Destination Hurghada

Practical information

Check before you depart:

Border formalities

A valid international passport and a visa are compulsory. Your passport must still be valid for at least 6 months after returning from Egypt. You can buy a visa at the airport.

The weather

The sun shines practically all year round in Hurghada. From November to the end of February, the temperature is perfectly pleasant. In the summer months, the temperature can sometimes rise to as high as 40°C. In the evenings and at night, it can cool down considerably due to the nearby desert.

Time difference

Egypt is 1 hour ahead of the Netherlands.

Language

The official language is Arabic, but English is spoken almost everywhere.

Currency

The Egyptian pound (£E, pronounced as ‘bound’ and ‘ginih’ in Egyptian) is made up of 100 piasters (PT; qirsh). It is however forbidden to import or export money. Cash machines are available. Other methods of payment are credit cards and traveller’s cheques.

Electricity

220V. However, some sockets are only suitable for plugs with thin pins, which means that an adapter is necessary.

Vaccinations

• If you come FROM a yellow fever region, vaccination is compulsory.
• A DTP vaccination is recommended.
• Protection against Hepatitis A is recommended.

Transport:

• Bus: Bus connections are good and the bus network is much better than the train network, although the quality of the regular buses is not great.
• Taxi: There are regular taxis and more luxurious ones. This second type, without meters, mostly stand outside of the tourist hotels and have drivers who can speak some English, but they are (a bit) more expensive. Regular taxis can be flagged down in the street. You can also hire a taxi for an entire day. The hotel manager will be pleased to help you find one. You should agree the total price, duration and route beforehand, and only pay once you have made your return journey.
• Service taxis: In Egypt, you can also find minibuses (service taxis) everywhere, which can drop you off where you have to be, as long as it is along their route. It is very easy, quick and super cheap, once you understand how it all works.

Rules for passengers of transavia.com

Due to restrictions in the aviation agreement with Egypt, it is unfortunately not possible to:

• book a single journey from the Netherlands to Egypt
• book a single journey or a return departing from Egypt to the Netherlands

Your outward and return journeys to/from Egypt must also take place within 12 weeks.