Checking in

[I love Ashraf 0]

Salaams hello everyone.

Not much has changed still waiting to go to Egypt.Still trying to make plans for the trip.Still stressing out over getting on a plane,but I know I am going to have to take my BIG Girl pill and do it.I hope everyone is doing well.I know this process is stressful and sometimes makes you want to pull your hair out.I get stressed just thinking about and reading everyone posts.Any advice from anyone that has already made the trip.Like where to get the best deal on a ticket,what to pack,etc. I am open to all comments,suggestions and remarks.

[doodlebugg 10]

Salaams hello everyone.

Not much has changed still waiting to go to Egypt.Still trying to make plans for the trip.Still stressing out over getting on a plane,but I know I am going to have to take my BIG Girl pill and do it.I hope everyone is doing well.I know this process is stressful and sometimes makes you want to pull your hair out.I get stressed just thinking about and reading everyone posts.Any advice from anyone that has already made the trip.Like where to get the best deal on a ticket,what to pack,etc. I am open to all comments,suggestions and remarks.

walaykum salam!

Are you going to get married there or did you give up on that idea?

When I look for deals I go to a LOT of sites. Then once I find the deal I like I research the airline using some of the review sites like epinions.com , etc. Just google airline reviews and a few will pop up. They don't really make me NOT go on the airline but at least I know what to expect, for example with alitalia the price was wicked cheap but I knew beforehand to expect long delays and to be prepared for cancelled flights due to strike, etc.

Anywho I check the following:

kayak.com

airgorilla.com

cheaptickets.com

priceline.com

There's a lot more but most of the above check those anyways so no need to go on them yourself. Also check the airlines themselves once you find out which ones fly there. Luftansa, British Air, KLM, Alitalia, Iberia are a few that come to mind. Sometimes you get a better deal directly than through the other sites.

What to pack mostly depends on when you're going. For example if it's the summer you'd best pack the lightest possible clothing on earth. lol. I took soooo long finding the lightest cotton shirts since they had to be long sleeved (for me) and I'm so glad I did!!!! Other than the obvious clothing items I would pack little presents for the family. Little sample perfumes that you get at the mall, tons of assortments of gum, funky candy that they don't have there like pixie sticks, gummy bears, etc. Also a converter was essential for me in order to keep my phone charged. I got mine from Brookstone and it was perfect because I could use my hairdryer, charge my phone, plug in some speakers that I attached my mp3 player to, etc.

One thing I hadn't thought of the first time around was the calling numbers for the countries you are in. When I got to London I had no clue how to call the US and what to do to call Egypt since it was all different codes and I had a very hard time getting someone to help me. I was in a panic bigtime because I was supposed to call my family and call my husband.

Register with the state dept online so they know you're going just in case something happens. Also.....not that you'll need it but have a "plan B". This made me feel a LOT more secure my first time going. I had phone numbers of people I had spoken to via the phone who live in Egypt and I had a hotel room set up in case I freaked out at the last minute.

If you're afraid of flying don't be shy about asking your doctor for something to take on the plane. That totally saved me too.

That's it for now. Ask anything you want and I'll do my best to answer and GOOD LUCK!!!

[I love Ashraf 0]

We are still working on the married part we will probably do our Nikkah there and then have the legal marriage once he gets a visa.Yeah the light clothes and having to cover do not match up. I am ready to go be with him but there are so many details.And his busy work schedule does not help anything,he is working two jobs and the communication is a little lex right now.Adding to the stress.But InshaAllah all this will be over soon.Thanks for the info

Salaams hello everyone.

Not much has changed still waiting to go to Egypt.Still trying to make plans for the trip.Still stressing out over getting on a plane,but I know I am going to have to take my BIG Girl pill and do it.I hope everyone is doing well.I know this process is stressful and sometimes makes you want to pull your hair out.I get stressed just thinking about and reading everyone posts.Any advice from anyone that has already made the trip.Like where to get the best deal on a ticket,what to pack,etc. I am open to all comments,suggestions and remarks.

walaykum salam!

Are you going to get married there or did you give up on that idea?

When I look for deals I go to a LOT of sites. Then once I find the deal I like I research the airline using some of the review sites like epinions.com , etc. Just google airline reviews and a few will pop up. They don't really make me NOT go on the airline but at least I know what to expect, for example with alitalia the price was wicked cheap but I knew beforehand to expect long delays and to be prepared for cancelled flights due to strike, etc.

Anywho I check the following:

kayak.com

airgorilla.com

cheaptickets.com

priceline.com

There's a lot more but most of the above check those anyways so no need to go on them yourself. Also check the airlines themselves once you find out which ones fly there. Luftansa, British Air, KLM, Alitalia, Iberia are a few that come to mind. Sometimes you get a better deal directly than through the other sites.

What to pack mostly depends on when you're going. For example if it's the summer you'd best pack the lightest possible clothing on earth. lol. I took soooo long finding the lightest cotton shirts since they had to be long sleeved (for me) and I'm so glad I did!!!! Other than the obvious clothing items I would pack little presents for the family. Little sample perfumes that you get at the mall, tons of assortments of gum, funky candy that they don't have there like pixie sticks, gummy bears, etc. Also a converter was essential for me in order to keep my phone charged. I got mine from Brookstone and it was perfect because I could use my hairdryer, charge my phone, plug in some speakers that I attached my mp3 player to, etc.

One thing I hadn't thought of the first time around was the calling numbers for the countries you are in. When I got to London I had no clue how to call the US and what to do to call Egypt since it was all different codes and I had a very hard time getting someone to help me. I was in a panic bigtime because I was supposed to call my family and call my husband.

Register with the state dept online so they know you're going just in case something happens. Also.....not that you'll need it but have a "plan B". This made me feel a LOT more secure my first time going. I had phone numbers of people I had spoken to via the phone who live in Egypt and I had a hotel room set up in case I freaked out at the last minute.

If you're afraid of flying don't be shy about asking your doctor for something to take on the plane. That totally saved me too.

That's it for now. Ask anything you want and I'll do my best to answer and GOOD LUCK!!!

[Aymsgirl 0]

I just flew home from Egypt 1/12 and right now it is kind of chilly there. I apologized to my fiancee for laughing at him wearing thick clothing and layering it but there weather is much different than here so their cold is cold. I agree with Bridget on the summertime though. Light loose clothing that covers works well. Air conditioning is not all that common just anywhere you go so be prepared for some sleepless nights if you don't have any in the flat. You will need good shoes because if you go anywhere there is normally a lot of walking. I am not sure if your fiancee has a car or not but mine doesn't and I put a lot of miles in Egypt in my shoes.

I have booked all my flights through nwa.com and found the most reasonable prices. I flew into Amsterdam every time that I have visited. It is a big airport but the signs are easy to read and most of the personnel speak English and understand you. Make sure when you book your flights you allow a few hours in between the flights to and from Egypt. In June my luggage went straight from my starting point all of the way to Cairo but this time I had to do a transfer from NWA to Egypt Air and had to go through immigration and customs in Amsterdam which meant re-entering and re-checking my luggage. Always check your baggage claim receipts to make sure that you have picked your luggage up and rechecked it if need be. Also, when leaving Cairo if you leave out in the mid morning go to the airport 3 hours early. I was there a little over 2 hours and basically had to run to the gate to catch my flight. Cairo airport is crazy and also........please please please bring your itinerary of your flights with you when you go into check the first security point of your luggage or you will have to go out of the crazy people fighting line and get it at the flight desk. It was nuts but everything worked out fine.

I also don't know if you blow dry your hair but their electrical wattage is different. I have an international blow dryer that I can use at a higher voltage and my fiancee bought a little converter to plug it in because their outlets are also different. You may want to show him what you have on cam and he can help you or you can go to an electronic store and they can help.

Also, wet flushable wipes. Some egyptians have different toileting habits than we do and toilet paper or wet wipes are not always available. I bought a pack to carry with me everywhere I went and also brought some to keep at our flat. You can ask your fiancee to explain how it works with him and his family if you aren't sure. I just found it easier to always have these just in case the water isn't always working to spray yourself off down there well.

Bring a pair of flip flops or house shoes to wear in the house. Some flats I have been in you actually take a shower and never get into a tub so the water drains into the floor and it takes a while to dry so if you have to go back into the bathroom your feet will get wet. Another thing that I found out before I was pregnant was that tampons are not easily found there, maxi pads are everywhere but not tampons so if you use those bring a box with you if you expect your time of the month during your stay.

Egypt is my second home and I miss it but when I am there a few weeks I am ready to come home and drive my car without fearing for my life that I will be ran over every time I sit in it or cross the street. Just be prepared for lots of culture differences but they are almost always welcoming of foreigners. You will hear the kids yell out Welcome and want to listen to you speak English to them. If you go in the summer take a boat on the Nile at night and listen to some Egyptian music and watch the other riders belly dance and clap their hands. I love just sitting and enjoying life there. I also enjoy having tea with my fiancee in the coffee shops at night. You also may know this but life starts at night for a lot of the people there. It is not uncommon to see people at the beach in Alexandria at 2am swimming with their kids in the summertime. I would always think poor kids put them to bed but after being in the heat a few days you will understand. Bargaining is very common so it may take some getting used to. I would become upset when my fiancee would stand and bargain but you will find if you let your man do the talking and just wait patiently this is a skill they have! I walked out of a store in Alex with 2.00 Nike shorts last summer.

I know a lot of people are not fond of the food but I crave it!! Not sure if it is my half Egyptian baby or not but I crave mashy, hawashy, and rolled grape leaves. I hope that when you go that you actually get to sit down at dinner with an egyptian family and see how grateful they are of their visitors. Be prepared to eat because they want you to sit and eat and eat and eat!! Oh, and a warning....some families actually eat out of the same big bowls. It took some getting used to but I'm ok with it while I'm there but wanted you to just be aware.

I wish you the best on your trip and try and not be too nervous. Just ask questions at the airport if you wonder something and you will be just fine. It's a long long ride but well worth it. If you need anything send me a message and I will try and help you. Oh, and also like Bridget said have a plan B. I hope you will never need it but just in case have a back up plan what would it hurt??

P.S.......bring you a pillow on the plane. It also comes in handy when you sleep at night. Some places have hard mattresses and pillows and it is nice to have a little taste of home with you when you sleep.

Best Wishes and hang in there lady!!

Tasha