Egypt disadvantages – what I did not like there
windy and cold in April in Hurghada
Disadvantages of Egypt travel
- locals were approaching me to take a selfie very often.
- local guys were shouting at me and asking me to go out (or something else) ALL THE TIME. Each time I walked along the street, especially in the evening, men would be hitting on me, asking me questions, following me etc. It was unbearable! I really had enough of that approach. I do not think it’s ok to shout at women at the street just because we have different skin color and/or religion. NOT all women go to Egypt to find a sexual partner or to be a sugar mama. For example, I went to Egypt to enjoy the sea and fresh fruit.
a street food vendor asked me for a selfie
- when I arrived in March it was too cold and too windy for me. Then in June it was already too hot. I was trying to get used to the heat but even though I like warm weather, it was too much. I could not do much during the day when it was 35 to 43 Celsius. That’s the reason I don’t like to visit Egypt in the warmest months of July and August.
- Egypt is full of annoying insects – loads of flies during the day and then even more mosquitoes at night. They never left me alone. It was difficult to sleep or to relax on the beach without getting disturbed by insects every few seconds. Insects were definitely one of Egypt disadvantages that bothered me the most.
To tell the truth, I found Egyptian men and Egyptian insects similarly annoying :D
- Hurghada is famous for strong sandy wind. The so called Khamsin wind blows there for 50 days in March and April. I really do not like wind so I had chills quite a lot. And there were days in May and June with strong wind, too. Then I had sand everywhere; in my eyes, mouth, ears, nose, in my room etc. Not cool!
Hurghada strong wind
trying to kill mosquitoes with some chemicals
Egypt money-wise
- long distance transportation is more expensive for foreigners than it is for locals. Oficially, they force you to take a different bus/train than locals do, e.g. between Hurghada and Luxor, or Luxor and Aswan, Hurghada and Cairo etc.
- in Hurghada you need to pay for public beaches. There’s public beaches (for a fee) and private beaches (owned by hotels so you need to stay at a hotel to go to the beach).
- in some places, such as Hurghada, it is NOT really possible to walk from one beach to another one. There’s security guys who will stop you if you try to cross. I was surprised it was easier in Makadi Bay but really not in Hurghada. Such a shame, because I personally love to walk along the beach at sunset time.
Hurghada Andalusia beach
you could walk there only sometimes depending on security guys
- locals try to overcharge you for almost everything and everywhere. They think that all of us ”white tourists” are extremely rich and we don’t know what to do with extra money. I don’t enjoy overpaying just because I am not Egyptian.
- some drivers will not give you your change back when traveling on a public minivan around Hurghada. Sometimes they try to keep change when they see you are a tourist. They might think that you don’t know the price just because you’re not local.
- sometimes they will not give you change at shops either. Not because they think you can’t count, but because they don’t have small change left. They might give you a chewing gum or something else instead. If you refuse because you don’t use/eat those things, you get nothing.
I rather had exact change with me to pay for the minivan
- streets are full of plastics and other rubbish. When it’s windy, rubbish was flying all around.
- unfortunately, recycling is not really a thing in Egypt yet. My eco-friendly soul was so upset to see that!
- tap water can get very dirty and it’s not potable.
- camel riding is still very popular in Egypt. As a vegan and animal rights activist since July 2013, I really do not support riding camels nor any other wild animals.
- there’s many beggars at the streets. Unfortunately, kids as well.
Hurghada streets full of rubbish
Having said all of the above, I still managed to find even more things that I did enjoy in Egypt. It’s a stunning country worth a visit, for sure. However, it’s always good to be prepared and know the truth.
TIP 1: Don’t forget to read my article about interesting things in Egypt, too. There’s some things that might surprise you :)
TIP 2: And what about budget? I calculated my expenses in Egypt in this post. You might find it useful before planning your trip.
Find more of my travel photos and yoga videos on my Instagram:
Pozrite si tento príspevok na Instagrame
Which of the things on this list would bother you? Or would you add even more Egypt disadvantages to my list?
Anna
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Hey Alex, thanks for writing this and telling the real story behind the instagram shots. It’s sad because I have wanted to visit Egypt for such a long time but I keep hearing bad reports, especially regarding the safety, hassle and treatment of women and tourists that stops me from visiting. I’ve had enough of this in places like India and Morocco and nowadays my safety and comfort have to take precedence when choosing where to travel. There’s so much I’d love to see and experience in Egypt but until they treat visitors better I’d think I’ll feel safer and have a better time elsewhere.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks Anna so much for your comment! I can feel you. It’s really annoying for us women to be hassled all the time in some countries, right? It makes our experience there less pleasant. I really hope it will get better in future so we can travel hassle-free :)
Ginnie
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Well, obviously, Egypt is not ideal, but there are many cool things to do and places to visit. BTW, I have been amazed at your work. Quite fabulous.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks, appreciate it a lot! Yes, there’s many reasons to visit Egypt, but I prefer to be a realist and tell others what to expect, both good and bad :)
Jobi
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Thank you for the good info! It’s always good to know what to expect.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks Jobi for reding the post ;)
haitham moustafa
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The lack of recurrence of the visit is what the Egyptians have warned of so much because of mid treatment,trying to deceive the tourist, cheating in prices, and considering the tourist as a “spoil” or an opportunity that other bad dealers should not miss to plunder from.
This is the worst view of the tourist, especially from Cairo to luxur.
As for those who say that individuals tourism and electronic visas are which will increase tourism, this is nonsense,as Egypt is not France or Spain so that the tourist can find the services from the airport to the streets,hotels and restaurants.
Unfortunately, we are here in Egypt…we will remain prisoners of group tourism until further notice.
If we consider that tourism is culture, pleasure, economy, business,vacation and relaxation….in the end, it doesn’t flourishe except with good reception,hospitality, and quality of services …. And if this is not available, then it is with the leave holder,”gloom, sullenness and waste of time and money”.
Then, this is the most serious evil.
A reputation for the host country and a negative mental image of the tourist about this country..and therefore it will be worst propaganda or worst ambassador…..instead of inviting foreign families and friends to visit Egypt….people will do the opposite and therefore Egypt will lose new potential tourists… Of course peopl will not return to Egypt and Egypt will lose an important element that would increase tourism as “RECURRING” visit.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thank you so much for your comment. It’s sad that this is happening in Egypt. It’s an incredible country but if we are not treated right, people would stop visiting.
Yusif Larave
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Hey Alex, sorry to hear you have had some annoyances over here. You’re a beautiful and intelligent girl and I am sorry not to meet you here. Happy travels everywhere. Love, Yusif
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks so much ;) Well, there’s no ideal destination, we all know it :) I just like to be a realist and show also things that I enjoy less than some others.
David Rainey
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All your negatives would also bother me. Some more than others. Also being eco friendly, the trash would be my biggest negative, however unfortunately typical of most places where humans congregate. What I find admirable is how you handle each negative using your knowledge, common sense, and humanity. Unfortunately Mother Nature controls the wind and heat so those are difficult to avoid. The sand comes with the territory of your preferred natural habitat, however sand everywhere other than the beach is annoying. If our paths crossed walking any beach and you were wearing the red bikini, I would ask to walk with you if you desired company. Unwanted advances by men obviously annoy you as much as the nuisance of intolerable insects. At least with insects you can eliminate them with an accurate swat! I like how you interact with the people encountered no matter the circumstances. Obviously you enjoyed Egypt despite the negatives of this fifth trip. Thanks for sharing your experiences in words and pictures. Btw, my favourite picture is the one where you are vegetable shopping. Peace.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks David for such a long comment :) Really appreciate you taking time to tell me what you think :)