There are State Department advisories, but I agree it would be an amazing experience and perhaps better to go with those who live there. He will need to get a visa to travel there. They recommend increased caution (Level 2). Not sure where Rita found that the D of S says it is safe-that would be level 1, unless she is just referring to Cairo which is pretty much okay.

State Dept

Level 2 increased caution is what is recommended for London as well.

And probably for Paris. I just think he needs to know that he needs to not do anything silly.

ETA: I do think it would be a wonderful experience. My brother-in-law went there regularly for business several years ago and I would love to go.

I totally agree, cyn. I was just trying to put the threat level into perspective. I would love to visit as well.

Egyptians as a people are tremendously warm and hospitable. I am sure the hosting family will go out of its way to ensure Legomom's son has a spectacular time.

I would go under the “protection“ of locals in a heartbeat. My DIL’s Egyptian relatives recommend April for me (a white mid-Atlantic native who detests summer), but under your DS’s conditions, I’d jump on it!

I wouldn’t say yes without meeting and talking with the parents first! That would be my only reservation — not knowing the parents at all.

Yes to meeting the parents. Yes to checking with the CDC for recommended vaccines. Yes to reminding him to only drink bottled water that he opens himself and none of that soda that the guides open and hand to you. It will be hot so he has to drink drink drink. I didn’t drink enough and ended up with a kidney stone after I got home. (I’ve been fine ever since ). Be sure to give him spending $$ and explain to him the economy of baksheesh. Assuming this all checks out, he should be fine.

Yes, I agree, meeting the parents is key. Thank you all for the feedback. I have terrible travel anxiety, so it's helpful to me to hear where other people stand. Would you let your son go? That's the question!

I would not hesitate to send my son (provided I felt comfortable with the parents.) I would see about having a mobile phone he could use there. And of course follow all travel advice from State Dpt.

PS I have the opposite of travel anxiety ;-)

I would want to meet with the parents as advised above, and I would want to know what was being planned for the two weeks that your son would be visiting.

Lego, my oldest is in India right now for her business. She has an organic, sustainable fair trade clothing line that is manufactured in India. She has to travel all over, alone, often taking small local planes to jump from one place to another. Talk about anxiety! So, I hear you. But you shouldn't transfer your anxiety on to your son.

You have the best case scenario. He will be with a family that has a home that they travel back to every year.

Is your son eager to go? Is he a good traveler? This would be an amazing opportunity, but all the pieces have to fit together. When my DD's were that age, they were relentless.

He is eager to go. He doesn't have a lot of travel experience though. Although we have traveled a decent amount, he hasn't been out of the country.

First step then is to meet the parents. Write down all your questions and concerns so you don't forget anything.

I am wondering if other American friends have been invited in the past? Maybe you could get their input?

Agree on the advice to meet the parents, but just wanted to chime in that Egypt is an amazing place. I wound up studying in Cairo right after college almost 30 years ago with almost no prior international exposure. What amazed me was how safe it was. Once I forgot a bag of produce in a shop - it was probably worth 30 cents at the time - and the shopowners tracked me down in my hostel to return it. There are some risks, mostly from people who cash in on tourists, but I'd send my teenager in a heartbeat as long as I felt comfortable with the family.

Fwiw your son's friend's family is almost surely upper middle class or wealthy - they will show him a different version of Cairo than he might see as a typical tourist. That can be really special. But in my experience (also from other countries in the region) sometimes families like this also tend to be protective. My Egyptian classmates were shocked that I had visited very poor areas of Cairo and that I hadn't been to any private clubs.

About travel anxiety, I mentioned I didn't have any. The reason for that is my mother had plenty. For all my mother's many qualities, intelligent risk assessment was not one of them. While I am not reckless by any means, my children have travelled all over the world, without parental supervision since they were 11 years old.

One of the things you probably want to cover pretty well in depth with your son is the cultural differences to expect. You can cover the broad spectrum of Middle Eastern cultures, not knowing exactly where to locate your son's hosts- though of course upper middle class is likely- they will still probably be considerably more conservative than what your son is used to. Familiarization with Egyptian cuisine, religion- they could be Coptic, customs, would be good.

It would also be good to learn a few basic Arabic words and phrases.

It sounds like an amazing experience...I would totally let my child go if I were comfortable with the family.

One of my kids (16) is a huge traveler. Both of my kids have been lots of places with us, of course, so are accustomed to air travel, etc., but dd has always wanted more. At 14 she went with a teen adventure travel group (a highly regarded company with a top notch program that vets the kids) out west for two weeks. The travel part involved flying from the East Coast with a connection...I was a little apprehensive about that part since they wouldn’t be with the chaperones until reaching Jackson Hole, but she flew UM & all was well. She is actually spending 2 weeks in Slovenia this summer through this same company! While I don’t have travel anxiety per se, I do suffer from claustrophobia so don’t love long plane trips. I am thrilled dd doesn’t have this problem.

I believe young people should take any opportunity they can get to enrich themselves through travel. Your son will have an amazing, insider’s view of life in Egypt.