To be bricking it about going to Egypt?

[hooveringhamabeads]

I am taking my two DDs to Hurghada soon, and as the date looms I am worried as all I’ve heard from people is negative stuff.

Apart from the obvious extremists side of things, I’ve been told multiple times that we will definitely end up getting the shits, and get hassled by men all day long, especially as I won’t have one of them men folk with me.

Is is really going to be as bad as that? Beginning to wish I’d just booked center parcs!

Spent a week in Cairo eating street food and did not get the shits.
Haven't been to Hurghada. In Cairo I used the womens carriage on the train and it was fine (lots of friendly Egyptian women dying to practise their English). I think there's a possibility you may get some hassle, yes. But 99% of people were friendly and respectful and kind. They do have some unbelievable skilled and persuasive sales people. We got shown around the Khan al-Khalili market by a very polite and respectable chap who told us all about the history and showed us the most amazing little stalls down alleys we would never have found otherwise and eventually offered us apple tea, which happened to be in the perfume shop which was definitely started by his great grandfather, and yes we ended up buying perfume at probably significantly above the going rate. Ah well. We had a great time, learned a lot, and now we smell nice too.
I think if you want to travel about a bit and see the sights etc it's probably a good idea to try to get a local guide. They minimise hassle for you. Take care in taxis - ideas about health and safety are a bit different there and not all of them have things like seat belts (reflected in RTA statistics).

I'd love to go back to Egypt.

I was in Hurghada recently. Granted I was with my boyfriend, but I didn’t get hassled at all, if anything I was annoyed about being ignored completely (even by hotel staff!)

I don’t know if it helped, but on one day when we ventured into Hurghada I was fairly “modestly” dressed i.e skirt to mid calf and short sleeved t shirt. Are you staying in Hurghada itself or more towards Makadi Bay?

Ah thanks, that all sounds positive! Yes I will be on my guard with the perfume shops :) but as you say, worst case scenario is that I’ll smell nice and be poorer.

carpet I bought perfume too . We went on an organised group trip to Hurghada and ended up in a perfumery where they could match certain high end perfumes.

LesAnya In Hurghada itself I believe.

I literally haven’t been able to sleep worrying about going the last couple of nights. And I have done a fair bit of adventuring. Shouldn’t have looked at the foreign office website.

Charcoal tablets are your friend with regards to upset tummy over there. But I've never had to use them

They are really cheap from Superdrug etc. Also mosquito spray is a must at this time of year.
You will have a great time. Enjoy

I’ve beem to Egypt many many times, including to hurghada with my then 15 month old. I felt very safe, have never got the shits and have found the harassment no worse than in tourist resorts in other countries.

You’ll have a wonderful time, the Egyptians are a very welcoming nation who will look after you well I’m sure.

hoovering I’m sure you will be absolutely fine - and I say that as someone who booked Egypt as a last minute trip and also made the mistake of looking at the FCO website.

Mosquitos bloody love me so I’ll definitley take the repellent. And will get some charcoal tablets just in case.

Thanks so much, I can’t tell you how much better I feel for reading some positive comments

I’m afraid I’m going to go against the grain here and say that I got hassled more in Egypt than anywhere else, even Morocco. Luxor was the worst followed by Cairo. However I’ve never been to Hurgada but I do get the feeling that the more ‘resorty’ areas like that and Sharm are better, so I expect you’ll be ok op.

I found a recommendation for something called antinal which is available in pharmacies out there, it’s supposed to be good if you do get a funny tum.

You’ll have a great time and it will be lovely and warm!

I was the same as you....but we got back from hurghada October and I can honestly say it was great. Didn't get any hassle and felt very safe. None of us or the kids were ill. You will be fine!

Can you book outings with your holiday company with a tour guide in a group?

Dress conservatively. Cover shoulders and legs when out and about (soft cotton trousers are lovely and cool). Practice Arabic for No Thank You and get used to saying it

IME you do get hassled more when out as a lone female or group of females only. Just don't follow anyone into any little shops on the pretense of them showing you any thing! DD (18 at the time) and i went out for some magazines to read (try explaining magazine with hand signals ...) We were offered maps, copies of the Quran and eventually followed a man who said he thought he knew what we were looking for to his brothers shop, got locked in and had to drink tea and smell perfume and make small talk while worrying about our health and safety. We got out just fine. We must have looked hilarious squeezed tight together on the velvet sofa with our hats jammed ever harder down over our heads clutching our scarves round our shoulders with me bleating about ''my husband '' like the bloody queen They only wanted to sell us a bit of perfume oil. We were never in any danger, but it can feel intimidating when you're not used to it.

It's only one tiny aspect of an amazing country. I'd go to Egypt again in a heart beat. I adore the place.

It’ll be amazing! I went to Jordan last year and was a bit apprehensive, but had the most incredible time. Some of the people we met went on to Egypt, and judging by their Insta posts they loved it.

Once you arrive and see everyone going about their daily lives you’ll feel loads better. Try to get in that frame of mind now! Have a brilliant trip.

I absolutely hated eygpt, but can’t say I’d be scared as such. Security in big resorts etc is excellent

My friends been to Hurghada this week - looks amazing and no reports of anything bad 

Can i just add - to our amusement my DH got propositioned by a very rich looking man on a camel one evening. Apparently DH is ''veeery beautiful''. He's never let me forget it

I got over 100 insect bites, had to have treatment and get the hotel room sprayed I also had terrible dysentry that lasted for a couple of months on my return. Security was fine and I didn’t get hassled by the locals as I mostly had to stay in my hotel.

Take insect repellent and anti bac gel. Try to only eat hot food

I don’t know anyone that’s been to Egypt having any issues with the food

If you dress like a local woman when out and about you’ll be fine. Most Egyptian women there don’t have headscarves or wear sleeves.

Thanks for all the pointers! Does anyone know whether eggs are ok to eat? I am a vegetarian so I hope so but my brother said anyone who he knows who’s been to Egypt have all got ill from eating eggs

If you eat eggs local egyptian style (well done) then no. The problem arises when you order at a restaurant and they’re soft boiled / runny yolk.

Dressing modestly (T shirt or baggy blouse rather than vest top, long skirt or loose trousers not shorts, ) and covering your hair especially if you're blond will minimise hassle when you're exploring. You can wear what you like In the hotel. Most pharmacists speak english if you have stomach problems, but you'll probably be fine. Have a lovely holiday.