Top 10 Small Things to Pack for a Smooth Trip to Egypt
Google “Travel Tips to Egypt” and you'll get a million suggestions for the most Instagrammable outfits, hot weather beauty products, packable shoes and head coverings to bring. But what about all the little things that make a BIG trip to Africa a lot more comfortable? Here's my roundup of the Top 10 things to pack to give you a smoother trip -- and everything below will fit in a shoebox.
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Print your Itinerary - Don't just save a digital version of your intinerary — print one, too! You'll need this printed version to pass through security at Egyptian airports. Without one you won't even get through the doors. While an emailed copy might suffice, a hard copy or two will ensure you have your ducks in row. And don't forget to be sure everyone you're traveling with is on it (or has their own) too.
Bills, Bills, Bills - Bring small bills for all those tips (and trust me, there will be countless!). It's customary to tip the folks handling your baggage and providing tours. But you don't want to get stuck tipping massive amounts if you don't have the proper bills. So be sure to visit AAA or another currency exchange before leaving the airport for several small bills, including denominations of 10, 20 and 50 Egyptian pounds. If you can only get large bills at the currency exchange desks, buy some small items at the airport gift shop — gum, bottled water, a magazine — so you can get smaller bills as change.
Cheat Sheet - Print a cheat sheet for the local currency. Exchange rates are easily accessible online, but you won't always have internet service. Instead, I printed an pocket-sized up-to-date exchange rate chart based on results on xe.com, my go-to source. I usually handwrite these on an index card so I have it ready in my pocket should I have to do a quick calculation. Mine was simple with exchanges like 10 Egyptian pounds = 60 US cents; and 100 Egyptian pounds = $6 USD.
Fan Club - Egypt is HOT (and I love warm weather!). Visiting places like the pyramids you'll be out in the elements much of the time. I saved myself from heatstroke (and ruining my makeup) by packing a personal fan. The little plastic, fold-up ones are perfect. Mine was from a Dollar Tree and it was a life saver!
Under my Umbrella - A folding fan will save you from the heat, but you may want to protect yourself from the sun, too. I recommend an umbrella like this one for outdoor treks. We visited in October, which is on the cusp of summer in Egypt and even then, the heat was still really intense.
B.Y.O.S - or bring your own snacks, especially if you have allergies or certain dietary restrictions like gluten intolerance. No one knew what “gluten-free” was (even in the nice resorts) and kept thinking we were asking for something for “free”. Most of the snacks for sale in Egypt are not healthy (think chips, packaged croissants, and candy - the pic above was the healthiest we could find - yikes!). And you'll be hard pressed to find something like a leafy green salad anywhere you go. Protein bars, dried fruit and nuts are easy to pack and can save you in a pinch if you're hungry (which is, like, all the time for me).
Fanny Packin’ - Visiting the pyramids? Don't bring a large backpack. The passageways you'll be touring are extremely narrow, some with ceilings as low as just 3 feet. You'll want to ditch the backpack on these days (or leave with a trusted driver), because chances are you won't be able to squeeze into the tunnels without scraping the ceilings with your belongings. Try a belt bag like this vegan leather one instead.
Shoes - And wear comfortable shoes! The day you visit the pyramids is not the day to only bring a slide or heels for that cute pic. The walkways include small dowel rods as “steps” and you'll want to walk in something with good traction. To give you an idea - in the photo above is my dad, who is 5’5” (165cm) and you can see how far he has to bend - and the treacherous steps!
A Selfie Ring Light - The best souvenir from your visit to the pyramids is of course lots of pics, but flash photography is prohibited. And of course, the interior of the pyramids are lit minimally. My suggestion? A selfie ring light that clips onto your phone! It's the easiest way to get great selfies while still following the rules. I got this one on Amazon for about $14.
A Tan Bodysuit - I didn't think I would wear it much, but I brought a tan, cotton bodysuit (a fitted tank is OK too) on my trip and it was a lifesaver. I’m wearing it under the white top in this photo). This was especially helpful with sheer clothing and low tops that had arm holes. I washed and wore it nearly every day. Definitely a staple for this amazing trip!