Handholding and shaking hands is ok in general, but strict Muslims don't shake hands with people of the opposite sex to avoid any physical contact. I rather appreciate the fact that the hotel was in their way looking out for the safety of their guest, especially a woman traveling alone. we went in 2002 so maybe things have loosened up since your last trip. ;)But you will LOVE Egypt as long as you don't let things like this bother you, insh'allah. Sexual harassment is rife in Egypt: 98 percent of foreign women visitors and 83 percent of Egyptian women have experienced it, according to one survey. All-inclusive room rates at Aqua Blu Resort Sharm El Sheik are available. Most important and obvious is dress: loose opaque clothes that cover all immodest areas (thighs, upper arms, chest) and hide your contours are a big help, and essential if travelling alone or in rural areas (where covering long hair is also advisable). Do respect Egyptian temples and monuments. If necessary, escalate to a gruff khalas (Enough!) and if that doesnt suffice, bawling shorta (Police!) is sure to send any hustler packing. Take your time, get to know him and his family.
Hope that helps a little. Customers also usually give tips of E12 in a caf, and sometimes 50ptE1 in a juice bar. Please check you have entered your email address correctly before continuing. Send a private message to welltraveledbrit. Even in response to insistent offers or demands, try to avoid being rude or aggressive in refusing. It is advisable to have exact change, especially when you're in a market or buying street food but don't carry a lot of money. Without compromising your freedom too greatly, there are a few steps you can take to improve your image. There are no spa services available at this resort. Pets and service animals are not allowed on site. Many tourists ignore these conventions, unaware of how it demeans them in the eyes of the Egyptians. The concern is about budget to afford two rooms in every hotels. This property accepts Visa and Mastercard. Do spend time chatting with people. Within reasonable limits, bargaining in souvenir markets is expected and is a good way of starting a conversation. But I wouldn't marry him right away! You will need an international driving license and nerves of steel! That is a big no-no wherever you're travelling.
Aqua Blu Resort Sharm El Sheik is home to Cave du Roi, which features international cuisine. This property accepts only families and married couples. Theyll latch on to you as soon as you arrive (at the airport in Cairo or Luxor), hail you on the street like an old friend (Hey! These rates include onsite meals and beverages, and may include taxes and gratuities. In fact after typing in my responce last night before bed I pleasantly had dreams of temples and pyramids. Guests booked in an "Egyptians and Egyptian Residents only" room type in the All Inclusive rate plan receive all meals, soft drinks, and water (no alcohol). Asking directions in the street, its always better to ask a woman than a man. Likewise, I would advise against an Orfi marriage, ( often known more crudely as an F-license ), as it also is not considered to be respectable, ( i.e. First of all, i have to say that I do respect this value but in my country is never be a problem. Theres little point getting upset or offending people over what are trifling sums for a Western tourist but an important part of peoples livelihood in a country where many people live on less than 50/$75 a month. It is customary to take a gift: sweet pastries (or tea and sugar in rural areas) are always acceptable. It is preferable to use Uber or Careem and they are available in most cities in Egypt. Egyptian wives don't necessarily change to their husbands last name after marriage, so having a different last name from each other will not matter in the least. The full-time khirtiyya who focus on tourists are versatile, touting for hotels Dropdown content, pushing excursions (often vastly marked up), steering tourists into shops or travel agencies (where their commission will be quietly added to your bill), and even being gigolos. In Arabic, no thank you is: "la, shukrun.". In accordance with local laws, unmarried guests may be restricted from sharing rooms. Hello @[VT member e85ff] Did u marry ur egyptian boyfriend!? or uskut (be quiet). Noone here is judging you. The last kind of baksheesh is simply alms-giving. But 5 years can make a big difference. Do leave tips in cafs, restaurants, hairdressers, shops and almost everywhere! Typical tips might be E12 for looking after your shoes while you visit a mosque (though congregants dont usually tip for this), or E510 to a custodian for opening up a door to let you enter a building or climb a minaret. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Your experiences might add to this site.Good luck, habibi!Dora. No elements found. ", Unit 6B Beaver Industrial Park, Brent Road, Southall, Middlesex Most first time visitors to Cairo usually pick hotels near the Pyramids. Keep in mind that the Egyptian culture revolves around tipping. The aim of government is preventing the student to abandon his/her dependent family member. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation. We stayed at 4 seasons cairo, old winter palace in luxor. You can try with the smaller budget hotels. Try signing in with CONNECTED_THIRD_PARTY_NAMES or use another email address. Aqua Blu Resort Sharm El Sheik does not offer free breakfast. CST# 2083930-50. Taking a bus or a taxi will give you the luxury of enjoying the chaos from the safety of your passenger seat. Make sure you are at a designated bar, disco or at a private residence. Its easy to get fed up with being hassled and react with fury to any approach from strangers even a sincere Welcome to Egypt. Do be careful of public displays of affection. Some women find that verbal hassle is best ignored, while others may prefer to use an Egyptian brush-off like khalas (enough!) This will not only help you get around more easily, but locals will also appreciate your effort. I never felt I could spend a lot on hotels since I was on a buying trip and needed to spend my money on merchandise. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. In Sinai, however, unaccompanied women experience few hassles, except from construction workers from mainland Egypt. Hello AllI have a plan to go to Egypt in this August to visit my egyptian boyfriend. You may still face some of the same problems there but a bit extra on the price may solve this.All in all think it would just be easier and cheaper to go to a lower range hotel and get 2 rooms. I guess it was because I wasn't registed with anyone. Also before we were married I lived in a flat with norwegian friends and he lived in his family home.we have not been to the Ministry of justice yet (Lazy!! For Egyptians, giving money and goods to the needy is a natural act and a requirement of Islam. When entering religious sites, you may be required to cover your knees and shoulders. While people in certain parts of Egypt may dress differently than Westerners that doesn't mean it is ok to take their photos without permission. These people tend to allow tourists into areas that are off-limits to get tips and sometimes to rob them. Consider changing the search query. (police!). However, I cannot afford to renew the visa as married student so I cannot get married legally now I have to wait until i finish my study.Thank you for recommendation and warninggood to know that..but honestly i feel so frustrated..cos the place i come from we do strict with sex before marriage ( taboo ) too but it's not the law just the value and our privacy comes first.It will be a good experience to learn new way of life.I am flexible I don't think adjusting to the new culture will be so hard..I love to study multi-culture anyway :)Cheers! This resort is a short 13-minute walk from Hadaba Beach and 2.6 mi (5-min drive) from Ras um Sid. Hustling is a necessity for millions of Egyptians cadging money for errands or knowing a cousin who can sort things out. I think maybe i better get married with him since i arrive in Egypt so all the problems will be solved, I guess. For a free ride to the surf and sand, catch the resort's complimentary beach shuttle. There are 5 restaurants and 3 coffee shops/cafes, as well as a snack bar/deli. happy travels! Most Egyptians will be happy to assist you. Same answer - just another vote. Husband and I have different last names - no proof of relationship and no one cared. Good luck and enjoy your stay! You can leave a three-pound tip at the end of your ride. Don't even think about renting a car unless you have driven in India or Egypt before. It can get a bit overwhelming as they will all be trying to sell you something. Can anyone suggest any other way out for this problem? Disinfectant is used to clean the property. Intimate behaviour in public (kissing and cuddling) is a no-no, and even holding hands is disapproved of. Couples kissing on the street, even a kiss on the cheek might be unacceptable in some areas in Egypt. Children, however, are a different case, pressing their demands only on tourists. Especially for women, if you have to travel by public transit, always try to sit next to other women. If you are going out at night to one of the posh places you can wear whatever you feel like without a worry. Do dress modestly. Bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. No difference in reaction of others when I wore it or when I didn't. L Asiatique - This buffet restaurant specializes in Asian cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Don't forget your sunscreen! Self parking is free. I have to re-emphasise what the other have said by saying yes you will have problems.Hotels do not refuse Egyptians sharing their bedrooms with foreign ladies just because they do not like it or they want to complicate matters but but because, quite frankly, they are not allowed to and the hotel registers are checked by the Tourism Police on a daily basis.In most hotels you will be able to book and occupy two rooms, even in large, deluxe hotels, ( afterall, Egyptians are allowed to stay in deluxe hotels as much as foreigners ), but if the guest does not have a valid credit card or other means of payment, or if he or she appears to be undisirable, then that guest may be refused regardless of nationality.If you do book and occupy two rooms and wish to visit eachother in the middle of the night there is the chance that you will be observed and stopped by security or other hotel staff which could then lead to problems. Guests booked in an "Egyptians and Egyptian Residents only" room type must present identification or resident visa at check-in. Aqua Blu Resort Sharm El Sheik offers an airport shuttle. Sign in to see exclusive Member Discounts. There is a LOT of it and also a LOT for other reasons than love - don't think that I suspect you for that thoughBefore I married my husband two years ago, we were even stopped in the street a lot, he were asked why he was walking with me. Sometimes people won't take tips, but usually, they will, as they have small salaries. Since most Egyptian money is paper, often in the form of well-used banknotes that can be fiddly to separate out, it can make life easier to keep small bills in a separate baksheesh pocket specifically for the purpose.
So, I guess, in answer to your question - no problems for us seeming to be an unmarried couple, in fact it was the opposite, with assumption of marriage all over the place. A five* hotel will not let you stay in the same room without an official paper of marriage. It's always safer to use registered tour operators and agents. Therefore generally revealing clothing are not recommended. There is other reasons for wanting to share rooms than just sex. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. So I worry about the hotel issue that unmarried couple cannot stay in the same room in the hotel..is there any hotel that allow us to stay together? Please fix the following errors to continue: Your stay at this El Hadaba resort places you within 2 miles (3 km) of Hadaba Beach and Sharm Old Town. Otherwise leave the taxi and take another. Well, as I said on Thorntree, I wish you both all the very best ! According to the Egyptian Aviation Act under Article 46, sentence 8: "No unmanned aircraft is allowed to fly or to work in the territory of the State unless by permission of the Civil Aviation Authority. Other recreational amenities include a water park, a spa tub, a sauna, and a fitness center. 9 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. This website use technical cookies to ensure you the best experience. Often reference was made to 'your husband' or 'your wife', and we sometimes corrected, other times not. Greater London, UB2 5FB, London, United Kingdom. The reason I had asked the question was, when I've traveled in Egypt in the past. Egypt isn't the type of nation or culture where "privacy" is valued at all. You can hold bread in your left hand in order to tear a piece off, but you should never put food into your mouth with your left hand, nor put it into the bowl when eating communally. In Cairo they have the metered ("white taxi"), but always check the meter is working. Each guestroom is kept vacant for a minimum of 24 hours between bookings. I'm really looking forward to it. site may be reprodiced without our written permission. there are also two types of "orfi". A birth certificate is required to validate the age of all children upon check in. In all cases, using unmanned aircrafts is prohibited as per the rules of the Air and Air Traffic outlined in this respect. Remember me?), or say anything to grab your attention (Youve dropped your wallet). Cannot be more then 28 days between check-in and check-out dates. Privacy Statement - Unless you are travelling with a guide or someone who knows the area, you should not be there. I live in Egypt and from what I've gathered about the topic, they have instituted this rule to protect foreigners from rape and to discourage prostitution. Do ask for directions from at least three different people(to be sure you have the right information). Cool off in one of the 9 outdoor swimming pools at Aqua Blu Resort Sharm El Sheik , and enjoy amenities like a water park and a complimentary children's club. If you are planning an orfi marriage just to solve this problem - then I think it would be very unwise and may still not get you anywhere as not all hotels will accept this as proof of marriage. To foreigners, Egyptian drivers are suicidal.
Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. There are pros and cons to this. Please check you have entered your email address correctly. PG, the day and age have different meanings in different countries, that's why we travel: to learn! The white and the green one. In restaurants, you do not usually leave a percentage of the bill: typical tips (regardless of whether the bill claims to include service) are as little as E3 in an ultra-cheap place such as a kushari joint, E35 in a typical cheap restaurant, or E1025 in a smarter establishment. Egyptians are known for their great sense of humour, kindness and hospitality. Airport (SSH) airport, the closest popular airport to the property. Why don't you look at flat rental? Gigolos are part of the tourist scene in Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sinai and Cairo. When both signs and personnel indicate that photos are not allowed PLEASE just follow the rules and don't take photos in such places. Here are some common colloquial Arabic phrases that will come in handy during your time in Egypt: Do ask when you don't understand something. Free WiFi. That is fine if you don't plan to visit any other district in Cairo, but the area around the Pyramids is pretty far from everything. Public transport can be a good meeting ground, as can shops. Personal protective equipment, including gloves, will be available to guests. the hotels would not let a male business associate come to my room, even when we were carrying heavey parcels up 2 flights of stairs to my room. These allow couples to rent a flat without hassle from the Vice Squad and can be annulled without a divorce.
A more expensive and common type of baksheesh is for rewarding the bending of rules many of which seem to have been designed for just that purpose. I understand that this is tiring. Do learn some basic Egyptian Arabic during your trip. Do stay in a central location. My point is I really don't want him to be in trouble..I don't know how serious for the legal action of this issue.Is it possible that the hotel staff will come to check at our room? I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. in Cairo i have no source where to find itI tried to check in the internet but no information. Most Egyptians will be happy to oblige. !After all of this years I'm just wondering Ramzi-hashim, the poster hasn't logged in for over 9 years and is unlikely to be back. I dont know when you had these experiences but that is not the egypt i traveled in. I want to go there to visit his family, to spend time with him as much as i cannot to sleep with him..I just want to stay with each other as much as we can cos I can see him only twice a year.The thing is we will NEVER sleep together before we get marriedfirstly I arrive in Egypt I will go directly to his house to visit his family and we will arrange the marriage there ( Orfi Contract or anything else I am not sure)We want to get married becasue we love each other..to show that we are agreed to be bounded.. not just to sleep together.. if we just want to sleep together..he flies to here or in my home country is a lot easierBut I cannot do the legal documentation because I need to renew my visa at the end of this year.