About Egypt

• Climate 

Egypt Popularity as a holiday destination may be in part to its climate.

The hottest months are June, July and August when maximum temperatures range between 34C/95F in Cairo and 41C/107F in Luxor and Aswan.

Since the climate tends to be dry, especially in Upper Egypt, the heat is more bearable. Evening is much cooler and very pleasant, which is possibly the reason why night-time  in Egypt is so lively. Weather-wise, the best months to visit is March, April, October and November. Other-wise, any time is a good time.

• Clothing  

Overall, Egypt is a very casual country! However, you may want to plan accordingly for the weather. Day dress should include cotton and breathable fabric clothing, comfortable shoes, hat, and sun block. Shorts are acceptable.

Evening dress is smart-casual. A light jacket or sweater is advisable for the months of November - April.

•  Money  

The national unit of currency is the Egyptian Bound (L.E) with 100 Piaster.

In addition to the big hotels, many major shops and restaurants in tourist cities  will accept credit cards. Traveler's cheques are best purchased in US dollars or pounds sterling.

•  Tipping  

Most hotels and restaurants include a service charge in their bill, in any  case it is not obligatory to tip waiters, but you can always add a little extra.

If service charge is not included ,waiters should be tipped around 10% of the bill.

•  Electricity and Water  

The electrical system is based on 220 AC Volt, 50 Hz, and requires rounded two round pins/prong wall plug. Visitors from North America will need a transformers / adapter which can be provided by most hotels.
All hotels have their own filtering water system and their water is considered safe to drink. Also bottled water is cheap and readily available.

•  Shopping  

Egyptian Handcrafts represent a tradition of skilled workmanship and folk art that dates back many thousands of years.

The most common Egyptian craft items include, marble statue, papyrus, hand made carpet, silver, jeweler, carved stone animals, Bedouin jeweler, leather goods ,colored sand bottles and art crafts, Old swords and turn of the pharos time.

A those things, you can easy find through your walk in a downtown (souq ) will bring you in touch with hundreds of smell every day items that you may wish to take home as a souvenir of your visit to Egypt .

•  Time 

 Plus two hours from GMT. Seven hours ahead of US eastern standard time.

•  Business Hours  

 Friday is the weekly holidays.

Government offices and most business are closed.
 Banks are opened from Sunday to Thursday from 08h30-15h00.
 Business Offices are open from 08h30-13h30.
 Government offices are open only from 08h30-14h00
 Shopping Hours are flexible, most shops open from 09h30 till 22h00

•  Holidays 

Several national holidays are observed on the same day every year:

•  Coptic Christmas  (January 07)

• Sinai liberation day (April 25th)

•  Labour Day (May 1)

•  Independence Day (June 18th)

•  Revelation day (July 23rd)

Several Islamic religious holidays are observed by their precise dates vary by about two  weeks every year in line with the Islamic calendar that is used to determine religious holidays.

•  Muslim New Year

•  Prophets Birthday

•  Eid Al Fiter

•  Eid Al Adha

• Spring day (sham el Nassiem )

• Medical Services  

Medical services are high quality in Egyptian larger cities and towns.

Most doctors are bilingual in Arabic and English. All hotels have a doctor on call, Embassies can also suggest a doctor or a hospital.

• Useful Numbers  

• Police: 122

• First Aid Ambulance: 123

• Fire Service: 125

• Traffic Police: 128

• International Airport information : (+202) 2914288

• Tourist Emergency: 126

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