Monday, March 29, 2010

Currency and hints for Egypt


I went to Egypt last year and have a few handy hints for your trip.

Take Egyptian pounds with you - it's really handy to have the local currency, especially in notes smaller than 50s (which the ATMs spit out). Go to our website for the latest rates.

Also bring some US Dollars in small denominations and for any add ons for your tour (eg Abu Simbel). You'll also need to pay an arrival tax of US$15 per person when you arrive in Egypt which it is handy to have when you get there.

Cash Passports work in Egypt - I recommend using the ATMs in your hotel. It's a bit of a culture shock out on the streets, in Cairo in particular, and no matter how hard you try you'll look like a westerner so it's probably best to not be using street side ATMS. If you are on a tour (which most people are) there probably won't be many opportunities to use ATM machines so make sure you get some cash out before the tour starts if you haven't brought enough cash with you.

Tipping (known as Baksheesh) is a full part of Egyptian culture whether for someone bringing you a drink, allowing you to use the toilet or driving you around. Drivers will be expecting about US$2 dollars a day per person and tour guides will look for about US$5 a day per person. Piastres (the Egyptian Cents) will do for toilets etc. You may find that it is hard to get these as most prices are rounded to 5, or more usually 10 Egyptian Pounds in most tourist places. A good tip is to change some of your notes down to Piastres and / or 1 pound notes at the bank in your hotel before your tour starts. It's really hard (if not impossible) to get them in Australia before you leave.

Haggling is also a part of the culture. I tended to stay out of the way when it came ot haggling, but I will just say, go hard and be prepared to walk away if they don't get cheap enough.

It's really important to drink bottled water but do try to buy it outside your hotel, which will be charging you a fortune. Take a trip to the local servo which will be much cheaper even for Evian etc. Be careful of buying water on the roadside etc as it may be filled from a tap. Your tour will also probably provide water free of charge each day.

The most important thing I will add is that this will be one of the best holidays you will ever take. Don't let the haggling, Baksheesh, bottled water or number of cars in Cairo get you down - it will be the last thing you remember when you get back to the sanity / mundanity of home!

Our website is now live

Our website is now live! www.thecurrencyexchange.com.au