1. Book your flight to Cairo International Airport.

2. Ensure that your passport is up-to-date. (For the US passports, expiration dates cannot be less than six months from date of return.)

3. Ensure that your credit card company (ideally Visa or Mastercard) is aware of your international travel, and bring some cash (at least $20 USD/person/day) with you. Wait until you're in Egypt to convert your money to Egyptian pounds (EGP or L.E.) for a better exchange rate.

4. Apply for a visa online and pay the $25 USD fee. Print out the receipt and bring it with you. (While you can do this upon arrival and pay $25 USD cash, it will make your customs experience at the airport smoother.)

5. Install the Uber app on your phone, as this is the back-up method of transport that we recommend to you. Add your payment method to the app.

6. Install the WhatsApp app to your phone, as this is the best way to get ahold of Ahmed and Tia, as well as the most common method of texting/calling locals.

7. Pack (see below).

8. If you don't want to pay the international service plan that your cell service provider offers, install the app Airalo and explore reloadable eSIM offers. We have successfully bought a data package during our layover, which automatically activated once we landed in Cairo and our phones connected to Egyptian cell towers. The phone settings, however, are the trickiest part to figure out!

For the wedding, the dress code is semi-formal or dressy casual attire. Given cultural norms of modesty and average February temperatures (in the 60's Fahrenheit or 10's Celsius), we recommend the following guidelines throughout your trip to Cairo:

• No shorts—stick to pants, long skirts, and long dresses.

• No strapless or low-cut tops—stick to t-shirt length sleeves and longer.

• Long, breathable materials are key to transition from day to night.

• A swimsuit, if your hotel includes a pool.

• A sweater and/or light jacket. You will need this for visiting the pyramids and in the evenings as the temperatures cool. Please also bring a coat to the wedding reception, since the venue is outdoors!

• While head coverings are not necessary in most public places (including the wedding venue), women should bring a scarf to use as a head covering and/or shoulder covering in mosques and other religious buildings.

• Earplugs and eye mask, for sleeping.

• A travel adapter for electrical outlets, specific for Egypt (like this one) or a universal adapter (like this one) - the universal adapter may also come in handy during layovers in Europe.

• A pen! It will be handy for completing entry forms at the end of your flights.

1. Complete the entry card given by the flight attendants at the end of the flight.

2. If you haven’t applied for your visa online in advance, go one of the bank/visa desks before border control. You will need to pay $25 USD cash.

3. At border control, present your visa receipt and your entry card. This is usually a quick and straightforward process.

4. Collect your baggage at baggage claim.

5. The airport WiFi can be difficult to use, so you will either have to connect to the eSIM you downloaded earlier, or use expensive data roaming on your home cellphone plan. Otherwise, you can go to the Orange kiosk to buy an Egyptian SIM-card—we've heard good things about the “FREEmax 130.” (But any of the four cell service providers—Orange, Vodafone, We, or Etisalat—can all meet your SIM-card needs.)

6. If you'd like, you can also convert your money (to Egyptian pounds, EGP or L.E.) at a bank in the airport. You will also be able to do this at banks in the city, currency exchange offices, and most hotels. Most restaurants and museums accept credit cards, but cash is still king in Egypt so make sure you keep some (including small change and coins) for buying items from local shops, souvenirs, tips, etc.

7. Once you have your baggage and cell service figured out, go straight past the baggage claim through customs. This is usually a quick process, unless you are claiming to bring in any alcohol (or more than $10,000 USD!).

8. There will be a lot of taxi drivers vying for your business, but you would have to agree with them on a fair before accepting a ride. We recommend that you pre-book a ride with London Cab (private ride) or Cairo Airport Shuttle (a shuttle service to various destinations within the city). Or you can use your Uber or Careem app.

Driving is not for everyone, not even every Egyptian. We recommend avoiding renting a car and instead rely on the Uber or Careem app. The second best option would be to coordinate a ride/taxi with your hotel. Taxis are safe, but they are just a hassle to deal with (won't have exact directions, may not turn the meter on, etc).

We will also arrange for a couple busses on the day of the wedding, should that be more convenient. More details to come!

Some of the basics:

• Be careful of public displays of affection. That is looked down upon. Couples kissing on the street, even a kiss on the cheek, might be unacceptable in some areas in Egypt. You will, however, see men kissing cheeks while greeting and women kissing cheeks while greeting. Handholding among couples is fine.

• Given Islamic standards, men and women who aren't married nor family do not touch. Limit hugs and handshakes with the opposite sex. Dancing (in close proximity) at the wedding reception will likely be limited to your own family and friends of the same sex.

• Similarly, alcohol is not culturally acceptable and is forbidden by law in some areas. Do not drink alcohol in the street! Our wedding venue too forbids the consumption of alcohol, given its proximity to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha. There are some restaurants, hotels, bars, and discos that do serve alcohol within their premises.

• As a reminder, Egyptians tend to dress conservatively--long pants, shoulders covered--and not following dress codes might draw unwanted attention, especially to women. When entering religious sites (both mosques and churches), you will be required to cover your knees and shoulders. It's a good idea for women to keep a scarf with them when visiting such places.

• Don't visit mosques during prayer time. Unless you are Muslim and are going to pray, wait until the prayer is over before venturing inside. Just make sure that you take off your shoes (place them bottom-up outside the mosque) and cover your head/arms/legs first! Men and women pray in separate quarters in mosques.

• Keep in mind that some of the Egyptian economy evolves around tipping. People will request a tip for simple tasks like holding a door or carrying small bags or handing you paper towel in the bathroom. Sometimes people won't take tips, but usually they will, as they have small salaries; this is expected for both tourists as well as locals. Carry small change and coins for this purpose!

• Don't take photos of locals without permission. That is a big no-no wherever you're traveling. Keep in mind that you may have to give a tip for taking a photo. Even more importantly, taking photos of military or police personnel, buildings, or vehicles is strictly forbidden in Egypt.

There are no specific vaccinations required for entry, but it's advisable to be up-to-date on routine vaccines. Healthcare facilities are available in Cairo, and some doctors speak English. You might consider travel insurance that covers health and emergencies.

Some other tips:

• Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or filtered water instead.

• Avoid pre-cut fresh fruits and vegetables from street food carts.

• Don't follow someone trying to "help" you. Egyptians are kind people and most of them are truly helpful. In some tourist areas, however, some people might tell you that they're going to show you or bring you into select areas of attraction--areas that are off-limits to get tips.

• Cross busy streets carefully, following the steps of locals or even asking them for help. Most Egyptians will be happy to show you the ropes.

If Ahmed or Tia can help, please text/call them directly.

In the case of emergency, dial 112 for the unified national emergency number for ambulance, police, and fire, or use the specific numbers: 

• 123 for ambulance

• 122 for police

• 110 for the fire department

For non-life-threatening issues, call the Tourist Police at 126 or the Tourism Ministry hotline at 19654. 

All other Egyptian phone numbers use the country code +20 before the rest of the number.