FCO advise against travel to Egypt

Scale_Rule

There are some cracking deals on the web for Sharm at the moment. Thinking of leaving it until late August and booking a few days before departure.

[Deleted User]

Any travelling to Egypt, the rest of the Arab world and North Africa needs to take extra care over the next few weeks. It's clear US intelligence has picked up what sounds like a credible and real terrorist threat.

" Terror experts said Islamic extremists view Sunday as an auspicious day to target Westerners as it falls on the Laylat al-Qadr, the day when the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad. "

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/10219805/America-issues-travel-alert-over-fears-of-al-Qaeda-plot-to-target-tourists.html

_Roxy_

Just back from Sharm el Sheik, we got a very good deal and flew out 24 hours later. The locals were warning against trips to Cairo etc but Sharm itself was peaceful. It was horrible to see how badly tourism has dipped and the negative effect this is having on people's livelihoods. The people were so very welcoming and grateful that we chose to stay despite the warnings. I really hope things look up soon.

Voyager2002

Where are the cheap trips to Egypt? I want to get there to meet someone in Cairo: I had thought the country was served by low-cost airlines but the likes of Skyscanner are returning ludicrously high fares (travel supermarket suggested a ticket for more than six thousand pounds, which is a little beyond my budget).

Any suggestions which of the main resort airports are reasonably close to Cairo? And is it easy and affordable to pop over to Jerusalem by public transport?

Thanks.

Caz3121

I would expect fares could be higher as the airlines need to cover a certain £ to cover their operating costs, On a full flight they can get away with x number cheap seats but with a flight with only 20 people on it for example they need to charge much more per seat

If a plan holds 150 people and they all pay £80 (excluding APD etc) then that is £12,000...from that they pay the crew costs and the fuel etc
For a route that few are going to book, and those that are having to travel are the ones booking they will assume a lower load and need to charge higher fares to cover the same costs (ok maybe less fuel with less people on board)

814man

And is it easy and affordable to pop over to Jerusalem by public transport?
Can I ask if you have ever been to this area of the middle east and have any concept of the political situation on the ground?
Just seems a rather strange question to ask, the answer is no to both parts.

luxor4t

FCO Advice updated on 2nd August and still valid today (5th August):

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai due to the significant increase in criminal activity and recent terrorist attacks on police and security forces that have resulted in deaths.

In view of continued unrest and the evolving political situation in Egypt, the FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Egypt except for resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea governorate (including Hurghada)."

I should be on my way to Luxor today .

mcfisco

Looks like the ever escalating situation is now affecting Red Sea resorts

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10244513/Red-Sea-holidaymakers-confined-to-hotel.html

Voyager2002

The advice has been updated, and can be read here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Not many changes, but the embassy has helpfully closed since this is the time when it is needed most.

mcfisco

The trouble with the FCO advice, apart from they're a bit slow sometimes, is that it's [obviously] useless for planning a month or so in advance.