mightyducksman

Traveled there in early November - actually arrived to Sharm the day after the Russian plane crashed (the cause wasn't made clear until after we left Sharm). Other than the awareness of such events, though, our time there was completely without incident. We did hire guides everywhere we went - Cairo (2 days), Luxor (2 days), Aswan (1 day) - which is a little more conservative than our normal approach. Overall it was a great trip where at one temple (Kom Umbo) we were the only tourists and at several other sites (Saqqara, Edfu, Philae, Coptic Cairo) we were ones of few.

The security presence was very heavy in many areas, particularly Coptic Cairo. Overall their presence made me feel more confident that we were indeed safe.

RNE

I'm in the same boat. I realize it's unsafe. But no matter how unsafe Egypt may be now, it's better than it was in 2011 and thereafter. By my reckoning, this is a relative lull which won't last long. So, if not now, when?

RNE, wanting to see Egypt before I die, but not wanting to die seeing Egypt.

christravelblog

So unless you are a policement and/or visit the red sea you should be safe.

no serious...... just use common sense and you should be all ok !!! There are other places on earth which are really unsafe.

Dromomaniac

Go. You will not regret it.

We went last summer. Arrived in Luxor two days after the suicide attack that killed zero innocent bystanders or tourists. We spent several days in Cairo. Several more in Luxor.

Everywhere we went, we were practically the only tourists there. When else in your lifetime would you ever have the chance to stand at the base of the pyramids, the Citadel, or in a temple or tomb and be nearly alone? We did, and it was wonderful.

We had "private security" everywhere we went, because all the tourist police and guards had nobody else to protect! Sometimes the guards would follow us around, literally giving us private security the entire way. I would give them a few pounds here and there and they would take good care of us.

The Egyptians are desperate for tourists. There were people yelling to us, as we walked down streets, "thank you for coming!" At one guard station, a police officer shared his lunch with me. These are the kinds of travel experiences I had only ever read about! It was amazing. The kindness and gratitude we experienced everywhere was wonderful.

We hired a guide for everything. Guides are desperate for business, too, so you can likely get a good deal. And, hiring a guide and air conditioned private car makes it easy to get around. We had a language interpreter available everywhere we went, and someone who could help us historically interpret what we were seeing.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have second thoughts, myself. I'm glad I went. You will be too. Just go, and enjoy every minute of the adventure. The risk you perceive right now will feel silly once you're there. Especially if you're staying in Cairo and other tourist destinations, you have very little to worry about. Enjoy your trip!

IAN-UK

I travel to Egypt frequently, and spend quite a lot of time there, principally in Cairo. I'm conscience that my views are biased by my familiarity and affection for the place, but apart from a very definite security presence, life in Cairo goes on as normal.

Last week a lorry fell off an overpass onto a micro-bus terminal, killing/injuring a large number of people. International reports of opponents of the regime disappearing off the streets. Road deaths by the score. It's not the safest environment The threat of a terrorist attack is remote but present, just another layer of insecurity. Metro fares, staple food prices, fuel price - all are going to have to go up sometime, but the government fears unrest: so there are wider political tensions than the usually recognised one.

With all that you might expect a drab place. But the Egyptian good humour is always present: people are helpful. It's colder than you might expect at the moment, but the sky is blue, the Nile flows, there are concerts at the Opera, museums to be seen and the pyramids hovering on the eastern horizon.

Worth a visit!

Got to add that Uber and Careem taxi services work like a dream, taking much of the getting around Cairo anxieties away from tourists.

DanielW

Six killed in bomb attack near Giza pyramids: http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...-giza-pyramids

IAN-UK

Seems it was a police raid on a "bomb factory". It's not clear if the bad guys blew the place up when they realised what was happening, or the police detonated a device when attempting to disarm it.

In any event it wasn't a bomb attack (though the police intervention clearly prevented some future atrocity), and no tourists were involved.

On Wednesday, six or more policemen and soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Sinai.

picards007

Just spent 3 nights in Cairo last week, which coincided with the 5th anniversary of the Arab Spring. Overall, I felt safe, although the security measures might be a little off putting for some: police checkpoints with armed guards and K9 units to get into the major western-style hotel complexes. Metal detectors and baggage screening entering your hotel. Barricades and more armed guards at the major tourist sites. Our tour guides on both days said the security at the tourist sites has been roughly the same since the 1980s, but we weren't too sure how much stock to put into that... However, trips to other places in the developing world have similar levels of security (my travel partner said during his trips to Delhi and Dhaka that similar security measures are in place at the hotels).

If the security measures are not off-putting, visiting Cairo and seeing the wonders of the ancient world are truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Get a good tour guide (we had great success with Viator) and transfers to/from the airport to make things easier.

jaymar01

For anybody who'd find Egypt's security measures are off-putting....I'd strongly suggest you avoid Santa Clara, CA this week during Super Bowl 50 activities.

RNE

Actually, I'm heartened by the security measures. Thanks for the info.

IAN-UK

I was there last week, and found rain about the most annoying thing !

Hotel security has changed in nature. It is now less "security theatre" and more something taken seriously. And on the 2 a.m. trip to the airport (in a Careem car) we went through three stops with document checks.

Annalisa12

In Egypt I went with Lady Egypt. We had a private guide and driver. You also had the option of having an armed escort if you wanted to feel safe.

benberg2013

Anything to update on this? Im planning to go alone for 2 days. Stay at Ramses Hilton for the night. See Pyramids Museum etc.
Anything I need to know?

IAN-UK

You seem to have cornered all three Egypt threads. Everything is fine, but you might be better getting a guide for the pyramids if you are not cool about dealing with pressure from touts.

Visa on arrival is fast and simple: in very many entries I've never encountered trickery from bank employees selling visas. But I have seen tourists getting confused with money after long and tiring flights - just have the right money, and say how much is there when you plonk it on the counter.

emustyle

I've recently returned from a little under two weeks in Egypt and had a blast.

After familiarizing myself with the hustle and bustle of Cairo, i felt completely safe (As long as you have your normal travelling wits about you). I was with a small tour group throughout and its an amazing country.