Egypt Blue Peter Expedition and dress code

black-saturn

I've noticed that there are a lot of people visiting Egypt this year (including me). Blue Peter are doing their summer expedition there this year so anyone who's going it might be worth a watch.

Also I have read on lots of websites that the dress code is quite strict there and you have to wear trousers and long sleeves and even headscarves in some areas (I'm going to cairo). But yesterday's Blue Peter showed the female presenter walking round Cairo in a strappy top and skirt and not a headscarf in sight. Can someone confirm what you should wear there?

Becles

My parents have been. Mam wore knee length shorts and t-shirts with sleeves in during the day, which seemed to be acceptable. It was ladies in Daisy Duke style shorts and vest tops that got the unwanted attention.

One evening she wore a knee length sun dress with straps so her shoulders were bare. She got lots of stares and felt really uncomfortable. Apparantly they don't like women showing their shoulders. She felt better wearing dresses/tops with sleeves in.

I would take something like a pashmina or shawl to cover your shoulders and the tops of your arms if think you are offending people.

Steve_xx

I was in Cairo recently and I can tell you that most young people there are dressed similar to young people here. I saw lots of tourist ladies in attire typical to what you would see in the UK and nobody seemed to bat an eyelid. Cairo seems to be quite westernised in its dress sense I'd say.

Other areas of Egypt tend to be more traditional, at least in part, with men sporting galabyas and ladies often in yashmacs. But this is by no means universal.

Egyptians are extremely friendly people and if you visit Cairo you will get used to them shouting "welcome to Egypt". They are genuinely pleased to see you there. However, be aware that some are rather over-friendly and they will walk beside you chatting about their own visits to and family in England. This of course is all unrue and it is merely a ploy to gain your confidence so that they can escort you to their shop.

If you visit the pyramids, and you must, then be aware that you will be pestered to exhaustion with the endless offers of camel rides, papyrus and offers to take your photo with your own camera. You may also be offered to be shown into a pyramid by a man with a key. This is nonsense and if you try to take up the offer you will be greeted by his friend on a camel who will take you to the supposed pyramid. Any little service of this type offered will be expected to be rewarded with a tip. Do not be afraid to say NO and then walk on. Do not engage in deep conversation with the guys at the pyramids. And do not promise that you'll take their offer of a camel ride later, because if you do you will be reminded of your promise later!

The same routine applies at the Citadel, minus the camel rides. As you approach the Citadel you may be told that it's closed today. Ignore these suggestions as the guy making them will instead want to escort you to his shop.

If you go to the bazaar you will be pestered too, especially in the tourist tat area. Expect to pay one third of the price first offered if you are prepared to barter hard enough. Be prepared to walk away and they'll call you back if they want to sell.

In the normal city centre Cairo shops you will not be bothered and you will not be able to barter either.

trigger_mike

I was in Cairo last week and it's a great place, it was part of a longwood two day coach trip from taba where i was staying (5 1/2 Hr Coach trip :eek: ).

We where protected by an armed bodyguard all the time which was handy as you do get pestered at the pyramids by locals wanting to take your photos and trying to steal your camera, (yes i was got) and also watch out for the camel rides, you get picked up put on a camel then charged 100 I.e (£10) to get off, one of our party was caught by this.

You need a Visa to got to Cairo which is £10 plus £5 handling fee, do NOT pay more.

As for dress code it's the same as here really, men had t-shirts and shorts and women dressed the same as well, though i was it was bad that back at our hotel in Taba women were topless around the pool, the young workers at the hotel were having a field day!.

Also i don't recommend driving in Cairo, I have never seen driving like it, you have 3 lane roads 6 cars cars wide with every car smashed and dented!.

Plus if you go to a market make sure you haggle, they will try and get you to go in their stores and keep going Lovely jubby to you or tally ho and see you later alligator, which drives you mad!, the shop price are high and you can knock them down 1/2 price or more.

Plus don't worry about security, I've never seen anything like it, checkpoints everywhere, turrets with police inside holding machine guns with banets watching you everywhere.

Have a great time, really enjoyable and very friendly people!.

cboo

I agree with the above, they will try and sell you any old tat, we put a hat on and sunglasses and kept walking, it can get annoying

Didn't see anyone in headscarf's, most people wear hats if anything because it's so hot! I wore knee length skits or shorts with no problems, but we wore t'shirts rather than strappy tops as it is a muslim country and they do take offence

Have a good time, it is a brilliant place

black-saturn

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've bought 2 strappy tops to wear there so I guess I'll have to buy some headscarves too. I'm not going till december so I'm hoping the weather will be less hot then.

coolagarry

Assuming that you are going to a touristy area like Luxor, you will be surprised by the amount of Christmas Decorations put up in the hotels in December.
Last time I went we left came home at the beginning of Dec. We lazed around the pool during the day, flew out in the evening and I had to use the 'heating up your key with a match to get your frozen door open' when we arrived back in London. What a difference!! Have a great time

black-saturn

I'm going to Cairo but I gather it will be the same there. Thanks!