Travel Tips For Cairo
Where To Stay
There is a place to suit every budget in Cairo, from inexpensive family run hotels to 5 star hotels complete with swimming pools. My favourite of the inexpensive hotels is the family run Victoria Hotel in downtown Cairo just 5 minutes away from the Khan el Khalili. The hotel is clean and is a favourite with local egyptians.
You will find an abundance of 5 star hotels in Cairo but I can recommend the Sofitel Le Sphinx, the Meridian Pyramids and the Mena House which are all located near the pyramids, approximately 30-40 minutes taxi ride from downtown (depending on the time of day!), Downtown I would recommend the Intercontinental Semi Ramis and the Marriott. Each of these hotels has a swimming pool for you to relax at in between shopping for belly dance costumes and lessons.
VISA
You will need a visa for entry into Cairo. You can purchase this from one of the bank's which are located just before passport control. The visa costs approx $20 and is valid for one month, make sure you buy your visa before queuing up for passport control.
Getting Around
The only way to get around Cairo is in one of the hundreds of yellow taxis. Travelling in one of these is not for the faint hearted and is an experience in itself. Air conditioning means opening all the windows the the toot of the horn is a language all of its own! There is a fixed fee from the airport so no chance to haggle, the taxi rank is just outside the main airport exit. Once you are in Cairo be warned that you must fix the price for your trip before you get in the taxi, don't pay the price that you are asked, be prepared to haggle until you are happy, if they won't take you then there will be another taxi along in a minute so don't worry.
Also be mindful that if they say they would like to introduce you to their family/cousin/uncle that just means that they want to take you to a perfume or tourist shop. Be firm and say you dont want to go - unless of course you do!
Where To Shop For Belly Dance Costumes
Cairo is costume heaven and you will find costumes to suit every budget - the only thing you will have to worry about is which costume to buy. You can buy cheap costumes in the Khan El Khaleli but they may not be the best quality but are great for student outfits. My favourite designers are listed below, all of the designers make exquisite costumes, many of them made to measure but they are not cheap.
 Eman Zaki - 42 Mesaha Street (behind the Pyramisa) 00 2012 372949
Exceptional fabrics and very well made costumes, Emans's bras give a great fit and are very comfortable to wear and dance in. They are expensive but worth it if you perform. Eman and her sister Hoda are very friendly and will give you great advice on what looks good on you.
 Amira El Kattan - Pharaonics of Egypt - 27 Basra Street, Mohandessin 00 2012 213997
Stunning costumes with amazing bead and sequin work. Pharaonics costumes have a distinct look about them and come with a large array of accessories. Amira is lovely and will make sure your costume is a perfect fit. I have many costumes from Amira and have never had a problem with any of them.
 Yasser - 2 Sekket, Khan El Khalili - 00 2012 361484 (Near the El Fishawy Cafe)
Don't be fooled by the small shop,it is a veritable treasure trove upstairs! The first floor is filled with belly dance costumes. If you see a costume you like but want it in a different colour or size, just ask, he will make it for you. He also has a huge selection of hipscarves as well as skirts, veils, zills, sticks and shamadan. Yasser is an honest and reliable man and I have no hesitation in recommending him. His prices are fixed so don't try to bargain with him.
 Sahar Okasha
High end quality belly dance costumes ranging from approximately $400 - $1400. A Sahar bra has a precision fit and looks amazing! When my costumes have arrived I haven't even needed to move a hook as the fit has been so good. Sahar is the designer of many of Dina's costumes so that alone tells you that the qualit is good. Time from ordering to delivery only a couple of weeks. Costumes made are very stylish and have a unique look to them and are definitely worth the money. Every dancer should own at least one!
 Hallah Mustafa - 00 2010 102908
Expensive but unique costumes. Very well made and I feel worth the money. A costume takes about 6 weeks or so from start to finish.
Hanan Mahmoud - 00 2010 524892
Reasonably priced costumes from Hanan which are very modern and stylish and have a great fit.
 Mahmoud abd el Ghaffar - 73 Gawfar El Qayid Street, Khan el Khalili - 00 20 589 7443
Four floors of every conceivable thing a belly dancer would need. I have spent hours in this shop just browsing while my poor husband has waited patiently for me (sorry Mervyn). Mahmoud is a gentleman, one of the nicest people I have met and will make you feel welcome. If you visit his store tell him I said hello!
 He sells everything from costumes, veils, wings, skirts, tops, shamadan, sticks, jewellery and a huge selection of hipscarves. Everything is fixed price which makes shopping much easier. Across the road his brother has a shopping selling beads so you can always have a go at making your own costume!
Belly Dance Lessons
Try to book your lessons before you travel to egypt as it will save you time and energy. Prices vary from teacher to teacher but you can pay anything from £20 -£40 per hour for private lessons. I would recommend trying to fit in a lesson with any of the following teachers during your trip:
Leila - www.leilainegypt.com
Yasmina - www.yasminaofcairo.com
Randa - via raqia hassan
Raqia Hassan - www.raqiahassan.net
Aida Nour - 00 2012 2730234
Lubna Eman - 00 2010 6683132
Alternatively, if you think a private lesson is a bit too daunting then why not coincide your trip with one of the festivals held in Cairo each year? There are three festivals, the Nile Group holds three festivals a year in April, June and November and the famous Ahlan wa Sahlan festival is held once a year in June. Follow the links below to find out more about them.
Nile Group Festival - www.nilegroup.net
Ahlan Wa Sahlan - www.raqiahassan.net
Dinner Shows
If you want to catch a show with a belly dancer then many of the 5 star hotels feature shows with dancers. The dancers in these shows change regularly so make sure you check who is dancing before you book. I can personally recommend the following dinner shows:
The Nile Maxim - Two shows per evening - 00 20 7394608
The Nile Pharon - Two shows per evening
Intercontinental Semi Ramis
Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant at the Cairo Sheraton - Dina sometimes dances here
Nubian Village, Le Meridian Pyramids - Liza Laziza Dances here
Places Of Interest
 Egyptian Museum
No trip to Cairo would be complete without visiting the Egyptian Museum. I would recommend spending at least a morning or afternoon here as there is so much to see. There is an extra charge to see the mummies but the rest of the museum is included in your entrance ticket. The museum is open from 9.00-5.00pm each day.
 Pyramids and Sphinx
The pyramids and sphinx are about 40 minutes drive from downtown Cairo and you can walk between the 3 pyramids. Depending on what time of day you visit you can pay to go inside Khufu the larger and the smaller of the pyramids and I would recommend doing this if you can. Bear in mind that it is very hot inside the pyramids, especially during the summer months and on one of our visits the electricity failed while we were in the burial chamber at the top of the pyramid. Apparently this is a fairly frequent occurance but a scary one nevertheless. The hours of opening are 8.30-4.30.
Sound and Light show
In the evening you can visit the sound and light show which is a bit cheesy but worth a visit nonetheless. The show times in summer are 8.30, 9.30 and 10.30 and in winter 6.30, 7.30 and 8.30. Telephone 00 202 3857320. The cheapest way to see the show is to get a taxi there and pay your entrance fee rather than on an organised excursion which will cost you much more.
 Cairo Tower
Another sight is the Cairo Tower, I have never managed to find the time to take a trip to the top of this but I can imagine it would give a great view of Cairo on a good day.
Citadel
The citadel is also worth a visit and is is open from 8.00-5.00pm. There are often shows here featuring tanoura (whirling dervish) and wonderful musicians.
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