1

I am doing my first solo trip to Egypt next year too and I have been reading about it. I think many men might want to marry you to get a passport to Europe or Canada or Australia where you are from so be careful about that. Also there is pick pocketing and harrasment about buying perfume and other things. Someone told me who has been there, that if anyone says hello to you they want to sell you some perfume or souvenirs so don't say hello to shop workers.

2

So basically try not to get married & be on your toes when buying perfume! Arf!!

I've been a few times & met a lot of women doing solo thru there without any problem, including this xmas, Egypt is a bit hassley (to all sexes) but its very good natured. So long as you are friendly poltite and firm in your responses back its all cool.

For Hotels check out Dinas Hostel & The Pension Roma, I got recommended both & they are good - importantly for a solo traveller Dinas is a very social place - big communal area where everyone sits round & chats so its pretty much full of people going "what are you doing today? cool, I'll join you". Thats a big plus as a solo traveller.

Most of the other traditional backpacker haunts would have the same plus, but a lot are right in tahir square (eg The Sun) & I'd recommend being a few blocks away...

3

ac_kiwi I don't know what arf means but I was trying to add something for smeraldo, and if lots of people add their own things then she has a better answer over all. I'm sorry I didn't give the whole picture but it's good to add a few things. Thank you for saying we should be a few blocks from tahir square that is good advice and makes sense.

4

If you prefer a cheaper option than Dina's, Dahab Hostel is very good by all accounts.

5

We stayed at Cairo Palace Hostel, booked through booking.com, and the place looks good for a solo female traveler...

6

Thank you all!! Dina's seems nice. I cannot wait for this trip.

7

My husband, daughter and I stayed at the Royal Hotel when we returned to Cairo. It was $40 US for a large triple room with a private bathroom. There are single options for about $20. The staff is very professional. They will order meals in for you, though there are many restaurants nearby. The day time reception staff is Madlin, a very nice young Egyptian woman who help you with whatever you need. They have great, affordable day and half day trips. We used them in the first part of our trip, though we were not staying there. The hotel is centrally located and very safe. Not too far from the Egyptian museum, but in an area visited by shopping locals, who do not bother you when you are on the street alone. Tahrir Square is where you would likely get someone trying to harass you, but only to sell something to you, not because you are a woman alone. And even Tahrir Square can be very quiet at times.

You can check out my blog, for photos and comments about our time in Cairo. It was pretty quiet when we were there at Christmas time, and then mid January.

Catherine
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/catherine647/1/tpod.html