Shopping Tips/cartouches
 

I would like to bring family and friends back something interesting from my upcoming trip to Eygpt. I have heard gold cartouches are inexpensive--any recommendations and thoughts about price

Hi Lynne, get ready for a great trip.Last Sept.we visited Egypt and bought Cartouches for our children and their spouses.Our tour guide showed us a selection at the beginning of our trip and we ordered them from her.From what we seen in the various shops her prices were a bargin,18k medium size was $60 and large was $77.We purchased silver ones for friends and they were a real bargin at $9 and $14.They were well received as gifts and we are happy that we got them.I hope these prices give you a reference point,have a great trip !!

Charlie, We are going to Egypt in 10 days. Which tour company did you use? Where did you buy your cartouches, in Cairo? I read where they are cheaper in Luxor. Did you go there and price them? <BR>Thank you.

Jackie our tour F.I.T. and their site is...... www.fitnile.com/ . Sorry but I don't know the name of the jeweler that our guide used for our purchases but they had stores in Cairo and Luxor.Hopefully your guide will be as helpful as ours.As you will learn one must haggle for everything in Egypt and ,for the most part,she shielded us from haggleing.In fact some folks bought real impulse "lemons" at outrageous prices and our guide took them back to the vendors and got their money back or fair prices,whatever. We did'nt do serious shopping for prices but knew from experience and just looking at prices in various shops that we were getting good deals for 18k gold.In fact after we arrived home in the states we priced 18k cartouches and the prices were more than double ($77 vs $200+)what we paid.I hope I've been some help,have a safe trip.

I have lived in Cairo going on 5 years now. Cartouches are the perfect gift to take back. I bring some back every year. Ordering them ahead of time would be the best way, but it is possible to order them when you get here. Most jewelers can have the gold ones finished in 2 days and the silver ones in a couple of hours. Prices vary according to the shop, but you can get the best price if you can find out the price of Egyptian gold the day you order. If you know that, they will respect you more and assume you know what you are doing. Price also varies according to the length of the name. I think I paid 25LE per letter last time. Make them weigh everything in front of you so you can see the weight. This isn't an insult. Again, they respect you as someone in the know. <BR> <BR>This is a great time to buy. The Egyptian pound rate is $1 = 4.22 this week. <BR> <BR>Email you if you have more questions.

Thanks Charlie. I hope our guide is as helpful. <BR>