This congress sounds great, where can I register?

Online of course, you can find a registration form on this website. If however you would like to receive an offline version of this form please contact cairo09_[at]_youngsietar_[dot]_org. You can send your form via mail to:
Young SIETAR (Congress 2009)
Anthoniushof 75
3583 ZC  UTRECHT
The Netherlands

What is included in the registration fee

The registration fee includes full access to the four-day congress, accommodation (Wednesday night through Sunday), half board, coffee breaks, conference materials, proceedings, congress map and much more.

Can I get any discounts?

Yes and no, the organizing committee has tried to bring the prices down as much as possible and cannot provide many reductions. There are however some possibilities. The first one is by becoming a YS member. This entitles you to the reduced Young SIETAR member fee. The special reduced fee of 120 euro is available to Young SIETAR members on application under special circumstances. If you apply for the reduced fee, we expect you to explain why you should be granted this special reduction. We will get in touch with you for additional clarification and/or with the Congress Team decision regarding granting the reduction. If granted the reduction, you will probably be expected to perform some voluntary work concerning the Congress organisation prior to or during the event and/or the documentation of the Congress after the event.
See “Congress Fee and Registration” for exact prices.

Can I pay when arriving at the congress?

Unfortunately this isn't possible as we rely on congress fee for the preparation.

Can I get a receipt?

No problem, you will receive a receipt on arrival at the congress. If you however need this receipt before time, please send this request to cairo09_[at]_youngsietar_[dot]_org

When I have filled in my form via the website does this automatically mean that I have registered?

Sorry, not yet. The registration is official once the payment has been received.

When can I expect the confirmation?

The day that your payment has been received by the ABN-AMRO, one of the congress organizers will contact you via email and confirm you participation.

Are there a maximum number of participants?

Yes there is, we have set the maximum number of participants for this year’s event at 65. This means that registration will be handled on a first come first serve basis. So if you want to be sure not to miss this years exciting event, please register soon.

Sleeping arrangements, where can I get a place to sleep?

Your accommodation is included in the congress fee and arranged for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. If you are planning to arrive before or stay longer you will have to arrange own accommodation. More information regarding the location of the accommodation will be posted soon.

Is there the possibility of ‘upgrading’ my sleeping accommodation?

The standard option would be sharing a double or triple room. There is though the possibility of upgrading to a single room. This option is available on a 'first-come-first-served' basis so we cannot guarantee that a single room will be available - you will receive a confirmation once your registration has been processed. The upgrade to a single room will add a surcharge of to your Congress fee. The exact fee will be made available by the time the registration process opens at the end of April.

What should I bring for pocket money?

Well that's a very good question. It all depends if you enjoy socializing or not. No, more seriously, as this event focuses on students and young professionals, you could expect some nights out. Although we are currently trying to take care of as much as possible, you'll probably need some money for cultural tours of the city and …..

What is the Egyptian currency?

The currency is the Egyptian pound (LE) which is divided into 100 piastres (pt). The currency comes in bill that are of different colors and sizes. The denominations are 25 pt, 50pt and 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pounds.

Can I use ATMs in Cairo?

One can find ATMs in major hotels and shopping malls. As well as in the more touristy and  developed parts of Cairo - Downtown, Zamalek, Dokki, Mohandeseen, Heliopolis, Nasr City and parts of Giza. Check with your bank before you leave regarding fees for withdrawing money.

Should I take out Travel Medical Insurance?

Yes.
For EU citizens: Since Egypt is not a part of the EU your EU Health Care Card will not cover you should you need to avail of medical care. It would be advisable to take out travel medical insurance.

Do I need any Inoculations for Egypt?

None are essential, but it would be recommended to be vaccinated against tetanus and hepatitis (A and B), but this is true for anywhere you travel.

What should I wear?

Pack clothing that is light and that covers you. If you are a female try not to show too much skin. Both men and women should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless t-shirts and tops. Also it is frowned upon wearing pants or skirts that do not cover the knees. We would like to be respectful of the local culture. Women should bring a head scarf (or buy one on the spot) if they would like to visit a mosque since this is a religious requirement for entering the building.

What will the weather be like?

November in Cairo is still relatively warm with temperatures reaching 25 – 28 Degrees Celsius during the day however the evenings are getting cooler, so do bring a sweater or a light jacket. Rain during this month is not common. Since there have been quite a few irregularities in the weather patterns lately, do check the forecast for Cairo while packing.

Will I need a Visa for Egypt?

Majority of nationalities are required to have a visa, including US and EU citizens. Contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country to find out more details. See below for more information.

Where can I obtain a Visa prior to coming to Cairo?

Check the website of your foreign affairs ministry. Majority of nationalities do need a visa to enter Egypt. This can be obtained in advance at the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country at least one month prior to your departure for Egypt. Visas can also be purchased at the airport upon entering Egypt (the visa stamp costs 15 USD) – this is however not the case for all nationalities. We strongly advise you to consult the embassy before embarking on your travels to Egypt.

Does YS help with obtaining Visas?

Sorry YS can not help in obtaining the Visa for Egypt. We can only send out an official letter of invitation once you register for the congress and we receive your congress fee payment should this be needed.

Who can I contact in case of an Emergency?

It is advisable to come to Cairo equipped with the contact details (address and telephone number) of their countries embassy or consulate in Cairo. Also check on the website of your embassy what the procedures are in case of an emergency occurring in Cairo.

Participants once registered will be given approx. one month before the start of the congress a local Egyptian number where they can be reached at the congress in case of an emergency.

Local Emergency numbers are:
For the tourist police call 126
For an ambulance call 123
For the fire service call 125

Will my European mobile work in Egypt?

It should, as long as you have roaming. We advise you to double check with your mobile operator.

How to use public transport in Cairo?

The most common means of transportation for foreigners are taxis. They are very cheap and cost approx. 1 to 1.5 Egyptian pounds (LE) per kilometer. Other alternatives are the metro (1 LE per ride), buses (0, 25 - 2 LE), and micro buses (0, 50 LE). This can be an adventure if you do not speak Arabic but not more than in any other developing country. It would be recommendable to mainly use taxis. There are two types of taxis, black-and white and yellow taxis. The black and whites are cheaper on short distances, however their meters do not work, therefore you need to have an approximate idea how much the ride should be and then still bargain about it.  The yellow cabs are air conditioned, with a running meter and only about 0, 5 Euro more expensive, esp. on short distances. Definitely a more comfortable option yet they are harder to flag down on the streets.

Are there any common pitfalls for non-Arabic speaking visitors to Cairo?

Hmm this is a tough one! It is obviously harder to get around without knowing the language - then again many Egyptians do have a very basic command of English and will often go out of their way to help you. On the more negative side, the chances of being ripped off when using the transportation system or when shopping is greater. There is also the possibility of being at the receiving end of a verbal harassment when on the streets of Cairo. This is a daily reality for foreigners in Egypt.
One piece of advice: Haggle! Haggle! and try to bargain.  Also try to find out the “real” price of something before you start to haggle.

I would like to prepare for coming to Cairo. Are there any guidebooks, literature or websites that is recommended for first time visitors to Cairo?

Young SIETAR has created a participant forum, where such things as getting to Cairo, preparing for the congress and other topics can be discussed.  Check it out at http://www.youngsietar.org/events/upcoming-ys-events/10th-young-sietar-congress-in-cairo/forum/

For practical information read the Lonely Planet + Rough Guide. That would be a good start.
Non-fiction recommended books:
Cairo:  The City Victorious by Max Rodenbeck (great and very readable book on social history of Cairo)
Inside Egypt by John Bradley (this book offers a very insightful look at the current political, economical and social situation in Egypt)

Fictional books that are recommended:
The Yacoubian Building by Alaa al Aswany (a recent best-seller)
The Midaq Alley - Naguib Mahzouf   (The author is an Egyptian Nobel prize winner. This novel is one of his most well known works)
Taxi - Khaled al Khamisi (a recent best-seller)

The Egyptian Tourism Ministry has a website with travel information. Check it out at
www.touregypt.com.

What electricity current is used in Egypt?

Electrical voltage in Egypt is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. The plugs have two round pins (the same as on Continental Europe) Participants from North America, Great Britain and Ireland will need an adaptor.

What time are shops and banks open in Cairo?

Banks are normally open from 8.30am until 2pm Sunday to Thursday. It is possible to find a bank open 24hours in the major Western hotels.
Stores are usually first open at 10am but stay open until 10pm. Many close on Friday (either for the full day or for an hour during Friday prayers) for the Islamic holy day and many are also closed for the full day on Saturday.

Are there any English-speaking newspapers in Cairo?

Yes there are several. The Egyptian Gazette is an English language paper that is published daily apart from Sunday. Also the Al-Ahram is a weekly paper that can be obtained. The Daily Star Egypt, a local edition of the Beirut daily is also available. Grab the Egypt Today or Cairo Community Times, both monthly magazines if you are interested in finding information regarding local events.

Can I drink the tap water in Cairo?

Doctors recommend, particularly for people from Western countries to drink bottled water. However if you happen to drink some tap water it should not do you any harm. Also try to avoid unpeeled fruit and uncooked vegetables. Salads should also be avoided in restaurants where you can not tell how the ingredients were cleaned.

Except for the congress what can I expect?

Just expect a great four days. The academic part is of course just one side of the Young SIETAR congress, you'll get to make tons of new friends, you'll get to visit the wonderful city of Cairo, and of course you will enjoy our "intercultural nightly gatherings".

Anything I shouldn't forget?

One good thing is always to bring some personal cards with you, with email, phone etc. You'll meet so many people that weekend, they really come in handy. PS: Note that we didn't use the word "business card", which doesn't have the same purpose as the "personal card".
Please, bring also a picture (or two) of yourself!

The congress sounds great, I already talked about it to many of my friends, and we should be coming to Cairo with a group of 25 fantastic students interested in the intercultural field. Is that ok?

Well, actually it isn't really the best thing to do. Your group sounds great, but the problem with an inter-cultural congress, is that the "inter" part means that in order to have a great congress we should have people come from as many places as possible, as well as from different academic horizons. That is why we reserve the right to fix some limits. We believe that a big group of people who already know each other would make subgroup within the congress, and it wouldn't in the overall development of the congress. So if I got one advice to give to you, register as soon as possible.
PS: This of course doesn't mean you can't bring friends, or promote the congress in your school.

My English is not very good but I am very interested in attending the congress. Is there a high level of English needed to follow the lectures and the workshops?

First of all, we wouldn't like that to be a barrier for you, so we would say no. English is the main language there, but you'll soon realize that you aren't the only one whose English isn't as good as an Englishman’s. All workshops are in English, but often there is someone willing to translate something you don't understand, and speakers are always trying not to use a too specific vocabulary. Just give it a try!

If you have further questions have a look at our forum and if you don't find there post it :-). We will do our best to answer.