Trip to Egypt

The list adapts to you

When you add it, the checklist asks a couple of questions and keeps only the items that fit your situation.

• Traveling with kids? NoYes

What's inside

1. Check your passport validity

   Egypt requires at least 6 months of passport validity from the date of entry.

2. Prepare cash for the visa on arrival

   Most tourists get a visa on arrival for cash dollars (about $25 at the time of writing). Check current rules — South Sinai has a separate free entry stamp.

3. Buy travel medical insurance

   Make sure the policy covers snorkeling, diving and quad bike rides — the most common claim sources.

4. Save tickets and bookings offline

   Screenshots of tickets, hotel voucher and insurance — arrival airport internet may not cooperate.

5. Take small-denomination US dollars

   Small dollar bills solve everything: visa, tips, souvenirs, taxis. Stock up on $1 notes — they are the local tipping currency.

6. Make copies of your documents

   Photos of passport, insurance and bookings to cloud storage; paper copies separate from originals.

7. Pack a stomach-trouble kit

   Egypt's number one risk. A sorbent, oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrheal belong in your bag from day one — not in the overpriced hotel pharmacy.

8. Drink and brush teeth with bottled water only

   Tap water is the fastest route to a ruined holiday. Ice in drinks outside the hotel is water too.

9. Be careful with food in the heat

   Wash fruit with bottled water and skip buffet dishes that sat in the heat. Save street food experiments for later in the trip.

10. Buy SPF 50+ and panthenol

    The Egyptian sun is harsh year-round, and the sea doubles it by reflection. Hotel shops charge multiples for sunscreen.

11. Hat and sunglasses

    On pyramid and Luxor excursions, shade is a luxury.

12. Pack reef shoes

    Corals and sea urchins near the shore are a Sharm and Hurghada reality. Coral cuts take weeks to heal.

13. Bring your own mask and snorkel

    Reefs start right at the pier — you'll snorkel daily. Your own mask is cleaner than rentals and fits better.

14. A jacket for winter evenings (Nov–Mar)

    Winter evenings drop to +15°C with a constant sea wind — poolside and promenade get chilly.

15. Chargers and a power bank

    Type C/F European sockets — US/UK plugs need an adapter.

16. Set up an eSIM or local SIM

    Hotel Wi-Fi is often paid and weak. An eSIM or a city SIM beats the airport counters.

17. Be ready for baksheesh

    Everyone expects tips: porters, housekeeping, waiters, temple guards. A dollar or two in small bills defuses any friction and visibly upgrades service.

18. Haggle everywhere

    The first price at markets and taxis is triple the real one. Haggling is a game: a smile and walking away beat arguing.

19. Agree the taxi fare BEFORE getting in

    Meters don't exist at the resorts. Hurghada and Cairo have Uber/Careem — use them where available.

20. Book excursions with reliable operators

    Leave the hotel grounds with organized tours: beach excursion sellers are famous for AC-less buses and surprise fees. Reviews matter more than price.

21. Plan long excursions realistically

    Luxor or Cairo from Hurghada means a 4 a.m. start and 12–16 hours of road and heat. Bring water, snacks and plan a rest day after.

22. Kids' documents Yes

    Each child needs their own passport. Bring the birth certificate if surnames differ, and check one-parent travel rules.

23. Kids' first aid kit, stomach-focused Yes

    Child-safe sorbent, rehydration salts, fever reducer, thermometer. Kids' stomachs surrender to Egyptian cuisine first.

24. UV swim shirt, sun hat and floaties Yes

    Kids' skin burns in 15 minutes even in winter. A UPF swim shirt beats any sunscreen.

25. Familiar food and snacks for the kid Yes

    Local food is spicy and unfamiliar. A pack of familiar cereal or cookies rescues the first week's breakfasts.

26. Check in online for your flight

    Egypt flights often run full — grab seats together right when check-in opens.