Is ice in drinks safe in Egypt — can it cause stomach problems?

In one report, water from a cooler on a yacht excursion was followed by vomiting and severe illness overnight, while cocktails and beer at the hotel had caused no problems over a 10-day stay. For boat trips, the traveler recommends bringing water from the hotel instead of using the onboard cooler.

One report suggests that stomach symptoms may be due to an enterovirus rather than ice, with higher exposure around pools through water, wet surfaces, handrails, and pool edges in crowded areas. The traveler visited Egypt three times, regularly drank cocktails with plenty of ice without symptoms, and rarely used pools.

Another report says ice was added to all drinks, even when it was requested without ice, with no negative effects. Discomfort started about an hour after accidentally swallowing seawater, so other exposures besides ice should also be considered.

Some travelers suspect ice isn't the real cause of stomach issues: kids also drank iced drinks but stayed healthy. A similar wave of illness reportedly occurred at another resort (Hurghada) in late May, suggesting a seasonal or viral outbreak rather than ice being to blame.

A family of two adults and two children (ages 8 and 12) drank everything with ice and ate freely — no issues at all. Their only precaution was brushing teeth with bottled water.

On the 6th day of the trip, everyone in the group fell ill — some with diarrhea, some with vomiting. Ice is suspected as the cause, as a 12-year-old had been drinking milkshakes with ice.

Dirty glasses (lipstick marks, visible residue) were frequently encountered. One traveler links diarrhea specifically to hotel glasses: no issues when using their own cup, but diarrhea appeared the one time they forgot it — with no other dietary changes. Bringing your own cup is recommended.

Ice may cause a sore throat rather than stomach problems — especially when combined with outdoor heat and heavily air-conditioned interiors. Ice is added generously everywhere in Egypt, so those prone to throat reactions from cold drinks should be cautious.

Several travelers advise avoiding salad leaves, noting they carry a higher infection risk if not washed thoroughly. They brushed teeth with bottled water only. Both adults and children aged 10–13 drank cocktails with ice without any issues.

One traveler avoids ice as a precaution, though her daughter drank cocktails with ice without any issues. She notes that ice-related problems may be specific to certain hotels rather than Egypt in general.

Other travelers point out that hotel ice in Egypt is typically made from packaged purified water. Children who don't drink iced cocktails still sometimes get sick, suggesting ice alone is not the main culprit.

One traveler attributed her stomach upset to champagne consumed on the second day of her trip, with diarrhea lasting two days. Packing Enterofuryl (an intestinal antiseptic) is recommended as a precaution.