how much local currancy?
Jul 14th, 2010, 07:25 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
how much local currancy?
We are three people touring Egypt with a group for 10 days (including 2 traveling days). Could anyone please recommend how much local currency we should plan to take along? Also, I am getting conflicting information about how accessible ATM machines will be. We will be in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, along with a 4 day Nile cruise. Thanks for your help
Jul 14th, 2010, 08:10 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We didn't bring any Egyptian pounds at all. When we arrived at our hotel, we exchanged money there (the rate is "official" so it's the same everywhere). ATMs were easy to find and we never had a problem getting money (Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh).
Jul 15th, 2010, 10:19 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
USD are gladly accepted, but for small tips - you'd probably do better with Egyptian Pounds. As above, with the exchange rate set by the government, you can obtain at your hotel or ATMs. If the latter though, do check with your home bank whether they assess a fee (can be % or flat amount or both) for withdrawals.
How much in USD, always depends on your personal spending habits - do you bend the elbow often (alcoholic or soft),lots of souvenirs, meals not included in tour?
Don't recall exactly how much USD we had (couldn't have been much... maybe $50/day person), as we never ran out, but did use a credit card on occasion for a restaurant/hotel dinner while in Cairo. If using credit cards, remember that 3% foreign currency exchange fee most assess, unless you card provider doesn't.
How much in USD, always depends on your personal spending habits - do you bend the elbow often (alcoholic or soft),lots of souvenirs, meals not included in tour?
Don't recall exactly how much USD we had (couldn't have been much... maybe $50/day person), as we never ran out, but did use a credit card on occasion for a restaurant/hotel dinner while in Cairo. If using credit cards, remember that 3% foreign currency exchange fee most assess, unless you card provider doesn't.
Jul 15th, 2010, 07:36 PM
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sorry but I don't remember. We charged everthing - meals, souvenirs, etc. The only thing we used cash for was bottled water and snacks at local shops, and tips, so we had lots of LEs available. (Even with a 3% charge for withdrawing cash or using your credit card, you'd have to spend an awful lot for that to add up to big $$$ (ex. spend $2,000, 3% is only $60.00)).
Jul 16th, 2010, 11:23 AM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The hardest thing for us was getting enough small bills (1 Egyptian pound coins) for the bathrooms. Most hotels have banks or money exchanges available, though the one we stayed at in Aswan (the Basma) was only open 2 hrs each day, and that was always during our tours. This was especially bad, since we did our cruise ahead of Aswan, and that used up a good deal of our cash (our tour guide stopped our bus at an ATM for us). We also had ATMs in both our Cairo and Luxor hotels.
Among other things that you might need additional cash for is optional touring, if you get a free afternoon or two. We purchased a full-day tour of Alexandria through our hotel in Cairo, and we paid for it in Egyptian pounds (the hotel had an ATM and a bank). Also, cabs can add up. You'll need them if you plan to go even a block (trust me, you do not want to be crossing any streets in Cairo!). But they're inexpensive. Also, if you plan on purchasing anything in the marketplaces, small stores, or especially from sidewalk vendors (you'd be surprised at the quality of some of what we saw), be prepared to go through a lot of Egyptian pounds.
Among other things that you might need additional cash for is optional touring, if you get a free afternoon or two. We purchased a full-day tour of Alexandria through our hotel in Cairo, and we paid for it in Egyptian pounds (the hotel had an ATM and a bank). Also, cabs can add up. You'll need them if you plan to go even a block (trust me, you do not want to be crossing any streets in Cairo!). But they're inexpensive. Also, if you plan on purchasing anything in the marketplaces, small stores, or especially from sidewalk vendors (you'd be surprised at the quality of some of what we saw), be prepared to go through a lot of Egyptian pounds.
Jul 16th, 2010, 03:13 PM
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I cannot get many 1 pound notes, I dont mind paying 5 pounds to go to a clean loo! I wouldn't want to be sitting in a loo dispensing toilet paper and tidying up so good on them doing that invaluable job. My 5 pounds might help feed their kiddies!
Jul 18th, 2010, 09:59 AM
#14
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They won't have a range of cleanliness standards at one stop for you to choose from for a higher fee. The only thing is sometimes they will have western style toilets and Turkish style toilets, and that is about as different as you might find at one stop.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Jul 18th, 2010, 10:53 AM
#15
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are ATMs at the Cairo airport if you need to get some local money when you arrive. I did not have any trouble locating or using ATMs in either Cairo, Luxor or Answan. I agree with everyone that having small bills handy for baksheesh was difficult. Cab drivers seem to conveniently never have change available. Hmmm. That happened to me at a restaurant in elKhalili also. I got very suspicious when that happen, but I often just go "whatever" to myself rather than waste time trying to haggle about ti.
In Cairo, I was able to get my guide to break down some 100 L.E. bills that I got from the airport ATM. They stopped at gas station or local stores and got changes from there for me. In Luxor, the best way I found for me to break up my large bill was to order something from fast food restaurants (Ok, it was bad of me to eat at fast food places while in Egypt but sometimes I just gotta
).
In Cairo, I was able to get my guide to break down some 100 L.E. bills that I got from the airport ATM. They stopped at gas station or local stores and got changes from there for me. In Luxor, the best way I found for me to break up my large bill was to order something from fast food restaurants (Ok, it was bad of me to eat at fast food places while in Egypt but sometimes I just gotta
).
Jul 20th, 2010, 05:39 PM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Again, thanks. Hadn't thought about the bathroom situation. That's why I love these forums! We've crossed streets in Manhattan all the time - so I guess I'm up for the adventure. Did I read something about carrying toilet paper?
Jul 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM
#19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You should have toilet paper with you just in case. When you pay 1 L.E. to use the public restroom, the attendant will give you literally one tiny piece of toilet paper. God forbid if you have to actually use it.
