Keeping safe and saving money on holiday in Egypt

Tips and advice on cheap holidays in Egypt, child safety, money handling and more.

Preparing for a family holiday can be a source of great excitement, especially with young children. And Egypt is one of the world destinations which most captivates young travelers – forget about Disneyland!

The pure wonder and majesty of the pyramids, the expanse of the desert and the beautiful reefs and fish of the Red Sea make this a naturally enchanting place whose history, people and landscape are full of rich and complex cultural and geological change.

What is more, with cheap holidays Egypt bound becoming more and more readily available, there are also increased presorts and provisions for kids, especially at the beaches of Sharm El-Sheikh and in and around Cairo and the pyramids.

So what to watch out for when it comes to your kids’ health? For a start, Egypt does not require any extra vaccines or immunizations – however if you do have a child with allergies or any specific conditions or dietary requirements, it will be important to make this known to any restaurants or hotels.

The Pyramids of Giza

Egypt is a Islamic country and food is prepared as halal – which, on the whole, is much more hygienic that food preparation in the UK! – but it does mean that you can still double-check the preparation or mixing of particular ingredients. Make sure that you have met your doctor before leaving, and have both necessary and emergency medication in case of accidents.

Water in Egypt is regarded as relatively safe. For more information you can check with any medical centre or online hubs for information on disease prevention. Water purification tablets can be easily bought from an outdoor or camping shop, and bottled water is in good supply in Egypt – this is best recommended for day trips and taking to the beach.

Sun health is also an issue in Egypt, where hot temperatures are commonplace – whilst we all know the importance of applying suncream for desert walks or sunbathing, it is easy to forget that snorkeling or being in the water is also a very effective way of inviting sunburn. Encourage the kids to wear t shirts whilst snorkeling, and invest in a long-lasting waterproof sunscreen, to use at the beginning of the day and then top up with suncream throughout, just like if you were in any hot location anywhere.