Holiday to Egypt no clue what to take wear

[kels96]

Hey, looking for help as am going on my first holiday in 8 years and I'm going to Egypt wondering if anyone can give me and ideas what to take what to expect and what beauty products is best ? Thanks xX

When are you going and where?

Your experience in a tourist resort such as Hurghada will be very different to cities such as Cairo. If in a tourist resort you can wear what you like, but you will need to dress very conservatively if visiting anywhere outside the resorts.

If you're going now the weather will be like British summers, so you could wear whatever you would wear here. My main advice is to make sure you have something for mosquitoes, as I was bitten like there was no tomorrow. Also don't drink tap water, and avoid eating food that has been left out especially fruit.

Sharm el sheikh and not till June thank you for the advice

Depends where and when you are going?

Note that its a muslim country, and whilst you don't need to cover your head, I wore conservative clothes (T-shirts, 3/4 sleeved blouses and at least knee length skirts or cullotes, long linen trousers) and no shorts when out of the hotel. Also no spaghetti tops. Even then, I was stared at no end! A light pashmina/scarf is handy if you do visit somewhere that requires a head covering, or shoulders covered.

My MIL came shopping with us 1 day, and thought the following outfit was acceptable: short shorts and a swimsuit (no bra and hadn't shaved any part of her body! No cardigan or cover at all).

Generally the weather is hot and dry, so invest in cotton or linen, loose clothing in light colours. Nylon/polyester will just make you sweat. Comfortable trainers if you will be doing alot of walking, and comfy flip slops or sandals.

If you are going near Sinai peninsular, you might climb Mt Sinai. I cannot recall when we visited, not the height of summer, but also not in winter. We were told to wear warm clothes. At the bottom of the trek, which started in the very early hours, people were trying to sell us woolly hats, gloves, blankets etc and said there was snow on the top!!! We assumed this was purely a gimmick to sell tat to tourists. To our great suprise, after several hours of walking and at the top, there was indeed snow and ice all around and it was freezing. I had every piece of clothing I'd brought with me in multiple layers, and still had to buy gloves and a scarf!!! Nights in the desert can also be cool, so take a cardigan and scarf along.

Sorry, I was typing when you said where you are going. You shouldnt have issue with ice on Mt Sinai then but it will be VERY hot!

June can be high 30s ( we went in June many years ago and it was 40c at the pyramids . No shade , relentless heat ) but you don't feel clammy because the sweat just evaporates !

I bloody hated it , but that's not what you asked !

Desert boots (not sandles) if you're going to be walking on the sand .
Cover up your legs and shoulders - to protect them from the sun and out of respect for the culture .

Drink loads of water (bottled) and if/when you get a gripey stomach, flat 7Up .

Round the pool in the hotel swimwear was fine but not outside the hotels .

At the time we were told we wouldn't get robbed or molested but you do get hassled for money, your taxi driver will take you to his brother's gold shop (and they locked us in which was scary)

I have dark hair and Celtic skin so I wasn't hassled as much as some of our party who were blonde .

Thank you so much for all this information it's really given me an idea of what to expect, hearing a lot of things and you have just confirmed a couple I am dark haired and fairly tanned already so hoping to fade to that back kind of thing. I've found it all so helpful thank you very much

Do you have a hotel? Are you planning on doing any trips?

Hotel - You can wear anything you want. Its obviously hot so loose clothing, but I wear nice maxi dresses in the evening, or loose trousers etc

Trips - I would dress a little more conservatively in respect for the Muslim community and especially if you are taking a trip to any holy places etc.
However, in the touristy areas, they don;t usually care - When we walked round the markets, I wore knee length shorts and a tank top. Its a good idea to take a shawl/scarf that you can wrap around your shoulders if necessary.

If you are white (and particularly blonde) then you may get stared at a bit, but remember Egypt is a country that survives on tourists so they are use to them!

I wouldn't treat it any different as to a holiday to Tenerife.

I’ve been to sharm. I took beach clothes and sarongs. For in the hotel grounds and pool, usual summer clothes is fine. If you go into the town then you need to cover up. Long linen trousers and cardigans are fine. You will get whistles and calling. Beeping on the horns constantly.

Someone will try to buy you for a few camels. Happened to us in a gem shop. It’s quite intense.

I went a few years ago and counted 4 local women in a week. It’s a very Male environment. It’s a lovely place and they are very friendly towards tourists it’s their business.

I spent a week sight seeing in Cairo 5 years ago. It was brilliant.

I'm blonde but was with DH the whole time - the only hassle we got was people yelling "Welcome to Egypt". We went on the Cairo Metro - I went in the women's carriage and had lovely chats with Cairenes wanting to practise their English

To avoid the worst of the hassle at tourist sites get yourself an Egyptian guide - they will tell all the hawkers to get lost for you. And don't go in the cheapest taxis unless you're ok with no seat belt.

Definitely eat the local food. Egyptians can cook.

Have a great time.

Someone will try to buy you for a few camels.

The only person who mentioned this in my holiday was definitely taking the piss...

@Tableclothing are you saying I’m not worth camels???

I am a regular visitor to Sharm, and whilst it will be fabulously hot in June, you can wear the same sort of stuff you’d wear in Majorca/Tenerife/Corfu etc if you’re within the resort. Sharm is very used to western guests, they won’t bat an eyelid!

I wore a tshirt and jeans mainly (in December when it was HOT). I thought I was modestly dressed at that but still got manhandled. Oh well...

You will get less hassle outside of the hotel if you stay with your DH. It can be a pain going out without a man. Sad but true.

I’m blonde and pale and got cat called and men trying to touch me all the time. I wore loose long sleeved shirts and long loose trousers or skirts but it didn’t make much difference. But that was in Luxor and Cairo rather than the resorts.

@Tableclothing are you saying I’m not worth camels???

@Tableclothing are you saying I’m not worth camels???

Without giving you a thorough inspection I'm afraid I can't possibly comment

Fwiw, when asked "How many camels for v your wife?", DH replied "One."

sharm is great. but you need lots of mosquito spray. they do have chemists at the resorts normally.
long sleeved floaty tops and some trousers are ideal but at the resort itself anything.
I know a fantastic local guide if you want me to put you in touch with him. we have used him on all 4 of our visits.

I had men grabbing me and trying to take me away from DH who wasn’t DH at the time.

We went on a boat and the skipper trapped me in a side bit on the boat...I managed to slip away.

This was a few years ago when I was younger, thinner and unmarried.

Agree it will be very hot. The good thing about this is it does mean you do a bit then have to seek shade/rest/pool. I tend to be very active on holidays and my visits or Egypt in the summer have been the most restful just because they had to be.
The heat is dry - like waking in an oven with the heat pressing down on your head.
Bloody love Egypt from Cairo to Luxor and further south.
I’ve travelled with female friend before and would just say take sensible cover up clothing when you are outside of hotel. Big scarf always useful if need to cover arms/shoulders etc. You need it always for sun protection.

It is going to be very hot so take loose cotton or linen clothes. Shorts, trousers, skirts, dresses, t-shirts and shirts with sleeves, bikinis and do try to include one practical swimsuit in case you go snorkelling. A floppy hat to protect you from the sun, good quality sunglasses and a sarong or large cotton scarf you can wrap round your shoulders. Stick to cotton underwear and ditch your bra if you can.
I don't know how cool it will get in the evening. I'm in Egypt right now and a cardigan or light jacket in the evening is essential.

For footwear travel in comfortable trainers, if you are out exploring they will be much more comfortable than sandals. Flip flops or even better Fit flops as they are much thicker soled for the beach and sandals or shoes for night.

Posted too soon. Wanted to add take sunscreen and aftersun plus aloe vera gel and some baby lotion type moisturiser, and lipsalve with sunscreen.
Have a wonderful time.

If snorkelling take thin rash vest to stop sunburned back etc. Lost of good thin summer weight I es around. Just spent a couple of weeks basically face down in water hours every day - fish/manta rays/whale sharks etc in fierce sun. Didn’t burn at all.

Thank you everyone, looking forward to going .

Egypt is absolutely stunning and the people are lovely. I had very few problems (hawkers, people staring/touching) and that was only in Cairo. Sharm is pretty much like any beach resort. I remember the taxis being utterly terrifying.

If snorkelling take thin rash vest to stop sunburned back

Oh God yes this! You might think you are only going to snorkel for 10 mins, but once you get your head under the Red sea and behold all the wonders, an hour will be gone before you know it! Its stunning.