Quick! Your opinion, please, would you take your 9 month old to Cairo for the weekend? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Quick! Your opinion, please, would you take your 9 month old to Cairo for the weekend?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 10:25

DH is flying to Cairo on a business trip today and wants me and DS to fly out on Thursday to join him for the weekend. I need to decide right now. I have been to Cairo before (pre-baby) and loved it but worried about things like whether taxis have seatbelts to fix the car seat and whether you can push a stroller along the crowded streets (he still fits in the Babybjorn but my poor back! We don't have an Ergo). Very confused! We would only be going for 2 days so taking baby food etc. is not a problem. I keep imagining a photo of DS crawling with the pyramids in the background so maybe not thinking straight. Help, should I do it or not!?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 12:33
We just took my 10mnth old baby girl to Cairo in Nov. So pleased we took her. The flight went really quickly considering she was up and about the whole time. Apart from the usual issues of sleep times, bottles and feeding etc which we more or less stuck too like we do at home, the most useful and safest item we took was a [b'>back pack [/b'>for her. A god send. From Dubai airport customs, Cairo customs and the queue, the streets walking around, the pryamids and the museum. We only used the pram to go the restuarant in the hotel. If you can get one, or a front pack - no regrets at all. I am pleased we went and although we were limited by her sleeps etc, it was a successful trip and no way I could have left her for 2 days anyway! We did ask the hotel for a kettle to boil water and also to wash her bottles and food plates etc in the bathroom basin so I would recommend taking a tiny bottle of dishwashing liquid and perhaps laundry powder to wash urgent things. If not it can be a bit of search in the local shop and the hotel turned up with industrial strength stripper for the cleaning dishes! Given the times of restaurants etc and sleep times, we bought takeaways and snuggled up in the room while she slept. Good luck - xx
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 January 2011 - 09:06
umm let's see I have lived in Cairo for more than a decade,was practically raised there and my husband has family there, and still i do not want to take my now 18 month old to Cairo cause I am worried she gets sick as she is especially vulnerable to having the Croup, so no Cairo for me still :))) PS: I strongly advise not to rent a car if you or ur husband never drove there, it is seriously mad driving and you will never be able to reach te pyramids on ur own cause there are no traffic signs!!!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 23:15
I did take my LO to Cairo at 9 months. It was ok - did not really leave the hotel too much with him. We had a private car, but no seatbelt - think I took my carry car seat and used that. But I do agree it is very polluted and if your LO is susceptible to coughs, etc. it is not a good idea. I have also been to Delhi on many occassions - I found Delhi easier than Cairo to deal with! JMO ha!!! Inside Chandini Chowk???? I havent seen anything crazier than that place! lol!!!!! Eitherways, I am not going there or to Cairo (if its worse than delhi) till my LOs are 18! :D
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 19:55
I did take my LO to Cairo at 9 months. It was ok - did not really leave the hotel too much with him. We had a private car, but no seatbelt - think I took my carry car seat and used that. But I do agree it is very polluted and if your LO is susceptible to coughs, etc. it is not a good idea. I have also been to Delhi on many occassions - I found Delhi easier than Cairo to deal with! JMO
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 17:56
I wouldn't , not with crazy packed streets and the roads....ouch. Nice city, I've been and enjoyed it, but not with a baby.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 17:47
Yea, i took a 5month old to Delhi for a week.. and that was insane! :) But baby and I survived it and it was quite an experience! I'd say go for it.. but try to avoid extemely busy places.. Its always nice to get a change of scenery even if its for 2 days! :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 15:30
The flight takes around 4 hours.... and no, taxi's don't have seat belts so don't count on that at all. A lot of hotels offers limosine services though which is your alternative. It also depends which area is your hotel? there are areas in Cairo that you can walk with the baby stroller, others no way! I think you should just go and enjoy, it might turn out to be a fantastic weekend :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 10:53
How long is the flight? Because if you are only going for 2 days and both are completely jetlagged than that would ruin an otherwise perfect weekend. Also, how long does it take little one to settle when he isnt sleeping at home? I am saying this because I came back from a weekend Fujeirah completely exhausted and now afraid to do anything shorter than 3 days thinking its not worth it. Besides that, if taxis dont have seatbelts maybe your husband can rent a little car just for the weekend so you guys dont have to depend on taxis. Maybe hubby can wear the baby bjorn to save your back? Just brainstorming here, lol..
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 10:35
One of the worst cities in the world for traffic noise and pollution ! Leave the babe at home :\:
 
 

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