But it’s not really me I care about.

My daughter will be drenched in chlorine 98% of the time, will that help?

Phone your GP and ask someone to check through your record?

PluckyBamboo · 01/04/2025 23:58

There was a worldwide shortage of typhoid vaccines when I went to Egypt and the Nurse gave me all the info about what to avoid - stagnant water rings a bell.

If you can't get the vaccines, read up on how to protect yourself as much as you can and crack on with your holiday.

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 01/04/2025 23:54

iiInsight · 28/02/2025 19:40

Hi, joining this post a little late but planning on traveling to Egypt. Can you please tell us how it went?! Thanks!

Sorry I’ve only just seen this!

Good news, we didn’t catch any tropical diseases!

Im trying to think of something else positive to say….. 😬

We didn’t really go for true Egyptian culture so I appreciate I have no right to complain about any of the following. We went to a TUI family friendly all inclusive hotel. When we were there there was a degree of concern about leaving the hotel. I think they’re always a bit apprehensive anyway (an arm guard takes you across the road if you do leave) but for whatever reason they were particularly concerned in the week we were there. So we didn’t step outside of the hotel and I appreciate this may not the kind of holiday you’d be doing.

I was concerned prior to going about food poisoning and we did indeed all get food poisoning despite being absolutely obsessive about hand washing and sanitiser. I actually nearly shit myself on the plane ride home which presented a level of anxiety I never knew existed. My stomach hasn’t been the same since tbh.

It was unbearably hot. Which is obvious really since we went in August (and yes I do realise how completely naive I sound!) I genuinely have no idea how people live and work in that heat. I was in constant awe of the Egyptians going about their daily business whilst I was dying just trying to hold up my book to read. It was an endurance test from beginning to end. How the actual f* did they build those pyramids? Seriously when you have felt that heat in real life, it gives you a whole new level of respect for the absolute wonder and mystery of those buildings. It didn’t even cool down at night!!

The pools were all warm and felt a bit like a breeding ground for bacteria (potentially where I got my gut rot).

Our hotel was basically the Egyptian equivalent of Butlins, meaning there was permanent noise and “entertainment” for the kids. I’ll leave that to you to decide if that’s a good thing or not.

I was constantly hassled by men, being told I was a ‘beautiful queen’ and remarks about my very pale skin and red hair. The fact is that I am most certainly not a beautiful queen, and in the heat of Egypt I more closely resembled Jabba the Hutt with ginger hair in a messy bun. So I didn’t fall for their charm and refused to buy any of the stuff they were trying to sell me. I was warned that women are hassled a lot, but I wasn’t prepared for it to happen multiple times a day in the hotel itself. I very politely asked them to stop trying to sell me things many times, but they didn’t ever stop.

We had our homebound flight delayed by 24hrs and was put up in a different hotel for that extra night. This was quite possibly the most luxurious hotel I’ve ever been in, the food was incredible, it was so peaceful and no hawkers at all. I have considered going back there but it would need to be in their winter and we’d need to be millionaires.

To be perfectly honest with you, I didn’t really enjoy the holiday and it cost an absolute arm and a leg. The heat just kind of ruined it for me. Hats off to anyone who goes there every summer and good luck if you’ve decided to go for it. Just take some electric fans with a water mister and immodium.

OP posts:
iiInsight · 28/02/2025 19:40

Hi, joining this post a little late but planning on traveling to Egypt. Can you please tell us how it went?! Thanks!

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 20:02

mimimomma · 05/07/2024 19:18

Ask the GP surgery to get in touch if they have any cancelled appointments. Also avoid tap water, food that has been washed in local water, and try and eat fruit and vegetables that can be peeled.
I too have been to Egypt without travel vaccines..... Did you know that travel vaccines are recommended for Turkey? No one realises that either!

Yes we were amazed when we were looking for something to swap this one with. Who knew?! I assumed it was on a par with Cyprus.

OP posts:
mimimomma · 05/07/2024 19:18

Ask the GP surgery to get in touch if they have any cancelled appointments. Also avoid tap water, food that has been washed in local water, and try and eat fruit and vegetables that can be peeled.
I too have been to Egypt without travel vaccines..... Did you know that travel vaccines are recommended for Turkey? No one realises that either!

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 18:49

Thank you. This is basically my Egypt reassurance thread. 😂🙈😭 Talk about 1st world problems.

My husband is saying that every time I feel nervous I should look at this: 8000 reviews, 6000 say excellent and nearly 2000 say very good. So, logically, the odds are in our favour aren’t they. Surely you wouldnt rate the hotel as excellent if it gave you Typhoid or food poisoning right??

The reviews for the place we went to in Cyprus were nowhere near this positive and we had the best holiday we’ve ever had. So we’re quite easily pleased!

Booked hol to Egypt - panicking as no vaccine! HELP!!!
OP posts:
thenightsky · 05/07/2024 18:36

I've been many times and never had any special vaccine. However, I've caught tummy bugs about 50% of the times I've gone. DH has got sick every single time and refuses to go again, so I got with my female mate these days. Imodium doesn't work if you get the shits. You just go to the hotel complex medical centre and they'll give you the right pills to stop it immediately.

Clearinguptheclutter · 05/07/2024 18:29

j think those vaccines are recommended for many countries.
I’ve been to Egypt and knows lots who’ve been- none of whom got extra vaccines

stclair · 05/07/2024 18:27

You aren’t backpacking around, you are staying in a resort. Relax! 😌

Poppysmom22 · 05/07/2024 18:13

If you do get a tummy bug go to the pharmacy and get the yellow stuff is horrible but works

Poppysmom22 · 05/07/2024 18:11

Honestly we went to Egypt in a party of 30 family and friends i was the only one vaccinated (been somewhere high risk) and I was the only one who got sick although that was montezumas revenge

ZaraSpellman · 05/07/2024 18:05

I’ve been plenty of times and I did once get ill, but that was definitely sunstroke too much beer and too much sun! 😎 You’ll be fine particularly as you plan to stay in the resort

Original poster
Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 17:59

Honestly, with all these reports of the heat and food poisoning I’m feeling we’ve made a huge mistake and I’m now dreading the holiday. £3k wasted. My husband has tried to switch to another destination but it’s going to cost so much we just need to go with the flow and make the best of a bad situation.

Thanks everyone for the reassurance about the vaccines but now very worried for completely different reasons.

I keep telling myself, it’s just a week. We’ll get through it. Might lose some weight at least!

🙈

OP posts:
Oxo01 · 05/07/2024 15:20

Usarly go to Egypt 2 x year, never get vacs.
Any upset tummy etc the local pharmacy's are great.

PosingPosture20 · 05/07/2024 13:22

I strongly recommend getting tablets from a local chemist as they seem to work better for their local bacteria, than the European drug with the same active ingredient, strangely

Yes, agree with this. Dh and I did this and were ill for 4 days. We were part of a large group, most of whom also got sick - but quite a few others didn't like the idea of taking 'foreign medicine' so just used immodium and the like from home but they were ill for several days longer.

amylou8 · 05/07/2024 11:48

Been to Egypt, Turkey and most of North Africa many times over the years. Never even occurred to me to get vax. Eaten from street vendors and dubious looking cafes. Still alive. I don't drink anything that's not out of a can or bottle on the plane, their water tanks are filthy. Pick cafes and restaurants that are busy and full of locals, and never ever eat the rice.

Galliano · 05/07/2024 11:46

isthismylifenow · 05/07/2024 06:58

Travelled all over and the only vaccine I have ever needed was yellow fever as that is an entry requirement for some places (not Egypt).

But this thread has made me wonder if people book holidays, and then expect the NHS to fund their vaccinations for it? Only as OP mentioned going to her GP. Would the GP charge you for them?

I’ve had these vaccines by a practice nurse at my gps before travelling for work. I asked to be charged for them as I wanted to expense them…felt much the same as you that this shouldn’t be sudsidised and should be a cost to my employer of doing business. It wasn’t possible to charge me and the practice nurses attitude was it was a huge saving to NHS compared to treating people who contracted the diseases.

angstridden2 · 05/07/2024 11:38

Agree re stomach upsets, have been to Egypt several times and got the runs every time even though I normally have a cast iron stomach. Plenty of Imodium and as everyone says dodge the salads and ice!

duende · 05/07/2024 11:23

I’ve been to Egypt twice. Never had these vaccines.
we stayed in 5* resorts each time and each time we got sick though. :(

if this happens I strongly recommend getting tablets from a local chemist as they seem to work better for their local bacteria, than the European drug with the same active ingredient, strangely.

Greenlittecat · 05/07/2024 11:22

Fluffyflipflop · 05/07/2024 01:03

I work in the NHS (as a clinician) so I have had loads of vaccines, but due to brain fog and panic I can’t remember which. I definitely have Hep B but I think I probably do have Hep A too. I also have a feeling I had typhoid vaccine when I was in my 20’s. But it’s not really me I care about.

My daughter will be drenched in chlorine 98% of the time, will that help?

My daughter will be drenched in chlorine 98% of the time, will that help?

This really made me laugh 😅

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 05/07/2024 11:17

I don’t know why people in general wouldn’t get vaccinated - it’s free and they protect you.

I met someone in Indonesia that contacted typhoid and she was really really ill and had to be taken by boat from our island to he mainland for treatment in a hospital I wouldn’t have wanted my dog treated in. She freely said none of her travel party had had any vaccinations.

Superdrugs website suggests you can have both hep an and typhoid around 2 weeks before - although you’ll likely have to pay if you can’t get in at your GPs at short notice.

Staringatthewalljustmeagain · 05/07/2024 11:01

Wouldn’t even occur to me to get vaccines to go to an all-inclusive in Egypt.

RivkaTheBold · 05/07/2024 09:32

Been there loads and none of us had any vaccines.

You'll need to pack Imodium though if using a buffet a lot.