Health immunizations and visas, oh my!

[amity]

Do I need a visa just to fly to another country and catch another plane?
I am going U.S. to Rome, Italy, then to Cairo, Egypt. Does that mean I need to get a visa for Rome too?

And health shots-Are they required/do we need documentation?

Thanks!

Amity

[lizajuk]

Can't answer for your visa problem as we don't need one for Europe. Ours for Egypt for single entry(valid 6 months) costs us about £15(30$) and they do say you can get that on entry and a bit cheaper in Egypt.But although it seemed straightforward at Luxor, I know folks who have had problems with long queues. I prefer to get it advance.
However the shots you need according to UK Health requirements are:
polio, hep B,typhoid,tetanus and I think diptheria. You don't need malaria tablets for either Cairo or Luxor. There is only a more remote area where that is required.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by amity

Do I need a visa just to fly to another country and catch another plane?
I am going U.S. to Rome, Italy, then to Cairo, Egypt. Does that mean I need to get a visa for Rome too?

And health shots-Are they required/do we need documentation?

Thanks!

Amity

Are you flying through Rome or stopping?
Either way, no visa required for US citizens in the EU.
Visa required for US citizens in Egypt though.
usually health shots don't require documentation but I would get typhoid and hep a.

[lizajuk]

Ah yes to add....Usually if you are not leaving an airport you don't need a visa but any travel agent or gov. website should tell you.

[lizajuk]

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Are you flying through Rome or stopping?
Either way, no visa required for US citizens in the EU.
Visa required for US citizens in Egypt though.
usually health shots don't require documentation but I would get typhoid and hep a.

Yes that's Hep A sorry..I wouldn't leave out the polio vaccine

[rakgirl]

look at the cdc website but when i checked this past summer and with my doctor, you didn't have to get any shots for Egypt as long as your shots are up to date (within the last 10 years). But bring bug spray.

[Lauren_]

Bug spray, really? I didn't see any bugs in Cairo, but maybe that's because I was there in November. Not even flies around the camels, I thought it was because of the desert.

Polio is optional, but highly recommended. You have to have a series of two a certain number of weeks apart, so don't wait until the last minute. The CDC website is a great resource.

No visas needed, especially if you won't be leaving the airport.

[Lauren_]

Oh, and you'll get your Egyptian visa at the airport in Cairo. I can't remember how much it cost -- $15 maybe?

[rakgirl]

i got so bit up in Cairo in July. It was terrible.

[Lauren_]

Good to know!

[leylalanty]

Originally Posted by rakgirl

i got so bit up in Cairo in July. It was terrible.

Yup in warm weather, especially, if you're even close to the Nile, just before sunset until the sun comes up again, the mosquitoes are pretty bad. Take a good bug spray or bug repellant towelettes.

[*Shira*]

You shouldn't need a visa for Italy, only for Egypt. You can buy the visa for Egypt after you arrive for about $15. There's a little kiosk off to the side where you buy it, before you go through the passport line. Have $15 cash, in new-quality bills, in exact change to minimize any risk of potential hassle.

For shots, there's no "requirement", and definitely no documentation needed. If it has been more than 10 years since your last tetanus shot, you should get a tetanus booster. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are both recommended - I got them for the first time a year ago, on my fifth trip to Egypt, did the first four without them.

No one has ever suggested polio to me, but maybe that's because I had a polio vaccination when I was in elementary school? Don't know. I've also never heard of a recommendation for typhoid and I've never had a vaccination for that, but ask your doctor what s/he thinks.

[amity]

Thanks Everyone! I am just worried now about boarding airplances in Spain and Germany without any language...do you think this is a big prob or do other countries accomodate for English speaking passangers. I know airports here in the U.S are not so good for other languages...

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Have $15 cash, in new-quality bills, in exact change to minimize any risk of potential hassle.

Oh, this is a good point. The Egyptians are EXTREMELY picky about the condition of bills, their banks won't accept a bill that's slightly torn or excessively worn. A $20 bill with a tiny tear near the corner is useless to you there!

You won't have any problem boarding airplanes in Europe. English is quite common there, and most of the airline personnel will speak at least a little English or can direct you immediately to someone who's fluent. The alphabet is the same, anyway, and the numerals, not to mention airline logos so it's easy enough to find your gate.

[amity]

Thanks! Can you exchange cash at the Airport in Cairo? Did you all carry cash there-or did you take it out of an ATM and then exchange it?

[Monica]

Originally Posted by amity

Thanks! Can you exchange cash at the Airport in Cairo?

Yes.

Did you all carry cash there-or did you take it out of an ATM and then exchange it?

I bring US dollars that I keep with me (don't exchange into pounds). I get money out of the ATM all over Cairo--it gives you pounds, obviously, and my credit union does not charge me for doing this.

It has always been pretty easy just to use my ATM.

[straightleftknee]

Originally Posted by amity

Thanks Everyone! I am just worried now about boarding airplances in Spain and Germany without any language...do you think this is a big prob or do other countries accomodate for English speaking passangers. I know airports here in the U.S are not so good for other languages...

Relax, airports are airports pretty much most places will have people who speak english to varying degrees.


As a last resort grab anyone in a uniform, point to the flight number on your ticket and look confused

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by Monica

Yes.

I bring US dollars that I keep with me (don't exchange into pounds). I get money out of the ATM all over Cairo--it gives you pounds, obviously, and my credit union does not charge me for doing this.

It has always been pretty easy just to use my ATM.

I didn't do this in Cairo, but I've done it all over Europe. Cheapest way to get the local currency. I carried several cards (two bank account ATM cards, several credit cards with PIN numbers & cash advance capability) just in case I had trouble with one not working, but I never had a problem.

[leylalanty]

If you can do so, it's a good idea before you travel to let your banks and credit cards know you'll be in Egypt and between which dates. I know people who have had their bank or credit card not accept charges because they were afraid someone had stolen their cards and traveled off to Egypt with them. - no joke!!

[leylalanty]

P.S. I always take a few days' worth of US dollars with me. I usually cash a small amount at the airport when I buy my visa so I'll have enough Egyptian pounds for tips, taxies, etc.