To visa or not to visa? That is the question
by thebrownz
Not needed if you are just planning to stay by the pool/beach. While you are on the ?plane to Egypt you will be given a card to complete (immigration card or something like that). Complete it and when you get off the ?plane join the queue with everyone else. When you get to the front, tell them that you are just going to stay in the Sharm-el-Sheikh area only and that you do not want a visa. They will write ?Sinai Only? on the reverse of the card. You then take this to the next bit (passport control) and they will stamp your passport and write something on it. It?s as easy as that. We swam with dolphins, went on a camel trek, we went to 3 different beaches and generally ?came and went? as we pleased. We did not need a visa for any of this
You may need a visa if you are planning on going to Ras Mohammed. This is a national park. Don?t imagine your local park with though because it is the water/sea that is the park. Having spoken to people that went on this trip, the only other things they saw here that they did not see snorkelling in the beach were different corals. If you are not a strong swimmer or not confident in the water, this would not be a particularly fulfilling trip. If you plan to go to Cairo or Luxor, you will need a visa.
Stunning Sinai
by nada1712
The Sinai peninsula is totally different from the rest of Egypt. The pace is much quieter and there is no hassle. If you like the sea and the desert - the Sinai is for you. The extraordinary Red Sea and the beautiful, proud and elegant Bedouin peoples
Language
by Kaz_and_Soph
in eygpt it would be ideal to learn some basoc arabic just to get you by as sometimes you need to get rid of pushy salesmen etc. here is some to get you started:
Hello = Ahalan
Thank you = shokran
Please = Min Fadilak
Excuse me = Ann Eazinak
Good = Taib/ Bikair
Bad = Saia/ Mosh Bikair
Do you speak English?= tatakalam Inglesi?
How much is this? = bikam hatha?
It is too expensive = ghalia katheer
these are some usefull phrases that should get you well one your way :D
Prepare for Chilly Desert Nights
by SabrinaSummerville
You might want to bring a spare suitcase if it's your first visit to Egypt, as you are going to want to buy all around you. I'll prepare a shopping tip soon, but for now I'll advise you to pack lightly on the outbound journey and be prepared for a possible excess luggage charge on the way home :-) Most recently I travelled in December/January and didn't bring any warm gear with me. It was a mistake. For the first three nights it was quite cold and I would have welcomed a cardi or sweatshirt.
If you plan to go on any of the trips you might bring a good pair of walking shoes or runners - for example, the trip to Moses Mountain or St. Catherine's Monastery both involve a lot of walking.
Again for the trips pack a long sleeved top as you will be required to cover up in the religious sites. The pharmacy near our most recent hotel was excellent, but you really should pack some mosquito repellant - and use it! I take hundreds of pics every time I visit Egypt, as there's just so much to see. I found it almost impossible to purchase additional memory discs for my digital camera in Cairo, so bring plenty with you.
sNORKLING IN RAS MOHAMED
by egyptiandiamond
one of the best activities u can do in sharm is snorklingin RAS MOHAMED,i will see fishes you ve never seen b4 of different colours and sizes,u know what will i was snorkling there i saw alot of coloured fishes i even seen the clown fish which was in 'finding nemo" lol
Me on the camel
Anemonefishes & their strange 'hand-like" house
Old market of Sharm El Sheikh of Egypt
Tam Tam restaurant along the promenade
