Friday 13 May 2011

Cairo Briefing: some useful things to know if you are coming to the Cairo Conference

 **This post will be added to so do keep checking back. Please add any useful tips to the comments below**
If you are coming to the Cairo Conference here are some useful facts.

The Conference is from the 3-5 June, start time  6pm on Friday 3rd and it will end at 6pm on Sunday 5th, although there will be a closing ceremony after this. The venue is the Commerce Syndicate on Ramses St in downtown.

Many people will stay for longer than the conference but if you are just coming for the Conference try to arrive on Thursday night and leave no earlier than Sunday night (but better Monday morning).

FLIGHTS

The cheapest flights are the indirect ones that have a change at a European airport. These are advertised at around £260 at the moment. But of course the journey time is longer than the 5 hours that a direct flight from London takes.

Direct flights seem cheapest with EgyptAir at about £360 (this is about £70-£80 cheaper than BA flights). The EgyptAir flights also have slightly more convientant departure times to and from London Heathrow.

The cheapest option is a budget airline flight to one of the Red Sea resorts and a 6 hour coach trip to Cairo, but this onviously isn't recommended for people who are short of time (or patience).

VISAS

You need a visa to enter Egypt but you can buy it on the way in for about $20....take US currency with you for this an other uses.

You'll need another $20 to get a taxi from the airport to central Cairo.

HOTELS

Get a room with aircon...its very hot in Cairo in June!

Cheapish Hotels near the confernce are the Tulip, Lotus and Windsor. If you've got more money the Pyramisa in Dokki (across the Nile) is a cheaper luxury hotel.

MONEY

Take US$ and change to Egyptian pounds as you need them.

After the flight and hotel you'll be able to live cheaply in Cairo.



SICKNESS


We have been reliably informed that it is a good idea for people to take Pro-Biotics at least one week before going to Egypt. Holland and Barrett stocks a good brand. There are others but not sure the name at the moment so will keep you updated.

No comments:

Post a Comment