Please talk to me like I am 5. How do you fly to Egypt?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

Obviously on a plane

But I am researching having surgery either in Turkey or Egypt. I've never had to book a flight before and it's stressing me out just a little bit already. I prefer the sound of the doctor based in Egypt (is an associate professor in his field, goes all over the world giving lectures and training students) although both doctors are -from what I gather- excellent. I enquired about the cost of surgery at the Egyptian place and they sent me a huge email in response with all the info I could need and there was this paragraph which has confused me slightly, I don't think the fact that English is not their first language is helping.

"Arrival at the airport:
You don't need a visa for any transit outside of Egypt. However you will need a Visa to enter Egypt. Some nationalities don't need to apply for a visa before departure (including US and UK nationals) in this circumstances you can get your visa when you arrive at the airport. Airport has many facilities where you can exchange money and buy sim cards at a very reasonable price (which we recomend)"

So do I need a Visa? If so can I really just rock up at the airport and get one? It sounds almost too easy
How do I book a flight? Where is the best place to book flights? I'm based in Lincolnshire and my closest airport is Doncaster, could probably get as far as Manchester to fly out if needed though.

If anyone could help this total noob that would be awesome, thank you!

Hello Darling, I have a different point of view.
I was working in Egypt and needed an operation in Cairo. ALL went WELL.
Driving is not so bad. Try Rome or Karachi for real excitement!
If you think of other than direct flight from London to Cairo you will add hours and maybe an overnight. Look at the map, note the distance that Amman Jordan is.
Have you researched Hungary Romania Bulgaria or Prague for your operation?

I think there is a train from Cairo to Alex, Trains are quite good, we went South by train.

There will always be someone to speak English.

@celiafforcandle

Hello Darling, I have a different point of view. I was working in Egypt and needed an operation in Cairo. ALL went WELL. Driving is not so bad. Try Rome or Karachi for real excitement! If you think of other than direct flight from London to Cairo you will add hours and maybe an overnight. Look at the map, note the distance that Amman Jordan is. Have you researched Hungary Romania Bulgaria or Prague for your operation? I think there is a train from Cairo to Alex, Trains are quite good, we went South by train. There will always be someone to speak English.

But you were working there, knew your way around and presumably needed an operation that wasn't elective? The OP has never booked her own flight, has never been to Egypt, and her only experience of being abroad is on school trips or family holidays with her parents. She's considering it for cheapness and lack of 'hoops', and I think posters are trying to point out to her that it's not that straightforward.

So who is going to manage your post-operative dumping syndrome? Ensure you are not nutritionally depleted post op and manage any post op stricturing? Not your GP , that's for sure.
There is a reason that these surgeries are done at large volume centres with a full MDT to support you before and after.

Call a travel agent. I know you can book online- but if you are uncertain somewhere like Trailfinders where you can talk to someone might be better- they can give visa advice too

How much would the surgery cost in Egypt? I appreciate that it would cost more in the UK, but just wondering how much the actual difference would be when you factor in (multiple) flights and other travel costs, insurance etc.

And I can't even begin to think of an explosive gyppy tummy after gastric surgery. Despite super-strength local medication (way better than Immodium!) mine dragged on for about six weeks after I got home.

@MallardtheKing in Egypt it's £3600, Turkey it's £3500, UK £12000. It's a huuuuge difference.

The surgery group I'm in on Facebook, loads of people have been to the two doctors I'm looking at and have had no problems at all.

Not such a huuuge difference when you add in insurance, flights, other travel costs, accommodation, etc.

Have you actually done that?

@user1493494961

I think you need to jump through the hoops rather than taking a short-cut.

Yep, there are very good reasons why you have to go through such a long process before getting the surgery in The Uk. Having lost a friend to this surgery I advise you to proceed with caution and I actually do agree that if you are struggling to organise the flight then maybe you aren’t in the best place to decide who should do your surgery

[quote AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]@MallardtheKing in Egypt it's £3600, Turkey it's £3500, UK £12000. It's a huuuuge difference.

The surgery group I'm in on Facebook, loads of people have been to the two doctors I'm looking at and have had no problems at all.[/quote]
Well they are hardly going to post in they are dead are they?

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens Darling I have been re-thinking about what I posted earlier after @Wildern has pointed out that I did have a deal of experience of other places before Cairo. (Thank you Wildern, I was too casual).
From the other advice you have been given OP. You will find the week after the operation very difficult and stressful. You need someone with you who can help and they need to understand the full details you will have to manage. I was living with friends. You will be in an hotel like a Travel Lodge but with more insects.
Cairo is I think a step too far for you. It might even be cheaper to have the operation at your local Nuffield. It would solve the post op care probs.
My friend wanted an operation, he will go privately after advice from GP.
Ask your GP for ideas and advice. You may have to write a letter to ensure they let you speak to the GP.

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens apologies I haven’t RTFT but yes as a UK citizen you rock up and get a visa at the travel exchange booth as you enter the terminal after getting off the plane. Was 25 USD when I was last there

Look at the total cost of the operation abroad, flights, hotels, visa, transfers both ends then talk to your local private hospital and see what price they can offer for cash. The difference might not be as much you think with the back up of the nhs if things don't go to plan

@minniemoocher

Look at the total cost of the operation abroad, flights, hotels, visa, transfers both ends then talk to your local private hospital and see what price they can offer for cash. The difference might not be as much you think with the back up of the nhs if things don't go to plan

The other major expense to factor in is insurance - vital, but probably almost impossible to find cover for under this combination of circumstances. You can’t go uninsured, so this may be your dealbreaker.

I would think very hard about the degree of risk involved in what you’re proposing.

I would not go to Egypt or Turkey. I was on a ward with a girl a couple of months ago who had this operation done in Poland or Romania (can't remember which). She needed further correctional surgery on her return to the UK as something had gone wrong and she was having problems. I would prefer to at least be in the EU.

What about after care? How long before you will be fit to fly? What about if the hospital want to discharge early? Where will you go? What happens if you have to stay in hospital longer than you expect? Will you be able to manage rebooking flights etc? Who will manage your care when you come back? I cannot see your gp doing so. I would imagine there would be a wait for NHS care. Also have you looked into travel insurance. You need a specialist insurance policy not a standard package.

Please please tell me someone is going with you? Even small things like managing luggage etc going home? Will you be able to lift, push, carry?

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens
I’ve had the same surgery abroad I will pm with the details of my surgery
I paid £3500 inc flights & 6 nights in hospital

@2bazookas

Bottom line; someone in UK who hasn't the capability ot organise their own transport and visas, certainly doesn't have the wit to assess and research the credibility of medical emails from strangers in Egypt or Turkey.

Absolutely this.

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Have you spoken to anyone in real life about your plans?

Of course all of the FB posts are positive.The admins for the page will remove anything that they perceive as negative.

Please don't do this.

You could use a company to arrange it for you. I haven’t done this myself but a friend used someone called we cure and they organised it in Turkey. She got a deal via some podcast she was listening to and was able to take her DH along for free too.

Take usd $. Visa is just a stamp on passport on arrival, it's no big deal

Insurance would be important. I know someone who had issues post surgery on way home and got stuck at airport very ill as hospital had ticked box and got rid of her and airline wouldn’t take her.

Insurance sorted it but would have been 1000£S otherwise.

I think the hotel isolation at each end of the journey might make the trip a little more expensive.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

I'm not sure either Turkey or Egypt is on the hotel (i.e. managed) quarantine list for the UK ATM but things are changing so fast who knows what next month/week will bring.

What I do know for certain though is that the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the NHS publish minimum intervals between surgery and flying..I'm not sure if the OP is aware of that complication/potential for increased cost:

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/when-can-i-fly-after-surgery/#:~:text=Types%20of%20surgery,before%20flying%2C%20you%20should%20allow%3A&text=4%20to%205%20days%20after,a%20coronary%20artery%20bypass%20graft

I was living with friends. You will be in an hotel like a Travel Lodge but with more insects.

That made me laugh, @celiafforcandle.

You can also get an e-Visa online: www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/

Just make sure you apply in advance because if you don't have the paperwork when you get to Egypt, you'll have to queue up and buy a visa. If you don't want to buy one online, then it'll be signposted as soon as you get off the plane - you'll buy a sticker at one kiosk and then it'll be stamped at another. Then it'll get stamped when you leave. This typical tourist visa will allow you to stay in Egypt for up to 30 days in a 90 day period.

Equally, if you need a longer-stay visa (i.e. longer than 30 days in a 90 day period), then you can apply to the Egyptian embassy in London. It was about £55 for a multiple-entry visa which allows a 90-day stay in Egypt.