Brahmama

This was a great report. It must have taken a long time to write with all the details included.

Egypt is one of our dreams and I'm just now starting to research whether we can actually do it.

Your report helped SO MUCH! Thanks for being so thoughtful for those of us in the planning stage.

julieod

Sorry- i haven't checked this in months. As to the visas luisah- there is a bank window before you go through customs to get stamped where you purchase. We just immediately got in the line and had to wait 2x.

I am an adult blonde- if you are dressed modestly - you'll be fine. Someone did ask my husband "how many camels for her" but it was very joking. There wasn't harassment over looks- really just to buy things.

Some of our hassle would have been eliminated if we hired a guide- but i really think it can be done on your own if you want to- and if you look at the driver and the car before accepting. We didn't realize first taxi- boat = jalopy.

Also- as i was just putting photos into an album- i looked on wikipedia for background- next trip i would bring print outs as a disposable supplement to your travel guide. This report did take forever- so i'm glad so many of you are enjoying. I'll try to check more often (I wish there was a way you can get an email if a reply was posted like tripadvisor) or feel free to email me directly- my email address is listed above.

Luisah

Thanks Julie. It's good to have advance information when traveling to an exotic destination.

papercrane

Thank you for sharing your experience. My husband and I will join a tour group in November and visit Egypt. Can you please tell me, did you exchange and bring currency (Egyptian Pounds) to the country or did you use an ATM? Can you please suggest the most convenient way to pay for small trinkets, meals at restaurants (by credit card), etc. I am debating on whether or not to get a travel card and wonder if I should use travelers checks, ATM/Credit cards or bring $ from home.

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

Peg

Grcxx3

My guess is that it is probably hard to get Egyptian Pounds before hitting the country. You can get some at the airport without problem - just make sure they give you some small bills (and hold onto those really small bills for tips and such).

Most of the major hotels have exchange desks and there are various Thomas Cook offices and such that will also exchange money. I think that is better than doing traveller's checks.

We always use our ATM card when travelling, but we also have a "backup supply" of USD to exchange if we have ATM problems. (Note - we have had very few ATM problems...but they were always at the WORST times!!!).

You will want cash for small purchases (you'll get a better deal) and cash would probably be best for smaller/informal meals. Egypt is really a "cash society." When I lived there, we seldom used credit cards except for eating out at nice places. Oh - I guess we used credit cards to shop at Carre Four, but that was about it.

Casual_Cairo

EGP is available outside the country of Egypt, but wherever you trade your money, you will probably loose at minimum 1 EGP per dollar, or EURO or sterling, compared to what you will get if you wait.

I think people are so paranoid to exchange once they get here for fear of being ripped off that they don't look at the difference in published exchange rates.

Egypt is NOT like Rome or many other countries around Europe that will charge a humungus commission on all exchanges. The exchanges here are government watched and all banks offer the fair market value or within a piaster or two of each other at worst case. It is definately worth waiting until you arrive to change money.

sunshine007

You might get a small amount of small LE before you go b/c few ATMS here give you anyhing smaller than a 100 LE note. And you never get anything less than a 20 LE note. You can get them at any international airport. I don't know about availability in smaller cities.

julieod

As others said, I wouldn't bother getting Egyptian pounds before you go- the bank wanted to charge me a huge fee when i tried to cash in my pounds when i came back to the US -for the least amount of fees- AMEX office (change all money before you leave egypt). There are ATMS in the airport and really everywhere. You won't have a problem finding one Don't bother with traveler's checks. I was surprised that only pounds were taken at just about all tourist sites- no credit cards. Some restaurants didn't take cards as well. I would bring cash and use your ATM- as others said- the fees weren't bad. I was worried b/c others had said the money was dirty- always got clean bills out of the ATM. Have a great time Peg!

sunshine007

The bank that sometimes will give you 20 LE notes is CIB.

Casual_Cairo

If you are not traveling alone, have your guide help you get small bills. If you are on a private tour, ask the guide to have the driver stop at a gas station and change a 20 for 1's or a 100 for 20's or whatever you can get from the boys pumping gas. They are working for tips and they have loads of 1's on them. They are NOT nice 1's but they are 1's if you need them.

Also the other people that have change are the bathroom people. Now, you CAN'T go up to a bathroom lady and hand her a 20 and expect her to give you change. Don't even think about that. You MUST ask your guide to help you but for a 1LE tip, the bathroom people are usually pretty happy to trade a bunch of 1's into a 5 or 10 pound note.

Again DO NOT try either of these on your own. You need someone that speaks Arabic enough to do it for you, or you can bet there will be some misunderstanding that will not make you happy, but these are two good places to get some small change from.

Hisurfer

Just a quick note on Wadi Rum - it sounds like you were in Diseh, just outside Rum. Wadi Rum itself is tightly managed, and all tours by law are with local Bedouin. If anyone else is looking to visit, and wants Rum specifically, it's best to make arrangements separately.