Trip to Egypt
Pack for Egypt: visa, stomach-safe first aid, sun protection, coral reefs and baksheesh. Tell us if kids are coming and the list adapts.

[ ] Check your passport validity
    Egypt requires at least 6 months of passport validity from the date of entry.
[ ] Prepare cash for the visa on arrival
    Most tourists get a visa on arrival for cash dollars (about $25 at the time of writing). Check current rules — South Sinai has a separate free entry stamp.
[ ] Buy travel medical insurance
    Make sure the policy covers snorkeling, diving and quad bike rides — the most common claim sources.
[ ] Save tickets and bookings offline
    Screenshots of tickets, hotel voucher and insurance — arrival airport internet may not cooperate.
[ ] Take small-denomination US dollars
    Small dollar bills solve everything: visa, tips, souvenirs, taxis. Stock up on $1 notes — they are the local tipping currency.
[ ] Make copies of your documents
    Photos of passport, insurance and bookings to cloud storage; paper copies separate from originals.
[ ] Pack a stomach-trouble kit
    Egypt's number one risk. A sorbent, oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrheal belong in your bag from day one — not in the overpriced hotel pharmacy.
[ ] Drink and brush teeth with bottled water only
    Tap water is the fastest route to a ruined holiday. Ice in drinks outside the hotel is water too.
[ ] Be careful with food in the heat
    Wash fruit with bottled water and skip buffet dishes that sat in the heat. Save street food experiments for later in the trip.
[ ] Buy SPF 50+ and panthenol
    The Egyptian sun is harsh year-round, and the sea doubles it by reflection. Hotel shops charge multiples for sunscreen.
[ ] Hat and sunglasses
    On pyramid and Luxor excursions, shade is a luxury.
[ ] Pack reef shoes
    Corals and sea urchins near the shore are a Sharm and Hurghada reality. Coral cuts take weeks to heal.
[ ] Bring your own mask and snorkel
    Reefs start right at the pier — you'll snorkel daily. Your own mask is cleaner than rentals and fits better.
[ ] A jacket for winter evenings (Nov–Mar)
    Winter evenings drop to +15°C with a constant sea wind — poolside and promenade get chilly.
[ ] Chargers and a power bank
    Type C/F European sockets — US/UK plugs need an adapter.
[ ] Set up an eSIM or local SIM
    Hotel Wi-Fi is often paid and weak. An eSIM or a city SIM beats the airport counters.
[ ] Be ready for baksheesh
    Everyone expects tips: porters, housekeeping, waiters, temple guards. A dollar or two in small bills defuses any friction and visibly upgrades service.
[ ] Haggle everywhere
    The first price at markets and taxis is triple the real one. Haggling is a game: a smile and walking away beat arguing.
[ ] Agree the taxi fare BEFORE getting in
    Meters don't exist at the resorts. Hurghada and Cairo have Uber/Careem — use them where available.
[ ] Book excursions with reliable operators
    Leave the hotel grounds with organized tours: beach excursion sellers are famous for AC-less buses and surprise fees. Reviews matter more than price.
[ ] Plan long excursions realistically
    Luxor or Cairo from Hurghada means a 4 a.m. start and 12–16 hours of road and heat. Bring water, snacks and plan a rest day after.
[ ] Kids' documents
    Each child needs their own passport. Bring the birth certificate if surnames differ, and check one-parent travel rules.
[ ] Kids' first aid kit, stomach-focused
    Child-safe sorbent, rehydration salts, fever reducer, thermometer. Kids' stomachs surrender to Egyptian cuisine first.
[ ] UV swim shirt, sun hat and floaties
    Kids' skin burns in 15 minutes even in winter. A UPF swim shirt beats any sunscreen.
[ ] Familiar food and snacks for the kid
    Local food is spicy and unfamiliar. A pack of familiar cereal or cookies rescues the first week's breakfasts.
[ ] Check in online for your flight
    Egypt flights often run full — grab seats together right when check-in opens.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/egypt