Travel Insurance Egypt

Travel insurance for Egypt

Think Egypt, think rich windswept deserts, monasteries, elaborate tombs and intricately decorated mosques. From busy Cairo to timeless desert villages, it’s the authentic Egyptian vibe that will stay with you long after you get back home from your holidays.

In a land where time is measured by dynasties and the setting sun, you’ll find countless opportunities to relax into Egypt and its captivating expanses of sand and sea.

Get a quote online or by calling our friendly team of travel insurance specialists on 0800 033 4902.

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Cover for medical conditions

Egypt has no reciprocal health agreements with the UK so travelling without a travel insurance policy could mean you will have to pay for any emergency costs that arise. These could include bills for medical treatment, repatriation, replacing lost or stolen baggage, new flights home or even an entire holiday you might have to cancel.

USA travel information

Health

Medical facilities outside major cities and resorts can be basic. In an emergency you are generally advised to seek treatment in a private hospital or clinic in the nearest town or city, making it all the more important to have adequate travel health insurance in place.

You can find a list of the most commonly used hospitals in Egypt on the British Embassy website.

In an emergency, dial 123 for an ambulance. You should contact your travel insurance providers as soon as you are referred to a medical facility for your emergency treatment. They will ensure you are getting the treatment you need and liaise with doctors on your behalf if needs be.

Vaccinations

The FCO website advises you to contact your GP about eight weeks before you leave to find out whether you need any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures to suit your medical condition.  Frequently recommended vaccines include: Tetanus/Diptheria/Polio combined, Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

Visas

UK visitors need a valid passport for entry into Egypt. Although visas are required for Egypt, it is not necessary to have one when entering the tourist resorts of Sharm el Sheik, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba if your stay is for 15 days or less.

If you are travelling to other parts of Egypt or staying longer than 15 days in the above-mentioned resorts, you can get a visa from an Egyptian Consulate before you travel. However, for visits up to 30 days, you can get your visa upon arrival by paying a fee ($25 US dollars) at an approved bank kiosk within the airport arrivals hall before you go through to immigration.

FCO travel advice

It’s important to check the current travel situation by consulting the news and the FCO travel advice pages before you book or depart for your holiday. The FCO has advised against travel to certain areas of Egypt and Staysure is unable to provide cover for people travelling to areas or countries where the FCO or World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against travel.

Petty crime is not rife but can happen in Egypt, particularly in busy cities and resorts. Be ever-vigilant by taking care of yourself and your belongings at all times. Women should avoid being out and about alone, particularly when taking taxis or microbuses.

Driving in Egypt

Bad road conditions, poor law enforcement and consequential dangerous driving mean road accidents are common in Egypt (roughly eight times the number in the UK, according to the UN estimates).

If you still want to drive, stick to the right-hand side of the road. You can drive for up to six months with an International Driving Permit, after which you will need to apply for an Egyptian driving licence.

Currency

Egypt’s official currency is the Egyptian pound (E£) and one pound consists of 100 piastres (pt). Due to a severe shortage of small change in Egypt, you will find you are often not given the right change or hotels and restaurants might sometimes be unhappy to take E£100 notes because they rarely have change. The best rule of thumb is to keep as much change as possible and change large notes in large establishments to save you the frustration at times when you need smaller amounts.

Many tour operators and hotels only accept payment in US dollars or Euros, so if you are taking a ferry or in international bus, be sure to have access to Euros or US dollars to pay with.

• ATMs are increasingly widespread across Egypt, especially in touristic cities. Most are compatible with Visa, MasterCard and any Cirrus or Plus cards.
• Credit cards are widely accepted in popular tourist areas and cities but be aware that you will be charged a percentage of the sale (sometimes between 3% and 10%) to use them. The most used credit cards are Amex, Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club.
• If you want to exchange currency, this can be done at Amex and Thomas Cook offices, as well as commercial banks, foreign exchange bureau and some hotels. The foreign exchange bureau generally offer slightly better rates than banks and don’t usually charge a commission.
• Standard banking hours are from 8.30am-2pm, Sunday-Thursday.