Family Travel in Egypt Today

Travel in Egypt today. Thanks to instability after the Arab Spring, Egypt Tourism took a nosedive. But travel in Egypt today is back on the table for many families. Today we talk Egypt travel with someone who just went.

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Sand, Pyramids & Uber - Family Travel in Egypt Today

Travel in Egypt today is off the table for many people. Once the Arab Spring kicked into high gear in 2011, the Egypt tourism numbers took a nose dive. Concerns about safety and instability were the norm until 2015 or so. On the other hand in the years since, there has been an uptick in travelers keen to see the pyramids, the Nile and the Valley of the Kings.

Today I talk with Diane Vuković about her recent trip to Egypt. We discuss how to get around, what to do, what to see, and more practical matters about family travel in Egypt today.

 

IN THIS EPISODE

• 03:12 Intro
• 04:57 Why Travel in Egypt Today
• 09:05 Is Egypt Safe?
• 19:16 Deserts & Whale Bones
• 23:14 Accommodation in Egypt
• 24:20 The Drop in Egypt Tourism
• 25:40 Food in Egypt
• 33:54 Internet in Egypt
• 35:23 Things to Do in Egypt
• 35:61 Preparing for Egypt Travel
• 39:46 The Egyptian Museum
• 40:21 Islamic Cairo
• 41:41 Boat Tours on the Nile River
• 43:46 Tunis Village
• 49:03 Luxor and the Valley of Kings

 

ABOUT

• Names: Diane Vuković, her husband, and her 7-year-old daughter
• Hold passports from: USA & Serbia
• Type of travel: Living in Serbia, Camping around Europe, & short trips 2 months or less
• A few places they've been: Peru, Egypt, and all over Western and Eastern Europe

 

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Uber (not available in Luxor)
• Careem (Egypt's Uber)
• Wekalet El-Ghouri Arts Center
• The Fayoum Art Center
• Valley of the Whales 
• Valley of the Artisans
• Recommended restaurant (with usable bathroom) FelFela
• Another recommended restaurant Sofra

IN THEIR BAGS

• Anti-diarrhea kit (probiotics, activated charcoal, electrolytes, loperamide capsules)
• Sawyer Mini water filter
• Headscarf (bought immediately upon arrival)
• Slippers (for walking on the cold tile floors in hotel rooms!)
• One-dollar bills (for tips & bribes)
• Headlamps
• Toilet paper

FIND THEM ON

Mom Goes Camping | Facebook |Twitter | Pinterest

One Family's Travel in Egypt Today

Diane lives in Serbia, where she camps with her daughter a lot. Serbian winters, however, are very cold. That's why Diane tries to go somewhere warm every winter. Last year it was Peru, and this year she decided on some Egypt travel.

Diane is a passionate backpacker, but she is no ordinary backpacker. For example, for this Egypt holiday, she went over 7 months pregnant. And that's with her 7-year-old daughter and new husband.

Why Holiday in Egypt? Why Travel in Egypt Today?

When I asked Diane why she chose to travel in Egypt, she said she wasn't exactly sure why. That said, her daughter is fascinated by bones, and Egypt today has some of the most famous bones in the world.

"What kid doesn't love mummies and pyramids?" she asks. In addition, she explains, places like Egypt are completely embedded in popular culture. There's something interesting about seeing them with your own eyes.

Is Egypt Safe?

When Diane told people that she planned to travel in Egypt, the most common question was "Is Egypt safe?" The question shows an inability to see the bigger picture. "I would be more scared in New York City or Belgium right now, " she says, referring to recent acts of terror that happened near the time we spoke.

But seriously: is Egypt safe? By most standards it is. That said, Diane says that you still need to take precautions and avoid certain places. For example, her family avoided Sinai area, because of reports of unrest. She also skipped a trip to a specific desert near the Libyan border due to reports of trouble.

In addition, they avoided Christian landmarks and areas, which are often where trouble might appear. In some places, she explains, there are tourist police waiting for travelers to appear. They will escort you through the area, or simply tell you to move on.

Pickpockets in Egypt Today

Their biggest concern during their travel in Egypt today was pickpockets. Petty theft is a problem from Brighton to Barcelona to Baltimore, but one must be prepared for it. Diane talks about how they handle money and reveals a clever hiding spot for her debit card.

Traffic in Cairo

Another safety concern was simply crossing the road. Crosswalks were few and far between in Cairo, she explains. Yet when they did find a crosswalk, their light never turned green. This meant a lot of running across major roads whenever there was a pause in