Egypt Money

jenster

hello

we off to Hurghada in Egypt end of may
in an A.I resort

and normally get the travel money Via travelex and pick up at the airport
on the day.
However travelex arnt selling "Egyptian Pounds"
so what the best way to get "Egyptian" money for the trip
its only a week long trip and as its A.I we wont need any more than about
£250.00

any commision free/cheepest idea's pls

jen...

stack72

well they love us dollars in egypt! and with us dollars nearly 2 to the pound it maybe worth considering. but another way to do it would be to possible order through your bank

bcl999

First time I went I took travellers cheques and had a palaver to cash them. Since then, I just take sterling and have no trouble changing it at wherever I am staying. I've never been charged commision doing it that way. I have also used my Nationwide debit card to withdraw from ATMs and again never paid a fee.

Hope this helps.

alanrowell

I don't think the EGP is available outside Egypt.

Even if it was though it's cheaper to exchange GBP in Egypt.

Alternatively get it from ATMs when you are there.

gem4

You dont need egyptian money. The hotels change it when you get there or you can just spend sterling. They prefer our money to their own. roughly 10LE to £1. Take a few £1 coins cos they all want one. £1 is a lot of money to them. They hold their hand out for it. Have your own loo paper ready at the airport cos they stand outside giving you just two pieces then hold their hand out for a £1.
I've been twice now. The first time I changed £30 at the post office regretted it...the notes were so huge I had to change them to smaller when I got to the hotel....and then had trouble spending it cos everything in the hotel was signed for and paid at the end of the holiday.....its also required that you pay your hotel bill at the end of your stay in anything except egyptian money.
I knew better last year and only took sterling. I was only changing £20 a time cos it goes such a long way. I paid with my credit card at the end of the holiday.

jonesMUFCforever

Egyptian pounds can be bought at any bank or travel bureau.

jenster

cheers e1

i just didnt want to get there to find out we needed money straight away!

also is it right not to buy the "visa" ?

one person has said its compulsary one has said you dont need it unless u plan to travel out side the resort

jen..

adrian2000

Jenster,

You will not need a Visa unless you want to go on some of the trips. If you want to go to Cairo then you will need a Visa, but you can also get this at the airport. I think the cost is about £10-£13 each.

Like some other posters, dont buy any Egyptian money before you go you do not need it. Most shops etc take all currencies IE US$ GBP.

We have been to Egypt 4 times 3 times to Taba & once to Sharm.

The temperature in May will be very warm and it will not be cool in the evening, it will be quite humid.

The voltage there is 22o volts, but you will need a travel adaptor for any items you take with a UK plug, but a lot of the time the hotel have these at reception or in the hotel shops.

Hope this helps.

If you need any thing else, just let me know.

Adrian

DazzaMc

I'm going to egypt in october - do you think I should get some dollars while the exchange rate is at it's peak? Feels a bit barmy changing £s into dollars for a holiday in Egypt, but a good idea is a good idea.

adrian2000

Yes, I would,they really like foreign currency.

I forgot to mention on my last post as well, that you will also get a better exchange rate in Egypt if you wanted to buy Egypyian pounds there.

The first time I went I was worried about not having any local money, but never needed it. We got back about three weeks ago and the exchange rate in Egypt was 11 to the GBP. Most money exchange in the UK will only give you around 10.

Regards

Adrian

absfabs

I went a couple of months ago, only took US Dollars and was fine with that. Maybe in very out of the way places they might prefer Egyptian Pounds, but in Hurghada or tourist place sterling, dollars or euros are taken everywhere.

I took a lot of 1 $ notes, the perfect tipping unit if you are hassled and don't want to give a lot. (You can always give several if service is really outstanding!)

I understood the "visa" was compulsary for Hurghada, but not for Sharm, don't know why. Buy it at the airport, and ask how much in £, $ or euros, you might find the real cost varies quite a bit. Was roughly £10 when I went.

Got my dollars at the post office, they had them, even the stack of $1 dollar notes in stock and no commission.

Have a great holiday!