BootsnAll Travel Community

can you get one with ease at the airport? Some things i read say to have it before we come. We will get there at a rotten travel time like 3 am...will it be open then? please advise

Unless everything's changed in the last 2ish years, you should have no problem. They herded us off the plane, into the processing room. The Forex is open to buy visa stamps (literally- like you would put on a letter)- good for 15 days I think. They open it up just for flights- I think I got in about 2am the first time. Make sure you have cash, the line moves pretty fast.

I'm sure you could get one earlier. To be certain, though, I'd call the consulate. consulate info

j.

It's been about 2 years since I was there, but we had no trouble getting our visa upon arrival at the airport.

Be prepared for the airport to be packed. I also had a middle-of-the-night flight and expected the airport to be empty, but it was insane. Apparently most flights are scheduled in the wee hours. When you get through customs, expect a madhouse and be smart with your bags/pockets. We encountered a few pick-pocketing attempts.

Did you go straight to a hotel from there..taxi??? I would just like to go to the nearest hotel so I will hunt that up unless someone has a suggestion...do the hotels have shuttles in Cairo like America...or am I being a dreamer????

I think only the fanciest of the fancy hotels offer anything like a shuttle. More like scheduled car pickup.

Taxis- yes, but bargain the living hell out of them, and make sure you both sit in the back. Two years ago I got it down to low 60's to the hilton, if I were going somewhere cheaper, I'm sure it would have been lower.

The 'change outside passport control should be open, before you go thru customs. Or there's an ATM in the herding room.

j.

I was in Egypt last month and, yes, you can get your visa stamp easily upon arrival. Be sure to stick it on a page on your passport before you get to the official...he was irate with me and went on a little rant when I handed him the unpeeled sticker. It's $15 US.

Also, if you exchange money there DO check your bills to make sure that there are no ripped or damaged bills in your stack. I didn't think it'd be a big deal, but I got stuck with some 100 EP bills that I ended up having to bring back as souvenirs because no one (not at the Khan, not at McDonald's, etc.) would take them.

You can easily grab a cab from the airport, but I'd suggest getting your hotel (at least your first night) reserved so you know where you're going...lots of shady characters out to make a buck off of you in Cairo. Haggle, haggle, haggle.

Have a good time, that country is a dirty, fun mess.

do the taxis take USD $?

for the third try- reading comp kinda down tonight.

I'm sure the taxi's *will* take USD, but they'll rip you off like you wouldn't believe. There's a cambio outside passports, before declaring your illegal goods/ exit- after the guy gives you back your passport, hook a left. and again, and the money changer should be on your left, about 20 feet down. I don't think they charged a fee, and honestly, it's probably the easiest/ fastest place to change cash- the rate wasn't too bad either... though that may have changed.

which reminds me- are the visa "stamps" still lick and stick?

j.

Yeah, I wouldn't pay for anything in USD in Egypt. It'll be cheaper in pounds--just make sure you know the rate--I saw some clueless tourists pay 100 EGP ($20) for an outdated book of 8 postcards. I bought mine from the same vendor but got them down to 2 EGP. So just be start about it and know how much things should cost--people will happily take what you are willing to offer.

Depending on which terminal you arrive in there are several banks, you can buy the visa at any of them. They are open for all flights.

No, the visas aren't postage-type stamps anymore. You now get one shiny visa sticker that takes up half of the page in you passport. It actually looks like a visa--except the part where is says $15 in the corners; that makes it look more like money.

Just got ours last week, its still easy as everyone says. Look for a window on the left side just *before* all the lines to go through and get your passport stamped. Stick it in, get in the passport stamping line and you're good. They took our US15 and didn't even look at our passports, just handed over the visas.

p.s. we stayed at the Carlton Hotel downtown, which I'd recommend if you're looking for a midrange splurge. Includes breakfast and either lunch or dinner (you choose), nice rooms, it was US36/night for a double. Ask them to take you to the Rivoli Theater area, or the big court building is another landmark. DO get sweets down the street from "the slave." Bet on about 60 EP to get downtown as your special tourist rate.

Good luck, have fun!