Preparing for your vacation to Egypt

Ahlan wa Sahlan! Welcome to Egypt!

Most bellydance enthusiasts want to come to Egypt at some stage – whether it be for the amazing costumes and trinkets,the dance and music or for the ambiance of the country and its people. Egypt has always experienced popularity as a tourist destination for its pyramids and temples, historical monuments and culture; but now with festivals, safe travel and a fresh dance scene, Oriental dance tourism has exploded! For first time visitors or seasoned travelers, there are some helpful tips for a great holiday to Egypt.

What to pack
Pack light as Egypt has warm to mild weather: 2 pairs trousers/jeans, 3 t-shirts, 2 long sleeved shirts, knee to calf length skirt for ladies or knee length shorts for men, cardigan or lightweight jacket, scarf or pashmina style wrap plus one or two sets of dressy clothes for special events. One good pair of sports shoes, pair of sandals, one pair of dressy shoes, flip-flops for the pool, bathers, sunhat, sunglasses, journal, pen, mobile phone, camera, i-pod, vitamins, toiletries, antiseptic wipes, sunscreen. A copy of itinerary and passport. Laptop if you like. Don’t forget you can buy clothes there! For classes, take a change of exercise style clothes and any footwear you usually use for dance class.

Where to Stay
Depending on your budget and time spent in Egypt, you can book hotels online, this is usually the best way as they are often discounted or you can get a package. Downtown has many ecclectic funky old-style hotels that are really affordable, like the Cosmopolitan and Victoria. I personally like several non-fancy but handy and clean hotels in Zamalek – Mayfair, President and Flamenco. For a bigger budget and preference for a swimming pool try the beautiful Marriot in Zamalek (a former palace) or the larger 5 star hotels in Garden City like Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons, Semeramis, Concord, Ramses Hilton or Nile Hilton. If you are staying for longer in a group, try Craig’s List online or Holiday rentals for an apartment serviced or un-serviced, depending on your needs.

Visas and entry
If you have obtained an Egyptian entry visa in your passport before traveling, go straight to the passport counter. If you need to get a visa on entry, go to the airport bank (just before the passport counter), buy visa for aprox $20 USD then go to the passport counter. Airport banks use the daily exchange rate, so you can safely change some money there. Collect luggage and pass through customs. At the airport you can get a taxi (around 80le) or arrange a transfer to hotel. You can expect them to ask for a tip, 10-20le is fine. Note: Your entry visa is valid for one month. Please check with your country whether you can obtain a visa at the airport (most countries allow this) or do you need to arrive with one, because its cheaper to get it on arrival.

Your Itinerary
It's best to make a rough plan of where you will be going, where you will be staying and what main sights you wish to visit before you travel. Go online for real travel experiences that could help you structure a trip or if you feel safer try a travel company first time. The main thing is to try and ENJOY the experience by not trying to cram too much in at once! Give yourself time to go slowly, enjoy the scenery and relax!

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