Travelling to Luxor with Children

There are often questions about travelling to Luxor with children, so I will try to address some of those in this list.

Firstly, Luxor is totally different from destinations such as Spain, Majorca etc. and all beach holidays. Probably two major factors are the extreme heat, particularly in the summer months and the fact that some hotels, for example the Winter Palace Pavilion, are very adult orientated and not entirely 'child friendly'. There are no large attractions such as water parks or 'Disney' type fun parks etc., and health and safety is NOT as you would experience in the UK.

There is however, lots of history in tombs, temples and museums, and also world famous sites further afield such as Cairo (to see the Pyramids and visit the Museum), the awesome Abu Simbel and the beautiful town of Aswan.

If you prefer a beach holiday, an option is to split your two weeks by having a week in Luxor and a week in one of the Red Sea resorts, or if you only have a week, to make a Red Sea resort your base, and travel to Luxor to see the main sites as part of a tour (approx 3.5 hours by bus each way).

The sun can be blistering hot (in excess of 40 degrees in the shade) in the summer, therefore sun protection is a MUST, and you also must ensure that your child drinks plenty of fluid. This information from Australia is very pertinent to Luxor:

1. SLIP on a T-shirt.
2. SLAP on a hat.
3. SLOP on broad-spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before going outdoors and every 2 hours afterwards.

You also need to be aware that it will be even hotter over on the West Bank and that it is difficult to find a shady area. Aswan will also be around 10 degrees hotter than Luxor at any time of the year.

The Egyptian people just love children and will always make a fuss of them, but the hotels do not really cater for children and health and safety around the pool areas is not always as good as here in the UK. Many of these areas can be very slippery when wet, so caution must be used. One or two hotels, such as the Jolie Ville do cater quite well for children, but it is wise to research this when booking your hotel

There are now many restaurants in Luxor, selling a range of different foods from westernised to local Egyptian, and you will also find the likes of McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken if that's what your child likes. Be sure always to drink bottled water. Soft drinks and juices are always available.

There's really not a lot of entertainment aimed at children. It would be a good idea to perhaps bring some favourites toys, books etc. and of course for the older children, iPods and Nintendo Games will be the order of the day! There is a small 'zoo' at the Jolie Ville hotel, camel and horse riding on the West Bank, and also quad biking. But you need to make sure that your travel insurance will cover these activities, and again health and safety will not be as stringent as at home.

In general, products such as nappies for babies/toddlers and baby food are available in some supermarkets and chemists (pharmacies), but not all. If imported, again these products may be more expensive, so it may be best to pack a favourite brand to take on holiday with you as the range of this type of product will not be as large as it is in the UK. The same can be said for jars/cans of baby food as local people tend not to use pre-prepared baby food. Also be prepared to try a different brand when in Luxor, which can be said for all products, not just baby related items.

Luxor is not a baby buggy friendly place! The pavements have very high kerbs and many of them are in a bad state of repair. The locals tend to walk on the roadway, but you have to be aware of the traffic, which includes, caleches (horses and carriages), donkeys and carts, and other street traffic. At night, many of the drivers drive without lights, so you do need to be alert at all times.

Lots of adults and children will be very prone to mosquito bites, which can be very troublesome. Be sure to bring your favourite repellent with you and check with your GP/Pharmacist regarding what types are suitable for your children.

As I have mentioned, health and safety issues can be a problem in Luxor. You will find that pavements in Luxor have very high kerbs and can be broken and in a state of disrepair, there can be bare wires protruding from anywhere, there is the potential for tripping or falling anywhere in the streets, and even in the hotel grounds. Luxor is a vibrant and fascinating place, and there are lots of hazards for inquisitive little fingers to get into everywhere you look, so you do need to perhaps be more vigilant than would be either at home or some European resorts. An essential item to carry with you on holiday would be a small fist aid kit with antibacterial wipes and an assortment of plasters.

The above is a link to the BBC History Website that your children can look at prior to travelling, which will give them an insight into what they will see while in Egypt. This includes some interactive games such as mummy maker and pyramid builder.