I thought I would chime in with my recent experience with Sim cards in Egypt. I finally broke down and bought the T-Mobile(USA based) international plan. It is pricey but I change countries often so decided to spend the money. It did work in Egypt but just as often didn't. It would show searching about half the time. I ended up buying a local Sim as well and as Giselle mentioned there was nothing in writing and i suspect I paid more than I should have. I wasn't aware that the service would stop after a month so went to the shop and was given a new Sim even though my visa was expired. I am not sure if the woman read my visa stamp correctly. Once again, I paid too much for an additional month. Oh well. My advice would be to bring a local friend with you. If you don't have a friend I suggest you make one quick. Thanks for keeping us all updated Giselle!
Thanks for the information Robert! That's good to know for people planning to use international packages. Also about the visa and buying a new SIM. Maybe they are willing to sell you a new SIM card even if your visa is expired, just not recharge it? It's a mystery 😅
Thanks for your videos it helps take the stress away. Im heading to Egypt next month for the first time. Your videos help make it worry free by knowing what to expect
Thank you so much deloisc, that's awesome to hear! There's really nothing to worry about, it's just a new environment and a little hectic, but people are friendly, the food is great, the history rich and the music beautiful. You're going to have a great time! ❤️
Hiii Gesille 🌸 Thanks for showing us all this info. Must have been exhausting just to get through all those packages and comparisons. Fir me, I got Vodafone's 10 GB for 157 EGP /month. I added like 40 flexes (Vodafone units for both calls /data) I guess. For 250 egp. So it is a data only package. If works well. Sometimes We get signal weak, or we just lose connection. But if works very well most of thd time.
Really helpful and that's despite being to Egypt thirty plus times. I haven't tried an esim in Egypt but on one occasion when in Turkey I did and it didn't work. Do the SIM it in the airport or shop and make sure it works before you leave.
Thank you sooo much, Giselle!! I'm traveling to Egypt in a month to visit family and I was wondering about this exact topic! You efforts are much appreciated!! Love your hair and disposition!!
That was very useful update. I actually used your video to help me get a sim card (Vodafone) when I came to Egypt last time and will follow the advice when I return later this year.
Thanks Giselle , I’m Egyptian and will change from Vodafone to Orange after this video 😂 to keep you informed about e-sim will working soon maybe 45 days to 60 days. Love your content
This is great info for anyone traveling to egypt in 2024. I was about to pay almost 4x that much for an esim, hope I can still grab that promo. Thanks Giselle!
Thanks for this info…been waiting for ESims in Egypt since I’m there once or twice a month. My ph is w/TMobile so I get free texts, use my wifi WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls…has worked well. But last week in Egypt my TMobile Internet wasn’t working well(no connection) I could had used an ESim good thing I was there for only one day. Hey still CC is still good to use for Visa at airport…no changes there. I would like to know where do locals like going too for woman’s spa treatments…like hair coloring, 💅 nails, Juverderm & Botox etc.
Yes you can use CC at Cairo Intl. to buy your visa on arrival, but it's more expensive if you pay with CC. I didn't check at Giza Airport, maybe you can, but even if you can, it would be more expensive too. I just recommend people to plan for it like they would for the rest of their trip by bringing cash in the appropriate currency. Unfortunately I don't know anything about women's spa treatments. I'm not into spas so I don't go to them or know anything about it, sorry! I dye my own hair and that's about it. But it seems to me, with the economy being the way it has been for the last few years, the spa is a luxury many cannot or are not willing to afford, so anyone going to the spa has quite a bit of money to spare on non-essential things. Just my take. They do have hammam, but I never been to that either. I am just not big on spa stuff.
Lol. I do what I can! Some videos take longer than others to make though, so no surprise videos this week, as the one I am currently working on is taking all my free time 😅
Hm, well I guess (just for me) it's not difficult to change out a chip 😅 What company do you use? And how much GB do you get for $20? I would like to know and look that up, because all the websites I was looking at were very expensive for a low amount of GB. The time frame is not so important as the amount of GB you get for your money
I will consider it. But I am not entirely sure what I would make a video about....it would just be me working 😅 And I do also like to keep my private life private....so where I live, my home, where I frequent....😅 Just with the internet you know, it's not wise to reveal too much information about where you live, and if I show too much (like where I frequent, etc.) people can start to get an idea of what area I live in, linger around looking....I've already had some people trying to guess where I live based on very little shots I've made at my apartment in other videos
units are basically company credit which you can spend on calls sms and data as you wish without allocating certain amount of your balance just for calls or just for data and can't use it for the other
Thank you G for great videos. I already subscribed to your channel. Do you have a video on visa and extentions ? I am Canadian . I have visited Egypt four times for the last 6 years and this time i want to stay 6 monthsone shot if possible. Please advise.
Awesome man, thanks for subscribing and welcome to the channel 😎 I do have videos on visas and extensions-check the description of this video! I left several links there. One thing I fail to mention in almost all of those videos-your first time extending you need to submit some kind of rental contract or proof of payment for accommodation for a longer stay. I'm also not sure what they will grant you, as a Canadian citizen. I just know about that ongoing political spat between Egypt and Canada which has caused a lot of problems for Canadians wanting to get a visa for Egypt. But I suppose, all you can do is try. Just want you to be aware of that. Best of luck!
Great video once again. I'm having to go the E-Sim route for 2 days as my Vodafone package ends on the 16th but my visa runs out on the 18th when I leave ha
@@Gventures Ha it's all good. I arrived in Egypt on June 18th and got a sim card at the airport for convenience. My phone deal ends on July 16th for some reason but my Visa runs until the July 18th. As such I'm going to get an E-Sim for the two day gap between the 16th and when I leave Egypt on the 18th.
I think for visitors, the plans are quite affordable. They may not offer the prices to foreigners that Egyptians may get, but it's still cheap for many people visiting
Thank you so much! How long are you here for? I am not sure I will have time to meet because I am usually very busy, but sometimes I am able to meet up with people, depending on the day. Happy to hear you are enjoying Egypt! ☺️
Do you update your resident card information with cell phone companies every time you extend your visa or only after the first extension? BTW amazing efforts, thank you!
Thank you! And unfortunately yes, you must update it every time you extend. The phone company only updates it till your visa expires, every time. After extending you must update it again, and only once you have received the extension/residency card. You can't update it with just a receipt.
Hi dear Gisselle. I would like to say that yoir videos are so good, informative and helpful. 😊I am planning to shift to Egypt soon and your videos help me a lot. I want ask you to make a video on how we can rent a good 2-3 bedrooms furnished apartment easily in good areas like zamalek, Heliopolis etc? What are the price ranges and what are the ways to find an apartment as soon as we arrive in Egypt? Thank you so much for your efforts and information you collect for us.. Stay happy😊
Thank you for your kind words! Unfortunately, I can't help you. I've had people ask me in the past to show rentals, but I honestly don't think I will ever make a video about that, for a lot of different reasons. First, I don't speak much Arabic, so it's very, very difficult to speak with any landlords or people renting out apartments, rooms, etc. I would 100% need to recruit help from my Egyptian boyfriend or friends to translate, it's virtually impossible without help. Also, bigger risk of being ripped off if you go by yourself as a foreigner. Second, I don't want to waste anyone's time by asking them to meet me and have me view their apartment when I am not actually looking to rent anywhere (because I already rent my own apartment - which was a royal pain in the ass to find, btw). They also might not even allow me to film inside the apartment, if I were to actually try and contact people, take time off work to drive to wherever the apartment was, and view it. Those are two big reasons for me to never make this video, it's a lot of trouble for me, and wasting the time of the people that own these places. But not only that, there are so many variables when it comes to renting and the cost. You've narrowed it down to some nicer neighborhoods, so it won't be exactly cheap. But there are still many other aspects such as how many rooms, size of the apartment, location within these neighborhoods, furnished or unfurnished? Etc. etc. I wish I could be of more help in this area, but for those reasons, I won't be making this video, sorry!
Hello, thanks for the great video. I would like to ask you which option is better; either getting a sim card from the airport or the local stores cause some people say 2mb of your data is used for 1mb of your data if you get your sim card from the airport. Also, there is a term real gigabytes in some kiosks I saw in some videos, can you make a clarification about this subject?
I'm not familiar with any MB package, honestly. Everything I have seen is GB. Pretty much everything I mentioned in the video is the information I have...The best reason for buying a SIM at the airport is so you can order an Uber out of the airport and into the city. If not for that, I would always recommend people to get their SIM in the city
@@mohdizzatemirsaadon1942 My pleasure 😁Not sure if you are planning to work or anything like that, but there is also a co-working space in downtown which is quite nice. Not sure about the price now (it was 200 EGP for the day a while back) but it's a nice spot in downtown Cairo if you need to get a lot of work done and have reliable internet. It's called Consoleya maps.app.goo.gl/4SAJDhM4koykWvbs8
there are 2 types of stores for communication companies in egypt official ones and resellers you can get an offical store location near you from their website or by calling customer service every official store will give you a copy of the contract you signed with them and with in it your sim number and its current plan they will offer you some to choose from and they will ask for your passport for the contract and maybe residency visa anyway the official stores or resellers can't charge you more for the plans but they might give you higher price based on the quota or bundle same plans have different qoutas for calls sms and internet data
also resellers might charge you more for the sim card itself but not the plan the plans have fixed prices all the info about the plans can be found on the companies website and their mobile app plus the app allow you to change plans recharge and show you all the sim info the paper in your hand looks like receipts for what you paid or info about the plans themselves the mobile apps are ana vodafone - my etisalat - my we - my orange also prepaid sims and their plans almost always cheaper for one person
Alright well first I will add I have been offered better deals that they don't initially offer, only when I tell them I will think about it and I am going to go to Orange or Etisalat/whatever, then I have been offered better deals, that has happened to me in the past when I was making a video about it the first time. And Orange did not tell me about a mixed package, in fact they told me it did not exist, until I said "of course it must, Vodaphone has it" and THEN he told me about it. Try being a foreigner and going into these stores, and you will see the experience is different
yes there are apps but I gave information for people that are just going to land and go buy a SIM card at the aiport or in a store. People aren't going to download an app about something they don't even know anything about, and they would still need to go into a physical store to buy the SIM card (and give the employee their passport and visa). Just letting you know, the reason I made this video was more for visitors to Egypt and the way they get their SIM card is usually the way I have shown in the video
@@Gventures sure, i mentioned the app for people that already purchased a local sim giving them more options and control you can't use the app anyway unless you have a working sim
@@Gventures two things here 1- i hate to say it but this just bad customer service agent being bad even egyptians suffer with this 2- i was trying to communicate why you got higher prices even if it was the same plan as a local not just because you're a foreigner sure it played a role might just given you a higher quota for the same plan because they think you will pay for it anyway and didn't mention there are cheaper ones and not a about prices for locals and foreigners i wanted to clear that for every one this why it's always a good idea to look up the company website i normally gets by with just 2gb of data costing me around 30 egp with vodafone but this just might be i had i fixed landline with wifi at home which by the way way cheaper than any mobile data plan
Thank you for such an informative video! if I know I will be staying for 1 year, is it possible to get a rolling/1 year contract or do you have to wait till you get a foreign residency card in order to do that?- any advice/recommendations?👀
I am not sure what you mean or are referring to, a one year rolling contract? Like with a job? I honestly can't answer that question, I have no idea. But good luck...
Haha. You're biased! 😆 All jokes aside, I actually I think both Orange and Vodaphone are decent. I've had Vodaphone for a long time and it works well for me, but my bf has Orange and it works well for him. Both are good. Vodaphone is cheaper (at least the deals they offered me in the store were certainly cheaper than what Orange offered).
I have the iPhone 12. My brother took out the old sim chip and he said to purchase another sim, but should I buy it at the airport or where I’m going to buy it? And what kind would I use? I’m confused
Yes you can buy it at the airport. By baggage claim there are a few small kiosks like Orange and Vodaphone. I would choose either one of those companies (they're both good - I use Vodaphone, my bf Orange). Choose a data package and the guys will put it in for you. Just check to make sure internet is working before you walk away and you're set 👍
Thanks for your kind information. If I purchase these sim cards at the airport then would it be cheaper or higher or the same? If you may know. Cheers from California.
I thought I said that in this video, did I not? You aren't the first person to ask that. Maybe I said that in my old video about SIM card prices but forgot to say it in this new one. Anyway, it's cheaper in the city. But not crazy cheaper, just a bit. You may just save money by getting it at the airport and then ordering an Uber and paying a fair price, instead of not getting it at the airport and then getting ripped off by those white street taxis waiting outside the airport to scam people. But I dunno, I guess it depends on your bargaining skills.
الشعب المصري جدا لطيف اختيار جيد بالنسبة لك ومن الرائع انك تنقلين صورة جيدة عن الناس في الشرق الاوسط وشمال افريقيا بعكس ما يقوم به اكثر المنتفعين من المشاهير باعطاء صورة ان العالم العربي كله وحوش وارهابيبن ستقابلين بعض الناس الفظيين اثناء جولاتك لكن لا تدعيهم يؤثرون بك عمل راىع استمري 🫡
Do any of the local companies offer eSims for tourists? US iPhone 14 and 15 both only have eSims, so we will have to get an ESIM plan or bring an old phone with bad battery.
I'm not aware of any local companies that offer eSims, unfortunately. Compared to the cost of the local (physical) SIM cards, the plans for eSIMS are a lot more expensive, which does suck. Since the eSIM is pretty new in Egypt, there are still not that many options. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But one thing you could do to help is bring a portable power bank and carry it on you all the time. Actually, I always do that when traveling anyway, even if my phone battery is good. Best of luck 🙏
What are the requirements (documents) to get the sim card permanent? Do u need a permanent residence card or may be a rental contract is sufficient? Can you keep the number if the visa expired and you are out of egypt for a short time and then re-enter? (like your trip to Budapest). Are there used local sim cards on the "market" from egyptien residents which could be "used/abused"? Any additional insider workarounds are highly appreciated. Thanks!
To get a "permanent SIM" you need to have some kind of long-term visa, or continuously extend your visa and (if visa extension is accepted) update the shop about it all the time. Not ideal, but it's a possible option. The only way they will let you keep you SIM card and number is through your visa, so the type of visa you have is the real answer to those questions. If your visa expires and you do not update them very soon with a new visa of some kind, you will lose that number. Not like my trip to Budapest, but I understand your question. As far as a "market" for used SIMs, well, there's a black market for most things I guess, but I don't know much about that. I'm sure you could find someone to do something for you, but do you trust them and for how long would it actually work, is the question. Best answer is to do it the proper way: long term stay? long term visa = long term SIM.
@@Gventures thanks! as of long-term visa the only option is the 5y 700USD multy entry visa, right? Do u know if there is an option for property owners to get permanent residency?
@@carstensanonym7527 There are most certainly other ways to get long term visas aside from the $700 visa, which only grants you 90 consecutive days within the country before you are required to leave. There are work visas, student visas, etc. There are also residency permits. You can apply for temporary residency, then apply for permanent residency. But as I don't work with the immigration office or any embassy, I think it's better to just research that online. Any information I could give about it I would also have just found online. Marriage is one way to obtain a long term visa/residency. Spending $300k on a property in Egypt will also give you permanent residency/citizenship. Look into it, there's lots of info online about it.
@@Gventures unfortunately the official online information in egypt are not reliable. You always need 1st hand experience on the ground which are not always easy to find...
@@carstensanonym7527 Really? Everything I have read online about the different types of visas and ways to get residency is accurate. It's just complicated, and hard to get done if you are not here in person. But as far as listing possible visas or residency options, and their requirements? Pretty accurate.
The prices in the video are a lot higher than usual, including the SIM card price it's about 81.23 egp. It is best to know the package price from the company’s website itself. Note: The prepaid packages have a paid price other than the charging price. For example, if the package requires 70 pounds to charge, then you will pay 100 pounds after the tax. so the amount you pay = charging price/0.7 units mean that you can use it as minutes or internet for example 1 unit = 1 minute to the same company number = 1 MB of internet if you calling other company number 1 minute = 5 units for we prices he is bundling Super Kix 35 that gives 1800 units charging price is 35 egp so you will pay 50 egg with Nitro internet buckets (Nitro 40, Nitro 70, Nitro 100, Nitro 200, Nitro 450) win bundling any Super Kix with any Nitro internet buckets Customer will get 25% extra on Nitro bundles Nitro 40 gives 4,062 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 5GB Nitro 70 gives 7,812 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 9GB Nitro 100 gives 12,500 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 14GB Nitro 200 gives 29,375 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 32.5GB Nitro 450 gives 62,500 MBS + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 70GB **so Super Kix 35 gives 1800 units (50 egp) + Nitro 450 gives 70GB (643EGP) + SIM card price pay for the first time only it's about 81.23 egp = 774.23 egp why he till you 1160 egp for call and data its Control Tazbeet buckets (Control Tazbeet 30, Control Tazbeet 40, Control Tazbeet 7, Control Tazbeet 110) Control Tazbeet 30 gives 1,250 MB and 300 minutes pay 43 egp after tax Control Tazbeet 40 gives 2,250 MB and 400 minutes pay 58 egp after tax Control Tazbeet 70 gives 5,250 MB and 500 minutes pay 100egp after tax Control Tazbeet 110 gives 11,250 MB and 600 minutes pay 158 egp after tax **so the largest one Control Tazbeet 110 pay 158 egp after tax gives about (12GB + 600 minutes )+ SIM card price pay for the first time only it's about 81.23 egp = ABOUT 240 EGP HOW HE TILLS YOU 505 EGP I am so sad I worked at Orange for 3 years but prices are not right for Orange, Etisalat, and WE only Vodafone is right so always double-check the price from the company’s website itself.
Because I am a foreigner man. Welcome to being a foreigner in Egypt, this is what it is like. I even say that in the video. I have been living in Egypt for over 2.5 years and recharge my phone, so I know what it costs to recharge on the app, but tourists are not going to any website or app to recharge, they are going to a store to buy a local SIM card and buy for a package for the first time, and these are the prices they will be given. That is why I made this video this way, to show exactly how a foreign tourist will experience it and what they will be told.
@@Jagutt2 Nope, you can just get it when you arrive 👍 Some people like to apply for the e-visa beforehand, which also isn't too difficult, and then you can just go straight into the immigration line when you land instead of stopping at the bank kiosk to get your visa on arrival, but I usually just get a visa on arrival myself
@@Gventures yes but my bank dident like the transfer of Money to the evisa site and markt it as skam (site linkt from the egeypt embasy) so do visa om arrival
@@dilach41 Yeah you just have to watch the video 😅 I took the time to make this video and explain it all in there, and I don't want to explain it again in the comments. Thanks for being understanding and respectful of my time ☺🙏
I actually have made whatsapp calls with my local SIM, but it doesn't work often and I think just when connected to WIFI. It's strange and I am always shocked when it somehow works. I don't think that's just local SIMS though, Whatsapp calls in general just don't work in Egypt.
@@zowievanleeuwen4882 Oh yeah I already know it's blocked, nobody wants to get into those reasons, but it has worked for me before with WIFI, and I wasn't using a VPN. It's random though. So, not reliable.
@@asesadventures As I already said, it works randomly, but it's not reliable. Most of the time it doesn't work. All Egyptians know this, and I have been living here for 3 years. So you don't really need to inform me, I know.
Yes it's definitely possible to get a SIM card at the airport. It may be a bit more expensive, I can't be sure, to be honest. But perhaps you will even save money or break even by being able to order an Uber from the airport once you have your SIM card, versus overpaying for those white taxis that try to get you once you exit the airport.
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You are doing a great job for tourists who wish to visit Egypt, you should work in the Ministry of Tourism 😂😍😍❤️❤️❤️
Haha, shukran!
Honestly she should, binged her videos before going because I had to live in Egypt for 7 months for research. I was more ready than my peers 🤭🤭
@@th223inoue Ha! That's awesome 😂❤😎
Brilliant. Thanks again Giselle 🎉😊sorry if spelled wrong. 4 weeks & counting! Xx
I’ll be in Egypt next month for 3 months. Thanks much Giselle, your videos are very informative love it
Awesome, glad to help! And welcome to Egypt ❤🇪🇬
Hello Giselle. I’m always happy when I watch your videos. I feel like I’m with you in the country. Still saving to visit again. All the best😊
Your videos are very informative, hope to see you in the streets filming when I visit in 2025. Thank you.
I thought I would chime in with my recent experience with Sim cards in Egypt. I finally broke down and bought the T-Mobile(USA based) international plan. It is pricey but I change countries often so decided to spend the money. It did work in Egypt but just as often didn't. It would show searching about half the time. I ended up buying a local Sim as well and as Giselle mentioned there was nothing in writing and i suspect I paid more than I should have. I wasn't aware that the service would stop after a month so went to the shop and was given a new Sim even though my visa was expired. I am not sure if the woman read my visa stamp correctly. Once again, I paid too much for an additional month. Oh well. My advice would be to bring a local friend with you. If you don't have a friend I suggest you make one quick. Thanks for keeping us all updated Giselle!
Thanks for the information Robert! That's good to know for people planning to use international packages. Also about the visa and buying a new SIM. Maybe they are willing to sell you a new SIM card even if your visa is expired, just not recharge it? It's a mystery 😅
Thanks for your videos it helps take the stress away. Im heading to Egypt next month for the first time. Your videos help make it worry free by knowing what to expect
Thank you so much deloisc, that's awesome to hear! There's really nothing to worry about, it's just a new environment and a little hectic, but people are friendly, the food is great, the history rich and the music beautiful. You're going to have a great time! ❤️
I conceived an idea to go to Egypt, I don't know when but it's a must! Thank you for videos that make everything much clearer!
That's awesome man, Egypt is incredible! I hope you can come soon 🇪🇬❤️
Super useful and practical video. Shukran gazilan🙏
Thanks Gisselle great information ℹ️ covers a lot of turf
Thanks man! 🙏
Very helpful video thank u. Also love the street background. Beautiful Cairo❤.
Hiii Gesille 🌸 Thanks for showing us all this info. Must have been exhausting just to get through all those packages and comparisons. Fir me, I got Vodafone's 10 GB for 157 EGP /month. I added like 40 flexes (Vodafone units for both calls /data) I guess. For 250 egp. So it is a data only package. If works well. Sometimes We get signal weak, or we just lose connection. But if works very well most of thd time.
Thanks Sha! Happy to hear it's helped 😊
Really helpful and that's despite being to Egypt thirty plus times. I haven't tried an esim in Egypt but on one occasion when in Turkey I did and it didn't work. Do the SIM it in the airport or shop and make sure it works before you leave.
egyptian local providers don't offer esim services right now
Yes, you cannot go wrong with SIM
I’ll be in Egypt next month for 10 months and I’ve been binging your videos. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
Wow, 10 months, nice! You studying? You're gonna have an incredible time ❤️🇪🇬
Shookran awy! Dah gemeel awy
Very well pointed out, thank you for sharing this information.
Thank you sooo much, Giselle!! I'm traveling to Egypt in a month to visit family and I was wondering about this exact topic! You efforts are much appreciated!! Love your hair and disposition!!
Thank you CairoRipper!
Im going to Cairo and Alexandria on september. Its my first time in different country and your videos helped me a lot. Thank you Giselle ✌🏻
Badass! I hope you have an incredible time, Egypt is amazing ❤️
So cool! I’ll be there for 2 weeks in September as well !!!!
@@ernestopena989 which days?
Thanks a lot😁😗😍 informative as usual.. sunday is fun wth ur vids❤❤❤
Thanks archanapal! 😁 Always happy to know you're watching 🙏
That was very useful update. I actually used your video to help me get a sim card (Vodafone) when I came to Egypt last time and will follow the advice when I return later this year.
Oh badass, thank you! And welcome back 😁
I am from Sweden planning to visit Egypt in September, I would like to thank you for the all useful informations that you are providing.
Thank you so much! And welcome to Egypt, I hope you enjoy it as much as me! 😁❤️🇪🇬 P.S. Bring a hand fan 😅🥵
@@Gventures thanks for advice 🙏.
Hi
Thanks alot, your fliming is amazing and the content is honest.
sincerely
Thank you so much Mr. Turki! 🙏
Thanks Giselle , I’m Egyptian and will change from Vodafone to Orange after this video 😂 to keep you informed about e-sim will working soon maybe 45 days to 60 days. Love your content
Thanks for your efforts to give the info , it’s really helpful .❤ 👍
This is great info for anyone traveling to egypt in 2024. I was about to pay almost 4x that much for an esim, hope I can still grab that promo. Thanks Giselle!
Absolutely! Those international companies are such a rip off! Local SIM cards are the best way to go in Egypt. Thanks for watching! ❤️
@@Gventures now my only struggle will be getting an uber to the Etisalat store without data… 🤔, might just end up buying a sim at the cairo airport.
Very informative 👍
Last time we had Vodafone and we were very pleased with the signal
Many Thanks!
Thanks for this info…been waiting for ESims in Egypt since I’m there once or twice a month.
My ph is w/TMobile so I get free texts, use my wifi WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls…has worked well. But last week in Egypt my TMobile Internet wasn’t working well(no connection) I could had used an ESim good thing I was there for only one day.
Hey still CC is still good to use for Visa at airport…no changes there.
I would like to know where do locals like going too for woman’s spa treatments…like hair coloring, 💅 nails, Juverderm & Botox etc.
Yes you can use CC at Cairo Intl. to buy your visa on arrival, but it's more expensive if you pay with CC. I didn't check at Giza Airport, maybe you can, but even if you can, it would be more expensive too. I just recommend people to plan for it like they would for the rest of their trip by bringing cash in the appropriate currency.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about women's spa treatments. I'm not into spas so I don't go to them or know anything about it, sorry! I dye my own hair and that's about it. But it seems to me, with the economy being the way it has been for the last few years, the spa is a luxury many cannot or are not willing to afford, so anyone going to the spa has quite a bit of money to spare on non-essential things. Just my take. They do have hammam, but I never been to that either. I am just not big on spa stuff.
Thanks for ur effort ❤
Very useful and detailed information!
Thank you so much for your effort❤
Thank you Elizz! 🥰🙏
thank you very informative , sharp to the point
Super i always used Vodaphone and worked well, thank's for the info........ as usual waiting for another surprise video🤩🤩🤩🙃
Lol. I do what I can! Some videos take longer than others to make though, so no surprise videos this week, as the one I am currently working on is taking all my free time 😅
Thank you G - visiting for 2 months in 2024.
Hi from İstanbul :)
This video is very useful. thnx
Very informative ❤🎉 thank you for videos 🎉🎉🎉
Shukran yasta 😄
Great and very helpful research. And I am so suprised that they don't have any advertising leaflets for customers
Ahaha, yeah, they SHOULD.....
Thanks for this job Guiselle❤
Shukran 😁🙏
Thanks Guiselle- I think the best perk is not to deal with physical chips. I always use E-sims- and I usually pay for 2 weeks, around $20. for 2GB
Hm, well I guess (just for me) it's not difficult to change out a chip 😅
What company do you use? And how much GB do you get for $20? I would like to know and look that up, because all the websites I was looking at were very expensive for a low amount of GB. The time frame is not so important as the amount of GB you get for your money
I love your content! Could u do day in my life videos if possible please?
I will consider it. But I am not entirely sure what I would make a video about....it would just be me working 😅 And I do also like to keep my private life private....so where I live, my home, where I frequent....😅 Just with the internet you know, it's not wise to reveal too much information about where you live, and if I show too much (like where I frequent, etc.) people can start to get an idea of what area I live in, linger around looking....I've already had some people trying to guess where I live based on very little shots I've made at my apartment in other videos
Just stopping by to say hello! 👋🤗😉i hope all is well with you.
Yeah man, all good!
units are basically company credit which you can spend on calls sms and data as you wish without allocating certain amount of your balance just for calls or just for data and can't use it for the other
Okay....so it's just a tiny bit of extra credit than you can use on what you want, basically....
Thanks Ahmed! 🙏
Thank you G for great videos. I already subscribed to your channel.
Do you have a video on visa and extentions ? I am Canadian . I have visited Egypt four times for the last 6 years and this time i want to stay 6 monthsone shot if possible. Please advise.
Awesome man, thanks for subscribing and welcome to the channel 😎 I do have videos on visas and extensions-check the description of this video! I left several links there. One thing I fail to mention in almost all of those videos-your first time extending you need to submit some kind of rental contract or proof of payment for accommodation for a longer stay.
I'm also not sure what they will grant you, as a Canadian citizen. I just know about that ongoing political spat between Egypt and Canada which has caused a lot of problems for Canadians wanting to get a visa for Egypt. But I suppose, all you can do is try. Just want you to be aware of that. Best of luck!
Great video once again. I'm having to go the E-Sim route for 2 days as my Vodafone package ends on the 16th but my visa runs out on the 18th when I leave ha
I'm confused
@@Gventures Ha it's all good. I arrived in Egypt on June 18th and got a sim card at the airport for convenience. My phone deal ends on July 16th for some reason but my Visa runs until the July 18th. As such I'm going to get an E-Sim for the two day gap between the 16th and when I leave Egypt on the 18th.
@@Skeetex3 That's weird, never heard of that before. Well, best of luck then!
Sweeet, I love your videos!
Well unfortunately the phone line in Egypt is too expensive compared with many other countries, but welcome to Egypt, hope you enjoy your time.
I think for visitors, the plans are quite affordable. They may not offer the prices to foreigners that Egyptians may get, but it's still cheap for many people visiting
thanks for this im coming in 5 days!
My pleasure! 😁
Thanks for videos Giselle, i came to cairo 3 days ago now and i really like it... Please let meet before i go back. Thanks again 🙏🏾
Thank you so much! How long are you here for? I am not sure I will have time to meet because I am usually very busy, but sometimes I am able to meet up with people, depending on the day. Happy to hear you are enjoying Egypt! ☺️
@@Gventures Normally I come for 2 weeks but I think I will extend it and frankly I love the New Cairo compounds (AlRehab).
@@Vini.HendriX You love the compounds way out in New Cairo?? Wow, I don't like them at all, lol. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Bargain = haggle or negotiate
Barter = trade/exchange goods/services for other goods/services
@@jnonne Eh, whatever
Do you update your resident card information with cell phone companies every time you extend your visa or only after the first extension?
BTW amazing efforts, thank you!
Thank you! And unfortunately yes, you must update it every time you extend. The phone company only updates it till your visa expires, every time. After extending you must update it again, and only once you have received the extension/residency card. You can't update it with just a receipt.
Hi dear Gisselle. I would like to say that yoir videos are so good, informative and helpful. 😊I am planning to shift to Egypt soon and your videos help me a lot. I want ask you to make a video on how we can rent a good 2-3 bedrooms furnished apartment easily in good areas like zamalek, Heliopolis etc? What are the price ranges and what are the ways to find an apartment as soon as we arrive in Egypt? Thank you so much for your efforts and information you collect for us.. Stay happy😊
Thank you for your kind words!
Unfortunately, I can't help you. I've had people ask me in the past to show rentals, but I honestly don't think I will ever make a video about that, for a lot of different reasons.
First, I don't speak much Arabic, so it's very, very difficult to speak with any landlords or people renting out apartments, rooms, etc. I would 100% need to recruit help from my Egyptian boyfriend or friends to translate, it's virtually impossible without help. Also, bigger risk of being ripped off if you go by yourself as a foreigner.
Second, I don't want to waste anyone's time by asking them to meet me and have me view their apartment when I am not actually looking to rent anywhere (because I already rent my own apartment - which was a royal pain in the ass to find, btw). They also might not even allow me to film inside the apartment, if I were to actually try and contact people, take time off work to drive to wherever the apartment was, and view it.
Those are two big reasons for me to never make this video, it's a lot of trouble for me, and wasting the time of the people that own these places. But not only that, there are so many variables when it comes to renting and the cost. You've narrowed it down to some nicer neighborhoods, so it won't be exactly cheap. But there are still many other aspects such as how many rooms, size of the apartment, location within these neighborhoods, furnished or unfurnished? Etc. etc.
I wish I could be of more help in this area, but for those reasons, I won't be making this video, sorry!
@@Gventures Alright I understand.. And Thank you for the response😊
@@shehwarsafa-qg1dd Yeah, sorry I can't help more. All the best with your move 👍
Hello, thanks for the great video.
I would like to ask you which option is better; either getting a sim card from the airport or the local stores cause some people say 2mb of your data is used for 1mb of your data if you get your sim card from the airport. Also, there is a term real gigabytes in some kiosks I saw in some videos, can you make a clarification about this subject?
I'm not familiar with any MB package, honestly. Everything I have seen is GB. Pretty much everything I mentioned in the video is the information I have...The best reason for buying a SIM at the airport is so you can order an Uber out of the airport and into the city. If not for that, I would always recommend people to get their SIM in the city
Really appreciate the information. One question, can i turn on hotspot using the internet data purchased?
Absolutely. I do it when the WIFI doesn't work very well in a hotel or something, or if it suddenly stops working.
@ thats great. Thank u so much!
@@mohdizzatemirsaadon1942 My pleasure 😁Not sure if you are planning to work or anything like that, but there is also a co-working space in downtown which is quite nice. Not sure about the price now (it was 200 EGP for the day a while back) but it's a nice spot in downtown Cairo if you need to get a lot of work done and have reliable internet. It's called Consoleya
maps.app.goo.gl/4SAJDhM4koykWvbs8
there are 2 types of stores for communication companies in egypt official ones and resellers
you can get an offical store location near you from their website or by calling customer service
every official store will give you a copy of the contract you signed with them and with in it your sim number and its current plan they will offer you some to choose from
and they will ask for your passport for the contract and maybe residency visa
anyway the official stores or resellers can't charge you more for the plans but they might give you higher price based on the quota or bundle same plans have different qoutas for calls sms and internet data
also resellers might charge you more for the sim card itself but not the plan the plans have fixed prices
all the info about the plans can be found on the companies website and their mobile app plus the app allow you to change plans recharge and show you all the sim info
the paper in your hand looks like receipts for what you paid or info about the plans themselves
the mobile apps are ana vodafone - my etisalat - my we - my orange
also prepaid sims and their plans almost always cheaper for one person
Alright well first I will add I have been offered better deals that they don't initially offer, only when I tell them I will think about it and I am going to go to Orange or Etisalat/whatever, then I have been offered better deals, that has happened to me in the past when I was making a video about it the first time. And Orange did not tell me about a mixed package, in fact they told me it did not exist, until I said "of course it must, Vodaphone has it" and THEN he told me about it. Try being a foreigner and going into these stores, and you will see the experience is different
yes there are apps but I gave information for people that are just going to land and go buy a SIM card at the aiport or in a store. People aren't going to download an app about something they don't even know anything about, and they would still need to go into a physical store to buy the SIM card (and give the employee their passport and visa). Just letting you know, the reason I made this video was more for visitors to Egypt and the way they get their SIM card is usually the way I have shown in the video
@@Gventures sure, i mentioned the app for people that already purchased a local sim giving them more options and control
you can't use the app anyway unless you have a working sim
@@Gventures two things here
1- i hate to say it but this just bad customer service agent being bad even egyptians suffer with this
2- i was trying to communicate why you got higher prices even if it was the same plan as a local not just because you're a foreigner sure it played a role might just given you a higher quota for the same plan because they think you will pay for it anyway and didn't mention there are cheaper ones
and not a about prices for locals and foreigners i wanted to clear that for every one
this why it's always a good idea to look up the company website
i normally gets by with just 2gb of data costing me around 30 egp with vodafone but this just might be i had i fixed landline with wifi at home which by the way way cheaper than any mobile data plan
Thank you for such an informative video! if I know I will be staying for 1 year, is it possible to get a rolling/1 year contract or do you have to wait till you get a foreign residency card in order to do that?- any advice/recommendations?👀
I am not sure what you mean or are referring to, a one year rolling contract? Like with a job? I honestly can't answer that question, I have no idea. But good luck...
no worries thanks anyway!
For most US T-Mobile customers, you'll get complimentary unlimited texting, and internet (relatively slower for the free Internet) in most countries.
True. Just more expensive, depending on the options available in your destination country
these places look so familiar to me
it all boils down to coverage .. i think orange is best.. but i have orange ... :)
Haha. You're biased! 😆
All jokes aside, I actually I think both Orange and Vodaphone are decent. I've had Vodaphone for a long time and it works well for me, but my bf has Orange and it works well for him. Both are good. Vodaphone is cheaper (at least the deals they offered me in the store were certainly cheaper than what Orange offered).
@@Gventurestypical french .. overpriced but chique 😀 yes maybe im biased ... 😀
@@mahmoudnayel2932 😄
Thanks Much Giselle, my IPhone is eSIM only, is it possible for me to buy eSIM at Cairo airport from local phone companies like Vodafone for example?
Unfortunately not. I actually said that in the video, in the eSIM chapter. Good luck
Thank you for your quick response
I have the iPhone 12. My brother took out the old sim chip and he said to purchase another sim, but should I buy it at the airport or where I’m going to buy it? And what kind would I use? I’m confused
Yes you can buy it at the airport. By baggage claim there are a few small kiosks like Orange and Vodaphone. I would choose either one of those companies (they're both good - I use Vodaphone, my bf Orange). Choose a data package and the guys will put it in for you. Just check to make sure internet is working before you walk away and you're set 👍
Thanks for your kind information. If I purchase these sim cards at the airport then would it be cheaper or higher or the same? If you may know. Cheers from California.
I thought I said that in this video, did I not? You aren't the first person to ask that. Maybe I said that in my old video about SIM card prices but forgot to say it in this new one. Anyway, it's cheaper in the city. But not crazy cheaper, just a bit. You may just save money by getting it at the airport and then ordering an Uber and paying a fair price, instead of not getting it at the airport and then getting ripped off by those white street taxis waiting outside the airport to scam people. But I dunno, I guess it depends on your bargaining skills.
@@Gventures yes you did but didn't pay attention to it maybe but now I'm officially heard it from you now thank you sweetie. Be safe out there
Nice 👍 one
🙏
الشعب المصري جدا لطيف اختيار جيد بالنسبة لك ومن الرائع انك تنقلين صورة جيدة عن الناس في الشرق الاوسط وشمال افريقيا بعكس ما يقوم به اكثر المنتفعين من المشاهير باعطاء صورة ان العالم العربي كله وحوش وارهابيبن ستقابلين بعض الناس الفظيين اثناء جولاتك لكن لا تدعيهم يؤثرون بك عمل راىع استمري 🫡
Thank you so much! I absolutely agree 🙏❤️🇪🇬
Do any of the local companies offer eSims for tourists? US iPhone 14 and 15 both only have eSims, so we will have to get an ESIM plan or bring an old phone with bad battery.
I'm not aware of any local companies that offer eSims, unfortunately. Compared to the cost of the local (physical) SIM cards, the plans for eSIMS are a lot more expensive, which does suck. Since the eSIM is pretty new in Egypt, there are still not that many options. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But one thing you could do to help is bring a portable power bank and carry it on you all the time. Actually, I always do that when traveling anyway, even if my phone battery is good. Best of luck 🙏
I am
Planing to visit August is it very hot that time ?
The hottest month! 😅
I wish you had summarized the prices and written them in the comments.
Yeah well, at least I made the video
Giselle, you're a sweetheart.... I believe the Egyptian government should give you an immediate citizenship.
Bi my Darling i am.with 02 have no clue x I am.in Egypt for 22 days x i 2025 x i put a Commeny on one of your other Vlogs x
?? What? I don't understand your comment at all, sorry.
❤ from Halifax Nova Scotia
will you make a video about khan el khalili soon
I've made a few videos about Khan el Khalili in the past....but funny you mention that now, because next weeks upload is in Khan el Khalili! 😁
@@Gventures yes I was asking because I was the boy that you met there
@@faygo2041 Oh, haha, hi! The one from Somalia raised in Ohio?
@@Gventures Yes that's me i'm looking forward for the video 😄
@@faygo2041 Lol cool man, yeah it uploads this Sunday! Glad to see you subscribed 🥰 And nice meeting you out in the market! 😎
Is it cheaper in airport or in the city can u please tell that
I did tell that.
City
@@Gventures ahh I was watching in 2x speed didn't catch that, thanks a lot BTW.
AND are shops there in giza as my hotel is far from cairo
@@Man-jq6um probably, but I am not sure where. I would search on google for whatever company you plan to use and see what comes up
Unit should be per SMS, per MB, per minute call.
🤷♀️
What are the requirements (documents) to get the sim card permanent? Do u need a permanent residence card or may be a rental contract is sufficient? Can you keep the number if the visa expired and you are out of egypt for a short time and then re-enter? (like your trip to Budapest). Are there used local sim cards on the "market" from egyptien residents which could be "used/abused"? Any additional insider workarounds are highly appreciated. Thanks!
To get a "permanent SIM" you need to have some kind of long-term visa, or continuously extend your visa and (if visa extension is accepted) update the shop about it all the time. Not ideal, but it's a possible option. The only way they will let you keep you SIM card and number is through your visa, so the type of visa you have is the real answer to those questions. If your visa expires and you do not update them very soon with a new visa of some kind, you will lose that number. Not like my trip to Budapest, but I understand your question. As far as a "market" for used SIMs, well, there's a black market for most things I guess, but I don't know much about that. I'm sure you could find someone to do something for you, but do you trust them and for how long would it actually work, is the question. Best answer is to do it the proper way: long term stay? long term visa = long term SIM.
@@Gventures thanks! as of long-term visa the only option is the 5y 700USD multy entry visa, right? Do u know if there is an option for property owners to get permanent residency?
@@carstensanonym7527 There are most certainly other ways to get long term visas aside from the $700 visa, which only grants you 90 consecutive days within the country before you are required to leave. There are work visas, student visas, etc. There are also residency permits. You can apply for temporary residency, then apply for permanent residency. But as I don't work with the immigration office or any embassy, I think it's better to just research that online. Any information I could give about it I would also have just found online. Marriage is one way to obtain a long term visa/residency. Spending $300k on a property in Egypt will also give you permanent residency/citizenship. Look into it, there's lots of info online about it.
@@Gventures unfortunately the official online information in egypt are not reliable. You always need 1st hand experience on the ground which are not always easy to find...
@@carstensanonym7527 Really? Everything I have read online about the different types of visas and ways to get residency is accurate. It's just complicated, and hard to get done if you are not here in person. But as far as listing possible visas or residency options, and their requirements? Pretty accurate.
The prices in the video are a lot higher than usual, including the SIM card price it's about 81.23 egp. It is best to know the package price from the company’s website itself. Note: The prepaid packages have a paid price other than the charging price. For example, if the package requires 70 pounds to charge, then you will pay 100 pounds after the tax. so the amount you pay = charging price/0.7
units mean that you can use it as minutes or internet for example 1 unit = 1 minute to the same company number = 1 MB of internet
if you calling other company number 1 minute = 5 units
for we prices
he is bundling Super Kix 35 that gives 1800 units charging price is 35 egp so you will pay 50 egg with Nitro internet buckets (Nitro 40, Nitro 70, Nitro 100, Nitro 200, Nitro 450)
win bundling any Super Kix with any Nitro internet buckets Customer will get 25% extra on Nitro bundles
Nitro 40 gives 4,062 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 5GB
Nitro 70 gives 7,812 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 9GB
Nitro 100 gives 12,500 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 14GB
Nitro 200 gives 29,375 MBs + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 32.5GB
Nitro 450 gives 62,500 MBS + 25% extra after bundling will be a total 70GB
**so Super Kix 35 gives 1800 units (50 egp) + Nitro 450 gives 70GB (643EGP) + SIM card price pay for the first time only it's about 81.23 egp = 774.23 egp why he till you 1160 egp
for call and data its Control Tazbeet buckets (Control Tazbeet 30, Control Tazbeet 40, Control Tazbeet 7, Control Tazbeet 110)
Control Tazbeet 30 gives 1,250 MB and 300 minutes pay 43 egp after tax
Control Tazbeet 40 gives 2,250 MB and 400 minutes pay 58 egp after tax
Control Tazbeet 70 gives 5,250 MB and 500 minutes pay 100egp after tax
Control Tazbeet 110 gives 11,250 MB and 600 minutes pay 158 egp after tax
**so the largest one Control Tazbeet 110 pay 158 egp after tax gives about (12GB + 600 minutes )+ SIM card price pay for the first time only it's about 81.23 egp = ABOUT 240 EGP HOW HE TILLS YOU 505 EGP
I am so sad I worked at Orange for 3 years but prices are not right for Orange, Etisalat, and WE only Vodafone is right so always double-check the price from the company’s website itself.
Because I am a foreigner man. Welcome to being a foreigner in Egypt, this is what it is like. I even say that in the video. I have been living in Egypt for over 2.5 years and recharge my phone, so I know what it costs to recharge on the app, but tourists are not going to any website or app to recharge, they are going to a store to buy a local SIM card and buy for a package for the first time, and these are the prices they will be given. That is why I made this video this way, to show exactly how a foreign tourist will experience it and what they will be told.
Sunday Funday🎉
Going to egypt next month. Visa on arrival is still available (from sweden)?
Yes, still available for Swedish citizens! ☺️
@@Gventures thx then i dont need to fix visa a head off time ;)
@@Jagutt2 Nope, you can just get it when you arrive 👍 Some people like to apply for the e-visa beforehand, which also isn't too difficult, and then you can just go straight into the immigration line when you land instead of stopping at the bank kiosk to get your visa on arrival, but I usually just get a visa on arrival myself
@@Gventures yes but my bank dident like the transfer of Money to the evisa site and markt it as skam (site linkt from the egeypt embasy) so do visa om arrival
@@Jagutt2 Ah, I see. Visa on arrival it is then! Just make sure to bring the right currency to pay 👍
i am not sure if you mentioned it in the video. I think tourist sim cards expire after a certain time. U know something about that?
Yeah I mentioned it in the video. I even mention it in the intro 😅
@@Gventures 🤦♂
@@dilach41 Yeah you just have to watch the video 😅 I took the time to make this video and explain it all in there, and I don't want to explain it again in the comments. Thanks for being understanding and respectful of my time ☺🙏
@@Gventures u caught me lazy 😂
@@dilach41 🤣🤷♀
❤❤❤
❤
How are you surviving financially in Egypt if you dont mind me asking?
I do 😅 I'm actually pretty private about some stuff in my life. Funny, because I have a TH-cam channel, I know.
Orange is the best
Heheh
Maybe its good to note that if you have a local simcard that you will not be able to make calls with whatsapp
I actually have made whatsapp calls with my local SIM, but it doesn't work often and I think just when connected to WIFI. It's strange and I am always shocked when it somehow works. I don't think that's just local SIMS though, Whatsapp calls in general just don't work in Egypt.
@@Gventures its blocked in Egypt because of reasons i dont want to get into, installing a vpn will make the process smoothly
@@zowievanleeuwen4882 Oh yeah I already know it's blocked, nobody wants to get into those reasons, but it has worked for me before with WIFI, and I wasn't using a VPN. It's random though. So, not reliable.
@@Gventures I did Whatsapp call with a friend in Cairo yesterday
@@asesadventures As I already said, it works randomly, but it's not reliable. Most of the time it doesn't work. All Egyptians know this, and I have been living here for 3 years. So you don't really need to inform me, I know.
This lady is so strong. If someone can live in egypt that means that ine can survive in the hell
No
Not gonna watch a video about sims card 25min long! good luck with your channel
Thanks!
Vodafone seems better.
Hi Giselle, do you know if its possible to buys SIM card at he Cairo airport? And would the prices be the same like in the city?
Kind Regards.
Yes it's definitely possible to get a SIM card at the airport. It may be a bit more expensive, I can't be sure, to be honest. But perhaps you will even save money or break even by being able to order an Uber from the airport once you have your SIM card, versus overpaying for those white taxis that try to get you once you exit the airport.
@@Gventures Perfect, thank you!
Hi Giselle, according to you, what would be the best offer for 7 days stay in Cairo? Should I go for the offer of 12GB +600mins from WE?
Kind regards.
As you see fit. I can't recommend because I have no idea how much internet/data you will consume. I always buy a large package, but I'm online often
@@Gventures I see, thank you for the reply