Egypt is a budget friendly country, which is why it is one of Africa's most visited destinations. People are awed seeing the huge statues, the sphinx, etc. And here's how you could journey through Egypt on a tight budget.
Check out our six helpful tips for budget traveling in Egypt:
1. Travel During the Low Season
July-September is a low tourist season because of summer. If you can bear the high heat, it is most recommended to travel to Egypt in these months to get great deals from hotels, tours etc. But just remember to pack lots of sunscreen!
2. Save Money on Airfare
One of The cheapest airline to Egypt is EasyJet which is sometimes about 350 pounds from London to Cairo return trip. If you want to go cheaper, you can fly to Luxor and then go by train to Cairo which will save you a lot of money. If you also book in advance, you can take advantage of a cheaper fare. It would be helpful if you susbscribe to the mailing list of various airlines that serve Egypt.
3. Commuting Options
Touring around Egypt isn't that difficult since there are many options available. You can catch a cab, or a bus, or go by a train. The most money saving option is however travelling by overnight trains. It will get a bit hectic but if you're the adventurous kind of person, it wouldn’t be a big deal for you. Taxis in Cairo fix a price before they start the car, so use your bargaining skills over here. At this point, if you are fluent in Arabic, then you can save even more money on taxis.
4. Stay in Budget Hotels
Downtown Cairo is the best place to stay on a budget vacation. A single room with a shared bathroom will cost you from 6 pounds to 20 pounds per night. But if you go for a private room, that will surely cost you more.
5. Eat Local Food – Visit Egyptian Restaurants
You obviously know that the restaurants in the tourist areas are the most expensive. So if you just walk further away from these places then you can have a cheaper meal. Also, eating local food is cheaper than looking for Western Food. Egypt is also home to many amazing street foods so you better try it out.
6. Getting Along the Country
Students with a student card get discounts at several Egyptian tourist sites so don’t forget to bring it with you on your trip. The best of knowing a country better is to make friends in that country. Make friends over coffee and ask them about the best places to go in the country. They will provide you way better information than any tour guide or taxi. You can even ask them for cheaper options and trust me they would know about it more than anyone else. Who knows, you might make Egyptian friends for life.
Do you have any additional tips and recommendations? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
Photo Credits (Flickr Creative Commons): Pyramids by bandarji