Egypt - Sharm El Sheikh

[Overtiredmum]

Can someone please give me some general advice on travelling to Egypt - ie. do we needs visas, if so do we need to apply before we go, or are we given forms on flight etc. Plus, are vaccinations necessary.

We are Egypt virgins so we have idea what to expect!

Many thanks

I didn't get any vaccinations. If you're staying in the sharm area you don't need them, nor do you need a visa.

You get a bit of paper on the plane to fill your details out in. You can tick the sharm only box on that, then you don't need a visa. Loads of people don't realise this and join the visa queue. Skip the big queue and save your money and just go through customs instead. However if you intend to go to cario or some of the further excursions you will need a visa. But for sharm and local desert excursions such as quad biking you don't.

Barter like mad. Be prepared to be hassled non stop. If you get the shits and you may well, go to a local chemists for antibiotics. If you pay more than £5 you're been ripped off and I know people who have got them for less than that. It's some sort of miracle Egyptian antibiotic which sorts the local tummy bugs out.

Thanks Viva. Yes, we'll only be staying in Sharm, as this will be our first holiday in years, and first since having the DCs, so we fully intend just to chill.

Thanks for the advice, have been reading loads on Trip Advisor and wondered whether the dodgy tum was just something to do with our hotel, and was getting a little worried.

Mmm, I would say that every hotel review will have dodgy tum stories. It's rife in Egypt.

Don't drink the water, don't have ice in your drinks, don't eat salad, make sure any fruit is washed. Take hand gel with you and use it before eating. Don't have the air con to cold as I've seen some theories that being ot outside then going to icy cold makes you susceptible. Take some acidbifidophulus thingy TAblets with you, I got some from holland Barrett. Like a pre biotic thing. Meant to help prevent.

Dd got the shits still and it was severe. Rife in the hotel but short lasting thankfully.

It could be the water in the pool, or the chefs not hand washing. Not sure but it is common.

Which hotel are you going to? Is it the holiday village. We wnt to aqu blu and if your kids are old enough to like water parks go for the day, it's fab.

DH was proper poorly for about a month after we got back, doc said daily probiotic yoghurts (or acidophilus tablets like Viva said) for a month before you go can be helpful (good if you like them) worth a try. Take snorkelling kit with you its amazing but (but look out for sharks)

Ah, Tut's trots... Everyone gets 'em. I lasted 5 days before I succumbed and then had to spend the day on and around a boat with just one toilet 'cos it was the day of my scuba diving exam! Grim all round.

Anyway, it don't last too long and I seem to remember taking buscopan tablets which were cheap from the pharmacies, they help with the cramps. You can also pick up some rehydration sachets quite cheaply there which are useful. Enjoy!

Forgot to say that if you are interested, I definitely recommend doing a scuba taster course whilst there and they also do ones for kids depending on how old they are (make sure the dive centre is PADI accredited). The diving is absolutely amazing there, beautiful fish and coral and the visibility is excellent. Plus the water is lovely and warm. Mmmm, I would like to go back actually...

Oh and if you do get dreaded belly avoid immodium type stuff as it keeps the bacteria in there, get some dioralyte plus (it has powdered rice in it to give your body some energy) to take with you, much better for this situation than the regular dioralyte. Sorry to sound negative but its so common with Eygpt you might as well be prepared!

We've been twice and both times DD and I were fine but DH had the trots. DO not take immodium - it does nothing to help fight the egyptian tummy trots - get yourself to a local pharmacy and ask for antinol. We paid 50p for a 4 day supply - the differnce in 24 hrs is remarkable.

I went to Makadi Bay, near Hurghada for almost three weeks ( volcanic ash cloud) and none of us got a funny tummy but my DH got an ear infection and got stung on the price of antibiotics.
If you like going on excursions Egypt has so much to offer. We loved the Pyramids and Egyptian museum and the desert.
Have a fab holiday.

Thanks all for the amazing advice! I remember going to Mexico a few years back - Mexican belly was not pleasant, so will definitely be going well prepapred!