Egypt FAQ

*** THIS IS IMPORTANT ***

Yes, absolutely!

You need to arrange your own travel insurance and can buy single-trip cover very cheaply from comparethemarket.com, gocompare.com or moneysupermarket.com for just a few pounds.

If you need help arranging cover then let us know.

Please make sure that you bring printed details of your policy with you, including the name of the insurance company, your policy number and the company's emergency telephone number.

We're not going anywhere risky in Egypt and it is only a week so you can get away with not having any vaccinations this time.

However, as responsible grown-ups looking after your own health, you should always make sure that your:

1. Diphtheria, Tetanus and Poliomyelitis protection is boosted every ten years regardless of travelling or not.  It's one jab and you can check when you last received a dosage in your NHS App.
2. If you are travelling then protection against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is strongly recommended anywhere that isn't 100% hygienic or is off the beaten track.  This is also one jab and your protection last longer and longer each time you get it.

Depending on where you're going, always check on this website for what you need.  Remember some courses need multiple jabs over a period of weeks so check at least a couple of months before you need to leave.

Your air fares include 1 x 23Kg suitcase plus 1 x hand luggage on all the British Airways and EgyptAir flights.

Egypt uses the same plug types as mainland Europe.  Voltage is 220v, same as the UK.

One party outfit for Jo's birthday dinner.  Something with a collar for the chaps just in case.

Hand-sanitiser.

Games.

Surbiton Station Cars (+44 208 390 3030) will pick up Archie, Oscar, Mia and Dan at 7am from Oscar's digs and take you all to Heathrow Terminal 5.  It will be a MPV so there will be room for your luggage.

The taxi will be paid for in advance.

We don't know who will be going back to where when we land back at Heathrow at 5pm, so you'll need to make you own onward journey arrangements from the airport.

Yes, you do.  You can get your visa in advance at www.visa2egypt.gov.eg or when you land before passport control.  You might have to queue if you do it when you land.

The cost of the visa is $25.00 USD and they accept cards.

If you apply for an e-Visa then you must complete the online application at least 7 days before you arrive.

You can walk from Terminal 3 to the hotel using the Skywalk, so you don't even have to step outside.  It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.  If you have big bags then you can call the hotel shuttle service.

Airport shuttle service, reservation required, complimentary 24 Hours, 7 days a week, Shuttle phone: +20 2 2265 9600 Ext 0.

We won't all be arriving at the same time so check-in and unpack, freshen up, have a snooze, whatever, and then see who else is around at either the pool or in the Sports Bar.

The booking number for your room is shown here.  The room is already paid for so you will only need to give your credit/debit card if you want to charge extra food or drinks to your room.

There aren't any plans for Saturday night so we can just chill out.

Please put a message on the WhatsApp group to let Steve & Jo know that you've successfully checked in.

No, this hotel is not all inclusive.  We will have a meal with drinks on Saturday and Sunday night.

Anything extra will need to be bought by yourselves.  Another option is to buy beer or spirits in the Duty Free shop before customs, buy soft drinks at the hotel and top up your glasses discretely.  ;o)

Breakfast is included on Sunday and Monday, so 'fill your boots' for the day then!

Your passport will need to be valid for 6 months from the date that you arrive.

The flights are the ones that I would take!

For the long haul flights, I chose them based on the overall:

• Shortest total journey time.
• Shortest lay overs (even though some are over four hours).
• Maximum two carriers.
• Best fare.

No, not at all.  If you want to use a different or cheaper route then that's completely up to you.

To keep the journey times and lay overs to a minimum.

Absolutely, but you will need to cover all extras.

Of course, if you just want to come to Cairo for the weekend or just to El Gouna for the week then either is  fine.  You don't even need to stay the full week in El Gouna if you have other commitments.

Either you can book them yourselves or we can book them for you.

As soon as you are ready to book your flight(s), we will transfer the money to your account.

We will contribute the air fares shown towards your flights.  If the cost goes up for the same transfers before the end of January then we cover the increase as well.

If you book after the end of January and the flights have gone up then you'll have to cover the increase!

But, if you can get cheaper flights then you can keep the difference!

If you are booking a connecting flight with EgyptAir anyway then it would make sense to book the internal flights at the same time.  If you want us to book the connecting flights then we'll take care of the internal flights as well.

Yes, all you need to do is transfer the amount of the fare to S J Brand, account number 44199200, sort code 40-47-60.

Unfortunately, you will need to book with the carrier over the phone.

31st January so that we can book the accommodation.

You may need to cover the additional expense for flights and accommodation if the prices increase.

We can let them pay in two instalments.  The first half would need to be paid before the end of January and the second half by the end of February.