How do you feel about planning a winter holiday for the whole family? Fancy going somewhere warm and sunny to help you cope with your winter blues? Perhaps something exciting and energising that you can all look forward to? Or a place where you can lose track of time and forget all the drama that happened this year? If that sounds amazing to you, then by all means, check out some of this Egypt travel advice!
Egypt travel advice on how to get there
The Egyptian government resumed international flights on 1st of July 2020. Although flights stopped in mid-March 2020, some Egyptian airlines such as EgyptAir, Air Cairo and Nile Air had special flights. They were mainly for Egyptians abroad wishing to return to Egypt and likewise foreigners in Egypt wishing to leave to their home countries. Domestic flights on EgyptAir operate as usual between Cairo and other Egyptian cities. Most flights are to tourist destinations actually such as Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Borg El Arab, Luxor and Aswan.
Airports in Egypt installed signage to remind passengers of all the social distancing and hygiene regulations. Airports have also been fitted with thermal cameras. Medical doctors will also be deployed on board incoming flights. That way, they can conduct temperature checks for all passengers before they land. This is especially important since testing for COVID-19 will only be done if a passenger has an unusually high fever.
The mandatory 14-day quarantine has also been lifted recently. Meanwhile, passengers are asked to self-isolate at home if they experience any worrying symptoms. As of 1st of September 2020, travellers to Egypt need to conduct a PCR test 72 hours before their flights to Egypt and only board if it is a negative result. Children younger than 6 years of age are exempt.
Egypt travel advice on where to stay
Hotel Certificates
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt are issuing hygiene safety certificates to hotels. This is basically proof that they are following the WHO health and safety guidelines and are authorised to open. They even designed a seal of approval based on the ancient Egyptian symbols of life, prosperity and health!
Hotel Precautions
As expected, hotels have to commit to superior levels of maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of their facilities. Moreover, there are a few extra precautions that approved hotels must take to maintain social distancing and good hygiene:
- The maximum hotel occupancy increased to 50% as of July 2020. Prior to that it was 25%
- The maximum number of people allowed in a hotel room is two adults and one child less than 12 years of age
- Guests will have their temperature taken before they check in
- Guests will have the option to check in and check out of the hotel online
- Luggage will be sanitised before being taken to the rooms
- Hotel staff must wear gloves and masks all the time
- Housekeeping will also provide hotel guests with masks, gloves and hand sanitiser
- Lifts are allowed only half of their capacity
- Sunbeds on beaches and swimming pools must be 2 metres apart
- Beach towels will be delivered to the rooms
- Tables in cafes and restaurants must be 2 metres apart and will seat 6 people maximum
- Food buffets will not be available but guests can order their meals a la carte instead
- Shisha will not be served
- Gym equipment will be spaced 2 metres apart and disinfected after every use
- No showering in gyms however
- Spa facilities such as steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzies and massage sessions will not be running unfortunately
List of Hotels
I compiled a list of hotels based on information published on the Egyptian Tourism Authority official website and Twitter account to include in this article about Egypt travel advice. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list however. I promise to try my best to keep it updated. So please make sure you check back every now and then! Also, my advice it to book with the hotel directly rather than through any third parties. This is especially valid for hotels that operate on a seasonal basis.
Cairo hotels
- Cairo Four Seasons
- Concorde El Salam
- Conrad Cairo Hotel
- Dusit Thani Lakeview
- Grand Hyatt Cairo
- Fairmont Nile City
- Hilton Cairo World Trade Center Residences
- Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences
- Holiday Inn Cairo City Stars
- InterContinental City Stars Cairo
- JW Marriott
- Le Passage
- Marriott Hotel and Omar Khayyam Casino
- Novotel Cairo Airport
- Novotel Cairo El Borg
- Om Kolthoum Hotel and Tower
- Renaissance Cairo Mirage City
- Semiramis Intercontinental
- Sheraton Cairo
- Sofitel Cairo Maadi Towers and Casino
- Sofitel Gezirah
- Sonesta
- St Regis Cairo
- Staybridge Suites City Stars
- Steigenberger El Tahrir
- The Nile Ritz-Carlton
- The Ramses Hilton
- The Westin Cairo Golf Resort and Spa, Katameya Dunes
Giza hotels
- Amarante Pyramids
- Cataract Pyramids
- Flamenco
- Gawharet Al Ahram
- Grand
- Hilton Pyramids Golf Resort
- Hor Moheb
- Marriott Mena House
- New President
- President
- Steigenberger Pyramids
- Swiss Inn Nile
- Swiss Inn Pyramids Golf Resort and Plaza
Alexandria hotels
- Africana
- Aifu Horizon
- Caesar Bay
- Cherry Maryski
- Delta
- El Madina El Monawara
- Four Seasons Alexandria at San Stefano
- Helnan Palestine
- Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza
- Hilton King’s Ranch Borg El Arab
- Holiday
- Iberotel Borg El Arab
- Jeddah
- Lagoon
- Marhaba
- New Capri
- Palma Inn
- Paradise Inn Beach Resort
- Paradise Inn Le Metropole
- Plaza
- Radisson Blu
- Ramsis
- Romance
- Salamlek Palace
- San Giovanni Stanley
- Sea Star
- Sheraton Montazah Hotel
- Sofitel Cecil Alexandria
- Steigenberger Cecil
- Sunrise Alex Avenue
- The Grand Plaza
- The G
- Union
- Windsor Palace
Marsa Matrouh hotels
- Al Alamein
- Beau Site
- Belle Vue
- Caesar Bay
- Carols Beau Rivage
- Jaz Almaza
- Jaz Crystal
- Negresco Hotel
- Porto Marina Al Alamein
- Sidi Abdel Rahman Al Alamein
Western Desert hotels
- Adrere Amellal, Desert Ecolodge, Siwa Oasis
- Aquasun Farafra Hotel, Farafra Oasis
- Byoum Lakeside, Fayoum Oasis
- Helnan Auberge, Fayoum Oasis
- Tala Ranch Hotel, Siwa Oasis
Hurghada hotels
- Ali Pasha
- Azur Grand Resorts Pharaoh
- Bella Vista
- Bellevue
- Captain’s Inn
- Casa Cook
- Cleopatra Luxury
- Continental
- Cook’s Club
- Coral Beach
- Desert Rose
- Elysees
- Garden Beach
- Golden Beach
- Hawaii Caesar Palace
- Hawaii Le Jardin Aqua Park
- Hawaii Riviera Aqua Park
- Hilton Plaza
- Hilton Long Beach
- Hurghada Golden Beach
- Jaz Aquamarine
- Jaz Aquaviva
- Jaz Makadi
- Jungle Aqua Park
- Marriott Resort
- Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
- Old Palace Resort Sahl El Hasheesh
- Pharaoh Azur
- Port Mirette
- Regina Swiss Inn
- Samra Bay
- Shams
- Sheraton Soma Bay
- Sindbad Aqua Park
- Steigenberger Aqua Magic
- Sunny Beach
- Sunny Days
- Sunrise Aqua Joy
- Sunrise Royal Makadi Aqua
- The Five
- The Three Corners Rihana
- Titanic Oasis
- Tree Village
- Tropitel Sahl Hasheesh
- Turtle’s Inn
- White Beach
El Gouna hotels
- Ancient Sands
- Dawar El Omda Hotel
- Fanadir
- Labranda Club Paradisio
- Mosaique
- Movenpick Resort and Spa
- Ocean View
- Sheraton Miramar Resort
- Steigenberger Resort
- Sultan Bey Hotel
- Three Corners Ocean View Hotel
Marsa Alam hotels
- Iberotel Coraya Beach Resort
- InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib Resort
- Sol Y Mar Dar El Madina
- Three Corners Fairouz Plaza Beach Resort
Ain Sokhna hotels
- Cancun
- Coral Sea
- Dome
- Grand Ocean
- Jaz Little Venice
- Marina Wadi El Dome
- Mena Oasis
- Movenpick Resort El Sokhna
- Plan Hotel Sea Club
- Porto Sokhna
- Retal View
- Stella Di Mare
- Stella Golf
- Swiss Inn Resort
- Teda Swiss Inn Plaza
Sharm El Sheikh hotels
- Albatros Aqua Park
- Albatros Palace
- Aqua Park
- Charmillion Club Aqua Park
- Charmillion Sea Life
- Cleopatra Luxury Resort Nabq
- Coral Sea Holiday Resort
- Coral Beach Resort Montazah
- Coral Beach Resort Tiran
- Fayrouz
- Four Seasons
- Grand Rotana
- Hilton Sharks Bay
- Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz
- Hyatt Regency
- Iberotel Palace
- Jaz Belvedere
- Jaz Mirabel
- Marina Sharm
- Novotel
- Nubian Village
- Parrotel Aqua Park
- Parrotel Beach
- Reef Oasis Blue Bay
- Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden Beach
- Rixos Sea Gate
- Royal Albatross Moderna
- Sharm Cliff
- Sharm Dreams
- Sharm Holiday
- Sonesta Club Sharm El Sheikh
- Sunrise Arabian Beach
- Tiran
- Tivoli
- The Savoy and Royal Savoy
- Tropitel Naama Bay
- Xperience St George Homestay
Ras Sudr hotels
- Moon Beach
- Mousa Coast
Dahab hotels
- Coral Coast
- Dahab Bay View
- Dyarna Dahab
- Ecotel
- Gafy
- Happy Life
- Hilton Dahab
- Le Meridien
- Oriental Rivoli
- Rocketa
- Swiss Inn
- Tirana
- Tropitel Dahab Oasis
Nuweiba hotels
- Hilton Nuweiba
- Nuweiba Club Resort
Taba hotels
- Strand Beach and Golf Resort
Luxor hotels
- Al Moudira
- Emilio
- Hilton
- Iberotel
- Maritim Jolie Ville King’s Island
- Sonesta St George
- The Amarco II Luxury Nile Cruise
- Windsor
Aswan hotels
- Basma
- City Max
- Marhaba
- Movenpick
- Pyramisa Isis Island
Hotels in other cities
- Aracan, Port Said
- Green Desert, Beheira
- Nefertiti Hotel, El Minya
- Noras Beach, Port Said
- Porto Said, Port Said
- Steigenberger, Ras El Bar
- Teba, Ras El Bar
Egypt travel advice on what to do
Sightseeing
Museums and archaeological sites are thankfully reopening. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is offering a 20% discount on tickets when you book a flight on EgyptAir or Air Cairo. Cinemas and theatres are also opening but are only allowed 25% of their capacity. Public parks, public beaches and theme parks however remain closed.
Getting around
Public transportation is available until midnight. Everyone now needs to wear a mask when using public transportation or frequenting any public or private institutions. Uber is working as usual but you need to follow its social distancing and hygiene guidelines. They include things such as sitting in the back seat and wearing a face mask.
Eating out
Restaurants and cafes are now open but only at 25% capacity. Delivery and takeout are also available. Most establishments are open every day until 10 pm.
Shopping
Malls and shops are open until 9 pm while continuing to take precautions to maintain social distancing. Supermarkets and pharmacies are exempt from these restrictions though and a lot of them operate 24/7.
Can’t wait to holiday in Egypt?
So, what to do until your holiday in Egypt? Well, you can pass the time by downloading this amazing app called Around Egypt. It features more than 30 virtual reality (VR) tours of different attractions in Egypt. Also, if you are planning to pass through my hometown, make sure you check my family survival guide to Cairo. Stay safe and healthy!
Pin this Egypt travel advice article
