Egypt on Sunday, FO warning, would you go???

nelly_2

Last night we put off booking a trip to Cairo for a week cos we were going out, then today I found out the Foreign office issued a high warning, about terrorist muppets, bombing tourists.

Now what do, I do go anyway, and hope? Or bin it and go somewhere else, but we got our hearts set on it now.

And where else can we go that would be as good?

Any help , suggestions advice or ideas welcome.

saveapenny

if the FO have advised NOT to travel you would be silly to travel and I don't think your insurance would cover you.
If its just advise on the "possibility" of trouble then it must be upto you if you go or not but again check your insurance.
You might find its just a case of being on your guard while there.
Isnt there a number you can call to find out more information on the safty issues

albalad

It does not appear on the fco's list of countries of "DON'T GO TO" neither is it on the "all but essential travel " list , therefore it is just a general warning imo

And from what i can see it was last updated for egypt on 10/05/05

pin

I guess it all depends on where in Egypt you want to travel (I think you said Cairo).

Also every travel insurance varies in terms of FCO advise. The FCO have two warnings: "Advise against all travel" and "Advise against all but essential travel". For example my travel insurance only excludes the "against all travel" variety, but there are some that exclude countries in the "all but essential travel" section as well.

Best would be to check the terms of your travel insurance.

In any case Egypt does not seem to be on either list:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1095423800990

lisyloo

I have been to Egypt twice.
Once in Nov 2001 (6 weeks after 9/11 - that was a dilemma) and once in Feb 2004.

My attitude is that you could get bombed in London on the tube, so I would probably go, however it has to be your decision.

The Egyptions make a massive effort to protect tourists because they really want your money. I think it's a relatively safe place.
There are police and guards on every street.

At the end of the day there is NOTHING that can be done to totally guarantee your security. Every time you get on a plane or bus or expose yourself to foreign bacteria, you are taking a risk.
However I can assure you that there are a LOT of people in Egypt trying their best to ensure your safety and security.

Having said that we didn't go at the time of the Iraq war as we felt there might be anti-western sentiment.

You have to do what you feel is best, but bear in mind that nothing is safe (and staying at home is relatively dangerous - loads of accident in the home :-)

Fatboy_NSS

If you took everything on the FCO website seriously you wouldn't want to go anywhere. As a US citizen I was quite offended that their advice to visitors to the USA was that you would most likely be shot or blown up within minutes of getting off the plane, but then checked the US State Dept's site and their advice about the UK was much the same. The point of these sites is to advise on potential danger rather than act as a tourist guide but both definitely seemed a bit OTT! Just go to Greece, have a great time, and don't worry yourself over an almost non existent threat.

pin

Fatboy_NSS wrote:

If you took everything on the FCO website seriously you wouldn't want to go anywhere. As a US citizen I was quite offended that their advice to visitors to the USA was that you would most likely be shot or blown up within minutes of getting off the plane, but then checked the US State Dept's site and their advice about the UK was much the same. The point of these sites is to advise on potential danger rather than act as a tourist guide but both definitely seemed a bit OTT! Just go to Greece, have a great time, and don't worry yourself over an almost non existent threat.

Agree with pretty much everything you have to say above. However I think the likes of the FCO and State Deptartment in the USA have to err on the side of caution, otherwise if things did happen the public (probably fanned by the press) would be up in arms over the "cavalier" views of the the FCO / State Department.

Cardew

I think that the criticism over the Bali bombing has made the FCO even more cautious.

When mainland GB was being targeted by the IRA a few years back, many Americans were under the imression it was something like Baghdad is today - with daily bombing and shootings.

MDUK

Diffulcult decision, I love Egypt but would I go right now when I know there has been attacks in Cairo and Taba. Probably not but I have children and that is the number one consideration for me. If it were just me i might.

Earlier posters have said there are police everywhere but the last attack in Cairo was a suicide bomber... when i visited Hatshepsup last year, the scene of a major terrorist attack in 1997 they had turned the metal detectors off. Security staff are poorly paid and often ill educated and i would not like to have to put my life in their hands.

That said, they want tourists and they will be pulling out all the stops to protect you, the terrorist threat has decimated tourism in Egypt in the last few years. You will be well looked after, you will see wonderful sights and have many unique experiences during your stay. I met some wonderful people and it is fantastic value for money.

The odds of being caught up in anything are of course slim but you will have to make that decision for yourself.

alanrowell

Go to London instead - you might get mugged, knifed or run over

Cullumpster

If the FO have advised *against* travel then your travel agents *should* contact you in regard to this and ask whether you still would like to travel.
If you didn't then they would have to amend your booking to another date and/or give you a full refund or change your destination.

Call your travel agent to double check, if they do not give you a satisfactory answer call the FCO.

Good luck