hot egypt trips

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given below are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan Muslims fast during the day and feast at night, thus normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some restaurants are closed during the day but most tourist attractions and hotels are not affected. Some disruption may also appear during the two-day Grand Feast.

2009
7 Jan* Coptic Christmas Day
9 Mar Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (Moulid El Nabi)
25 Apr Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only)
27 Apr* Coptic Easter (Sham el-Nassim)
1 May Labour Day
23 Jul National Day, also known as Revolution Day
11 Sep* Coptic New Year
20-23 Sep End of Ramadan (Eid El Fitr )
6 Oct Armed Forces Day
27-28 Nov Grand Feast, Feast of Sacrifice (Eid El Adha)
18 Dec Islamic New Year (El Hijra)

2010
7 Jan* Coptic Christmas Day
26 Feb Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (Moulid El Nabi)
25 Apr Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only)
28 Apr* Coptic Easter (Sham el-Nassim)
1 May Labour Day
23 Jul National Day also known as Revolution Day
11 Sep* Coptic New Year
6 Oct Armed Forces Day
10-13 Sep End of Ramadan (Eid El Fitr)
16-17 Nov Grand Feast, Feast of Sacrifice (Eid El Adha)
7 Dec Islamic New Year (El Hijra)

* These holidays are not official, although Coptic Christians may observe them.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

The health care systems in Hurghada is mainly privatized and the quality in growing trend. To locate the nearest source of medical help check with your travel assistance provided by your insurance (check the local partner or international info number on your policy) or ask at the hotel. In an emergency contact your embassy or consulate.
Well known private hospitals in and around Hurghada are Nile Hospital, Red Sea Hospital, El Gouna hospital, El Salam hospital.
Quality dental care is available in Hurghada as well. Dental tourism is a rising trend and many private cabinets are opened. Keep in mind that your travel insurance will not usually cover you for anything other than emergency dental treatment.
For minor illnesses pharmacists, who are well qualified, can often provide valuable advice and sell over-the-counter medication. They can also advise whether more specialized help is needed. Prices of medicines are quite low and to be sure that you are correctly charged check if you will find a price printed on a box or ask for a local companion.


Heat and sun
If travelling to Hurghada in summer months heat can become a health hazard as well. A bottle of water and a hat should always be with you while spending more time in direct sunlight. Headaches and dizziness after intense sun exposure, require a rest in a cool place and lots of juice or salted water. If sweating, temperature and flushed skin occur, more serious medical help is needed as these are the symptoms of heatstroke which, if not treated quickly, can be fatal.
For protecting your skin and hair from excessive sunlight and driness from salty sea water use generously sun creams and oils. Local pharmacies offer many imported products before or after tan. From local oil shops you will find much cheaper and more natural products, including almond, aloe, rocket and many other types of oils.


Water
Hurghadas tap water should not be used for anything else than shower or washing. Wide range of mineral water products are available in any supermarket or corner shop. Boiled tap water can be used for coffee or tea without any serious consequences.


Animals and bugs
The desert of Sahara is a home for types of snakes and scorpions. The change to meet one of those wild creatures is minimal, but you should not go walking bare foot or turn the stones anywhere off roads. Against mosquitoes and flies pharmacies sell sprays, roll-on's and electrical devises for quite cheap price and all of these tools are quite effective and necessary to use.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

In 1899 the banknotes 50 piasters and 1,5, 10, 50 and 100 pound were introduced. Few decades later 5,10 and 25 piasters were added. In 2006, 50 piastre and 1 pound coins were introduced, with the equivalent banknotes to be scrapped later. The coins bear the faces of Cleopatra VII and Tutankhamun.
All Egyptian banknotes are bilingual, with Arabic texts and Eastern Arabic numerals on the obverse and English and Hindu Arabic numerals on the reverse. The size of a note is dependent on its value. The design of Egyptian banknotes tend to feature an Islamic building on one side and Ancient Egyptian building on the other. As of 2007, there are 200 LE notes (livre égyptienne, French for Egyptian pound) circulating in Egypt and subsequently 500 LE notes will start circulating.
Please bare in mind that 50 piaster and 50 pound bank notes can be sometimes "accidentally" mixed up by taxi drivers or in the bazars - therefore read carefully if it is written "piaster" or "pound" on the note before accepting the money.

Money exchange is possible in banks, exchange offices, hotel receptions, latter having usually the least favorable rates. Banks are working usually from Sunday to Thursday (9.00-17.00) and are opened for exchange deals also in evening time. Exchange offices are opened from morning till evening, including Fridays (except mid day prayer time) and Saturdays.
The biggest banks operating in Hurghada are CIB, NSGB, HSBC, Barclays, PNB Paribas, Arab African Bank.
Credit or debit cards are usually accepted only in bigger malls, international chain shops, higher categories of hotels and restaurants. ATMs are available throughout the city and easy to use.

Do not exchange big sums of money once as Egyptian pounds can not be easily changed back to US dollars or Euros neither in banks or exchange offices.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

The economy growth in last couple of years and new conducive laws and regulations for foreign investments have made Egypt and its holiday resort attractive investment destination for real estate buyers. With 12 months tourism season the rental potential of the apartments and villas is more than promising, average rental return 9% a year. The business environment, mainly tourism, is looking bright in the future with many new luxury resorts and increasing numbers of charter and regular flights arriving to airport. Therefore the annual capital growth is between 10-30%. The Foreign Direct Investment figure has boomed after new regulations introduced 2005 from 6,1 billion USD to 13 billion USD in 2007/2008 fiscal year, which makes the country one of the first in Africa and Middle East.

The biggest buyers in Hurghada and around are Germans, British, Russians. Popular are new sea-side compounds within 20-30 km from city center with possibility of private beach or swimming pools. The south coast of Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, seems to be planned for more deluxe apartments and villas, while north coast, El Gouna road, some what cheaper area. Some property development is also going on in the city center as well, especially wanted is Felfela road with its new promenade planning from the governmental side. European environment and trustable developers make El Gouna one of the foreign investment favorite.

The rent prices in Hurghada start from 1500 LE per month for a one bed room apartment in city center, 2000 LE is beginning price for 2 bedroom apartment in town. The price of seaside apartments starting usually from 250 000 LE, villas with beach line around 700 000 LE. With off plan investments prices being even lower, although the speed of construction must be then in contract clearly stated. The maintenance costs being low, it is expected that mortgage payments and bills can be covered for the year from the rental income achieved. No capital gains or inheritance tax are implemented.
However, the property registry in Egypt is out of date and incomplete, some properties on sale do not belong to register at all and therefore the mortgage demand from the bank can be problematic if possible at all. Therefore a knowledgeable lawyer is highly advisable. Legal fees are usually 1,5 %.


So taking into consideration all that, plus natural and cultural environment, the real estate market is predicted to be on steady growth.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

While having a holiday in Hurghada you can be sure that every night is a happening! Our clubs and bars are packed all the week. Hurghada offers relaxing cocktail venues, chill-out lounges, pubs, live music and several dance floors. You can spend time in worldwide famous Ministry of Sound, Head Kandi, Hard Rock café or Little Buddha nightclub.
Usually the night clubs require an entry fee (80-150 LE) or offer special promotions like Ladies night. As well most of the hotels have their own night club or evening programs, details available at your hotel reception.

Ministry of Sounds Papas Beach
One of the biggest and popular nightclub is situated near Marina and Sakkala center. Its beach location makes it wonderful for summer nights to have a drink and dance away with local or international DJs. It is a gathering place for locals and tourists. Program and music styles vary from day to day. Don’t miss the famous White sensation parties.

Head Kandi Beach Bar
Recently opened Beach bar is located in New Hurghada Marina. Pool parties day time and chick nightclub at night. This lounge bar offers good house music, fabulous drinks, food menu and somewhat higher glass crowd. Famous Head Kandi Live and Full Moon party always attract the crowds.

Little Buddha night club
In the beginning of Village road is a part of famous Little Buddha chain from Paris. Offering classy fresh sushi plates and good dance floor with lounge music and visiting DJs from all over the world. Place is somewhat more elegant and sophisticated from rest of Hurghada night club and regulars respect this image. Famous are Little Buddha Ladies nights and Feast parties.

Calypso
Located in Hadaba it’s a famous party place for serious dancing and fun. Freshly renovated atmosphere and commercial music is popular among tourists and locals alike. Legendary Russian shows and dance girls are part of the evening program.

Hard Rock café
No need to explain the concept of Hard Rock café! Typical good food and mood rock pub is situated at the end of Village Road. Restaurant and dance floor offer good combination for you and friends to rock your night away.

Havana club
If your hotel is in the South side of Hurghada or you do not mind 20 minutes drive from the center Havana club is busiest night club on this side of the town. Weekends with regular, internationally renowned DJs. Go for the famous foam parties and dance the night away.

Rancho
Close to Marriott resort between Sakkala and Village Road is a newly opened pub in town with tasty food and friendly saloon- like atmosphere. Rancho creates a warm buzz of celebrating people with great week nights such as Latin Fever Mondays and Live Fridays. Perfect summer sit-out for warm nights.

Star Bar
The favorite get-together for local business community to exchange experience over a glass of fine whisky or wine. Delicious mezzas are popular evening snacks and Marina location is perfect to start up the night before heading to dance clubs.

Papas Bar
Famous for its meters of beers, weekly live rock band and pool competition is a nice hang out in fresh air. If young crowd, Karaoke or Football is your thing, then Papas can easily turn to be your second home. Located in front of Head Kandi Beach bar, in New Marina.

Dutch bar
Small underground location makes this venue almost a secret one. Very popular among locals who like karaoke, live music, salsa-like dance floor and friendly cosy atmosphere. Place is known for its late night or early morning parties. Dutch bar is located near the entrance of Princessa hotel at the end of Village Road.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

Shopping in Hurghada is an evening activity. Bazars get packed after the hot sun goes down and tourists are back on streets. Leave your credit cards behind, supply yourself with cash and start bargaining your price!
The working hours of shops are not fixed. Usually the stores open late in the morning and close the doors when crowds leave the streets at night. Friday prayer time is no time for shopping as most of the places are closed until afternoon.

Alabaster
The ancient pharaohs used alabaster for many purposes: household items, ritual objects, and for a number of different funerary purposes such as sarcophaguses and canopic equipment. Some of the finest ancient arts made from alabaster can be found in Egyptian museum.
However, after the end of the pharaonic period, little is made of alabaster. For handmade alabaster, make a close inspection and feel the piece. It should have somewhat of a waxy feel, be translucent, light and the color of white or cream with veins of a dark red. Be aware of any richly vibrant colored items, this is probably soapstone that has been dyed. Though hand made alabaster is not completely smooth, look for even walls on the object, with even and fine carving. Also, the veins of color in the alabaster are natural, and they do not weaken the product unless one can feel a break. Often, the dealer will refer to such a crack as a vein. The true colored veins give the alabaster a very special beauty with mixed colors, but they must not be breaks.

Papyrus
English word "paper" is derived from "papyrus", an Egyptian word that originally meant "that which belongs to the house". Besides its use for producing a medium for writing purposes, papyrus was also used for mattresses on beds, for building chairs, tables, and other furniture as well as for mats, baskets, boxes, sandals, utensils, rope and boats. Papyrus was, and continues today to be made from the papyrus reed that grows in freshwater marshes along the river Nile, though today this growth is rare and controlled.
Nowadays, papyrus is mostly used for decorative art and sold to tourists. Almost every tourist leaves Egypt with at least one papyrus painting. It is easy to carry onto airplanes, and relatively inexpensive to purchase. The problem is, on the streets of tourist resorts, much of the art sold as papyrus is actually made from the banana stalk.
However, there are a few ways to distinguish real papyrus from the forgery. True papyrus is usually heavier in weight, strong, difficult to tear and often somewhat opaque. The light colored papyrus has different colors or degrees of brown and you can see the veins clearly in the light. Reputable papyrus vendors stamp their merchandize with the store stamp to guarantee authenticity of the product. Thus, one of the best means of making sure that what you buy is real is to buy it from a reputable shop.


Cotton
Egyptian cotton is preferred around the world because its long fiber that makes it soft and strong at the same time. For many years, it was so valuable that most of the crop was exported to European countries, and Egyptians themselves could hardly buy items made from its cloth.
Nowadays, Egyptian cotton items can be found in many different shops in every neighbourhood in every city. Top-quality linen, towels, bedclothes and numerous t-shirts are the most popular items purchased by the foreigners. Pure cotton products are obviously slightly more expensive than those mixed with other fiber.

Shisha
Shisha is a glass-bottomed water pipe for smoking. Most cafés in Egypt offer shishas, both for locals as well as visitors. The word “shisha” originates from Persian language and refers to glass.
Shisha smoking tradition began over 500 years ago when the Arab world refined smoking to an artful and elegant ceremonial experience to be shared in the company of friends.
Shishas are sold in different styles, colours, decoration and sizes. Standard Egyptian pipes have a single hose, are rather cheap and well suitable as a first pipe. Don't be afraid to ask to swap a hose if one has caught your eye, or change the glass bottom to the one of another colour. Local shopkeepers are usually happy to negotiate on a better deal.


Spices
With its mild climate and year-round sunshine permitting three crops a year, Egypt has one of the most essential needs for producing herbs and spices: a perfect location. Another advantage for Egypt is the supply of labourers for harvesting. The quality here is much higher because elsewhere handpicking has been given up, as it's too expensive. Machines, contrarily, destroy too much of the valuable and useful parts of the plants.
Visiting a spice store in Egypt can be a splendid experience. The burst of sweet, strong, savoury and tangy aromas meets you right on the front door. Spices and herbs are usually sold by weight, ensuring for the customer to purchase exactly the amount necessary. Cinnamon sticks, chilli powder, cumin, coriander, clove, anise, chickpeas and marjoram are available just to name a few. Try out the herbal teas such as hibiscus, chamomile or licorice.

Gold
Egypt has always been famous for gold. The skin of the ancient gods was said to have been made of gold, and so it was frequently used for making statues, various items and, of course, jewellery.
Today, Egyptians continue to prize gold, as you might suppose by the number of jewelleries in sight. While gold tends to maintain a somewhat steady price throughout the world, there are sometimes rather good bargains to be found in Egypt. That is because the price of working the gold into jewellery by local artisans is usually less expensive than elsewhere, even though Egyptian jewellers are very good at this.
Egyptians buy gold as gifts for special occasions such as weddings and birth of a child. So opt for a place that locals use and you are guaranteed the best price in town. Nevertheless, don’t forget to sit down for a cup of tea with the salesman and bargain! Both, white and yellow gold are available as well as high quality silver items.


Copperware
Over the past years, copperware has become very fashionable worldwide. Since the oriental interior design - whether Indian, Turkish, Indonesian, or Egyptian - is the trend, recent interior design books show how to fit brass and copperware in your daily living. Copper is a good practical conductor of heat for cooking. It has a quick reaction time, cooks fast and also cooks better because of its uniform conductivity, as it surrounds your food with heat. The primary advantage of copper is that it requires only low to moderate heat to obtain the best results.
Copperware is sold in several places in Hurghada. Keep your eyes open for craftsmen stands on the main street or El Dahar and you’ll get a chance to watch them work.

Perfume and oils
In addition to gold and other fancy accessories, perfume was also a part of an everyday life of pharaohs and their beautiful wives. In fact, a bunch of scientists are currently working on recreating a perfume of a famous Egyptian queen Hatshepsut in order for all of us to get a whiff of history. Perfumes and oils also played a crucial role in the process of mummification.
Eager to imitate the beauty tricks of ancient Egyptians, tourists are now happily willing to invest in perfumes and oils sold in local stores and pharmacies. Many of the products are proven to work miracles in case of medical problems. Many others will reveal the secret behind the shiny hair, radiant skin and delicate scent of Egyptian ladies. Try frankincense oil in case of trouble in bronchial tubes, rocket oil to stimulate hair growth, bitter apple (colocynth) cream for aching joints jasmine to smell like Cleopatra.
Oils and perfumes are often sold in or together with small fragile hand blown bottles.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

The dining in Hurghada has gained new meaning over the last year as numerous quality restaurants were opened throughout the city. By no chance one should skip a nice sea food meal from fresh Red Sea fish or shellfish available, and as well try out the local cuisine offering pigeons, lamb, beans or famous Egyptian rice dishes.


If you care to try out the Egyptian cuisine set your direction to Sakala square, Dahar or Shery street. The canteen like design is outweighed by cheap price and delicious heavy portions that will fill you up for half a day! Do look for cleanness and hygiene of the place! If you are ready to pay more, visit Felfela or Kanzaman Restaurant, who as well offer Egyptian menu but in higher style. Famous local sea food places are located in Sakala square or around. Bare in mind that local restaurants will not offer any alcoholic beverages. The price range of good meal for two in local eatery should be in range from 25-50 LE. Budget menu can be as little as 10 LE or less per person.


Fast food is the word of last 5-10 years in Hurghada, when internationally known chains opened up their branches. In general seems to be the big hit among local families. Pizza hut, KFC, McDonalds, Burger Kind, Hardees are all represented in Sakkala or Village Road. From local chains try out famous Cooks Door sandwiches (chicken, shrimps) or cheap shawarma bread from Kammuna corner shop, both of them located in Sherry street next to Sakkala centre. Fast food prices start from 5 LE a sandwich in Kammuna up to 40 LE meal box from KFC.


Fine dining in Hurghada is a growing trend of last couple of years, when most of the chic restaurants with local or international chiefs have opened their doors for those who prefer to go ou to eat and meet.
Most of these Thai, Indian, Italian, Sea Food and International cuisine dining facilities are situated in New Hurghada Marina or on the Promenade. Some fine a la carte menus can be found also in 4 or 5 stars hotels, but prior reservation in this case may be required.
A dinner for two in Marina fancy restaurant can cost you around 150-300 LE excluding the wine or other bottled drinks.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx