HideAway wrote:Just curious if it's safe to travel alone since I am a woman and some said that I should be careful if going there alone?
Hi, I'm over a month late to reply to this but maybe it'll help someone else. I wrote the tip below for another forum. I'll just copy and paste it here. It's long, sorry. Please feel free to PM me or post any questions or concerns. I'm more than willing to try to answer. I have now been to Egypt four times and am going back in March!
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There is a lot of misinformation about travel for females in Egypt and I just wanted to offer some advice on this as someone who has done it more than once.
I have traveled both with a travel buddy so I'm speaking from that vantage point, but I've also done it solo so I will also offer advice for that as well. My first time to Egypt my travel buddy and I (both female) traveled to Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and had no problems.
First, dress conservatively. I need to take a moment to address this. People have different opinions on what this means but the general consensus is to cover shoulders, stomach and knees and avoid form fitting clothes; there is no need to cover your head. You will, of course, find women who say that it didn't matter what they wore and they were 'treated just fine' by the locals. These women don't understand the image they project in a predominantly Muslim culture and also don't understand what is said about them in Arabic. The catcalls are not compliments and the hassle that comes with walking around in dress that shows you're either clueless about the local culture or indifferent to it is not pleasant.
Second, keep your wits about you. Third, be (look) confident and you will be fine. As a tourist, you will encounter some hassle regardless, especially in Luxor, but it's usually to get you to go into shops, buy things and get you to go on a caleche ride even though you're only going 3 blocks away
. Most entertaining (annoying) are the felucca captains - "Aaah habibi, I see you in my dreams!" "Nefertiti!" "Cleopatra!" etc etc etc. You get the drift. :-) BUT, you will not be alone. Couples, families and men traveling alone will all share the same fate as you...with the appropriate changing of the compliments of course. :-)
More than likely, it will stop being funny after a while and become annoying. Don't let it spoil our vacation. How much the hassle bothers you is totally dependent on your personality. My friend hated it. I, on the other hand, sweetly said "La Shokran" (no, thank you) twice and after that the person ceased to exist to me. I was actually happy the day the caleche driver followed me down the Corniche "negotiating" because the sun was really bright that day and the carriage blocked the glare.
After I ignored him for a bit, we started up a regular conversation and shared a few laughs. The hassle can be annoying but they're just trying to feed their families.
As far as safety goes, I love Egypt and have never felt unsafe there. Many people say, "I feel safer in Egypt than I do in "insert country." While this may be true for them, please don't take unnecessary risks and do things you wouldn't do at home. Use common sense at all times. I know we tend to throw caution to the wind at times on vacation. I've done some things I look back on now like 'What was I thinking?!' but seriously..weigh the risks. There are policemen everywhere for the tourists' protection - this will take some getting used to. Also, contrary to popular belief, you won't face hostility because you're a Westerner.
Social situations:
As a single female traveler, just keep in mind that the female/male dynamic is different there than in the West and something as innocent to us as a smile with direct eye contact or a drink with laughter and chatting can send a different signal than you intended. You don't have to be unfriendly in social situations, just be very no-nonsense the first time someone does something untoward so they'll know that you will not be disrespected. I know it sounds a bit stuffy, but the culture really is different and thanks to television and the actions of some female tourists who have gone before us, some.. and I stress some...Egyptian men have certain misconceptions about Western women i.e that we are 'easy'. In Sharm El Sheikh, especially, expect lots of attention if you're alone. Overall for Egypt, most Egyptians are very friendly, but careful with women they don't know, meaning they welcome you warmly...by shaking your hand. Returning female visitors may get a brief hug but her husband is usually present. I say that to say, don't let someone 'innocently' touch you (touch your hand or your hair etc). It is not appropriate and they would never be this forward with an Egyptian woman, especially in the more traditional areas. Also, this didn't happen to us, but some women have also reported being groped or rubbed up against on the metro and in public places. In the rare instance that someone touches you in a way you feel is seriously inappropriate, speak to them very sharply and loudly and head for the nearest group of women (this will only work if you are dressed appropriately!) The man will cower in shame, and most likely be yelled at by other Egyptians, not to mention risk the Tourist Police suddenly showing up which would be this guy's worst nightmare come true. People often advise little eye contact on the streets ie. sunglasses. I don't use them but you may find them helpful.
If you're staying in a hostel, you will most likely make lots of friends and gets lots of 'on the ground' advice. Many hostel owners are very respectful having dealt with tourists for many years. The people that work there are a perfect way to interact and have a great time. They can then introduce you to 'the scene'. If your hostel staff is sleazy, leave. Respectable owners will probably be very protective of you if you're a young female traveling alone. Be prepared to be met with concern over why you're traveling alone and 'where is your husband/father/brother?' :-)
Never tell shopkeepers/vendors/touts on the street that you're traveling alone or that it's your first time to Egypt. If you do, any bargaining skills you think have will be rendered useless and you will end paying out the nose for everything. Most women traveling alone wear a wedding band, though I don't know how useful it is now since many of the vendors are hip to it. Still, it can't hurt.
Getting around:
The fourth and fifth cars of the metro (recently changed from the first car) are reserved for women only. They are clearly marked. You can use those or just get on the regular car. Public transportation around Egypt has been some of the best fun I've had. Don't close yourself off from it. People feel compelled to talk to single travelers, and that's part of the rewards of independent travel.
Egypt can be a bit of a shock to the system at first. If you're someone who adapts easily, then don't let anyone talk you out of going it alone. If you're somewhat easily intimidated or frazzled, then I would suggest taking a travel buddy first. But GO! Egypt has to be seen to be believed - the culture, the monuments, the warmth of the people. Open yourself up to the experience and you won't regret it.
Remember, you just need three things to conquer Egypt - confidence, more confidence and a sense of humor.
