egypt. advice needed
Discussion
Yes, you will probably get the s
ts at some point. Could be mild or severe enough to fk up your stay. Be very careful on what you eat and drink and where.
If you succumb to the dreaded king tuts revenge, go the to the chemists there they can prescribe special antibiotics which should clear it up in a few days.
lots if places take euros or Gbp. You are better off wit drawing Egyptian pounds from the ATM when you are out there.
ts at some point. Could be mild or severe enough to fk up your stay. Be very careful on what you eat and drink and where.If you succumb to the dreaded king tuts revenge, go the to the chemists there they can prescribe special antibiotics which should clear it up in a few days.
lots if places take euros or Gbp. You are better off wit drawing Egyptian pounds from the ATM when you are out there.
Just got back from Sharm.
Personally, I wouldn't bother exchanging any money. Everywhere I went accepted GBP and offered a better exchange rate than the one at Gatwick. You will get hassled by porters, baggage handlers for tips so worth taking pound coins.
I was careful what I ate (staying clear from salads and fruit which didn't need peeling) and I was fine.
Personally, I wouldn't bother exchanging any money. Everywhere I went accepted GBP and offered a better exchange rate than the one at Gatwick. You will get hassled by porters, baggage handlers for tips so worth taking pound coins.
I was careful what I ate (staying clear from salads and fruit which didn't need peeling) and I was fine.
The water AND the money are dirty. Avoid both:-
- Use bottled water as above for teeth cleaning, drinking and anything where you're not using soap.
- Use hand-gel after handling money AND before eating anything.
- Avoid ice and avoid any washed salad/fruit...not ideal, but better than the alternative.
- Pick where you eat quite carefully. Not saying go to 'western chains' by any means, but don't buy off a corner-stall or somewhere down a back-alley necessarily. Don't do buffet either, as those who don't follow the above advice will use the buffet and their germs will be all over the handles...and that's before the usual buffet risks! We had a (pretty bland) breakfast buffet and were OK, but had cooked food the rest of the time)
- If you've got kids, keep a very careful eye on them re: the above, otherwise they WILL contract a bug and possibly pass it to you.
That said, the water is fantastic (warm, clear, buoyant and full of fish...some coral too depending on where you are) and the weather is 99% reliable (and VERY hot during our summer).
Where to stay - within walking distance of Naama Bay gives you the best choice of places to eat, but the coral at those resorts isn't great. Near, Middle and Far Gardens give the best snorkeling but you'll want a taxi in and out of the centre unless you're fit and enjoy walking. Old Sharm has a couple of nice hotels and a couple of good snorkeling spots but otherwise is apparently uninspiring. The northern stretch (near airport and new shopping centre) is apparently even more soulless than Naama Bay.
Oh, and DO expect to get hassle - from restaurant owners and shop-keepers. They can be very, very persistent, but they don't appear to like women saying no to them...esp. when said women show the palm of their hand in doing so...even more so when it's the (unclean) left hand!
(As long as you know to expect it and have a strategy to deal with it, it's not something that'll spoil the holiday)
- Use bottled water as above for teeth cleaning, drinking and anything where you're not using soap.
- Use hand-gel after handling money AND before eating anything.
- Avoid ice and avoid any washed salad/fruit...not ideal, but better than the alternative.
- Pick where you eat quite carefully. Not saying go to 'western chains' by any means, but don't buy off a corner-stall or somewhere down a back-alley necessarily. Don't do buffet either, as those who don't follow the above advice will use the buffet and their germs will be all over the handles...and that's before the usual buffet risks! We had a (pretty bland) breakfast buffet and were OK, but had cooked food the rest of the time)
- If you've got kids, keep a very careful eye on them re: the above, otherwise they WILL contract a bug and possibly pass it to you.
That said, the water is fantastic (warm, clear, buoyant and full of fish...some coral too depending on where you are) and the weather is 99% reliable (and VERY hot during our summer).
Where to stay - within walking distance of Naama Bay gives you the best choice of places to eat, but the coral at those resorts isn't great. Near, Middle and Far Gardens give the best snorkeling but you'll want a taxi in and out of the centre unless you're fit and enjoy walking. Old Sharm has a couple of nice hotels and a couple of good snorkeling spots but otherwise is apparently uninspiring. The northern stretch (near airport and new shopping centre) is apparently even more soulless than Naama Bay.
Oh, and DO expect to get hassle - from restaurant owners and shop-keepers. They can be very, very persistent, but they don't appear to like women saying no to them...esp. when said women show the palm of their hand in doing so...even more so when it's the (unclean) left hand!
(As long as you know to expect it and have a strategy to deal with it, it's not something that'll spoil the holiday)
I was in Sharm at the start of May-get your money changed out there as you will get a better rate. Alternatively, use a Halifax Clarity card to withdraw cash as you get a perfect Visa exchange rate. You will pay interest on money withdrawals but it is minimal if you pay it back as soon as you get back.
Any of us can drink tap-water in Egypt and survive...the issue is that on holiday you don't want to go through a few weeks of the sts while your gut bacteria get used to the foreigners invading them...
Essentially though, steer clear of untreated/unboiled water, the local money, and any lunch/dinner buffets and you'll probably be just fine.
ts while your gut bacteria get used to the foreigners invading them...Essentially though, steer clear of untreated/unboiled water, the local money, and any lunch/dinner buffets and you'll probably be just fine.
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