In the light of rising tensions in Egypt, as an army ultimatum for President Morsi to resolve deadly unrest approaches, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising British nationals against all but essential travel to Egypt except the popular red sea resorts as detailed below.

Egypt travel advice and your travel insurance

It is very important that you are abreast of the latest Foreign Office advice before you travel to Egypt; you can view the Egypt travel advice page on their website for the latest information or find them on Facebook and twitter.

FCO Egypt Travel Advice

If the FCO advises against travel to your destination within Egypt, your travel insurance will not provide cover if you travel against their advice. In this situation you should contact your tour operator for the latest information. If your tour operator is unable to operate the holiday due to FCO advice they have a duty to offer an alternative holiday or a full refund.

If you are forced to rearrange your trip you can simply transfer your Goodtogoinsurance.com travel insurance policy to your new holiday. There is no administration charge, although it may be subject to any additional premium due to a change in destination or duration.

If you are already in Egypt and the civil unrest has broken out during your trip, you will be covered as normal under the medical and personal accident sections of your policy, so long as you follow the latest FCO advice for British nationals already in Egypt.

If you are travelling to one of the popular Red Sea resorts, as listed below and on the FCO website, your travel insurance will be unaffected as the FCO is not currently advising against travel to these areas.

The situation in Egypt is unpredictable and may change quickly. You should keep up to date with the latest advice from the FCO, monitor the situation carefully and follow any instructions given to you by the local authorities, the FCO or your tour operator.

The FCO advice currently states (03/07/2013):

In view of the continued unrest in Egypt, the FCO recommends against all but essential travel to Egypt except for resorts on the Red Sea in South Sinai and those resorts on the Egyptian mainland in Red Sea governorate.

In the governorate of South Sinai the FCO advise against all but essential travel, with the exception of (i) the Red Sea Resorts including those in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Dahab; (ii) the St Catherine’s Monastery World Heritage Site; (iii) road travel between the Red Sea resorts; (iv) road travel from the Red Sea resorts to St Catherine’s Monastery approaching from the east; and (v) transfers between the resorts and the airports of Taba and Sharm el Sheikh.

We are not advising against the use of Cairo airport as a transit stop providing you do not leave the airport grounds.

British nationals already in Egypt:

Although we are not recommending immediate departure at the moment, British Nationals already in Egypt in areas where we advise against all but essential travel should consider whether they have a pressing need to remain. While in Egypt they should stay at or close to home or a place of safety (e.g. their hotel), keep a low profile and pay close attention to their personal safety, particularly in the larger cities. They should take particular care to avoid crowds. The situation is changeable and they should continue to watch our travel advice closely.

Check the latest FCO Egypt Travel Advice