From Sand Dunes to WiFi Zones: How to stay online during your Holiday!
Welcome to the world of "free" hotel Wi-Fi, where the signal is as weak as the worst coffee you ever had, and the connection is as slow as a snail on tranquilizers.
Sure, you can connect to the internet for free, but you might as well send your messages via carrier pigeon. Fear not, dear reader, we have a solution to your internet woes: SIM cards. Yes, you heard that right. The tiny, unassuming SIM card may be your ticket to a fast and reliable internet connection while on vacation. So, let's dive into the world of SIM cards and discover how they can make your holiday in a hotel a little less frustrating.
In Egypt, regulations state that mobile phone contracts can only be sold through the official stores of mobile network providers. Additionally, contracts can only be purchased with proof of identity. For Egyptians, an ID card is required, while non-Egyptians need a passport. This regulation was in place from summer 2018 until January 2019 and still applies. However, some vendors do not comply with the law, and it is possible, albeit unlikely, to obtain a prepaid contract without a passport.
The average tourist uses between 1 and 2 gigabytes of data per week, while young people tend to use 5 gigabytes or more.
At Hurghada airport's Terminals, there is a sales booth for the fourth mobile network provider in Egypt: WE (formerly Telecom Egypt), Etisalat, Orange Egypt, and Vodafone Egypt. Which one to choose? Some say Vodafone, some say Orange. Our personal experiences were better with Orange. But the choice is yours ;)
The prices for Vodafone Egypt's tariffs at Terminal 1 of Hurghada airport are the same as at its other four branches in Hurghada. The sales booths are located in the building immediately before the exit. Good to know: If you insert the egyptian SIM-Card, you can keep on using your normal number for WhatsApp. It won´t change automatically.
If travelers miss the opportunity to purchase a SIM card at Hurghada airport, they can do so in Hurghada. However, they must remember to bring their passport. One option is the Vodafone branch on Sheraton Rd, which is called "Vodafone Egypt." Another option is the Vodafone Mini branch on Mamsha, which is much smaller. You also find a Orange Store near to Seagull Hotel at Sheraton Rd.
It is important to note that the central office has instructed all sales outlets and vendors to comply with legal regulations and to only sell mobile phone contracts to foreign citizens upon presentation of their passport. A German identity card is not recognized.
Vodafone salespeople can enter customer data into the system during the sales process and activate contracts without any noticeable delay. If activation does not occur immediately, it means that the salesperson has not yet entered the data into the system.
As long as there is enough credit on a mobile phone contract, it is not necessary to make a call or send an SMS every month or quarter. As long as the monthly stamp tax of 51 piasters can be deducted, the contract will remain active and will not be deactivated. If there is no credit and the contract is not used for a period of 125 days, it will be deactivated.
