• If you are planning to travel to Egypt: The first thing to point out is that the situation is very different to Tunisia. Travel is not restricted to all of Egypt,  the FCO only advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. This does not affect transits through Cairo airport for onward travel to other international destinations, although there is disruption to flight schedules. However, you should check with your airline or tour operation to confirm your travel plans.
  • If your trip/flight has been cancelled: You should be entitled to a refund. Contact your tour operator/airline in the first instance. Holiday companies only have to give refunds and change trips for current bookings which are affected by the FCO advice
  • If you want to cancel your future trip to Egypt: Check with your tour operator in the first instance. This will largely depend on where you planned to travel. The situation on the coast, such as Sharm El Sheik, is said to be calm, according to the the FCO. Therefore, if you choose to cancel your trip personally, it is unlikely that you will be covered to do so, and therefore you will need to bear the cost. This may change if the FCO advice changes.

• If you are already in Egypt: The advice here depends on where you are located in Egypt.

The FCO recommend that British nationals without a pressing need to be in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez leave by commercial means where it is safe to do so.  British nationals in other areas of Egypt where there are demonstrations should stay indoors wherever possible. A major demonstration is planned for today (1 February) with calls for one million people to take part in Central Cairo. Similar, although smaller, demonstrations are expected in other major cities around Egypt. British nationals should observe instructions and advice by local security authorities and avoid public gatherings and disturbances.

Around 30,000 British tourists are thought to be on holiday in Egypt – out of the one million who go there each year. The majority however are in relatively trouble-free Red Sea resorts. Although some hotels in Sharm el Sheikh have put up barricades as precautionary protection, Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said the situation in the Red Sea Resorts was ‘genuinely calm’.  However, the situation across Egypt is unpredictable and may change quickly so  you should stay in touch with your tour operator. The nationwide curfew is not being enforced in the Red Sea Resort area. The internet is currently not working and mobile phone coverage is intermittent. You should carry some form of photographic ID at all times, a copy of your passport is sufficient.

British nationals in Egypt requiring other types of assistance or advice can call 020 7008 0000 from the UK or (02) 2791 6000 in Egypt. 

Update (2^nd February): Information from the FCO

BRITISH GOVERNMENT FLIGHTS FOR BRITISH NATIONALS WISHING TO LEAVE CAIRO

In light of the ongoing unrest in Egypt the British Government has chartered a plane to supplement commercial capacity.

The plane will depart from Cairo International Airport on Thursday 03 February and there will be a charge of approximately £300 per person.

To register for a seat on this flight and further instructions please call: +44 (0)207 008 8765 / +20 227 916 000 in Egypt

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/egypt

According to this article, he was part of The Redgrave Crew, an eight-man relay cycle team of ex-rowers, competing in the infamously strenuous RAAM Race, a 3,040-mile dash from California to Maryland. Known as ‘The World’s Toughest Cycle Race’ , it is  a one-stage, start-to-finish, clock-never-stops pelt across America, taking in mountain climbs, sheer descents and rush-hour traffic. Unfortunately, near the end of the race, Steve fell of his bike and crashed. He suffered from with a badly broken cheekbone, three cracked ribs, a double-break in his wrist and a dislocated finger.

His wife, Lady Redgrave, is an osteopathic doctor and she studied the X-rays and CAT scans sent from the USA saying he would need an immediate operation on his cheekbone when he returned home. This involved an incision from the bottom of the right ear and round the hairline, peeling back the face and inserting a titanium plate held in place by screws.

Very glad to hear that Steve is now recovering well, but these kind of incidents do get you thinking about the things that can happen when you are travelling away from home. Ok so not many of us will be competing in a 3000 mile bike race but we do often see our holidays as a chance to try something new and different – whether it is sailing, scuba diving, horse riding, quad biking or just sampling a new and very exotic restaurant. And there is always a risk of the unexpected happening. It might be something like food poisoning from the new restaurant you tried that meant you missed a few days of your break, or your passport being stolen  or something worse. For example, in this article a man had to pay 4500 euros in costs for mountain rescue and transport after a skiing accident. In another article, a 19 year old man from Surrey who had a moped accident in Asia was forced to pay £20,000 for repatriation to the UK. Although he had insurance, he did not read the small print which said he needed a license to ride a motorbike. 

If you are go skiing, make sure that you are fully covered!

These stories do shock you and may make you think twice about your holiday activities, but that doesn’t  seem right either– a big part of your holiday is sampling new cultures and trying new things. So what else can you do? Well really it is just making sure that you are as prepared as possible before you go. In both the incidents above, there was not adequate travel insurance to cover the activity. So, although it is something we always hear, you should make sure you read the small print of your insurance policy and check that it covers you. Also, make sure that you have a valid European Health Insurance card (EHIC) if you are travelling in Europe, in case you need medical care. What is more, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommend reading up the local laws of the place you are visiting before you go, so that you know what to expect and can help prevent possible incidents. This sounds like a good idea to me too!

Hope that this info helps you as you go about your travels this summer. Please add any other tips that you think may help out fellow travellers.