What did I hear when I told people Iris and I would be in Egypt?
“With a baby? You’re so brave!” In reality, this was my daughter’s second trip to Egypt in her 16 months of life, and what comes across as “brave” is really just informed preparation. The nice thing about informed preparation? Anyone can do it! And you’re here doing just that: Getting information, so that you can prepare for an epic trip to Egypt with your baby. Great job! Here are my best tips for traveling in Egypt with a baby, to help you have the best trip possible.
Visit with a Legitimate Company
This is at the top of the list for a reason: It’s the one thing that will make or break your trip. Egypt isn’t like France or Australia or Japan. You can’t just decide to go and expect to be able to figure it out when you get there. A trip to Egypt requires insider info, advance planning, and lots of logistics. It’s absolutely worth the trip, but you will absolutely want to go with a company that’s on the up-and-up. My favorite travel company in Egypt is Egypt Elite, and I won’t shut up about them until you book your trip. I don’t even get a commission for this!
Egypt Elite takes care of all the details, including tipping, permits, visas, finding a crib for hotels and Nile cruises, and even meeting you inside security at the airport upon arrival. Their guides are the best in the country, and their VIP vans come with working A/C, working seatbelts, snacks, and water. I haven’t found another company that provides the same experience. I feel entirely safe traveling with this company with my husband, on my own, and twice now with my daughter. If you want a positive experience in Egypt, you want to go with Egypt Elite. Tell them Whitney and Iris sent you!
More here: Why You Need to Visit Egypt with Egypt Elite
You Might Have to Fight to Use Your Car Seat
If you’re not traveling with Egypt Elite, you will very likely have to fight to use your car seat. Why? What does that even mean? I don’t mean that you’ll have to throw punches. I just mean that no one uses car seats in Egypt. They’re not required by law, and the loose laws that do pertain to car seats are not enforced. The driver of your Uber or taxi will likely try to load the car seat into the back with your luggage, because what else would you do with it? They also won’t wait for you to fasten the car seat into the car. Pro tip: Keep the car door open until you get the car seat in and fasten your baby into it. Ignore the confused looks you get. There are actually very few car accidents in Egypt (shockingly), but you will definitely want to have that baby secured.
Keep reading: Three Things You Need to Know about International Travel with Your Baby
Use a Wearable Carrier when Possible
Something you need to know about Egypt: It’s not ADA compliant. There’s not always a ramp, not always an elevator, and not always an option for a stroller. If you need the stroller, you can make it work. But if you can wear your baby, you’ll have a much easier time pretty much everywhere. Thankfully, my daughter loves the carrier, but I realize that’s not the case for every baby. Do what you need to do, but know that wheels may not take you everywhere you want to go.
Read on: Get My Best Solo Parent Travel Recs Here!
Splurge on the VIP Pyramids Experience
The Pyramids Complex covers a lot of ground. You can certainly walk between the sites, but the terrain is rough, at least where it’s not sandy, and it’s hot all year round. Like, really hot. That’s where the VIP experience comes in handy. You’ll avoid the crowds at the general admission entrance, which is already super helpful at one of the most visited sites in the entire world. But you’ll also have snacks and beverages inside a beautiful, air conditioned lounge in an entirely separate building. You can travel between the sites on a golf cart instead of on foot. And then you can enjoy canapés and sandwiches back at the lounge when you’re ready for nourishment. You should definitely take advantage of anything that makes Egypt with a baby easier for you, and this is an experience well worth having!
(Coming soon) More here: Your Sneak Peek into the VIP Pyramids Experience
Stay at 4- or 5-star Hotels
You may be totally comfortable in two- or three-star hotels elsewhere, but that is not indicative of the same rating in Egypt. The difference between three stars and four stars in Egypt is vast–VAST. Travel with a baby is stressful and discombobulating at best, so take it from me: Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Staying at a nice hotel means everything in the rooms will work, there will be clean, unstained sheets on the beds, there will be a crib available, and, oh yeah, you can brush your teeth with the water. You’ll also have at least one restaurant option available so you don’t have to go out looking for food, and breakfast will be massive and delicious, with loads of options even for the pickiest baby eater.
Recommended in Cairo: Staying at the Kempinski Nile Hotel, Cairo
Remember: It’s the Developing World
This is not a slight to Egypt, it’s just the reality. Many Americans and other nationalities are a bit shocked to see the traffic, the stray dogs, the trash in the streets, and the buildings that look unfinished–someone recently told me they thought there had been an attack because there were buildings with no windows and rebar sticking out of the top! This is common around other parts of the developing world as well, and this is why you should really consider the splurge on various VIP experiences, nice hotels, nice restaurants instead of street food, etc. When it was just you, or you and your favorite 20-something travel buddy, the adventures and “authentic” experiences made for great stories. With a baby, you don’t want to wonder how clean something is or whether or not the fruit has been washed in filtered water–if at all. Just keep these things in mind.
Essential reading: How to Right-size Your Expectations in Egypt
Yes, You Can Buy Diapers and Wipes Here!
Egyptian babies need diapers and wipes, too! It’s hard to pack enough diapers for any trip, but if you’re going to be touring Egypt over the course of 10 days to two weeks or more, that’s just too many diapers to reasonably pack. You can certainly plan to buy these upon arrival at a pharmacy or other store. If you’re not sure where to go for them, just ask anyone working at the hotel, or ask your tour guide. Egyptians love babies. They will be happy to help!
Read next: Seven Reasons Why Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
Want more? Check out my dedicated Egypt Page!
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Iris is the most well traveled baby I know!
She is a tiny pro!