I have recently returned from an incredible two-week tour of Egypt (24 March - 06 April 2011), where I served as the subject matter expert, lecturer and guide for our group. This was my tenth trip to my "second home."

Our tour group consisted of 13 Americans from the greater Philadelphia region, including a family with two young sons, aged 8 and 11. None of the group had ever visited Egypt before. Every member of the group has since told me that their trip was an incredible, life-changing experience that they will never ever forget. OUR LAND OPERATOR GRAND HOLIDAYS  handled all aspects of our tour from the moment we arrived at the airport until the moment we returned to the airport to fly home. True to form, Sherif made sure that absolutely everything went perfectly every step of the way, a testament to his professionalism and his total commitment to his clients.

I have been traveling to Egypt personally and professionally for over 25 years, and in all those years, Egypt and her people have welcomed me with the warmth and hospitality for which the Egyptians are so famous. This was equally true, if not more so, on this trip.

This tour was, of course, made even more unique because we traveled to Egypt only a few short weeks after the Revolution of 25 January and the subsequent resignation of Mr, Hosni Mubarak as President on 11 February. 

I want to state unequivocally that there has never, ever been a better time to visit Egypt that right now! Anyone who has ever desired to visit the land of the Pharaohs and the land of modern Egypt, now is the time to run, not walk to the first flight you can book to Cairo.

Everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles and literal open arms. Egypt is as safe, if not safer, than ever before, because the Egyptian people are now free of an oppressive government and a bright, new, democratic future beckons for everyone, from all walks of life.

Due to the unfortunate and wholly unwarranted retreat of tourism in Egypt, we enjoyed unparalleled access to the most famous sites on Earth, free of crowds, free of lines, and free of congestion. Imagine seeing the Pyramids and the Sphinx, Saqqqara, Memphis, Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatsheput, Karnak Temple,  Luxor Temple and especially Abu Simbel Temple and Philae Temple virtually to yourselves.
 
We went. We marveled, We breezed through airports and meandered through monuments and museums. Our experiences were awe inspiring. We even had the Nile River itself virtually to ourselves.

My tips for travel to Egypt at this time in history begin with this advice: leave your fears at home, plunge in and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the New Egypt firsthand. Social changes going on in regions surrounding Egypt have nothing whatsoever to do with Egypt itself. To fear going to Egypt right now is like saying. "if there's riots occurring in Chicago then it's not safe to go to California."

Here is practical advice I urge all my tour members to observe.
MONEY

IMPORTANT: bring your debit cards and credit cards, both work in Egypt. Do not bother with traveler's checks - way too expensive, too much hassle to reconvert to cash.

VERY CRITICAL: call your bank for each debit card, and call the number on the back of each and every credit card you intend to bring, before you depart.

Give each issuer the dates you are traveling and make sure to tell them you will be in Egypt, AND, also if your flight involves a transfer in a European airport (you will spend money there during any layovers on meals, etc.)

If you do not give every card issuer advance notice of travel plans, when you try to use your cards, especially debit cards, especially in Egypt, your bank or credit card company could instantly shut off the card if they suspect fraudulent or unusual activity.

There is NO guarantee you could get disabled cards reactivated during the time you are in Egypt.
The unit of currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound  (EGP).

By going to Egypt now, tourists all have extra money to spend!

In early January, the exchange rate was roughly 5.3 Egyptian pounds to the dollar.

Right now, the rate is almost 6.0 to the dollar! One hundred US dollars equals about 600 EGP.

You should bring a supply of US cash, you can convert cash to EGP at any bank. 
You can use your debit card in virtually any ATM in Egypt, just remember the amounts you enter on the screen and will receive in cash are in Egyptian pounds. Your password will be the same as it is at home.

The exchange rates are fixed by the government, so no matter where you exchange money, the rate will be exactly the same.
You can get single Egyptian pounds as coins. I urge everyone to buy at least two rolls of one-pound coins to use for small tips (bakhshish). For example, nearly all public restrooms have attendants who service and monitor the facility. It is expected of you to give a small tip (i.e., one or two pounds) as you enter or exit the restroom.  
ELECTRICITY
Do Not forget to bring the chargers for each of your electronics, especially your digital cameras!
Bring spare memory cards for those digital cameras, Egypt is a photographers paradise!
Electric power in Egypt is 220V. Virtually all power cords/chargers for your laptops, battery chargers and other electronic devices are designed to work on either 110 or 220/240. Just look on the underside of the charger and you'll find a label. If it reads or is stamped, 110/220 (or 240) it will work in Egypt.

All you need is an adapter plug(s) to convert our two-prong plug to the Egyptian round-prong plug. The Egyptian round-prong is the same as that used throughout Europe.
"PRECIOUS THINGS"
Important reminder about "precious things," such as the diamond wedding ring you inherited from your great-great grandmother, the Rolex you inherited from your grandfather, and your accessories such as expensive jewelry, pda's, mp3 players, etc.

Most visitors to Egypt, even first-timers, are experienced travelers, so forgive me if I am stating the
obvious.

Egypt is an exceptionally safe country, arguably the safest place that I have ever visited, however, common sense should always be heeded.

While I do recommend simple wedding bands if you wear them, especially for the women, an old run of thumb for travel anywhere on earth is:

"IF IT WOULD UPSET YOU TO LOSE IT, THEN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE LEAVE IT AT HOME!"

Most tours only last for two weeks or less. Leave it at home unless you really must bring it, whatever it is. The last thing you need is to lean over the railing on the river boat and have a ring slip off your finger, or have a watch come loose, and disappear into the Nile forever...

You will have ample opportunities to buy fabulous NEW jewelry in Egypt at very attractive prices.
Advice about "fanny packs." Leave them at home. All over the world, these ubiquitous badges, readily identifying the wearer as a tourist from somewhere, are prime targets and easy picking for even amateur pickpockets. 
Do not carry your passport around with you, you do not need it; leave it with the concierge or lock it in a room safe. A lightweight over the shoulder day pack is ideal to carry your camera and a bottle of water, etc. Don't forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, too!
Most of all, relax, plunge right into Egypt and her culture, and have fun - this will be the vacation of a lifetime.
SHOP SHOP SHOP!! We found prices everywhere on virtually everything to be the best that I have ever seen, and vendors everywhere, obviously, are in real need of our business to feed their families. 
Franklin D. Roosevelt said it best: You have nothing to fear but fear itself
Bon voyage and masalama,


An Open Letter to Everyone Traveling to Egypt, from Sherif El Sebai, Managing Director
and Dr. Stephen R. Phillips, Egyptian Section
Penn Museum