Anyone know of any wireless hotspots in cairo for the net? Any free ones at cafes or other locations?
I can look up the lists of hotspots but I need some personal experience info here. Any locations like coffee shops that don't charge for using the wireless? If they do, how much? Is it by the hour or do can you buy a month long card through a popular provider?
What about the internet cafes? What is the normal going price for an hour now?
I am debating whether to try to bring my lap top as I have a lot of studying to do (more than I expected) or if I should just go with the internet shops. I would rather find a free hotspot as I will end up needing it for several hours each day.
Blah.
skyprincess
1
onlymark
Internet cafes which the locals go to in Heliopolis, and that I went to, charge 1 LE per hour. But the Sheraton Heliopolis charges 20 USD per hour.
So you will probably find prices are something in between depending on where you are.
I seem to remember that the Cilantro cafe chain don't charge anything.
2
swisssinai
Most Cilantro Cafes and Mc Donalds do have free wireless service - they are all over the place in the more upmarket parts of town... City Stars in Nasr City, El Merghani Heliopolis, Zamalek ( northern side of the island ), Opposite AUC, etc etc
3
skyprincess
Oh thanks guy, very helpful.
Mark, I will prolly spend time in heliopolis so that is helpful. Can you say where it is that is 1 le or pm me with the info?
swiss, I remember hearing that mcD's did, i had forgotten about that. Thanks guys/girls
I am going to try to bring a laptop.
4
onlymark
If you go round the corner from the Sheraton Heliopolis hotel there is the Oriental Weavers carpet place. On the opposite side of the road from the Oriental Weavers are a few small streets set out in a grid pattern. In there are 3 or 4 internet cafes for the locals that charge 1 LE per hour. The last time I used one was in April this year, ever since then I have it set up at home.
5
skyprincess
Hey thanks for the tip mark, much appreciated. When I lived there before I had it set up at home too. I was surprised at how easy it was to do. Now I am not sure if I will take a laptop or not so knowing where the cheap cafes are is very good.
6
catw
Indeed all westernized cafés have free wireless Internet and it generally works very well. This includes Cilantros (a replica of Starbuck) and other individual cafés that cater the expatriate and rich Egyptian crowd. All these cafés are in posh neighborhoods, including Heliopolis.
Cafés Internet also work extremely well and are quite cheap and may spare you having to carry your labtop. You can use an USB key.
7
skyprincess
Catw, I need to so some recording of online videos while I am there (I am in an online course). I am hoping to take a laptop but I go back and forth about it. I don't like the internet cafes very much because they often seem dominated by young guys viewing porn. However, I can pretend not to notice if I have to.
Mark, are you in cairo now? Can you check my Harry Potter thread and maybe help me out?
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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