What to Pack for a Red Sea Holiday (the Things People Forget)

Most of what you need for a Red Sea holiday you will buy automatically: swimwear, sunglasses, a phone charger, something to read by the pool. The trip rarely goes wrong because you forgot the obvious things. It goes a little sideways because of the small, easy-to-overlook items — the reef shoes you wished you had on a rocky entry, the change you did not have for a tip, the long-sleeve top that would have saved your shoulders on day two. This is the list a resident sends a friend before they fly in: not a 40-item spreadsheet, just the things that genuinely make the difference between a smooth week and a slightly uncomfortable one. Pack the usual, then run through these.

Sun protection that actually works here

The Red Sea sun is stronger and more direct than many visitors expect, and the sea breeze hides how much you are catching. The classic mistake is relying on one bottle of low-factor lotion and burning by the second afternoon.

• A high-factor sunscreen, and enough of it. A small tube does not last a beach week for a family. Bring more than you think, and consider a reef-conscious mineral option (non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) for time in the water.
• A rash vest or long-sleeve swim top. This is the single best item on the list. It blocks the sun completely, never washes off into the reef, and means far less lotion on your back and shoulders. One per person.
• After-sun or a simple aloe gel. Even careful people catch a bit of sun on the first day. After-sun is sold locally but bringing your preferred one saves a pharmacy hunt on arrival.
• A wide-brim hat and proper sunglasses. Shade for your face and eyes, especially on boat trips where glare bounces off the water all day.

Takeaway: cover up rather than relying on lotion alone. A rash vest and a hat do more than a second bottle of cream ever will.

For the water: reef shoes, snorkel kit and cards

Much of the coast's magic is in the water, and a few items make getting in and out painless.

• Reef shoes or sturdy water sandals. Many entries are over rock, dead coral rubble or a sharp shoreline rather than soft sand. Reef shoes protect your feet, save a lot of wincing, and are cheap to bring. Worth it even if you only snorkel occasionally.
• Your own mask and snorkel, if you have them. Rental kit is widely available, but a mask you know fits and does not leak is far more comfortable. A snorkel is small and packs flat.
• Certification and dive cards. If you dive, bring your certification card and, if you have one, your logbook. Centres will usually ask to see proof of your level, and having it on hand avoids delays or a check-out dive you did not expect.
• A dry bag, even a cheap one. For phones, cards and a towel on boat days. Spray and the odd splash are guaranteed.

A quick note for divers: if it has been a while since your last dive, a short refresher is sensible, and your logbook helps the centre place you correctly. None of this is something to sort out in a rush on the morning of a trip.

A modest layer for trips and respectful moments

Resorts and beaches are relaxed about swimwear, but the moment you leave the resort bubble the dress code shifts, and a single light layer covers almost every situation.

• A scarf or light shawl, and a top that covers the shoulders. Useful for visiting a religious site, where covered shoulders and knees are generally expected; at a mosque, women are usually also asked to cover their hair, so a scarf is worth having to hand. Norms vary by site, so it is worth checking what each place asks of visitors.
• Knee-length shorts or light trousers. For wandering a local market, the old town, or a town centre away from the tourist strip, modest clothing is simply more comfortable and better received.
• Something to slip on for a desert or town excursion. Light, breathable, covering — it doubles as sun protection.

This is about ease and respect, not strict rules. One versatile layer in your day bag means you are never caught out, whether the plan changes to a mosque visit or a walk through a residential neighbourhood.

Money, meds and the small practical stuff

These are the items that cause the most quiet frustration when they are missing — and the easiest to pack.

• Small cash for tips. Tipping for good service is normal and appreciated — porters, housekeeping, drivers, boat crew, restaurant staff. The trick is having small notes; nobody can break a large one for a tip. Keep a stash of small change handy from day one.
• Any prescription medication, in its original packaging. Bring enough for the whole trip plus a little spare, keep it in your carry-on, and carry a copy of the prescription or a doctor's note. Do not assume a specific medicine will be easy to find locally.
• A small personal first-aid and comfort kit. Plasters, any motion-sickness remedy you rely on for boat trips, painkillers, and rehydration sachets. Pharmacies are plentiful, but you will not want to go hunting on day one.
• Plug adapters and a power bank. Sockets in Egypt commonly take the two round-pin European-style plug, so a suitable adapter matters if your devices use a different fitting. A power bank keeps your phone alive through a long boat or desert day.

Verify before you travel: rules on bringing personal medication into Egypt can vary by drug, and some medicines that are routine elsewhere may be restricted or require documentation. Before you fly, check your specific prescriptions against the current official guidance — your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate and the relevant Egyptian authorities — as well as your airline's rules, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Carry documentation for anything you bring. This is general guidance, not medical or legal advice.

Stay hydrated, cut the plastic

Heat plus salt water plus long days outdoors means you will drink more than you do at home.

• A refillable water bottle. It keeps you drinking, saves money, and cuts single-use plastic that too often ends up on the beach or in the sea. Many hotels and dive centres will refill it.
• Electrolyte tablets or rehydration sachets. Easy to forget, very welcome after a hot day or a big snorkel.

A small note on water: many visitors prefer bottled or properly filtered drinking water over the tap, and refill their bottle from a source they trust. If you are unsure what is safe where you are staying, ask your hotel or dive centre.

Don't forget the cooler months are real here

The Red Sea is warm year-round in the sun, but the desert loses its heat fast once the sun drops, and the cooler months catch people out who packed only for the beach.

• Light layers for cool evenings. In the cooler season, evenings and early mornings can feel genuinely chilly, especially by the water or on a boat. A light jumper, a long-sleeve top, and long trousers cover it.
• A light jacket or fleece for desert and boat days. Wind on the water and open desert at dawn or dusk can be cold even when the afternoon was hot.
• Closed shoes for excursions. Sandals are fine for the beach, but a desert trip, a quad excursion, or a cooler evening out is more comfortable in trainers.

The save-and-forward summary: rash vest, reef shoes, high-factor and after-sun, a refillable bottle, your dive and certification cards, a modest layer for trips, small cash for tips, your own meds with documentation, the right plug adapter, and — in the cooler months — a light layer for the evenings. Pack those and the usual holiday kit, and the coast takes care of the rest.