Egypt Vaccination And Visas

arthurx1234

Can any of you well travelled people answer me a couple of questions about a prposed holiday in Sharm el Sheikh Egypt.
1.What vaccinations/medicines are compulsory/recommended and the costs.We plan to stay in the resort most of the time but possibly go on 1 or 2 excersions.
2.What are the visa requirements and how do i get one/costs??

if anyone has been to Sharm get in touch--can yopu walk about the resort without being hassled or feel uncomfortable??

cheers
arthur

suiko

1 None needed
2 Visa issued on arrival, costs about £15 I think

I haven't been there, but most places in Egypt there's someone trying to sell you something. Whether you feel uncomfortable depends on you!

Diddidi

Hi there - there are lots of websites to check the latest requirements as these can change. However, I have been several times to Sharm (last time in November) and I always make sure am up to date with typhoid, polio diptheria and Hep A. If I remember correctly, the typhoid and Hep A was given as a single vaccination last time.

As for Visa requirements, as a British passport holder you can get the one-month tourist visa when you enter the country. I think it's about £12 sterling. You can also pay in dollars or Egyptian pounds - but make sure you take the correct amount. Your travel agent will be able to tell you the latest price.

Sharm is now very touristy and so yes, you can walk around without getting hassled too much. They will invite you to enter their shops but a polite 'no thank you' is always respected. Biggest problem in Sharm these days is dodging the Russian tourists

Egypt is still a relatively cheap place to go - it's the only time I ever come back with holiday money in my pocket! Sharm is now very commercialised so that means you can eat and drink just about anything there and choose your price level accordingly.

One thing - be careful of Egyptian 'tummy' - everyone gets it to some degree or another so drink bottled water and pack plenty of immodium!!

Diddi

alanrowell

1. none needed
2. if you are staying in the Sinai for the full holiday and don't intend to go to Cairo or Luxor then you can get a free "visa"

Surprised your holiday company hasn't mentioned it

payless

just write "Sinai only" on back of your immigration form

nottslass_2

HI, have a word with your practice nurse re vaccinations,they are recommended ,sorry can't remember offhand which ones we had.

You can get your visa at the airport, cost £15, we got visas the first time we went to sharm,but to be honest you don't need them unless you are planning on going to Cairo or ras Mohamed for diving,if you plan to stay within the Sinai region they are not needed.

with regard to being hassled, yes you do get hassled,but we found if you walked down the middle of the street,looked ahead,smiled and gave a polite, no thanks". they moved on to their next target !

Katykat

Hi. Dont know about the resort as I've never been, but the vaccinations I do know about ( I give them ) Hep A and Typhoid are recommended but are less important for short stays ( less than 1 month) in tourist hotels. No vaccinations are compulsary. I usually advise that if you intend a Nile trip, to get your Hep A & Typhoid, which are given as a single injection. The Typhoid gives protection for 3 yrs and the Hep A for 1 yr, but if you have a booster after 1 yr , it takes your cover up to 25 yrs. Well worth having that booster. As for other vaccinations. if you have had all 5 of your childhood Tetanus/Diph/ Polio - 3 as a baby, 1 as preschool booster, 1 as school leaving booster them you are covered for life for travel purposes. You would only ever need a tet booster if you had a dirty wound or bite and it has been more than 10 yrs since your last one. You should never over vaccinate, you could have some unwanted side effects. This is not medical advice, it is just the recommended British guidelines.

Vampgirl

There are some vaccinations reccomended as already mentioned - they are the same that you are reccomended for travel to places such as Turkey. However none are compulsory and according to hubby's GP are only really necessary if you are high-risk: working out there in the undeveloped villages where the water supply is unsecure or if you will be in close contact with locals eg as a health worker.

Both hubby and I lived in Egypt for over a year without vaccinations - we had no health issues at all (apart from traveller's tummy of course!). If you are staying in the tourist areas then there really is no risk.

As for visa: you can easily get this on arrival at the airport. I have heard that the free Sinai visa scheme has now been ended, but I'm not sure of this.

DUKE

I had TYPHOID which lasts for 3 years, and HEPATITIUS A which lasts for 10 years. I was told to give them an English £10 note (if there's 2 of you then two tens not a twenty) and they gave me change, we paid about £18 for 2 people. Other people were paying more though

DUKE

You pay when you get there - enjoy

DUKE

Going for the hat trick here :rolleyes: My Dr did the jabs for free.