To cance l a trip to Egypt next summer?

[DrSeuss]

Am well aware that my holiday is the least of the problems facing the Middle East but it is my current dilemma and I need to make a decision.
We were in the process of arranging a three week trip to Egypt for next summer. We would be travelling independently by public transport from one end of the country to the other, accompanied by our thirteen year old daughter, staying in Airbnbs and guest houses and doing our own day trips to see the sights. Before having children, we did this kind of thing all over the world including India and South America and never felt at all unsafe.

However, the current situation has me a bit rattled. There is no way that this will all calm down any time soon. I do not want to expose my daughter to any danger. She has travelled with us in this way in Europe lots of times and we took her on a package holiday to Egypt when she was two. She is used to travelling and all that goes with it but I just don't think we should do this right now. A family of tourists were attacked on Saturday in Alexandria. We don't speak Arabic and are very obviously Northern European to look at so no way will we blend in.
Everything I have booked so far is fully refundable at this point. Should I cancel?

I went to Cairo with a female friend in my twenties. Hell on earth. Misogyny central. Swore never to go back.

Can’t you just plan it nearer the time? Blows my mind the idea of making plans that far ahead, we travel independently and usually book things a few weeks in advance, often book accommodation whilst we’re there for the next place.

Agree with this. Incredible country. So much history - perfect if your daughter is considering GCSE history . I found Polish people so welcoming and with an inherent confidence about them which was so positive.

I’m old now but haven’t been back to the Middle East since experiencing all the hassle when young. Same with the Caribbean although that’s a different sort of hassle. I’d rather spend my money elsewhere .

Cancel it OP. Egypt (other than the tourist resorts) is unsafe at the best of times, absolutely do not independently travel there especially with a young girl ever. Travel to somewhere much safer away from the ME.

If cancel but I’m incredibly cautious about these things and Egypt is somewhere I never plan to go.

We are booked to go in November! Thinking I should cancel

If you are considering Berlin you could go to Dresden too. Especially if your dd is arty or musical. And it has lots of history.

Dresden is also good for smaller kids if anyone else is reading this for ideas, with a suspension railway, a funicular, easy cycling along the river, a children's museum, a chocolate museum, a transport museum and a hygiene museum (which is more interesting than it sounds).

There are some FCDO Advisories at the moment, but I'm not sure whether you would be affected, CNG.

It might be a good idea to ask the travel companies and your insurers what your position would be.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

I have travelled extensively as a couple and several times independently to Egypt. I knew unwanted male attention was off the charts but never felt actively unsafe. This summer I took my 13 Yr old daughter to a Sharm resort and deeply regret it, my daughter was hassled constantly and unfortunately this also included a serious sexual assault where a hotel staff member let himself into her room and forced her on the bed. The hotel could not have seemed less bothered and only involved police when I was able to get a male Arabic friend to speak to them. My daughter was severely traumatised and I deeply regret ever choosing Egypt for a family holiday. It really is unrelenting harassment and as I mentioned, I'm not a particularly unseasoned traveller