Travel advice

Im due to travel to Egypt in 2 weeks and I wondered if anyone has experience of their rules on electrical equipment? Google isn't being much help so i need a plain english response. How do I get my camera, laptop, ipad and iphone listed on my passport? do i also need to list my wife's hair straighteners which will be in the hold luggage?
any help will be welcome as i'd hate to think i need to leave my new camera at home.

Hi,

I have travelled from the UK to Egypt several times in recent years and have had no problem at all with my electrical and photography paraphenalia. There are no rules as such but if it is carry on luggage you may be asked to demonstrate it functioning which is a bit of a bind.

My advice is only take the absolute minimum of electrical kit with you. Do you really need a laptop AND an iPad? I always pack power leads and adaptors, mouse, card readers, hair straighteners, hair dryer, kettle (I kid you not), battery chargers, flash, spare lenses, etc, etc. into my hold luggage. That way I am just left with my 'treasures' in my hand luggage.

The one thing I would say is that every Egyptian airport is classed as a military establishment and they really do not like you trying to photograph the facilities or their aircraft. The last time I went, in March 2011, a guy on my flight took a photograph of the terminal building as we were walking in and he was arrested and his camara taken off him. Fortunately it was a reasonably cheap point and shoot so he didn't lose too much money but it wasn't the best way to start his holiday.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your holiday.

I'm sure the thousands of tourists who visit Egypt ever year just take such things with them with no thought to declaring them.

Maybe you could make a list of what you are taking, with serial numbers, so you can show it on arrival and get it stamped if you need to?

Don't forget a plug adapter

thanks, I just keep hearing horror stories about how things are confiscated if not declared properly, i would seriously lose the rag if they took my camera off me, as for the laptop/ipad i'm only taking one but i need to flip a coin to determine which one.

Last January we were in Alexandria on a cruise for 2 days and with a trip to the Pyramids I took pics from the ship of the port and every where I went and this was just before the riots started and had no bother at all. CHEERS Vic.

Why not check out the advice on the Foreign Office website and on the Egyptian Embassy website?

Or check with your travel organiser if you are going on an organised trip.

[email protected] is the email address of the Egypt tourist office in London - I am sure they can give you a definitive answer.

it was the embassy website that said all electrical equipment had to be listed on the passport and declared on leaving but it doesnt have clear info on how to do it.

Hi, been a couple of times to Egypt and put all leads ect in hold and the camera,i-pod,kindle ect in hand lugage and had no problems at all.They don't like you taking shots in the valley of the kings though!

stigg

Having travelled to many places in Egypt - and across it's borders - over the last 15 years I'd say it is quite 'situational'.If you are with a group of tourists arriving at a tourist airport / border on a Holiday Company flight / coach / cruise ship then things tend to be a lot more relaxed than if you are an Independant Traveller.

It's not genrally the sort of country where what a website says is what happens everywhere.

Depending on which you are my advice would vary but if it's standard tourist visit, especially to the Red Sea area, yes make a list as Gwyn suggests to keep with your passport just in case and if asked to do / show anything do so with a friendly smile and generally there are no problems.

3 visits to Luxor and not heard about not liking shots in the Valley of the Kings - sure it wasn't some 'cheeky chappie' trying to get a 'tip' out of you for him 'allowing' it???

Lots of that goes on, generally just be firm but again smile and joke with them and they give up. I have found the Red Sea area to be a lot better on this than elsewhere.

If you are travelling with a pretty blonde woman she should be prepared for attention in some places outside the Red Sea resorts, especially if wearing short clothing.

I know some find this 'culture' a right pain and are unable to laugh it off but try, the people are generally lovely and I am sure they will apprecaite your visiting at this time when numbers are generally down.