I'm still piecing together honeymoon plans for Africa this summer and Egypt appears to be a popular add-on. The itineraries usually include luxury accommodations for couple days in Cairo, a couple days in Luxor, and a few days cruising down the Nile on a luxury mini cruise ship...

It all looks and sounds fantastic, but for the fact that assholes everywhere want to kill Americans. The department of state has travel restrictions for particular areas in Egypt, but the tourist areas appear to be well guarded/safe-ish.

So, would you do it? If there's ever a time for my fiancee and I to do it, it would be now (before we start having kids and stuff). Anyone with actual recent experience, or know somebody that's been? Anyone considering it?

Thank you all in advance for carefully considered responses!

The country is incredible to visit but I haven't been in years. Like you, I would have my reservations going there given the current political climate.

I would be curious to hear from someone that's been there more recently, say maybe in the last year or so...

Just to put it all in perspective...France has had it's fair share of terrorist attacks these past few years...

No Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Nope

Nope because?

I know a lot of Sigforumites simply do not like to travel...

Islamic brotherhood, There are a number of extremist organizations, including the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), operating in Egypt. Over the past two years, terrorist attacks have targeted Egyptian government and security forces, public venues, including tourist sites, civil aviation and other modes of public transportation, and a diplomatic facility. On December 11 (last year), a suicide bomber killed dozens of civilians in a church adjacent to the main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. This incident followed two roadside bombings targeting police officers on December 9, one that killed six police officers in Giza, about three kilometers from the Pyramids, and a second that killed a civilian and injured three policeman in a rural area in the Nile Delta. Other recent high profile incidents in or near Cairo include: the killing of an Egyptian Army Brigadier General and failed assassination attempts on a former Grand Mufti, a judge, and a Deputy Prosecutor General. Hows that for Nope?

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Nope

Nope because?

I know a lot of Sigforumites simply do not like to travel...

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Just to put it all in perspective...France has had it's fair share of terrorist attacks these past few years...

Personally I would travel to France, but not Egypt. While there is always the possibility of a terrorist attack in France, you are unlikely to wake up to a revolution, mass anti-Western protests, wide scale targeting of foreigners, etc.

Any chance of kidnapping/ held hostage for ransom would move down on my list for a fun place to go. But everybody has their own level of risk they are willing to take.

I travel a lot. There are not too many places I won't go and I won't go to Egypt. A buddy of mine is going soon and I told her she's crazy.

https://travel.state.gov/conte...-travel-warning.html

The world is different when you're not armed on active duty. I passed on Turkey last year too. I'm going to Spain. Nice and relaxing.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:



Anyone with actual recent experience, or know somebody that's been? Anyone considering it?

Some friends of mine (1 male, 1 female) are there right now. After Cairo and Luxor they are now in Marsa Alam. They've been going once or twice a year now for a few years and love it.

In the unlikely event that I could be convinced to board an airplane for ANY reason, Egypt in particular and the Middle East in general would be roughly on a par with North Korea.

Europe would not be high on the list.

Australia and New Zealand would be good.

If you don't go now, will you go back sometime in the future? We went to Israel a while back during one of the intifadas. We had visas for Egypt, but decided not to go over. In retrospect, it wouldn't have been any less safe than Jerusalem. Unlikely I'll ever see the pyramids in person at this point.

Where else in Africa are you going?

My wife's uncle travels extensively through Europe, N Africa and the ME for business. He was recently in Cairo and like the archaeological stuff. But outside the typical touristy areas, it's slums and kind of sketchy.

Personally, I'd go but would look into hiring a inconspicuous guide. I wouldn't necessarily put myself on a bus of 50 German tourist for example.

Pretend your Mitch Rapp and travel light and low key.

quote:

Originally posted by fau:
Where else in Africa are you going?

We'd like to go to Tanzania, but for whatever reason, it's really much more expensive than an equivalent trip to South Africa.

My wife is Egyptian...

Her Aunt goes for 6 months a year and stays with her sister. She's there now...

She tells us it's OK in the more touristy areas as long as you semi-do-not-stand-out.

I'm a 6'3 blue eyed Lithwok...so I'll never be going.

#2 son toured there about a decade ago with his red head girl friend.

He was outraged when the jihadis blew up the hotel down the street a couple miles.

She was outraged when a local offered him 2 goats to buy her outright I commiserated with her, as at the time '4 goats' was the going rate.

Not only "No", but "Hell no".

I don't think I would go if that was where the entire trip was planed for. Now if I was in that part of the world and had some extra time I don't think I would pass up the opportunity.

A friend went about a year ago. She and another friend had a trip somewhere out that way. She had never been and wanted to go. On the return leg she stopped for a few days there. This was on here own as my other friend had already been there and didn't want to spend time there again. She some of the area's where dead(as in almost no tourist compared to years before).

FWIW she has done alot of travel throughout Africa for work many other places for fun and is very comfortable in such places.

As background, I'm 67. The only out of country experience I have is Canada for work reasons.

Europe is a "No".
Africa or the ME is a HELL NO!

There are plenty of really nice places in the U.S. that I've seen or would like to see. The chances of getting snatched off the street and abused are certainly less here than there. Besides I can carry most places I'd care to visit right here in the U.S. Over there, not so much.

Besides, you said honeymoon. You ain't going for the sights....come on, be honest. If you want to impress her, take care of her and show her some awesome sights here, like Yosemite, Grand Canyon or the Tetons.