COCO  |
CURRENCY
Exchange Rates
CURRENCY Exchange Rates from: 09-09-2010
| 1 EUR = | 1.27 USD | | 1 EUR = | 0.82 GBP | | 1 EUR = | 1.28 CHF | | 1 EUR = | 1.33 CAD | | 1 EUR = | 106.41 JPY | | 1 EUR = | 8.63 CNY | | 1 EUR = | 24.72 CZK | | 1 EUR = | 288.95 HUF | | 1 EUR = | 3.95 PLN | | 1 EUR = | 39.23 RUB | |
| 1 USD = | 0.79 EUR | | 1 USD = | 0.65 GBP | | 1 USD = | 1.01 CHF | | 1 USD = | 1.05 CAD | | 1 USD = | 83.81 JPY | | 1 USD = | 6.79 CNY | | 1 USD = | 19.47 CZK | | 1 USD = | 227.57 HUF | | 1 USD = | 3.11 PLN | | 1 USD = | 30.90 RUB | |
| 1 GBP = | 1.22 EUR | | 1 GBP = | 1.54 USD | | 1 GBP = | 1.56 CHF |
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| 1 CHF = | 0.78 EUR | | 1 CHF = | 0.99 USD | | 1 CHF = | 0.64 GBP | |
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General travel advices & information for Egypt |
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Baggage
The maximum free baggage weight for inbound flights, in trains and on river cruises is 20 kg per person. The maximum free baggage weight for international flights in Economic Class is 20 kg per person.
Bargaining
Bargaining does not work in department stores and shopping malls. But is acceptable in the open-air markets, gift shops in hotels, antique markets and other privately-owned shops.
In restaurants you will find already on your bill a service charge of 12%. But an additional tip (bakshish) is still recommended (approx. 10%).
Clothes
We recommend clothes from natural materials as well as comfortable shoes. Please remember, that Egypt also belongs to the Islamic world. Don't dress super minis, shorts or tops in Cairo and other non touristic areas.
"Without top" and naked swimming are forbidden at the beaches. Also in oasis you shouldn't swim with a bikini.
For desert trips please don't forget a warm sweater or cardigan for the evening, since it becomes cool in the desert, as soon as the sun went down.
Good sun glasses and a head coverage shouldn't be missed in your luggage.
A note for the guests on the Nile Cruise ships: "Gala" is not necessary.
Credit card, Travelers' Cheque & ATM
Most of airlines, hotel and department stores take international credit cards, such as Master Card, Visa, American Express. You are still recommended to bring a certain amount of cash for credit card is not as popular in Egypt as in most American and European countries. Traveler's cheques issued by major overseas banks may be exchanged at Egyptian banks.
ATM is all around the city and holiday places. It's also possible to take money with EC card. Foreign currencies are only accessible in designated foreign-currency ATM or in major hotels and banking outlets.
Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP or L.E.) is the only legal currency in Egypt.
1 Egyptian Pound equals 100 Piaster. The most are paper notes in circulation: 100 Egyptian Pound, 50 Egyptian Pound, 20 Egyptian Pound, 10 Egyptian Pound, 5 Egyptian Pound, 1 Egyptian Pound and 50 Piaster, 25 Piaster and 10 Piaster. Coins you will not find often.
Eating & Drinking
Egyptian cuisine means vegetables from the Nile valley, bamya (Ocra), ful, falafel, koshari (linses with rice and noodles, roasted onions in a spicy tomato sauce and garlic), showerma (Egyptian bread filled with grilled lamb, poultry or cow), tomatoes and rice. As beverages juices, karkade (red malve tea), strong black tea with peppermint and water. The Nile delta supplies outstanding wines. We recommend also beer from the only Egyptian brewery: Lager Stella.
Without concern you can eat in the better restaurants of Egypt. However you should avoid salads and meals from some street vendors in the summer time. That does not mean that you should avoid all, however you will find black sheeps between the salesmen, which do not care for hygiene.
Don't forget to drink, especially in hot days. But use please only mineral waters from bottles with original closed. If you go on a jeep safari, always cook the water well or clean it with tablets.
In Egypt you will meet all time tourists, who have problems with their stomach. Of Course, you can get also this trouble. So be carefully, what you eat and take some medicines for your stomach in travel pharmacy box. |
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Flights
The international flights to Egypt will operated only by carriers, not listed on the black list. Inbound flights in Egypt will operated by Egypt Air with international standard. All taxes are included in our prices, if not other mentioned. The maximum free baggage weight in Economic Class is 20 kg per person.
Airlines, flying to Sharm, you can find on our  transfer site.
You find there also up to date departure and arrival times for flights to the airport Sharm el Sheikh.
Money Exchange
Currency can be exchanged at banks, airports and most hotels. The exchange rate between Egyptian Pound (EGP or L.E.) and other major currencies are posted by the banks and the money exchange counters.
Healthy
There are no medication necessary, but we recommend vaccinations for tetanus, polio and diphtheria and prophylaxe for hepatitis and malaria.
We recommend a malaria prophylaxis from July to November for the delta and the oasis. In rural areas the risk exists to be infected with hepatitis A. In standing waters and in the Nile you should not swim.
Insurance
We strongly recommend at the time of booking tour participants obtain the appropriate travel insurance policy of your choice (a health insurance for travelers and an insurance in case of an accident in your holiday), including cover against tour cancellation as recommended by COCO ONLINE TRAVEL or your travel agent.
High season
Cheap international flights to Egypt for high seasons are rare. So book early your flight to Egypt. Also the hotels, airlines and travel agencies are heavily booked and prices are higher than at other times.
Follow are high seasons periods: holiday months July and August, end of Ramadan, Christmas, New Year (end of December / begin of January).
Postal Service
Postal service is available in hotels and post offices. Please use standard envelope, write the Zip, and be sure to use enough stamps. EMS is also available in most post offices and express mail agencies. |
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Ramadan
The month Ramadan depends on the Islamic calendar and is not each year in the same month. During the Ramadan (1 month) all Muslims don't eat, drink and smoke from sunrise to sunset. Exceptions are permitted for pregnant women, older people and infants. During the Ramadan everything goes more slowly, than already in the Arab world. In particular to the end of the Ramadan it is difficult with on-time departure and reliability. The end of Ramadan will be celebrated with 3 days long eating, drinking and dancing.
Security
Before you book and travel please inform you about the safety information of the council for foreign affairs of your country to protect yourself against dangerous situation.
Compensation payments do not apply where performance of our contract with you is prevented by risk or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, technical problems to transport, closure or congestion of airports or ports, cancellation or change of scheduled airlines and similar events beyond our control.
Travel documents
are the bill and vouchers, your travel itinerary, travel tips and information.
Our travel documents are E-documents (electronic documents) and will be send by mail to you. You have to print it out and take it with on your journey.
If you want to receive printed travel documents by post, we will add a rate of 50,- Euro per person to the final travel price.
Flight tickets or the E-ticket numbers for the inbound flights in Egypt you will get by your local guide.
Don't forget a valid passport.
Travel Time
Choosing the best time to visit Egypt depends on which places you wish to visit, what type of weather you enjoy. For Nile Cruises and journeys to southern part at the Nile, Luxor and Aswan the best months are the cool months from September till May, because in the summer time here you will have temperatures over 40°C. Holiday in the beach resorts at the Red Sea is possible the whole year. For beach holiday at the Mediterranean coast and in Alexandria we recommend the months from May to Septembers. In autumn it's raining here and it can become also very cold in the winter.
Train travel
Train travel to penninsula Sinai is not available. There are many train connections from Cairo to the north and south of Egypt. More information you can find on our transfer site.
Visa
Information about Egyptian visa you can find here.
Voltage
220 volts, 50 AC. There is no adaptor necessary.
Women
As a woman it's not a problem to travel alone in Egypt. But you will get attention of every man. To make it more easy for a woman, take some advices: carry a marriage ring, don't dress figure-stressing clothes, become loud, if a man is coming to close to you. In particular in the holiday places along the Red Sea it's up-to-date for young Egyptians to catch an European lady to get sex, money or other comfort of the modern western life style. So be careful: Egyptian men can celebrate you as the most beautiful woman. But they do it with every woman. Don't take this attention seriously.
Helpful Telephone Numbers:
002 - IDD code of Egypt
122 - Police
125 - Fire
123 - Emergency |
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