Anyone been to Egypt??

[Chitterchatter48]

Almost everyone I know who has been in the past had stomach upsets and were sick. My DH desperately wants to go here on hols next year to see the Pyramids, and I'm a fly and flop kind of person, so happy just reading my kindle and sipping a cocktail (uncultured me 😂)
But...obviously I don't want to be sick as I've been ill on holiday before with food poisoning and it was utterly awful! We would only be going for 1 week and I don't want to spend half of that in bed!

The few various people I knew who went to Egypt was over 10 years ago, so maybe things have drastically improved since then 💁‍♀️

Does anyone have experience of travelling to Egypt. I would appreciate any thoughts.

TIA

if you're concerned about harassment, I suggest you look at a place called el gouna which is located around 10 miles away from hurghada. The town is owned by a Coptic Christian billionaire who stipulates that peddling, harassment etc is illegal in all bars/ restaurants/shops etc. I have never been to such a chilled, unique place, you get zero hassle and the place is absolutely beautiful - set around a collection of lagoons. Although it can be an exclusive place, there are also cheaper b and bs nowadays. It's lovely - I'd go back in a heartbeat. Safe and beautiful and nope, not even a whiff of food poisoning whilst I was there!

Went a few years ago and despite having a cast iron stomach I was horrifically ill. I think the problem is food hygiene (kitchens not knowing to keep meat chopping boards separate from salad etc) especially in the pile them high AI's Makes it hard to avoid even if you stay veggie. If you go for a 4 or 5 star through a big holiday company you should be fine. They will have drilled their kitchens properly. Other than that I loved Egypt although seen a couple of scary shark stories from the Sharm/Hurghada area which might put me off.

I spent 10 days there and had an amazing time but I would only do it again with a tour group as the guides are very useful for dealing with the locals. One of my group had his wallet snatched I recall (not unusual).

Almost everyone in my group was ill, but I was fine as I don’t eat meat. Basically avoid drinking water unless it’s from a bottle with a sealed top. Watch out for salads etc as often they’ll have been washed in water plus left out food will have flies crawling on it. I survived happily on individually wrapped cheese segments and bread!!

I would love to go back again but it is bloody hard work there as you do have to be constantly on your guard so it’s not a restful holiday. It is an amazing place though!

I went years ago to luxor and Cairo I kept out of the sun, avoided ice and salads and was fine. As we're most of the others on the trip.

My DH got very ill in Sharm, but he chose to eat prawns from a buffet the night before we flew back...

A different trip just before Covid was to Cairo and a Nile Cruise, neither of us got ill. And it was amazing. We spent about 4 days in Cairo just doing our own thing, the museum was fabulous so I imagine the new one will be amazing. The pyramids were a little disappointing to be honest but I think have realistic expectations. We also stayed out near them when really we should have stayed more centrally and travelled out to the pyramids.

We used Uber to get around, which was slick and lovely cars, had a much more entertaining time in the old yellow taxis, but the Ubers were far more reliable.

Loved just toddling round old Cairo. The Nile cruise was amazing!

And didn't get sick once.

I haven’t been but I have met loads of people who have (pyramids type trips rather than beach) and they’ve all wholeheartedly recommended it when I’ve asked and none mentioned getting ill. I’d go, take sensible precautions and just take plenty of Imodium with you if you’re worried.

Yes I believe so. It’s a great way to do it!! Means not a long stay there and you see the Pyramids. You get picked up on coaches with guides on arrival.
Here is a link with some details

varianostravel.com/egypt-from-cyprus-holiday-trips/

They may have restarted, but when I went to Cyprus (not long before covid) they had suspended them all due to safety issues.

We went and had a brilliant time and no sickness but we didn’t eat outside of our area (there went different Al a cartes included around the little village, and at the beach, so we weren’t confined to just our hotel).

It was hot, hassle free and the food was lovely, and with pools for the children, just what was needed for a quiet and lazy break.

I've been and loved it and didn't get ill. The pyramids and snorkelling were amazing. ExH had an upset stomach but nothing too awful and it didn't stop us doing anything. I didn't eat carefully really, we did stay in a decent all inclusive hotel though.

We did a day trip from Cyprus. I really wanted to go to cairo / pyramids but was concerned re hassle of women, D&V, security etc.

It was a brilliant day (except for the Nile Cruise- they had a man in drag for the 'entertainment' ) but also quite uncomfortable with attitudes to women etc. And I was the only member of our group to get d and V- again from the cruise I think. Can't remember the provider but like this:
https://varianostravel.com/egypt-from-cyprus-holiday-trips/cairo-one-day-tour-package/

I am glad we went, as seeing the pyramids and museum was something I have always longed for, but equally glad it was just for a day.

Yes a few times and couple of times had a bad stomach but think it was from drinks and ice
avoid all inclusive help yourself drinks and Avoid ice think I read salad that’s washed in water to Avoid

I've been 3 times and never been ill. I am a vegetarian though so could be because I'm not eating meat or fish there.

I have, nearly everyone else got sick apart from us vegetarians.

The hotel we stayed in used only safe filtered water to wash salad etc. in and that was the case for all of the hotels in the area, the same with ice for drinks.

I took some prebiotics from Optibac, and didn't get ill. Also, only drink water from sealed bottles, don't have ice, avoid any salad/fruit that might have been washed.
Lastly, didn't encounter any sexual harrassment and camel drivers etc went away when told no thank you.

Just to say there is a big difference between Cairo and the resorts such as Sharm and Hurghada. I'm guessing most people on this thread have been to the resorts which are fairly easy to get to on cheap airlines. To go to Cairo I believe you have to go via the bigger airlines, or get a flight there from one of the resorts while you're there which is what I did.

In the resorts it's common and acceptable to wear shorts and holiday wear you would wear in Europe. In Cairo it's not, and even showing your legs below the knee would mean you are stared at.

The hassling is common everywhere to get you to buy stuff. The people there are poor and they think westerners have a lot of cash. The worst place for hassle of this kind for me was at the pyramids- it made the hassle in Sharm look timid.

Everyone I know who has been to Egypt has had tummy issues. But for me the worst thing was the mosquitos - I looked like I had chicken pox after a week.

Been 3 times and never sick. Our travel rep said to us that to be careful with the Aircon, don't sit outside in 40deg heat, go inside and turn the Aircon to 18, it will make you ill. I don't know really if that's the case, other than a sudden temperature change like that doesn't sound like it can be good for you. But we followed that and weren't ill so who knows. We drank and ate whatever we wanted.

If you are going to Cairo I would stay in a 5 star hotel (not resort hotel) and only eat meat there.

Have been twice. I never got sick but have been scammed a few times, and the hassle is annoying. I loved it but would never return.

I went 15 years ago. Didn't get ill and I don't remember being particularly over cautious.
We did a trip to Cairo/the pyramids and it was hell on Earth. About 4 trillions degrees, the pyramids are FILTHY, we were constantly harassed by small children selling things, the museum was hotter than the sun, and I got harassed EVERYWHERE even though I was with my then husband.
Wild horses wouldn't drag me back. In fact I wish I'd never seen the pyramids in real life as the reality of them totally ruined their wonder.

We went to makadi bay ( 5 star Iberostarshotel) back in 2010 -

The good- sea is lovely, food at beach shacks was lovely, hotel lovely- weather glorious (May half term)

The bad- we were all utterly ill from day 3 till coming home- really bad D&V - we were very careful too - someone said if you ordered 'anything' alcoholic it was watered down - and not with unopened water bottles. Even Imodium didn't sort it . Was all tested as soon as we got back and immediately on dioralyte - all had amoebic dysentry. Around 30% of people in hotel had similar issues it seems- and it seemed to be mainly the more 'middle class ' customers- maybe as someone said we don't get enough germs in everyday life with all that anti bac stuff - it also had guards everywhere and wire fences plus shopkeeper hassle- you were effectively stuck in a resort and beach the whole time -

I wouldn't go again if you paid me

Spent two weeks in Cairo and on a nile cruise. Neither of us got ill

My cousins been this year and my best friend just got back and neither had issues with dodgy tummies.

I went for work and it's by far the most sexist country I've ever been to. Makes Dubai and others in the Middle East look positively enlightened.