Hotels & Nile Cruise Categories
We are often asked what Hotels we use and what the difference is between 3*/4*/5* stars – so we have tried to explain this here.
- 3*Star – Tourist – clean hotel with no frills, private bathroom, mainly Egyptian family-owned.
- 4* Star – Superior Tourist – more amenities than the 3*, like restaurants and pools. Some Egyptians owned some Western management Chain Hotels like the Novotel in Luxor.
- 5* Star – First Class – Major Chain hotels in Cairo, i.e, Hilton, Meridien, Sheraton, either on the Nile or by the Pyramid. In Hurghada, there are major resorts overlooking the water with private beaches and lots of facilities, and large swimming pools.
- Cruise ships: – We use only 4*/5* Star Cruise ships. All cabins are outside cabins with private facilities.
Drugs, Crime, & Smoking In Egypt
Drugs are strictly prohibited, and the consequences for use can be very severe. Don’t even consider it.
Crime:
Crime is low, rape is rare, Aids is almost nonexistent, arguments may flare up over a traffic violation, but are usually over quite quickly. Family feuds are more common than any form of crime. It is safe to walk the streets at any time of day. Like all cities, you should be cautious and attentive to your whereabouts.
Smoking:
Smoking is quite prevalent, although it is banned in all food restaurants. If you are a smoker yourself, you might want to try smoking the water pipe (Shesha) in one of the many street cafes.
Customs, Culture, & Shopping In Egypt
Customs & Culture:
The population is made up mainly of Muslims and Coptic Christians. The main day of worship is Friday, which is their weekend holiday. Government offices, Institutions, and Banks close on Fridays and Saturdays.
The food is varied, chicken and lamb are popular, as is rice, pasta, beans, and Pita bread. Tea (Shai) is the main drink of the Egyptians and is served frequently with mint.
Egyptians keep themselves and their homes very clean. Litter is a problem, particularly in the poorer areas where solid waste disposal is lacking. The noise level in parts of the Cities is quite high, and Cairo, in particular, is a 24-hour city when most stores and activities are going on around the clock non-stop.
It is a common form of greeting to see men or women holding hands, linking arms, and embracing on the cheek with others of the same sex. This is their culture, and there are no sexual overtures to it. People do not show affection to each other in public. It is acceptable to hold or link arms with your partner in public, but that is it. To be on the safe side, and so as not to offend, it is best to follow what you see. Kissing and hugging your partner or boy/girlfriend is not appropriate in public.
Shopping:
Cairo is a shopping adventure. Buy brass, copper, and inlaid wooden articles, silver and gold jewelry, leather shoes, bags and belts, cotton goods, and perfumes. Have a gold cartouche made with your name written in hieroglyphics. Be sure that the letters are soldered and not glued on. Have a kaftan of pure Egyptian cotton tailor-made in two days. Shop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar for a better variety, interesting and artistic goods. You should be able to bargain for prices that were originally quoted to you.
Important Tips For Egypt Travelers: Telephone, Cell Phones In Egypt
The Telephone system in Egypt is overloaded and antiquated. 4/5 Star Hotels will have direct line dialing and international service. Some hotels have data ports and even their own Internet Cafes, or you can hook up your laptop directly to the phone if you have an ISP service you can use.
You can use an International Operator, like AT&T, or credit cards for calling. You can buy calling cards everywhere and use these cards in local phone booths. There are usually two types of cards. The directions on the phone booths may not always be in English.
There are Internet Cafes in all the major cities – Cairo/Luxor/Aswan/Alexandria/Hurghada. They usually range from $3 to $6 US an hour, with a minimum 15-minute charge. However, the ISPs are not as reliable, and it is sometimes difficult to get on, particularly in the evening, and it’s not unusual to get booted off.
Cell phones are everywhere in Egypt; it has one of the highest usages for cell phones in the world, which makes sense as their Telephone system can’t keep up with the regular phone requirements. They have international cell phone service, and it covers just about everywhere, even the most remote areas. Outgoing calls are quite expensive, but in most cases, there is no charge for incoming calls. If renting independently, check all the charges ahead of time.
Happy Travels!!
