General Information Airlines Access Spring Aviation Service is responsible for the ground handling of some of the major international aviation companies landing in the various tourism destinations in Egypt. Spring Tours Aviation is a registered & certified company by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and furthermore a member of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Ground Handling Council (IGHC). Our company renders complete ground support and related services of arranging over flying / landing permission, aviation fuel supply, etc. We are here to support and promote your regional and international operations, to and from Egypt's major airports: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria & Borg El Arab as well as the Red Sea airports of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Taba. The company stands proud of its well-educated, trained, experienced and highly motivated staff giving quality services with emphasis on honesty. ATM Automated Teller Machines abound in the tourism areas of Egypt with many machines offering encashment services for major credit cards. Best Buys Egyptian cotton is world famous: cloth, textile and garments are a good deal. Brass, silver, gold, handmade jewelry, papyrus, carpets, spices, handicrafts, perfumes and reproductions of antiquities are on sale. It is not advisable to buy something that might appear to authorities to be of historical value and importance. Business Hours Offices are increasingly adopting the 9 to 5 format of the western world though banks are opened until 2 pm from Sunday to Thursday. Shops are opened daily from 10 am to 9 pm though might close on Sundays. Spring Tours offices throughout the country are opened 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. Communication The international dialing code for Egypt is +20. International roaming facilities can connect cell phone users except in some of the more remote corners of Egypt. Hotels and resorts offer international direct dialing services while most of the boats Spring Tours is mentioning as 'preferred partner' do offer cellular/mobile services. Phone cards are available everywhere, as are the phones to use them in. Internet connections are readily available with many service providers having local dial-up numbers. Internet cafes are available in every tourist area of Egypt. Faxes can be sent internationally by the business centers available in most of the hotels recommended by Spring Tours. Clothing There is little reason in packing a jacket and a tie or formal evening wear. Smart casual attire is suitable for even the countries best restaurants, bars or top hotels. Please note, that Egyptians typically show regard for each other by dressing neatly. So please avoid the 'Robinson Crusoe' look when venturing out in public and respect that during sight-seeing of 'holy places' of all kinds your dress/pants should cover your body at least till the knees and your shoulders. Early December to end of February can be quite 'cold' as of sunset and it is highly advisable to bring sweat shirts or pullovers along. Rain is more or less 'unknown' in the regions along the Red Sea and Upper Egypt but few raindrops are common in Cairo and Alexandria in the months of December to February. The 'best months' for touring the country are from end of October till end of April. Though the summer months will grant a 'hustle free' joy of sight-seeing as numbers of visitors to the sites decrease. Consulates and Embassies Most of the countries of the world maintain Embassies in the capital Cairo and some (European) countries have opened (honorary) Consulates in Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Credit Cards & Currency Credit cards are accepted at major tourist establishments but are not very commonly accepted at shops. While prices are advertised in the local currency LE (Egyptian Pound), all credit card sales are transacted in US $. As a result, all final charges shown on your bill are subject to inter-bank exchange rates. Current approximate exchange rate: 1 US $=6.50 LE, 1 Euro=LE 7.50. Customs Weapons, (soft) pornographic materials and narcotics are illegal imports. Visitors may bring in 100 grams of tobacco, 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of liquor duty free. Upon arrival visitors may also buy at the duty free shops located at major airports. Local currency up to LE 1.000, may be brought into the country as well as taken out on departure though exchange rates in Egypt are in favor of the traveler compared to the rates in the (western) world. Spring Tours suggests contacting our head-office well in advance of arrival in case any pharmaceutical (medication) items for personal use are needed to be imported. Same is valid for specific requirements for temporary importation of exhibition materials. Dietary Matters Any special dietary requirements can be accommodated by the highly skilled food and beverage departments of Egypt's leading hotels. Please provide us with an advance notice. Driving Self-drive car rentals (but not 'one way') are available for those above 21 years and holding an international driving license. Egypt rules of the road can prove frustrating for the uninitiated. Consider hiring vehicles with drivers available at Spring Tours at reasonable rates for enhanced safety and enjoyment during your visit. Electricity 220 volts, all local outlets utilize a two-point-plug (Euro plug). Foreign Exchange For best rates and service, exchange foreign money currency only at licensed money changers or banks. Always insist on a receipt. Without (bank) receipts the Egyptian money will not be changed back into foreign currency. Handicapped Facilities Facilities for handicapped travelers are limited. Check with us for the availability of transport and rooms configured for handicapped travelers. Health Notice No vaccinations are currently required for visitors to Egypt if coming from the Western world. Many hotels maintain clinics and doctors on call. Several well equipped medical (outpatient) facilities operate on 24-hour basis. Note that all services are to be paid on the spot and in cash. No (travel) health-insurance-vouchers are accepted so far and it is advised to purchase evacuation insurance prior to arrival. Language Arabic is the common language of Egypt. English is spoken in all the hotels we have listed as 'preferred' partner while Italian, French & German are additionally understood in the resort hotels along the Red Sea coast. Qualified, multilingual reps and licensed tour guides have joined Spring Tours Team enabling us to serve our clients from all countries around the globe. Meeting Permits Spring Tours readily arranges permits required from local police and other authorities for meetings, conferences and special events. MICE Something 'bigger and better' is the perpetual conference organizer's conundrum. Fortunately, there are still plenty of unique ideas out there for those groups who think they have 'done it all'. Spring Tours as an innovative company has caught the attention of conference organizers throughout the world. Spring Tours specializes in designing exclusive events for conference and incentive groups, see our more detailed MICE information! Newspapers In addition to a wide choice of Egyptian and Arab newspapers, the English language daily 'Egyptian Gazette' as well as many bi-monthly's, monthly's and weekly's are available in English and French covering local and worldwide news as well as information about the country. International magazines and daily's are available at hotels and newsstands. Pharmacy Common pharmaceuticals are stocked at Egypt's many drugstores (in each neighborhood one will find a 24-hour opened pharmacy). It is recommended that one brings copies of eyeglass and medical prescriptions to facilitate local service. Also it should be considered to bring details of any significant medical history in case a sudden need for local medical treatment arises. Places of Worship Services for religious denominations are held in Egypt. Lists of times and locations are maintained at the hotels reception desks. Islamic, Roman Catholic, Copt and Protestant places of worship are at service throughout the country. Postal Services The Egyptian postal service has a complete range of mail and parcel service, including Express Mail Services (EMS). Most major international courier services maintain offices in Cairo. Population Egypt's current population is approaching 70 millions as the capital Cairo (incl. Giza) gives home to about 16 millions. The most populated areas are along the banks of the River Nile from Aswan in the South, down to the Mediterranean City of Alexandria. Egypt stretches over an area of 1million square km, more than 90 % is covered by desert. Religion Islam is the overwhelmingly dominant religion of Egypt with minorities of Christians also represented. Sea Access Regular car ferry services operate between Saudi Arabia and Safaga/Hurghada as well as between Jordan and Nuweiba. Cargo vessels do cover the harbor of Alexandria and (passing) the Suez Canal. Smoking Public smoking is widely accepted and many Egyptians enjoy smoking either cigarettes or the famous 'water pipe'. Major brands of tobacco are produced locally under license or are imported for sale. Like the rest of the developed world, there is a growing sensitivity to the dangers of passive smoking. Nowadays smoking is not permitted in all public buildings and all means of transport including their stations. Many hotels started to offer nonsmoking rooms (please let Spring Tours know prior to arrival) as well as nonsmoking sections in their restaurants. Note that all -by Spring Tours recommended Nile Cruisers- do not allow smoking in the main restaurants. Furthermore all our vehicles are smoke-free. Tax Various local taxes, governmental tax, VAT, fiscal stamps as well as service charges might be applied on total of the bill, totaling up to 25 %. Please check on all times which tax(es) might be added on given rates. Taxi and Transportation There are several reputable limousine companies operating in the Capital and along the Red Sea Resorts. Rates are fixed and are available at the hotel's reception or concierge desk. Non-metered taxis are on service throughout the country but fares have to be negotiated in advance. Public transport in the form of small local vans, intercity buses and trains operate at reasonable rates. Cairo features the continents only Metro/Underground system and tramways are available in Cairo and Alexandria. Television Egypt has numerous national television networks, many broadcasting western entertainment programs with subtitles in Arabic. Most of the hotels referred to as our 'preferred partners' offer satellite links providing international broadcasts in a number of languages. Also the listed boats do offer such service when vessels are docked. Tipping Hotels and restaurant menus might include a service fee or it is charged on the total bill. Nevertheless this fee is not a tip but the amount paid to the staff as salary. Though not a must it is required giving an additional gratuity varying according to the amount from 5 to 10%. All staff members in the service industry do appreciate receiving a tip. Doormen, lift boys, bell captains, room maids, drivers, reps and guides are mentioned here as well as porters at the airports and (railway) stations. Visa 1-month tourist stay permits are issued to the nationals of most European and (other) Western countries at the airports of Egypt upon arrival. Fees are applicable and to be paid according to agreement with Spring Tours either directly by the arriving tourist or are charged to the wholesaler/tour operator. Passports must have mandatory 3 months validity from the day of scheduled departure out of Egypt. For clarification on eligibility for a stay permit on arrival or other classes of immigration permits, please contact Spring Tours or the nearest Egyptian Embassy at your place of residence. Water Is generally potable in Egypt though it is highly advisable to use tap water not for consumption due to the high content of chloride. Bottled water is available everywhere. Weather Egypt enjoys warm summer months (from April to September), quite hot in Upper Egypt during the months of July and August. A 'raining period' is more or less unknown though it might rain for brief durations in Cairo & Alexandria in the winter months of December & January. Weights and Measures Egypt operates on the metric system.