To go to Egypt?

[Linespotting]

Would you travel to a expat complex to stay with family for 10 night whilst 23 weeks pregnant?
I don’t really want to go, but my negotiations with the airline don’t appear to be going to well. I think it will be fine and it will be safe, you just always go to the ‘what if’s’ in a situation don’t you?

I don’t really want to go, but my negotiations with the airline don’t appear to be going to well. I don't understand this bit - if you don't want to go then don't go, why are you negotiating?

No. Your chance of getting a stomach bug and risking the baby are so high out there. I wouldn't risk it.

I am trying to negotiate a refund - otherwise as a family we will loose out in nearly £2k as we paid £2.5k for flights and the refund would only be £580.

Ah ok sorry can't help with that but no I wouldn't go

If you don’t want to go though, you don’t need a refund to make that happen. Just don’t go.

Going won’t get you the money back.

Yes, unlink the two things

That’s it really, the moneys already gone unfortunately. So I personally would write it off and stay at home near healthcare I trust. I’m not rich and if I wrote off that money I’d know I wouldn’t be able to save it again for years and years but I’d still write it off.

You've already spent the money. I'd stay at home.

I would go.

I went as a single mum with my toddler, loved it and had no issue.

Well you've spent the money, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to go...

tbh given that travelling to Egypt comes with a risk of quite severe food poisoning

i wouldn't risk it

but their healthcare is not bad tbf if you go to one of the nicer private hospitals.

the Egyptian doctors I've worked with in the uk (who trained in egypt and worked in egypt for many years) were all excellent

I would only be worried about risk of infection and the longish flight (risk of blood clots)

Were you pregnant?

Do you have insurance?
Can you move the flight rather than cancel?

We both caught a stomach bug when we went.

Agreed are you really going too do something you don't want to do to save some money?

If you won't enjoy it, why do it?

I would go, 23 weeks is well within the safe period.

I get sick on every holiday but because Egypt is well known for it I was meticulously careful and avoided all stomach upset! Carry hand sanitiser with you.

I mean, I know I will enjoy it- I will be visiting my sister with my husband, DD and parents, it’ll be lovely. But I’m just worried about complications.

I think the fact you'd be staying with family rather than in some unknown hotel makes a difference, providing they're clean living people of course

If you can manage with only eating/drinking at theirs (and even then avoiding the usual risk factors) I'd have thought you'd be okay, especially if there's a good local hospital as well in case - god forbid - you needed it

Have you valid travel insurance? If not then no I would not go.

I wouldn’t think twice about it, but then I’ve been to various different parts of Egypt many times and never suffered a stomach bug. Egypt has an undeserved reputation for being unsafe but it’s fine. You will see tourists from all over the world there if you go.

I would definitely go. If you take sensible precautions, you won't necessarily get a tummy bug. We've been to Egypt many times, and have travelled round the country, eaten in back street cafes, and have never had a tummy problem. Apart from the obvious things like only drinking bottled water (that is sealed), not eating salad that may have been washed in tap water, and avoiding ice, we have always been absolutely scrupulous about using anti bacterial gel every single time we touch any money, and I'm certain that it the main way that people pick up bugs. Most Egyptian money is absolutely filthy, but many people don't seem to consider that it's crawling with bacteria.