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Packing for Egypt
Many people just really don't know how to pack for Egypt.
Unlike many vacations, and even more than a few tours one might
take to other countries, usually visitors must move around
considerably. One may take a vacation, tour Paris, or London, and
stay the entire time in one hotel. But for many touring Egypt,
this is not so, and the amount of luggage one carries around can
really become a burden. The one exception to this is possibly Nile
Cruises, but only if that is all that is planned.
On many tours, luggage is for the most part taken care of by
bellboys and the tour operator, but the traveler usually, handles
their carry-on baggage. Typically, one must pack and unpack a
minimum of four times, and this is just for a short stay. One
originally lands in Cairo, then travels to Luxor (or Aswan) and
then to Aswan (or Luxor) and finally back to Cairo, staying one or
more nights in each location. This is the simplest of tours. Add a
Sinai extension and many people will be packing and unpacking up
to three more times. Add a Jordan or Israeli extension and soon,
one is very, very tired of luggage.
At the very least, carry on baggage should be kept to a
minimum, as it must often go with you wherever you go. However,
very experienced travelers to Egypt often minimize everything,
taking only a few changes of clothes. Each night they wash out
their soiled cloths. Besides the baggage problem, there is another
reason for this. Trying to carry a lot of clothes implies also
having to get them laundered. It is very difficult to pack enough
not to run out of clean clothes on a typical 10 to 14 day tour,
but many hotels have rather high rates. In fact, a typical week's
worth of laundry for a family can actually cost several hundred
dollars. This need not be the case if one looks about for a local
laundry, which are usually pretty cheap, but unfortunately, most
people will have trouble finding them.
Simply put, since you would have to wash anyway, don't even
attempt to take enough clothes for the whole trip. And, since you
can't take enough clothing for the whole trip, don't take much at
all, unless you have a specific reason or specific event for which
you need a certain type of outfit. One very good pair of shoes
will usually do, and two at most. One pair should be very
comfortable walking shoes, and if you take another, it should
probably be for more dressy occasions such as going out dancing or
to a dressy restaurant. For women, the popular black knit travel
dress will cover a multitude of occasions, as you can always bring
an accessory to dress it up. But take no more then one set of
formal clothes at most. Add to this several light, cool pairs of
pants and several comfortable shirts or blouses, a pair of shorts,
swimming suit, and a few changes of underwear. Cotton, linen, and
blend items dry very quickly in the desert air. Be sure to bring a
hat, and particularly for women, one long sleeve conservative
blouse. Then simply wash what you take off each night. That may
seem like a hassle, but it will not be nearly so much as carrying
four or five large bags, and then having to have stuff laundered
anyway.
Also, minimize your carry-on in anyway possible. Consider
taking a zoom lens for your camera instead of two or three
specialized lenses. Unless you really have a very specific need,
forget the laptop. There are Internet cafe's everywhere there are
Internet connections. If you must, consider buying compact curlers
and hair dryers specifically for the trip. Reading material is
often nice to have, but leave the hardbacks at home and don't over
pack the paperbacks. Most anywhere you go will have English
bookshops, and some hotels and cruise ships will even have
libraries.
Remember, too, the season during which you are visiting. Lower
Egypt (Cairo & Alexandria) can be quite chilly in the winter
months. Prepare accordingly.
Wheeled luggage, both check-on and carry-on pieces are a real
benefit for travelers and can make your trip more enjoyable.
Traveling all about Egypt can be tiring for most anyone, and
excessive luggage just adds to the fatigue. So, think light and
enjoy your trip.
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