Egypt - Afraid with my small children

[Donna3271]

Hi All,

I really want to do the Egypt tour. My children are, 5, 5 and 9. I want to go next year when my twins are 6. I am hearing HORROR stories about child-trafficking, kidnapping, etc.... and the US gov website does not paint a great picture listing the bombings and incidents. My children travel well, and have been all over Europe, Caribbean, US, Mexico.... I wish I was not so nervous. Can someone let me know if they are taking small children?

 

[TDC Nala]

I have seen several persons on the Egypt 2011 thread stating that they are taking children around 6 years old. I am not sure you should worry, as you would likely be fine if you don't step off the guided tour, but if it is going to worry you that much I don't know if you'd be able to enjoy the trip. That is a lot to spend if you are going to be sick with worry the whole time.

 

[kristilew]

The suggested ages for this trip, according to ABD, are ages 8 and up. Disney packs a lot in on their adventures and is usually spot on about the age suggestions. If they are saying age 8, it is becuase they will be going later or doing more on most days than most 6 y.o.'s can keep up with for 7 or 9 nights running. That, combined with your concerns, would point to you maybe looking into another option.

 

[SoScary'09]

This is just my opinion but:

I'm not so sure. After listening to the podcast about the Egypt tour groups having to have an armed guard wherever they go, it made me leary about ever going period.

Vacation + Armed Guards dont equal a happy vacation in my book. Even if there's a good chance nothing would ever happen, the fact that there's a dude with a semi-automatic on standby with us would still eat at me the ENTIRE time I was on the trip, especially if I had children to protect on top of it.

Any place where kids have to be exposed to an enviornment with guns, used or unused, isn't a place they should be. I know that may sound totally lame and terribly old fashioned, but if it were me and I had little ones, you wouldn't catch me even considering to make the trip with them so young.

I love Egyptian stuff, so I can understand your wanting to go. My advice would at least be to wait until they're maybe a little older and have their wits about them and are able to understand the situation at hand. If they feel comfortable going then I would say go, and do your best to enjoy yourselves! But their opinion with all of it would matter as well of course

I seriously doubt I could ever convince my party of all-adults to go though. Even though it's definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Who knows, maybe I'll try to get over there someday. But more than likely if I do I'll have to do it alone

 

[Donna3271]

This is just my opinion but:

I'm not so sure. After listening to the podcast about the Egypt tour groups having to have an armed guard wherever they go, it made me leary about ever going period.

Vacation + Armed Guards dont equal a happy vacation in my book. Even if there's a good chance nothing would ever happen, the fact that there's a dude with a semi-automatic on standby with us would still eat at me the ENTIRE time I was on the trip, especially if I had children to protect on top of it.

Any place where kids have to be exposed to an enviornment with guns, used or unused, isn't a place they should be. I know that may sound totally lame and terribly old fashioned, but if it were me and I had little ones, you wouldn't catch me even considering to make the trip with them so young.

I love Egyptian stuff, so I can understand your wanting to go. My advice would at least be to wait until they're maybe a little older and have their wits about them and are able to understand the situation at hand. If they feel comfortable going then I would say go, and do your best to enjoy yourselves! But their opinion with all of it would matter as well of course

I seriously doubt I could ever convince my party of all-adults to go though. Even though it's definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Who knows, maybe I'll try to get over there someday. But more than likely if I do I'll have to do it alone

THANKS!!!..... Your post was brilliant, and really made me think. I toured Israel, and the IDF walking the streets was reassuring, but my children would have been upset. My children would be able to keep up with the tour, but the armed guards would make them uneasy. Thanks to all that responded!!! I think we will do the Ireland one

 

[Donna3271]

The suggested ages for this trip, according to ABD, are ages 8 and up. Disney packs a lot in on their adventures and is usually spot on about the age suggestions. If they are saying age 8, it is becuase they will be going later or doing more on most days than most 6 y.o.'s can keep up with for 7 or 9 nights running. That, combined with your concerns, would point to you maybe looking into another option.

Thanks!!! You are right. Egypt is on hold for now.

 

[Donna3271]

I have seen several persons on the Egypt 2011 thread stating that they are taking children around 6 years old. I am not sure you should worry, as you would likely be fine if you don't step off the guided tour, but if it is going to worry you that much I don't know if you'd be able to enjoy the trip. That is a lot to spend if you are going to be sick with worry the whole time.

You are right. Sticking to DCL, WDW and Western Europe. Thanks Nala!!

 

[robinb]

I think there is no doubt that Egypt can be a dangerous place. Much more dangerous than Europe, the Caribbean or touristy parts of Mexico. As much as Egypt is on my (very, very) short list, I would not even consider bringing a 6-year old there. Heck, I waited until she was 8 to go to China (and she had been to Europe and Japan before that). At 8 she was able to keep up the pace and appreciate the historical destinations much more than if she had been only 6 years old.

 

[MickeyWatch]

I agree; 8 is the absolute minimum for appreciating and enjoying a trip to Egypt. Any younger and you will be dragging the kids around when they would rather sit down and play in the sand. We are considering the Egypt trip with my daughter who is 10 and is reading books about Egypt and is somewhat familiar with the sights that we will see there.

 

[carolinatennisgirl]

We travelled to Eqypt in 2007 with a 9 and 14 year old. Perfect ages for that trip. I would not travel to Eqypt with a child younger than 8, not because of security concerns (yes there were armed guards everywhere, but there are also armed guards all over Vatican City in Rome), but in order for the child to understand and enjoy the experience. We went on the Ireland ABD in 2009 and almost felt our 11 year old was too old for the "junior adventurer" activities on that trip (we all still had a great time). I think the Ireland ABD will be a great trip for your children at their ages.

 

[nussbaum1]

Hello all,

I am an american (blonde haired, blue eyed southern belle). I grew up in Cairo, Egypt. We moved to Egypt August 1, 1990, the day Saddamtook over Kuwait. Think couldn't have been more tense. We were told horror stories as well, and were very leary about going over there. We were there for 6 years and NEVER had any issues. If you are touring with an armed guard, that is not unheard of in those parts of the country, we just aren't accustomed to it as americans. I went to Cairo American College (the number 1 international primary and secondary school in the world) there were guards everywhere... There are a lot of diplomats over there and they always had armed guards as well as thier children. It IS a different world, but not one to be afraid of....It is just different from what we are used to. As far as the trafficking....we never heard anything about any of that, especially with foriegners, now Mexico, that's a different story! We absolutely LOVED Egypt and can't wait to take my children back to where I grew up.

Please, if you have anymore questions, I would love to help put your mind at ease....

 

[tufbuf]

Thank you, nussbaum for your input! We are going with ABD in Egypt in August 2011. We are all very excited. I was a bit surprised about the armed guards but it will not stop us from envisioning and discovering what could be the richest culture in the world.