Anyone enjoyed Egypt and not been ill?

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

DH and I are looking for a relaxing, warm holiday but we can’t go until the end of November, and only for a week

Travel agent has suggested Egypt but I’m a bit worried about going out of the hotel as a woman, and also the chance of getting an upset stomach as several friends have suffered from.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I went to hurghada as a single mum with three youngish kids. Had a great time - no issues with tummy problems, food was nice, weather fab, hotel organised trips felt safe and well organised. Minimal hassle (little bit of selling hassle, nothing major). We did valley of the kings and a diving trip - both were phenomenal. Would recommend!

I've been and didn't get ill. I stayed in an all inclusive resort and only went out on guided tours. The hotel was lovely and had plenty going on to not feel like we needed to leave. I felt a little uneasy from the way men looked at me during a trip in the desert but didn't get any hassle, I was with Dh which may have helped with that.

@Arcadia it’s Egypt - which is what the OP was asking about. I did say it was very chilled.

One of my relatives has been to Egypt but no idea which resort. I remember him saying they needed a holiday afterwards. He said they were advised not to leave the hotel (even for organised trips) due to local unrest and were told armed staff were patrolling the perimeter to ensure guests safety. He lost weight on holiday!

I've been once to sharm. Had diarrhea pretty much the whole time and didn't feel comfortable, even within the resort tbh

Sorry shower

I’ve been 3 times. Was a bit ill last time but it was August and very hot! I’ve done two sharm resorts and a nile cruise.

I went to Luxor earlier this year. One of my DC was ill shortly after we arrived but it was less than 24hrs and they bounced back. The rest of us were fine. We had a brilliant trip and would love to go back (DC included).

Most unpleasant holiday I've ever had and unfortunately it was also our honeymoon.

Thanks all.

on balance, you’ve convinced me that it’s not the place for us this year.

Never been ill, never felt unsafe but was sensible , sober and local to hotel for whole holiday
Had a great time in Hurghada , Sharm twice , loved both
No issues at all

We’ve been to Egypt six or seven times and have never been ill. we were told before our first visit that the vast majority of stomach issues is caused by germs transmitted from bank notes, and that you should use hand sanitiser whenever you handle money - once you’ve seen Egyptian bank notes you will understand why! We have followed this advice religiously and have used sanitiser every single time we’ve touched bank notes, and always again before eating. We've also always avoided the obvious things like salad, ice etc., and checking the seal of any bottles of water outside major hotels.

Egypt is one of the most wonderful countries Ive ever visited, and is full of amazing places to visit, especially Luxor. It’s very easy to travel around by train and internal flights and I would definitely recommend thst you make your own arrangements rather than go on guided trips through a tour rep. We’ve travelled by train to Aswan a couple of times and taken internal flights to Abu Simbel and Cairo amd it was so easy . I’ve always found that Egypt feels very very safe and Im comfortable walking around on my own late at night which is something I would never dream of doing in my area of London. You do get hassled in the centre of Luxor and around the pyramids, but things are much better then they were a few years ago, and if you tell vendors, caleche drivers etc firmly and politely that you’re not interested, they will leave you alone eventually. Make sure that you dress modestly and don’t leave your hotel in skimpy clothing.

I think Egyptian food is hugely under rated, and we’ve had some wonderful meals. I would never book AI because it would be a great shame to miss out on some of the excellent local restaurants.

if I was able to travel at the moment, it would be my first choice of destination.

Been to Sharm, Hurghada and Cairo - didn’t restrict diet and none of our party had any illness. The hassle was bearable. Cairo was amazing.

Went to Cyprus a couple of years ago and my daughter ended up in hospital on a drip, I posted on here at the time, so stressful!!
Went to Egypt last year and no illness, I was worried but everything was fine.

When DH and I went to Sharm el Sheikh a few years ago, a friend said to buy medication from the pharmacy as soon as we arrived. They basically said 'local drugs for local bugs! I had one day when I was under the weather and taking the tablets sorted me out very quickly.
I ended up giving our tablets to a poor girl at the airport who was struggling with D and V when I went off to the ladies before we took off for a flight.
Also only drink bottled water and keep using the hand gel for hygiene.

We've been twice - Cairo, Luxor, Nile cruise, Lake Nasser cruise, Abu Simbel - never been ill.
Just take the usual precautions, bottled water inc teeth cleaning.
Hassle is about selling stuff, just ignore, don't make eye contact, walk on.

Not ill as such but everytime I had a wee i had a poo at the same time.Couldnt stop shitting but I didn't have the urgency of an upset stomach ikywim.

I wouldn't go anywhere where you've got to take precautions against being ill because of local hygeine standards.

Nice attempt at victim blaming there.

I was fully armed with loose clothing past the elbows and knees (at least) and a baby strapped to my front and it did not do anything to deter the men of Cairo from harassing me. Even a brick shithouse of an XH by my side didn't help.

I have done a Nile cruise twice and stayed in Cairo. I wasn't ill at any point

We had a week's cruise on the Nile with a night in a hotel in Luxor..No tummy bugs for us.. Back late.'90s..But the rumours were still common

Visited twice, Luxor no illness aside from allergic reaction to chlorine in pool! Hurghada with 5day Nile cruise, again no illness.

Been back from hurghada a week. Me and the kids are still ill. Unbelievably painful cramps and diarrhoea. I’ll never go back. And we didn’t have any water or ice, or salad or cut fruit, sanitised all the time, stayed out of the heat etc etc…. Never ever ever again

Went to Taba and didn’t get ill or hassled. Learned to dive, climbed Mount Sinai. Good memories.

Went to Hurghada and Luxor. Was sick as a dog and fed up with the endless hassle - persistent hawkers, some weirdo stroking my ankle (the only visible bit of skin) on a camel ride, a general impression that everyone was trying to rip you off. Coupled with metal detectors at hotel entrances and teenaged soldiers with guns boarding tourist coaches led to a pretty unrelaxing holiday. Which was a shame as Luxor is amazing.

Same experience.

I went at age 57. I imagine a young woman has plenty of hassle but being old/not nubile will reduce hassle..

one thing about Sinai peninsula is they have lots of road blocks so very few beggars / homeless, because can't get there from other parts of Egypt. I felt very safe walking alone in daytime.