Check out our selection of all inclusive and cheap Egypt holidays

Thoughts of a holiday to Egypt inevitably turn to pyramids and camel rides and it is true that no matter where you go there's usually a reminder of the unmatched cultural heritage that this ancient land possesses. But Egypt holidays offer some of the very best opportunities to get onto a fantastic beach for the lowest price possible – and that's what we at Travelwasp do better than anyone.

Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada holidays offer some of the hottest resorts at the coolest prices

The last few years has seen the Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada regions develop into tourist destinations to rival the best of the more established Mediterranean choices. These Red Sea hotspots play host to a set of resorts offering all the experiences you'd expect of a top notch beach destination and some world class diving experiences to boot. Check out our things to do in Sharm El Sheikh to get a feel for what's on offer – or take a look at the superb deals we offer on our Sharm resorts, our Naama Bay holidays are full of bargains you'll be reaching for your wallet to secure.

For a more traditional Egyptian experience our Luxor holidays offer unbeatable value

Beaches are undoubtedly something Egypt does exceptionally well but there are few places in the world that can offer the 'open air museum' experience on offer in Luxor. There is so much to see that it's definitely worth checking out our things to do in Luxor pages so you can start planning a trip that ensure a packed photo album and plenty of lifelong memories.

Currency

The Egyptian pound is the official currency for the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Egyptian pound notation is EGP, although LE is also frequently used as notation. The pound is divided into 100 piasters, or 1000 milliemes. Most credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants. Visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Banks are usually closed on Friday and Saturday, but private exchange bureaux, called 'Forex', are open daily and banks in major hotels are open 24 hours.

Egypt Climate

Egypt is a country bathed in almost perpetual sunshine the whole year round, the days are warm and hot and the nights are cool. During the summer months the climate in the inland desert areas can vary widely from 7C at night, to 43C during the day. Temperatures in the coastal regions in resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada will usually see an average of 14C during winter and around 30C in the summer. The summer months from May until August will see Egypt gaining around 12 hours of constant sunshine per day. Rainfall in Egypt is very low with less that 80mm per year and prevailing northern winds can take the edge of the heat.

Time

Local time is GMT +2
(GMT +3 from last Friday in April to last Friday in August).

Electricity :

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz.
European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Language :

Arabic is the official language although English and French are widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas.

Tipping

Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' and some small change is expected for most services, though small change can be hard to come by. 'Baksheesh' can be a useful practice in order to gain entry to seemingly inaccessible places, or for extra services- a small tip can open doors, literally. A service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills but a 5% tip is normally given directly to the waiter. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10%.

Communications

The international access code for Egypt is +20. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code.