Hurghada

Population:

248000

Money:

Egyptian Pound LE. Watch out for the similarity in the appearance of the 50 piasters and the 20 pound notes! The best place to exchange money is the main tourist road where the rates can be quite a lot better than in the UK. ATMs are also useful, especially if you run out of cash at night.

Language:

Arabic, with the most common dialects being Egyptian Arabic an Sa'idi Arabic. The resorts are very well set up for tourists and English is widely spoken along with German, Russian, French and Italian.

Dialling codes:

+20 for Egypt and 65 for Hurghada

Entry:

A visa is required to enter Egypt, which can be bought in Sterling or US Dollars at the airport on arrival or at an Egyptian consulate beforehand if you prefer. These are valid for a month. A valid passport with at least six months' validity after your holiday is also required.

Current Foreign Office Advice for Egypt