Become a Power-Traveler to enjoy the best of Egypt!

Jet Lag Busters

Arriving early in the morning? Try not to nap, but have a restful day. Arriving in the evening? Rest the first night and try to get to bed by 11pm – not much earlier or later! On a flight that gets inat an awful hour? Straight to bed even if its for a few ours. Wake up at 7am the next day to get set for Cairo time. Peppermint tea, peppermint oil, ginger tea and sunlight are all jetlag busters, so bring some favorite tea bags and relax by the pool! Yoga stretches also help with jetlag.

Wear the right shoes!

At the Pyramids and Giza and Sakkara, wear closed sports shoes as you will be walking over sand and pebbles. The Bazzar streets are sandy too, so wear good walking shoes. Save the high heels for nightclubs and dinner rendezvous, or buy new in Egypt! At the hotel, or for suburban visits and excursions, sandals are fine.

Keep fresh wipes with you

Arabic food is often eaten by hand - bread, dips, etc. It's a good idea to carry antiseptic wipes with you and wipe your hands before eating. Antibacterial foods help; raw ginger, ginger tea, garlic, lemon...even a nip of white spirit (vodka, gin, rum) works wonders!

Power-Travelers eat regular snacks

Travel, jet-lag or late dinners can cause low blood sugar, and the fast pace of Cairo agitating with the "low sugar grumpies"! Keep some almonds, raisins or health bars in your bag, plus a few pieces of fruit. Need a protein fix? Vacume packed envelopes of tuna with a plastic fork, nuts or a few boiled eggs from the hotel breakfast. Those zip-lock plastic bags are great for travelers too.

Bottled Water

It is sensible to always carry a bottle of water with you, and avoid drinking from the taps. Bottled water is very inexpensive in Egypt when you buy it from local stores rather than from the hotels. You can brush teeth and wash fruit with bottled water, but there is no need to be paranoid as intestinal flora often take a few days to adjust to the new environment. Yup!

Medications and toiletries

Any pharmaceuticals are inexpensive and readily available in Cairo, incase you need antibiotics or have tummy problems. If you take medications, bring them plus have a copy of the name of the medication with you just incase. You may wish to pack yourself a small travel kit with the basics - immodium, asprin, antiseptic cream, a few band-aids and a muscle balm. Contact lense fluid and toiletries are easy to find. Hairdressers and beauticians are easily available and the fees are very affordable if you wish to get a blow dry, pedicure or beauty treatment for a big night out!

What to eat

Egypt offers a variety of delicious cuisine. If you are traveling for the first time, or have a sensitive stomach, you may wish to eat cereals and cooked vegetable dishes the first day and gradually introduce fresh produce. Salads and fresh fruits are fine as long as they are fresh or served in a good hotel or cafe. Egyptian, meat, chicken and fish is excellent and recommended; superb Egyptian cuisine. However, avoid eating meat and cheeses from street vendors. If you wish to have take-away from street vendors, felafel and tameya sandwiches are best, delicious under $1!