Visas

Because Sharm as well as some other tourist resorts such as Taba and Dahab are on the Sinai Peninsula, a Visa is required in order to a) Travel out of Sinai - ie to Cairo and b) to leave the immediate beach area and go further out to sea.  The latter means that if you want to go to some dive sites - you will need a visa.

They cost $15 or £11 cash (price correct as at Dec 07) - buy one at the airport on arrival. If you  do not, but decide later that you need one, you will either have to return to the airport or ask your rep to obtain one. The rep will charge about £3 handling fee in addition to the visa fee.

One may stay in Sinai, without a visa for 15days. Any longer and a visa is required, even if you are not venturing out of Sinai. The  15 day waiver dates back to the Camp David Treaty. 

Tour reps may try and "bully" people into buying a visa when you arrive at the airport and will even direct you to the visa queue. Do not listen to them. If you know that you are not planning on any of the trips listed below, simply write "Sinai only" on the back of the landing card & proceed to passport control. If the staff at passport control mention anything abouut a visa just say Sharm or Sinai only.

Try to buy Visas from one of the booths on the immediate left or far right as you enter the airport.  They have a large $15 on the front. As many people are now taking this advice, the queues have lessened at the tour op's desk, situated between the two. The visa itself is a silvery insert which clearly states $15 on it. It is possible (Dec '07) to obtain this insert from the tour ops desk (no payment made till you reach your transfer bus) and then haggle with  the rep who is showing you onto your bus. As it states $15 dollars on it, try and obtain the nearest equivalent in sterling if you do not have dollars. They will try & hold out for £11 each in sterling as a handling fee, just be assertive.

You need a visa if you are planning trips to Cairo, Luxor, Petra in Jordan (further Jordanian visa required on landing there) Jerusalem & Dead Sea (border fees applicable - $27 as at Dec '07) The Ras Mohammed trip by boat, quad (taking in the blue lagoon & BBQ lunch), car or bus.

You do not need a visa to visit Mt. Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastary, sunset quad biking, seascope boat trip, Tiran Island boat trip, jeep safari, Stargazing in the desert, Coloured Canyon, Dahab, Nuweiba.