Would you go to Egypt right now?

[dAZ]

We are supposed to go to Egypt next week and with the unrest in Isreal it's making me have second thoughts. Curious if others would go or not?

[turbo]

I haven’t done enough research to form a highly educated opinion, but my initial gut feeling is no, I would not go and I would reschedule just to give it some more time to see how things play out. Mainly so that I knew I could relax and enjoy my time there without feeling like I have to constantly watch the news / be on alert.

[goldengirlz]

For tourism? Absolutely not.

There’s already a level 3 advisory telling Americans to reconsider: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/egypt-travel-advisory.html

And the situation is very volatile. For as much as Egypt wants to remain Switzerland in this conflict, they’re under a lot of pressure to provide a humanitarian corridor for fleeing Palestinians. I wouldn’t want to be taking up resources in the area if they agree to take in refugees. And if they don’t … they’re also under a lot of pressure from their own citizens and protests (and civil unrest) are likely to ramp up.

I could think of few destinations I’d be less inclined to travel right now.

[turbo]

dAZ, not sure what you decided on your trip, but we have friends who work at an international security firm that is helping to oversee evacuations in Israel right now and the firm’s recommendation is to absolutely avoid non-essential travel to the region, including Egypt, as they noted that anti-American sentiment is on the rise and a group of people clustered outside the American embassy in Egypt chanting anti-American slogans (“Down with the American administration”). So given their recommendations I would 100% postpone any non-essential trips I had planned to that region until it stabilizes. Wanted to share this info with you in case it helps you make your decision.

[Bad Dingo]

Thank you for the heads up about this thread, jinkies. dAZ, did you end up cancelling? We have a trip planned in a month and I'm strongly considering cancelling even though it means we'll lose a ton of money. I'm sick over what is happening in Israel/Palestine and I just don't know if I could even enjoy a vacation so close to the conflict. But I also worry that I'm being dramatic since so many people keep saying how safe Egypt is.

[sunnysally]

We are scheduled to go to Egypt and Jordan next month and as of now, we are still going. There has been a war raging in Sudan for several months and refugees have been streaming into Egypt from the south just a few kilometers from Abu Simbel with no disruption to tourism. I feel that Egypt needs my tourism dollars given their terrible economy. I am not worried about anti-American sentiment. Of course if either country joins the war, I will change my plans.

[dAZ]

Oct 19, 2023 7:52:19 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Thank you for the heads up about this thread, jinkies . dAZ , did you end up cancelling? We have a trip planned in a month and I'm strongly considering cancelling even though it means we'll lose a ton of money. I'm sick over what is happening in Israel/Palestine and I just don't know if I could even enjoy a vacation so close to the conflict. But I also worry that I'm being dramatic since so many people keep saying how safe Egypt is.

We did go. We were really unsure right up until the day before and had a back up plan but decided to go. We traveled throughout Egypt (Cairo, Aswan, Alexandria, Luxor, Nile River cruise). We had a local tour guide and felt safe.