How to stay connected when exploring Egypt, with or without kids

Egypt is a red-hot spot among travellers who are thrilled to discover ancient sites, such as the Giza Pyramids, or tranquil desert scenery, such as the Bahariya oasis. Whether you’re traveling solo, with your spouse and kid/s, in a large group, etc., you have plenty of opportunities to create the perfect trip. But do you know what all these instances have in common? The fact that you’ll be arriving from another country means you’ll need to have your mobile network channels set up correctly. If you’re single, you’ll need your traveling apps, such as Waze or Tripadvisor, to run flawlessly, just as you’ll need your emergency contacts and your banking app, to name a few must-haves. And if you’re part of a bigger group, you’ll once again need a reliable mobile connection working just as perfectly, whether you’re splitting bills on banking apps or comparing service prices as you go.

The reasons why you can’t compromise your data plan’s usefulness and affordability are endless and evident. So, how about we delve into the ways you can stay connected 24/24 while traveling around, all the more if your kids are accompanying you in Egypt?

Does my phone even work in Egypt?

Roaming with your local carrier while exploring the Land of the Pharaohs is convenient, but it can quickly become a strain on your budget. Roaming packages are highly costly – after all, they enable you to connect with your local mobile network from almost any part of the world, rather than obliging you to connect with a new, foreign one, and thorough coverage isn’t even guaranteed. What you can do, instead, is use an eSIM or a local SIM.

We’re exploring them down below; the main thing to keep in mind is that a GB in Egypt might cost less, depending on the visited region, and be cheaper compared to other famous international destinations. Your money buys more, plus the network efficiency in Egypt helps that one GB cover more usage than many might initially suppose. If you’re going to Egypt with kids, ensure you have a bit more internet power than you assume you’ll be using; your phone may keep them busy and entertained when you’re at the restaurant, and your kids are prone to having a boredom-driven tantrum.

Embedded vs local SIMs

Depending on aspects like the length of your stay in Egypt, you may want to choose between a local SIM or an embedded SIM (eSIM). 

Local SIMs 

If you’re only staying a few days, a local SIM card may be the most cost-effective choice, as it is easily obtainable from international carriers and offers a reasonable data allowance at competitive prices. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you’ll need to physically visit a kiosk or shop, present your passport or ID, and physically change SIM cards, which requires taking care of the one you use back home. You might possibly lose access to your general numbers for texts and calls. 

To escape all these hurdles, you can shift your attention toward embedded SIMs.

Embedded SIMs

eSIMs are electronic SIMs that are already integrated into your device, so you don’t need to physically swap chips. The information on your eSIM can be rewritten; it’s basically software you activate and deactivate with an international eSIM provider. An eSIM allows you to add multiple profiles, each connected to a separate number and data package, and change from one to another with just a few taps. You can purchase one and activate it instantly via the QR code delivered, deciding on the number of days you need the plan and whether you’ll activate it for one or more devices.

Holafly is a leading international eSIM provider, offering unlimited data packages in many destinations. Your usual Egypt eSIM from Holafly will be particularly handy if you want instant activation and unyielding coverage from the moment you arrive, not to mention the convenience of continuing to use your home SIM for texts and calls.

Local SIMs are affordable and reliable, but eSIMs offer more flexibility and peace of mind. Choose with these in mind.

Reliable local wi-fi

Finding dependable Wi-Fi networks in Egypt isn’t guaranteed. For example, the Wi-Fi at most airports is unreliable and sometimes not even available, so if you know you’ll need internet upon arrival, don’t count on finding it there. Instead, have your eSIM already set up and working as soon as you land, all the more if your trip starts with you using your ride-hailing app to get out of the airport.

Local, free Wi-Fi found in places like McDonald’s is also not the greatest choice; a decent number of restaurants and coffee shops offer internet, but it’s often slow and unreliable. If you’re in larger cities such as Alexandria and Cairo, however, you can find coworking spaces in malls or large retail centers, where you can sit down and work.

Most resorts and hotels offer resorts. There, you won’t need to stress about how much internet your kid is consuming to play their favorite games while you’re taking a well-deserved bath.

How is the internet in Egypt?

Mobile internet is usually reliable in the largest cities and throughout tourist areas in Egypt. Nevertheless, you may also encounter outages, particularly near desert highways or in less urban areas. But overall, the internet in Egypt is improving year by year. The country’s broadband infrastructure and mobile use rates are only improving.

There are over 116MN mobile connections, making up around 99% of the country’s population this year, with more and more people using multiple lines for work and personal purposes. The increase in eSIM use has also helped catapult figures, making managing more connections easier and allowing locals and travelers to switch between plans effortlessly. You can use 3G, 4G, or 5G. When it comes to speed, the average rate sits at 24.17 Mbps, while the general fixed internet connection revolves around 76.67 Mbps, recent research on Egypt’s mobile connectivity estimates.

You have quite a few options to remain connected while traveling around Egypt with or without your kids. The choice is best to be made before you hop on that plane in order to ensure 100% success when you land.