PRACTICAL DATA

PASSPORT
You need a valid passport with at least 6 months.

VISA
You buy at the bank upon arrival at the airport, the price is $ 15.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Egyptian pound (LE), the currently fluctuating between 7 and 8 pounds a euro. You can check the exchange rate on internet:  http://fx-rate.net/EUR/EGP/

• Exchange. You can only change in Egypt and can be done on the banks of the airport (the purchase of a visa) or any of those in the hotels, in cities and at ATMs in addition to exchange houses. Banks and exchange houses of the cities (outside of hotels) closed Friday and Saturday at the hotels are open every day including some 24 hours.

Normally payments will be accepted in addition to the Euro Egyptian pounds and U.S. dollars although the change may leave harmful. In taxis and other small purchases such as water, snuff, etc. non-tourist stores, they only accept pounds.

It is preferable to be changing in small quantities and always ask for small bills as change is difficult then.

Keep in mind that not change foreign currencies in banks so avoid giving, for that reason you'll find many people who asked to change coins into paper.

• Cards. I accept Visa and Master primarily in hotels, ships and restaurants and shops of a certain category (some in Khan el Khalili as well) but we may add between 3 and 5% which is what they charge commission.

TIME DIFFERENCE WITH ENGLAND
All year is 2 hours beyond Egypt except when there is change from winter time and summer in England that is often one hour for a few days.

LANGUAGE
The Arabic is the official in the Egyptian dialect. The main language is English catering establishments but also speak other languages like English, French, German, etc.
For shopping at the tourist sites will have no problem as virtually all vendors speak English.

WEATHER
The cold winter months are January and February when the minimum temperatures in Cairo can come at night to 7 or less, in summer are around 38th in Cairo. In Alexandria, the climate is Mediterranean and Upper Egypt, the further south, warmer summers and milder winters. When dry weather is bearable.
Rainfall throughout the country are scarce. You can check the temperatures on the Internet at sites like http://www.tutiempo.net/tiempo/Egipto/EG.html

ELECTRIC POWER / PLUGS
Electrical current is 220 and the plugs are as in England. If they have to charge several batteries (mobile, video, cameras, etc..) It is appropriate to bring an extension cord to plug it in various hotels and boats these are usually scarce.

CLOTHING
In summer, light cotton clothing. For dinner in hotels and ships are casual but not let shorts. Because the air conditioning should be wear a thin jacket or pashmina. Do not forget sunglasses, hat and even for visits during the cruise we recommend an umbrella.

In winter (December to March around Cairo), also summer clothes for the cruise and visits to the Red Sea and more shelter for when there is no sun or it is loose. To Cairo should wear clothing with short sleeves and a long sleeve or jacket to go taking off in case it gets hot. For evening coats, jackets, coats, etc. (See section on climate)

During visits to the Mosques can not enter in shorts or short skirts and women also have to cover the arms, shoulders and neck. In the mosques will be provided with a cloak but also can carry a pashmina to do so.
To enter the mosques have to remove your shoes and leave your shoes at the door if you do not want to go barefoot can be carried and donned socks then.

Both winter and summer is advisable to wear swimwear as daytime temperatures in the Red Sea cruise and allow you to sunbathe and swim. Needless towel as are provided by the hotel / ship.

The shoes should be comfortable and breathable, for entry into pyramids and tombs are best closed shoes to walk up and down the stairs with ease. 
    

PHOTOS / VIDEO
The guide will inform you before entering the museums, temples and tombs if they can take pictures and / or video.

AIR CONDITIONING
Both hotels such as boats, buses and restaurants so often get very high so it is advisable to wear some nice clothes (jacket, sweater, pashmina, etc..) To avoid the contrast of temperatures.

HEALTH
Vaccines. You do not need any shots.

Physician. On ships of Lake Nasser is no doctor on board, not in the Nile and navigation paths that are short and required if you call the city who will come to the boat, or according to severity accompany them a hospital.
In hotels, especially in the Red Sea resort, have a doctor.

Medicines. Although kits boats and hotels are always convenient to carry a mini, like any journey, with the medications commonly used type analgesic, antipyretic, antibiotic and antidiarrheal; also protective for mosquitoes. Suitable to wear sun protection in summer. In any case, our representative or guide will help you get what it needed.

Insurance. Our trip does not include any insurance so we suggest you talk to him for to make one that covers these days giving the necessary instructions to contact doctors in the country. If needed should contact our representative / guide to alert the proper, should also request all paid invoices to cash it at home.

SAFETY
Egypt is a very safe country and ensures the safety of its visitors, so do not be surprised to see many sights in the armed police and secret police, also armed. The private security control can also be seen in the entries in hotels and ships.

In the booths / rooms often have safes for your personal valuables and if not, there is a reception. The hotels and boats are not responsible for these items and money if they are inside the boxes. In case of loss or theft you must immediately inform our representative to help you make the appropriate complaint to the establishment.

TIPPING
Is a customary habit, mandatory country given to waiters, porters, drivers, janitors, etc. In the transept there is a fixed amount to be distributed among workers in the boat, the guide will tell you how much they usually go after his discretion and give her satisfaction.

SHOPPING
There are many items such as articles of alabaster (figures, vases, etc..) Copper (dishes, tables ...), cotton (shirts, tablecloths, towels), wooden boxes inlaid with mother of pearl, carpets and tapestries, crystal perfume bottles, water pipes or hookahs (shisha), perfumes and essential oils, spices and carcadé, papyri, jewelry, gold or silver (bracelets, rings, pendants, key chains), many of them with ornaments hieroglyphics, highlighting the "cartridges" etc..
This can be purchased in the bazaars and shops, our guides usually recommend some of them because they know that the items sold are of quality.

Keep in mind that the papyri range in price depending on the quality of it, the paintings and the painter. On the street often sell several to choose from for a few euros but either are not made of papyrus or are of low quality and are hand painted.

In Aswan and other sites like the Pyramids on the street tend to offer figures of "alabaster" of soap that are painted or plaster. To see if they really are of alabaster, as well as differentiated by weight, try grating, for example with a key. Alabaster not scratch.

Especially in the usual bargain bazaars.

There are many shopping centers ("moll") in large cities, especially in Cairo, noting which is located in the City Stars complex, the largest in Africa, bringing together the most famous international stores which include the English Mango, Zara , Pronovias, Cortefiel, etc. It is in the Nasser neighborhood of Medina, near the hotel that bears the same name as the center and the complex.

FOOD
Egyptian food is Mediterranean and use enough spices. In hotels and ships serving international cuisine. 

 The most popular are:

• Salads. In restaurants tend to like small saucers coming from what they call salads eaten with various types of bread. There are many, the most important being:

Tahini. Species with sesame puree, lemon and spices.
Babaganúj. Roasted eggplant puree with spices and tahini.
Humus. Mashed chickpeas with spices.
Salad. Tomato, cucumber and parsley finely chopped or coarsely.
Torshi. Pickled in vinegar (no wine) (carrots, onions, green peppers ...).
Taamella or falafel. Croquettes made of round and flat beans. In the popular breakfast sandwich.
Ful. Puree cooked beans. It also eats breakfast sandwich together with the taamella.
Tomei. Similar to All i oli.
Tsabadi. Yogurt with cucumber and mint puree.
Betengam. Baby eggplants marinated in vinegar with garlic and spicy.

• Soups.
Chicken noodle soup, onion, seafood, etc.
Molojeia. Plant like chopped spinach soup made with chicken or rabbit. Is usually eaten with white rice.
Ads. Cream yellow lentils cooked and seasoned.

• Rice.
The white rice as a side dish always put either alone or in other ways as with some angel hair pasta with nuts and cinnamon, etc.

• Meat and poultry.
They eat mutton and beef, but pork is also due to the majority religion that forbids it, do not offer in restaurants, butcher shops only sold in special private consumption.
Lamb, veal and grilled chicken. In many restaurants make it with grilled vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, onions) and it is usual to put on the table to serve a kind of tiny barbecue that keeps you warm and cook it more.
Grilled Chicken. Usually accompanied by fried potatoes, salad and rice.
Kofta. Com hamburger kind of round shape made spices, barbecued or baked.
Chis kebab. Chunks of beef marinated and barbecued made.
Shawarma. Meat made the fire around a bar which is cut into small slices. You can eat on a plate or sandwich.
Kebda. Liver fried or breaded.
Pichon ("hammam") stuffed with rice and spices and baked.

• Fish and seafood.
There are fish in the Mediterranean, which usually brought from Alexandria, and river. In many restaurants, especially in Cairo, also have fish (retail) and before the commands the client to choose the seafood you want, they are weighed for pricing and cooked in the manner choice, grilled, grilled, fried, baked, rice or pasta ...
Squids (mainly Roman) clam beach, Tellina, etc..
Gambas. Usually grilled. They do not usually put salt.

• Pasta.
The pasta is very popular and especially highlights the pizzas and macaroni with meat and bechamel.
Fitira. Egypt is the pizza, is made with a thin paste and the ingredients are in, and in pies. There are also sweet.
Cúshari. It may be called the national dish. There are restaurants that only sell this. It is composed, all cooked separately, macaroni or other pasta to which he adds a bit of rice, lentils and chickpeas, served when you add crispy fried onions. You get various sauces and condiments will be the principal of tomato sauce.

• Vegetables and vegetables.
Bamia. (Okra) usually cooked in tomato sauce and meat.
Mahshi. Eggplant, peppers, zucchini, cabbage leaves stuffed with rice vine, some with meat and vegetables in the oven.
Musaka. Eggplant baked with minced meat.
Stuffed Artichokes. Artichoke hearts stuffed with minced meat usually cooked.

• Desserts.
Egyptian pastries, like all the Arabic, is famous for its quality and variety but sometimes is too sweet for Western taste due to the sugar and especially honey. You can enjoy them in the hotel buffets and boats.
The most famous are:
Om Ali. ("Mother of Ali") is taken hot, it's a pudding with nuts, coconut and vanilla.
Arroz con leche ("bi laban ros). Sometimes they add over shredded coconut, nuts or cream.
Basbusa. Cake made with angel hair noodles.
Kunafa. Cake made with a special paste that is shaped like oil skein of long threads. It is typical of Ramadan.
Atayef. Sweet dumplings stuffed with nuts, mainly pistachios. 

 BEVERAGES

Alcoholic.
The boats sold in hotels and prices accordingly to their class, ie the same price that you might find in a restaurant or hotel in the same category in England. The locales are cheaper than imported ones.
In the city there are shops that sell them, ask your guide or representative if they need to buy.
There are cafes / restaurants where they serve, typically will have a terrace where parasols are the propaganda of some kind of beer ("bira"), whether local (Stella and Sakkara) or imported (the most popular, Heineken).

Non alcohol.
• Mineral water. ("Maya") There are bottles of 250 cl. pints and, in addition to hotels and boats are sold fresh in stores, kiosks and street vendors in tourist sites. There are national brands such as Baraka, Siwa, and international as Nestle and Evian.
• Tea. ("Shai") is the national drink, the Egyptians drink many teas throughout the day and usually very sweet. If you are a popular cafe, have not put sugar so you do as you like ("SOCAR bar")
Normally it takes the tea is black and most typically with a sprig of fresh mint. ("Shai bi nana")
• Coffee. ("Ajua) The coffee is usually served American style, ie very loose, if you want more strong Turkish coffee should ask in some places there are explicit.
• Refreshments. Known international brands are sold everywhere, including in the many booths in the street, usually for more Pepsi than Coke and Fanta Mirinda. Sold canned Fayruz Egyptian-flavored apple.
The typical drink from Egypt carcadé (also taken warm in winter), which is an infusion made from the hibiscus flower of a given. It is characterized by its red color.
• Beer. The generally sold in all restaurants and cafes, as well as in street kiosks. Is requested by the brand name "Birel.
• Natural fruit juices. ("Grab fresh") are sold in cafes and restaurants but there are many juice bar when they do, they are easily recognizable because they are normally open to the street and across the top with hanging mesh, depending on the season, mangoes and oranges.
The most typical are the sugar cane ("Kasab"), the mango (manga), orange ("burtuán"), the strawberry (faraola ") and tamarind (tamarhindi") and the banana juice with milk (laban bi mus) and lemon with mint ("Lemon bi nana")
• Others. Primarily for winter nights, as they take hot, although some have some chewy.
"Humus." Soup of chickpeas in spicy, in the bottom of the cup are the beans.
"Sahlab." Species of cornstarch with grated coconut, raisins and other dried fruits.
"ERFA. Infusion of cinnamon. 

  RESTAURANTS
In all 5-star hotels usually have several restaurants with different specialties but prices are often higher than you'll find out.
One of the most famous, especially for his views is the rotary Grand Hyatt Hotel, right next to the Nile and dinner show, one of the restaurants of the Ramses Hilton.
Fel Fela's restaurants have very good food at a good price and have alcoholic drinks (except special religious days), there is one on the road to Alexandria next to the Meridien Pyramids Hotel and another in the center, Talaat Harb Street, which is Marroteya Area (Pyramids area too), have live entertainment and belly dancing dervishes. The specialty as a starter is the taamella (see Section meals), babaganú and tahini, among others, and as chops and chicken entrees grilled, fried calamari, etc.
Seafood Fish Market chain and Kheristos in front of the Pyramids, in the neighborhood of Mohandesin, Kadura.
In the Azhar Park, several restaurants, a magnificent view of the city.
In the Khan el Khalili market is the Taj Naguib Mahfouz and Sultan, Egyptian food, there are also many popular restaurants (terraces).
Gad chain has good food with good prices, from pizza to grilled meat, the chain is Momen sandwiches.
There are also Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, Kentucky, etc. 
 

TAXIS
Taxis in Cairo are distinguished by white and black, have to haggle the price before getting in it and when to pay money just to ensure they do not usually carry change.
Currently the fleet is being renewed by white taxis which are usually new, air conditioned cab.
There is also a private company (Taxi Cab), whose taxis are yellow, have air conditioning and are metered.

The only way to know if they are free is to see if there are people inside, they can pick up other clients along the way and is normal to stop for gas with customers inside.

PHONE
In the hotels usually have IDD telephone service from the room, on some vessels as well or if not, since receipt. It is appropriate to inquire about prices before calling because they increase by a percentage according to the internal rules of each of them.
There are booths where to draw cards that are commonly sold in stores near them.
You can also call from your mobile and it should have activated the roaming service from their country of origin, find out before leaving the rates of your company for no surprises. Also note that if you receive international calls from your country, the caller will pay as a domestic call and you will pay international.

In Egypt there are three mobile operators, Vodafone, Mobinil and Etisalat. If it is to make local calls can buy one online as they are very cheap, about $ 3, but before doing so make sure that your mobile is liberalized.

If you travel to the desert, the oasis or do the cruise on Lake Nasser, we may fail coverage.

VOCABULARY
Yes: Naam / Aigua
No: Laa
Please: Men fad lak
Thank you: Chucre / merci
Good morning: Sabaj the IRB. (Answer: Sabaj to nur)
Good afternoon: Mesa JIR (Answer: Mesa nur)
Good night: Tesbaj the IRB (Answer: Tesbaj to nur)
Hello: Ajlan
Goodbye: Maasalama
Come on!: Yala
Baby love: Habibi
How much?: Became
The account: Hisab / fatur / chek
Much: kitir
Few: Shuaya
Money: Fulus
Change: Fakka
Water: Maya
Coffee: Ajua
Tea: Chai
Beer: Bira
Meat: Lagman
Fish: Samak
Rice: Rós
Macaroni, spaghetti: Macaron
Soup: Sip
Plate: Tobac
Glass: Cupbeia
Fork: Choka
Spoon: Malaa
Knife: Shekinah
Room: Oda
Bed: serir
Cold: Badr
Heat: Harr
Hot: Sokhna
Air conditioning: Takif
Fan: Marruaha
Telephone: Telefon
Internet: Net
Me: Ana
You (male): Enta
You (women): Enti
Him: Hua
She: Heya
Us: Ehna
You: Entum
They: Homma

KILOMETERS DISTANCES FROM CAIRO

ALEXANDRIA (the desert Road)			221
ASWAN			880
ASYUT			359
DAHAB			610
EDFU			775
ESNA			714
FAYUM			103
HURGHADA			504
ISMAILIA			140
KOM OMBO			835
LUXOR			664
MARSA MATRUH			490
MENFIS & SAKKARA			25
MINYA			236
NUWEIBA			670
OASIS BAHARIYA			316
OASIS FARAFRA			420
OASIS DAKHLA			690
OASIS KHARGA			586
PORT SAID			220
QARUN (LAKE)			153
SHARM EL SHEIKH			772
SIWA			617
SAINT CATHERINE			392
SUEZ			134

Accommodation. We work with hotels and ships 4 and 5 * standard, luxury and top class but the country's rating may not match that of other countries.

 Triple rooms. Normally there are still double rooms to which is added an extra bed or sofa bed which often lack the size or the qualifications of comfort from others.

ost rooms have two beds, sometimes together, in case you want a double bed should be requested at the time of reservation but the hotel / ship shall be granted only if available.

If people travel more and want a family room together, must be requested at the time of booking but we can not confirm because it is subject to the availability of the hotel / ship.

Cruises. The motorboats are considered floating hotels, ie when on a cruise not all the time as you navigate must be made for visits to cities where you embark, Aswan / Luxor. Between these two cities is about 230 km. and between Aswan and Abu Simbel about 280 km. what follows that the distance is relatively short in relation to the duration of the cruise.

There are cruises on the Nile for three nights (embarkation in Aswan), four (boarding at Luxor) and seven nights (loading all), so much the journey as the visit is the same for everyone.

 In Lake Nasser about three nights on board in Abu Simbel and Aswan four with shipment.

It is full board that does not include in any beverage. Nor are including extra expenses or gratuities.

 It is customary in some vessels retain the passport until the day of departure, in case you need before you can ask to make a photocopy and return it.

 Standard cabins are usually all the same price regardless of their position in any of the decks where you are, this situation will not be known until the time of shipment. If you have different prices depending on deck shall be provided for selection.

 

Nile boats are small and so often heard the noise of motors and generators (if they are unemployed). The tie up alongside each other (legally can be up to 4), means that it can also hear the generators of the boats alongside.

Being tied up and makes the windows of some boats as they give / s adjoining should have during this time drawn curtains to maintain privacy.

The time of arrival and stay in every tourist spot is given for each vessel.

The order and timing of visits may change due to its speed or heavy river traffic increased by the fact of crossing the Esna lock.

Hotels. In Cairo we consider three areas, center, Pyramids and airport. The airport area hotels are located in the Medina neighborhood of Heliopolis and Nasser and the property is usually done when there is a night in Cairo, or at the beginning or end of the program due to its proximity to the airport to avoid check out and traffic problems.

The reservation in any of the other two areas is available upon request.

If you do not apply anything to the contrary when making the reservation, the room price will be Standard.

Nile view rooms are often seen Pyramids supplement and must be requested when booking.

 The diet in Cairo, unless otherwise confirmed, is a bed and breakfast in other cities often half board (breakfast and dinner). Drinks are not included.

Christmas Dinner / New Year

If pass these nights in a hotel must be taken into account that some force to make the dinner price, which usually go for the 100 € per person (ask when booking) is paid directly to hotel.

Do not ask tuxedo.

In the year-end dinner there is usually no dancing or performances.

Visits

All visits are made in the program as optional not included, and their entries.

* Tickets not included.

· Pyramid of Khafre. Price: 30 LE

· Pyramid of Cheops: Your entry is restricted to a certain number of people per day so you have to go to buy tickets when they open their lockers, at 8 and 13 h.

If you wish to enter must be communicated prior to the guide or representative to tailor the tour and times that purchase and that the client should do personally.

Price: 100 LE.

· Mummies Hall in the Cairo Museum. You can visit my free time it leaves the guide while visiting the museum. Price: 100 LE.

· Tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings. Closed.

We must tell the guide before entering the grounds of the Valley of the Kings to buy the ticket at the box office.

 

* Schedule of monuments and tourist sites

Open early and close too soon, most between 4 and 5 pm. The Cairo Museum is closing later in the city, at 6.

The closing time, in addition to temperatures, makes the visits be made very early.

 

There are times in winter and summer.

During the visits of the cruise there are some monuments that also open at night, allowing different complements a visit to the daytime, such as the temple of Luxor and Kom Ombo, and Philae, Karnak and its light and sound show.

* Ramadan

Lasts a month in 2011 will be in early August.

Visits in Cairo and surrounding area must be adapted to schedule the closure of sites and traffic, worse than usual these days tend to be early and leave at the end of lunch to do everything and its proper duration.

* Explanations of the guides.

In some places such as tombs, pyramids and temples of Abu Simbel are prohibited inside the explanations, so it will be.

 * Alteration of the day / order / schedule

The order and timing of visits is given by the phone every day at their discretion for the better development of the same but always made all put into the program and not optional.

The change may also be motivated by intangibles such as time of arrival of the ship / plane / bus, lock step, climatic reasons, etc.

 

Loading and unloading times

The time arrangement of the booths in the shipment in motorboats is 12:00 on the first day of the cruise and the maximum time of removing the last day is at 08:00.

Due to the limited space of the motor boats can not leave your luggage at the same until the time of the flight, so low to the landing where it is protected with a tarp.

If domestic flight is in the evening, guests can only cabins have more hours depending on the availability and willingness of the boat.

Esna Lock

Currently there are two locks at Esna running at the same time so as not like before during the maintenance time to do a flight in coach, now in these cases always work but due to a number of boats that are in Nile queues can still occur which could lead to advance the departure time to take a shift or late arrival to the next destination.

Hours of admission and evacuation of the hotel rooms.

In hotels times obey international standards and are from the 15 h. check-in (entry into the room) and 11:00 am check-out (evacuation of the room).

Where is the international flight in the afternoon / evening, customers will have room only a few hours depending on the availability of the hotel and sometimes a fee.

Overbooking

Due to inadequate tourism infrastructure, it can produce exceptionally overbooking on airlines, in boats,
hotels, etc., producing, causing inconvenience for the changes. In these cases always respected the same categories and quality provided.

Domestic flights

The company may change the hours, days or cancel flights without notice or on short notice, in which case, the programs could be altered.

Flights to Abu Simbel are very early and must leave the hotel / boat at dawn. Had sandstorm could be suspended or changed by day and given the option to refund your money or make the road trip, returning the difference.

In case of complaint should be made directly to the airline at the time, as with the loss or damage to baggage. For all this will be assisted by our representative at the airport.

 

Road trips

Some routes, such as Aswan to Abu Simbel and back must be made in police convoy, there are two out of Aswan is at 4 am and 11.

For other routes are needed police permission to be out in advance (such as Santa Catalina and El Fayoum) by which, if outside of Cairo optional visits should be notified several days before in order to achieve these.

 

Services included and not included in our programs

Including

Cruise · Full board (drinks not included) Bed & Breakfast in Cairo.

· Transfers.

· Assistance at airports.

· All as specified in the program and not optional.

· Guide to Spanish-speaking local, non-exclusive, during the visits.

 

Not included

 · Flights International. (Unless requested)

· Flights domestic liner. (Unless requested)

· Visa to the country's entry ($ 15) payable at the airport.

· Extras such as drinks, telephone, laundry, etc..

· Tips: Porters in hotels and ships, ship staff, drivers, representatives, guides, etc.

· Insurance Travel.

· Entrance to the Pyramids of Giza.

• In the Cairo Museum, entrance to the hall of mummies.

NOTE

Visitors may change even during the day time but always made all included in the program and not optional.