What will travel insurance cover?

A standard travel insurance policy for Egypt will include cover for:

• Medical treatment – should you become ill or have an accident, the right policy will ensure you’re covered.
• Flight cancellations and delays – most standard policies should cover you for flight problems, but it’s best to check out the T&Cs of your policy in case incidents such as missed connections aren’t covered. 
• Damage, loss and theft of luggage – standard travel insurance usually covers replacement costs for your luggage and its contents.
• Holiday cancellation - make sure you read the T&Cs for holiday cancellations carefully, as different insurance providers vary on what they cover, depending on the reason for the cancellation.

Some travel insurance policies classify Egypt as ‘Europe’ while others classify it as ‘worldwide’, so make sure the policy you choose covers your visit to the country.

What else should I consider when choosing my travel insurance for Egypt?

Consider what activities you plan to do in Egypt, and whether they should be included in your policy. 

You may want to:

• Take a cruise along the Nile. Standard travel insurance may not cover you for cruising in the Middle East, so it’s worth adding cruise cover if sailing along the Nile is part of your itinerary.
• Try an adventure sport. Egypt is a popular destination for adrenaline junkies who want to do more than just sight-seeing or lying on the beach.
• Adventure travel insurance can cover you for more extreme activities such as bungee jumping, desert biking, diving and kite surfing. 

Any other tips for travelling to Egypt?

• Vaccines: It’s recommended that you have a Hepatitis A vaccine (usually free on the NHS) before travelling to Egypt. You can get Hepatitis A from contaminated food and water, so make sure you drink bottled, not tap water, as an extra precaution.
  
  Vaccinations against hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, and a tetanus booster are also advised. It’s a good idea to visit your doctor around eight weeks before your trip to check what vaccines and health precautions they advise. 
  
  
• Currency: The official currency is the Egyptian pound (£E), although many hotels and tour operators readily accept US dollars and Euros. ATMs can be found in the main tourist areas, and most hotels and restaurants accept the major credit cards. Nobody usually bothers with travellers’ cheques any more as most places won’t cash or accept them. 
  
  
• Tipping: As a tourist you’ll be expected to tip hotel staff, restaurant waiters/waitresses and even tour guides. It’s not customary to tip taxi drivers though. 

Here are some ballpark figures to give you an idea of how much you should tip:

• Hotel porters, housekeepers and waiting staff – between £3-10
• Restaurant waiting staff – around 10% of the bill
• Spas – between 10-15%
• Tour Guides – full day, £50; half day, £25
• Resort hairdresser – 10-15%