Egypt Visiting

Taxi
The main vehicle for tourist, to move around Hurghada is a taxi -they are cheap, plenty and available 24 h. Orange-color cars are available everywhere on the street, unfortunately there is no common phone line for taxi orders. Taxis are supplied with taximeters, which are not commomly in use and therefore price should be agreed on upon the trip.The price range for short distances should stay between 5-10 LE, longer distances inside the city border maximum up to 40 LE.

Minibus
Minibuses are available on Hurghada streets as well. They ride a common route- from Titanic Aqua park, passing Sakala, to Dahar main square, but not allowed to enter the Promenade. Minibuses can also operate as taxis. No tickets are issued, but maximum price to be paid can be up to 3 LE.

Car rental
Rented car is one option for moving in and around the city. There is plenty of suppliers offering different vehicles with optional insurances. Speed limits inside the city are 60 km/h and on high way 90 km/h and seatbelt on first seats is required. Check you license validity before you rent the car as some countries licenses need extra international improvement to go with.
Car rental prices starting from 30 USD per day.

Buses
There are intercity buses from Hurghada to Luxor, Cairo and Sinai. Buses are inexpensive and working regularly. You will find schedules for morning and night time, as distances between the cities are long and many people prefer travelling at night. AC, WC, small drinks and snacks, TV (loud Arabic movies) are usually available. Look for following names: Go Buses, HighJet, Upper Egypt Bus Company . Prices are starting from 30 LE.

Ferry
There is a ferry boat operating between Hurghada and Sinai. A 2,5-3 hours ride will take you to opposite coast in quite comfortable way. Soft chairs in sitting area, TV, A/C and bar are available on the boat. Bear in mind that heavy winds are common in winter time on the Red Sea and therefore your trip can be canceled! Ticket should be bought before hand, prices starting from 250 LE for tourists.


Flights
From domestic hall you will find flights to Sharm-El Sheikh, Luxor, Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Assiut . Operated by Egypt Air, book your ticket beforehand online or from Egypt Air office from the Promenade, opposite from TAX FREE shop.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

Sheraton Road (El Sakala)
Sheraton road or El Sakala center is the main tourist street in town. It is the busiest street in town with numerous bazaars, coffee shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, restaurants and night clubs. You will find many hotels on the sea side of Sakala. Across the street are situated apartments for locals and foreigners living here (especially Hadaba). Sakala square is located in the one end of the main street. Here you will find many fish restaurants and local eateries. From the beginning of Sakala in a walking distance you will find an El Arousa square – a bride or mermaid standing in the middle of the road. The street to the sea side will lead you to Hurghada Marina – the new city promenade by the marina with luxury yachts and apartments surrounded by old fisherman households. Opened in 2008, one will find in Marina many shops (incl. some high street brands), fabulous bars, fine dining restaurants, nightclubs or just nice walking area for warm summer nights.


The Promenade (Village Road)
The second famous touristic area is called Village road (El Memsha in Arabic). More than 5 km long promenade with wide and clean walking area, mainly 4 stars hotels, famous nightclubs, restaurants with international cuisine, some mall-type shopping centers and uncountable number of shops. For a first acquaintance with Hurghada, Village road is more peaceful and less harassment for tourist than one will experience in Sakala area, but therfore as well reflects much less local culture and lifestyle than any other parts of the town. Famous spots in Village road include Esplanada Mall, Kottas mall, Duty free shop, Little Buddha nightclub and Hard Rock café.

El Dahar
And then there is left El Dahar. Dahar is home for most of the locals living in the area, but as well for number of hotels, city council, aquarium, library, biggest mosques and food market. In Dahar one will find touristic and not so touristic areas, although until now, most of the areas are safe enough to sneak around and discover the other face of Hurghada. If interested in shopping, Dahar offers you streets full of bazaars and good bargains.

from http://www.hurghada.com/info.aspx

Getting to Hurghada is straightforward, with most visitors arriving by air at Hurghada's International Airport. Alternatively, visitors can fly into Cairo and then travel to Hurghada using local bus transport.

The town of Hurghada is also accessible by bus from some neighbouring countries. Here are Hurghada's most popular modes of public transport and travel.

Hurghada Travel and Transport: Hurghada Airport (HRG) / Arriving by Air in Hurghada - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
Located a few kilometres south of downtown, Hurghada Airport (HRG) is the most convenient air transport hub to the town. The airport has two runways and limited facilities. Airlines serving Hurghada Airport include EgyptAir, British Airways, Finnair and easyJet. There are direct flights to the following international cities - Amsterdam, London, Berlin and Frankfurt, while regular domestic flights serve Cairo. Taxi transport is also available for those looking to travel into the town.

Cairo International Airport (CAI) is a convenient alternative to flying into Hurghada directly and offers a greater choice of flights, including frequent domestic EgyptAir flights to Hurghada.

Hurghada Travel and Transport: Hurghada Car Rental - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
With petrol being available at low cost in Egypt, renting a car can be a very cost-effective way to travel around Hurghada. The required minimum age when renting a car is 25 years, and international rental firms can be found at the airport and in the town centre. Driving standards in Hurghada and throughout Egypt can be somewhat unpredictable and we advise you to be extremely cautious when driving until you are familiar with Egyptian driving manners.

Book your Hurghada Car Hire here - excellent discount rates available.

Hurghada Travel and Transport: Hurghada Travel by Bus and Coach - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
The town of Hurghada can be reached by bus from several nearby countries including Jordan and Israel. While journeys can be lengthy and rough, tickets are mostly very cheap. Inner-city travel is mainly by minibus, which can be annoying due to incessant honking, but are generally cheap and efficient modes of transport.

Hurghada Travel and Transport: Hurghada Travel by Ferry - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
Slow and fast ferry services link Hurghada with Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai. Slow ferries run from Sharm el-Sheikh to Hurghada on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and from Hurghada to Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (6 hours). Fast ferries run both ways on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays (1 hour, 30 minutes).

Hurghada Travel and Transport: Hurghada Travel by Taxi - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
The omnipresent minibus are almost as good as taking a taxi, but taxis are widely available though they mostly cater to tourists and fares are priced accordingly. Despite having meters, most taxi drivers will not use them and you should negotiate a fair price before you travel and begin your journey. We advise you to ask your hotel reception to arrange a taxi.

from http://www.hurghada.world-guides.com/hurghada_travel.html

Until a few years ago, Hurghada was a sleepy fishing village which now stretches for about 40 km / 25 miles along the Red Sea shore, but doesn't extend far into the surrounding desert. Top-class beaches line the coastline all along this popular holiday and diving resort.

The downtown district of Hurghada is set back from the coast and is a lively place with a number of attractions and shopping facilities. Most visitors opt to stay out of central Hurghada and at one of the beach resorts, which offer excellent facilities and soft sandy beaches. Here are Hurghada's most significant districts, neighbourhoods and locations.
Hurghada Locations and Districts: Al - Ahiaa - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
This is the newest and most modern part of Hurghada and is located farther south of Sekala. Situated along the coastal road, there are only a small number of native residents and a lot of hotels, some of which are still under construction. At the moment, the Eastern flair is somewhat missing here.

Hurghada Locations and Districts: El Dahar - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
El Dahar is the old part of Hurghada and is where you'll find most of the shops as well as the traditional souq, the tourist office, post office and the bus station, giving a taste of real Egyptian life. This is also the main district for local nightlife, so hotels here are good value but can be noisy, while beach hotels facing downtown include some family friendly budget resorts.

Hurghada Locations and Districts: Sekala - Hurghada, Egypt, EG
Sekala is located south of downtown Hurghada and nearer the airport. This district is centred around the old harbour with plenty of walking passages and is a dynamic area with many hotels, stores, shopping centres, a cinema, clubs and restaurants, all of which are open late into the night and are visited mainly by tourists.

from http://www.hurghada.world-guides.com/hurghada_districts.html

UK citizens must have a passport valid for two months beyond the period of intended stay, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travellers just going to the south Sinai resorts, a free 14-day visa can be obtained on arrival. UK visitors coming into Egypt for a short stay must register with the Office of Foreigners and Nationality within seven days of arrival; hotels will usually take care of this for guests.
find more here http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Egypt/

Visa requirements change at short notice. With the exception of travellers from the US, Canada and EU countries, all visitors must register with the police within one week of arrival; this can usually be organised by a hotel. Passports must be valid for at least two months beyond the period of visit.
more in http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Egypt/

Cairo International (CAI) (website: www.cairo-airport.com), is 15 miles northeast of the city at Heliopolis (travel time – one hour).

Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the main international airport for Alexandria. It lies 37 miles southwest of Alexandria.

Luxor Airport (LXR) is 3.5 miles from Luxor.
source is http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Egypt/

Domestic Egypt flights are readily available and can save a lot of time, though they are certainly not the cheapest means of getting around. Egypt Air, the national carrier, flies domestically.

Public transport is good throughout the country. Trains are reliable and safe and the rail network connects most towns. Surprisingly, however, this can be the slowest method of transport – particularly for short journeys where buses will almost always be quicker. If you are travelling long distances by train, make sure you get the fast non-stop air-conditioned wagons, rather than the slower stopping local trains.

Buses are also reliable and cheaper than trains. The network is excellent – almost anywhere you could want to go will be covered.

Service taxis, known as servees, are popular and common. Often Peugeot saloons, the large taxis will pick up passengers from popular spots, such as train stations and only depart when full – often with a dozen people in. They are an inexpensive way to travel and usually safe, but you will have little control about when you leave or how long it takes to get to your destination.
find more on http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Egypt/

Peak Season:
Because the heat of the summer can be unbearable, the peak season for travel to Egypt is between October and May. This time is especially appealing to many European travellers as they can jump on a short flight to Egypt and escape the winter months of their own country. Hotels will often be fully booked and prices rise during this time of year.

Off Season:
The least popular time to visit is during the hottest months – for good reason. However, if you plan on travelling during this time, some real bargains can be found. Avoid the southern parts, however, and stick to the coast, where breezes from the sea keep the thermometer lower. The other advantage of visiting during this time is the increased peace and quiet to be found at major tourist sites.

The month of Ramadan is often less popular with Western visitors. Many restaurants will close down for the month and alcohol is much less widely available. The up-side is that this can be another perfect time to see more of the country and its people, and less of your fellow tourists.

Shoulder Season:
Spring time, between March and April, is one of the best times to visit. The weather is still very warm, but has not yet reached summertime peaks, and the tourists are dwindling off from peak season. The Khamsin wind blows in from the desert between this time, however. It is a spectacularly powerful wind that can reach 150kmph. It normally blows for a few days only, so you can either try to avoid it, or simply bunker down and enjoy the spectacle…
source is http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flight-guide-to-Egypt/

Passports and visas are required of foreign visitors except natives of several Middle Eastern countries. Transit voyagers, however, that travel by ship or plane are not required to obtain visas. Travellers native to most of Africa must have proof of cholera and yellow fever vaccination.

Airports
There are nine international airports in Egypt that serve all of the county’s major cities including Cairo International Airport and Taba international airports.

Cairo International Airport is the main gateway to Egypt and is located about 15 miles northeast of the city in northern Egypt. Cairo’s three terminals receive flights from major world cities including those in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. You can reach central Cairo by bus, while numerous taxis also run to the city and its hotels at a reasonable price. Limousines are also available as a more comfortable alternative.

Located in central Egypt, Luxor International Airport is a popular facility that serves the Nile Valley and it a convenient gateway for people heading to the popular tourist destinations of the region. Two updated terminals serve international and domestic flights, with a number of Egyptian carriers including Air Cairo and Egypt Air operating from the airport. The airport is located close to the city centre and taxis, limos and regular buses are available for transfers into the city.

Railways
Egyptian Railways is the backbone of passenger transportation in Egypt with 800 million passenger miles annually.

Air-conditioned passenger trains usually have 1st and 2nd class service, while non-airconditioned trains will have 2nd and 3rd class. Most of the network connects the densely populated area of the Nile delta with Cairo and Alexandria as hubs.

The Alexandria-Cairo-Luxor-Aswan link is served daily in both directions by air-conditioned sleeper trains of Abela Egypt. This service is especially attractive to tourists who can spend the night on the train as it covers the stretch between Cairo and Luxor. A luxury express train also connects Cairo with Marsa Matruh towards the Libyan border.

the source is wikipedia