Are there mosquitoes in Egypt and how to protect yourself?

Mosquito bites in Egypt are often subtle and painless — just small red dots like a rash, with no swelling. Mosquitoes were also encountered in the Sky Bar in the evening — silent, but dot-like marks appear on legs the next morning.

In November the hotel grounds weren't treated, and mosquitoes/midges bit on the balcony. Egyptian-made OFF sold at the Auchan supermarket across the road from the hotel worked well; a cheaper alternative was only 30-40 EGP less but wasn't sought out. Clove oil, recommended as a mosquito remedy, didn't help. A sister hotel of the same chain about 1.5 km away had almost no mosquitoes or flies.

A local pharmacy explained that how visible and intense the bite marks are depends on an individual's skin sensitivity, not on the mosquitoes themselves.

Wind helps — mosquitoes are barely noticeable when it's breezy. Repellent devices brought from home don't work on local mosquitoes, so there's no point packing them. Better to buy something locally and ask reception to spray the room.

A locally bought spray from the pharmacy may be defective (won't spray) and ineffective against bites. Consider switching to an alternative such as OFF.

Mosquitoes bite selectively — in a group, they may target only one person while leaving others untouched. Bites can be severe, covering the legs entirely, with marks lasting weeks after returning home.

Mosquitoes are found not just in rooms and on balconies, but also at reception, in the dining area, and in elevators — especially in the mornings. They are nearly invisible, so some guests mistake the bites for bedbugs.

Raptor plug-in repellent proved effective against local mosquitoes. If you forget to bring one from home, it can be purchased at a local pharmacy.

Mosquitoes swarm on balconies in the mornings. They are tiny and silent but leave large red marks. Local repellent sprays are available but not very effective — bring your own from home.

A plug-in mosquito repellent was already in the room upon check-in, but mosquitoes were still present. Repellent tablets (like Raid) brought from home worked well, while local liquid plug-ins were much less effective.

With windows kept closed, only one mosquito was encountered over 4 days. They are most active outdoors in the evenings. You can ask reception to spray the room — doing this on arrival day is a good precaution.