Egypt

The US State Department provides Country Specific Information sheets for every country in the world as well as Travel Alerts and Warnings. For this information, call 888 407 4747 or 202 501 4444 or visit travel.state.gov.

• Insurance: Travelers should make sure their health insurance plan covers them when outside of the United States. The U.S Embassy cannot pay medical bills.
• U.S. Medicare does not pay overseas.
• Doctors and hospitals often expect cash payment for health services.
• The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation, since medical transport out of the country can be prohibitively expensive or logistically impossible.
• Medical Care is limited and well below U.S. standards.
• Emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. The Egyptian ambulance service hotline is 123.
• Tap water in some locations is not potable. It is best to drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Well-known brands of bottled beverages are generally considered to be safe if the seal is intact.
• Although the Embassy cannot provide medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors in Egypt can be found on the Embassy website.
• Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO), which contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
• If you received any vaccinations in preparation for your journey, pack your vaccination certificates in your personal carry-on baggage in case you are asked to show them on arrival.
• Special meals and allergies: If you require special meals for health or dietary reasons, please let your J2 operator know at least 60 days prior to your departure.

We strongly recommend that you purchase your own travel insurance. Please discuss land, air, and health insurance options with your insurance provider or contact Travel Insured at 1-800-344-6226, ext. 257. Some insurance programs provide more comprehensive coverage when the policy is purchased in close proximity to the initial trip deposit. We therefore recommend that you secure insurance within 14 days of your initial deposit payment date.

• Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound.
• Click here to obtain the most current exchange rates.
• While traveling in Egypt, we suggest you carry around small amounts of cash – Egyptian Pounds – that can be used in more remote areas.
• ATM facilities can be found throughout metropolitan parts of Egypt, particularly outside banks and in hotels, shopping centers, and the airports. If you plan on withdrawing money or using your credit card while traveling, don’t forget to notify your bank before you go for security purposes.
• If you don’t have a credit card, consider a debit card that allows you to access your savings account and the local currency from ATMs and wherever credit cards are accepted.

• In Egypt, the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Most hotels provide hairdryers.
• Make sure to bring a travel adapter for Egypt so you can safely use electric shavers, traveling irons, phone rechargers, and other small appliances.
• For more information,visit worldstandards.eu.

Egypt is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, US. To determine current time in major cities around the world, visit timeanddate.com.

Tips to avoid international roaming charges:

• Use your existing plan – contact your local carrier to find out plans and prices for data roaming.
• Rent a device – rent a phone, download your information, and use the borrowed device as if it were your own.
• Get a local SIM card – Make sure your phone is “unlocked” before purchasing a local SIM card in your destination and using your phone on the local network.
• Wi-Fi only – Turn off your cellular data, switch your phone to airplane mode, and enable a Wi-Fi connection to access Internet hotspots in your destination.

Because of the time difference between the United States and Egypt some advance planning is in order so you can call at a convenient time and when calling charges are lowest.
 
For international calls from Egypt to US:
Dial 00 + 1 + the area code and phone number.
For example, to dial a number in Atlanta, Georgia, you would dial 00 + 1 +404 (Atlanta area code) + your party’s phone number.

Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of legumes, vegetables, and fruit from Egypt’s rich Nile Valley and Delta. It shares similarities with Middle Eastern food.

• The country is not well equipped for travelers with mobility constraints. Ramps are few, public facilities don’t necessarily have elevators, curbs are high (except in Alexandria, which has wheelchair-friendly sidewalks).
• Gaining entrance to some of the ancient sites is difficult because of narrow entrances and steep stairs.
• Should you require handicapped facilities, please contact our office.

The official language of Egypt is Arabic, and most Egyptians speak one of several vernacular dialects of that language. As is the case of other Arab countries, the spoken vernacular differs greatly from the literary language.

In Egypt, there are three types of climate: Mediterranean climate on the northern coast, desert climate in inland areas, and finally, the climate of the coast of the Red Sea, equally desert but a bit milder. The rainfall in Egypt is poor, since it amounts to only 25 mm (1 in) per year, and it’s absent in the long summer.

Confirm baggage limitations with your international carrier before packing. Remember that airlines can change their baggage restrictions at any time.

• Be sure to reconfirm your international flights with your airline 24 hours prior to your departure.
• Passengers must check in for international flights from the US/Canada at least three hours prior to departure time.

Airport Security
Security checks are carried out routinely for your protection and safety. Expect to be asked about the contents of your luggage, about who packed it, whether anyone asked you to transport items for them, and whether your luggage remained with you before you arrived at the airport. Do not take any mail, packages, or unknown items from anyone either before or after arriving at the airport.

• If your package includes arrival and departure transfers, this will be detailed in your travel documents which will be e-mailed to you up to one week prior to your trip.
• If you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates and time as specified in your travel documents, you will need to arrange your own transfers. Alternatively, you may request a transfer service up to three working days prior to your arrival and the cost of the transfer service will be added to your invoice.
• When requesting a transfer service, please provide us with your flight information. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays.
• J2 Adventures or the transfer company will not be responsible for delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay, it will be your responsibility to contact us directly and/or to make other transfer arrangements, such as by taxi.
• Transfer costs are not refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility.

If you arrive at your hotel before the customary 3:00 p.m. check-in time, your room may not be available. Store your luggage with the concierge and take the time to walk around and get a feel for your new city.

• Hotel safes are usually provided and can be used to protect valuables such as passports, medications, jewelry, money, and electronics. If you must carry valuables, keep them on your person at all times, be mindful of your surroundings, and take extra caution in crowds.
• We recommend photocopying the personal information pages of your passport and leaving one copy with a family member or friend and packing another in a place separate from the passport itself. You can also scan your passport and email a copy to yourself for easy online access. This will help you to secure a replacement quickly should the need arise.

Where and whether to shop while traveling with us is a personal choice and shopping is never compulsory. If at any point during your journey you feel pressured to shop or make purchases, please discuss the matter immediately with your tour educator.

We recommend the following for tipping (amounts in US dollars):

• Groups of 20 participants or more:
  J2 educator $8, local guide $5, and driver $3 per participant per day
• Groups of 10-19 participants:
  J2 educator $10, local guide $6, and driver $3 per participant per day
• Hostess (when included):
  $4 per participant per day or a minimum of $100 per group per day
• Security guard and/or a youth counselor (when included): 
  $1 per participant per day to each security guard or youth counselor
• Recommended restaurant tipping when lunch or dinner is on your own: 
  10%-15% depending on your satisfaction.
• Porter:
  Included in your package.