Egyptian A.T.M.'s
 

I would like to know if there are A.T.M.'s in Egypt - i.e. Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, etc. And...do we need to change our password - as one book said. Thanks.

There are definitely ATMs in Cairo, but often some don't work. Since the rate of exchange is established by the government, there is no difference whether you change currency at the airport or your hotel. If the board ready 6 Egyptian Pounds to $1-USD, that's what it is, that is what you get.

Ooops, re your password - you mean PIN! If using ATMs most everywhere in the world, they require 4-digit PINs, so if you have a longer PIN, just go to your bank and change it to 4-digits. ATMs in foreign countries only have digits on their keyboards, no letters. So digits are required.

you can utilise local ATM/Teller machines for cash withdrawals. Rely on these only in the cities or larger towns.
Take advantage of teller machine facilities in Cairo, as there are really fewer machines in Aswan, Alexandria, Luxor and Dahab

Just returned from holiday in Egypt & I did not have any problems finding or using ATMs in Cairo, Aswan or Luxor. 4 digit PINs worked at all of them & I changed mine after I returned home.

Has anyone exchanged British Pounds in Egypt (airport, hotel, etc.) recently? I can order Egyptian pounds off the Internet (very convenient) and have them delivered before my upcoming trip, but if the rate is better at the airport then I'll wait. Thanks!

Whatever the rate is for USD or British Pounds against the Egyptian Pound... they're set by the government. The exchange window is open at the airport for all incoming flights. Wait until you arrive.

We did find that not all machines accepted our Bank Card. We did find machines to get money, but not all the machines accepted our network.
Make sure you know your ATM network is covered in the countries you are traveling to.

Usually the luxury hotels have ATMs.

Thanks everyone. You have been a big help.

I've read that it is close to impossible to exchange Egyptian currency back to US dollars when I leave. I don't want to get stuck w/ Egyptian money I can't use, and I plan to do some shopping/haggling at El Khalili so cash is best. I'm also afraid to depend on ATMs since they might not work and I will be caught with no money.

How much should I change? I will be in Cairo for 2-3 days and take a 5-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.

We were able to exchange Egyptian pounds to US dollars after we returned home (with small fee) at major Boston bank. I know others differ, but after you pay all that money to go to Egypt, losing a few dollars in reverse exchange of money seems trivial to me.

We had no trouble finding an ATM that worked - most major hotels have one. At the Bazaar, many merchants are happy to take US dollar bills. (not coins)