Currency to take to Sharm El Sheik

jhe

agree with the egyptian pound, but we found it difficult to get low denomination notes for tips, i gave pound coins and happily changed coins into notes for staff.
if i remember correct the duty free at sharm airport priced goods in $ thought that a bit strange, but could use any currency to buy items.
i am sure you already know but when u buy anything in naama bay or any other shops haggle and haggle hard! whatever price we were told we offered a third and worked from there

GlynD

We just used Egyptian £'s except for about £50 we carried in sterling which we used to tip our guide.

If you're a newbie to Egypt you won't be used to the "baksheesh" mentality where everything done for you outside the hotel gets you an outstretched hand and a request for baksheesh Money). Our way round that was to carry a roll of about 20 single Egyptian pounds (worth about 40p each at that time) and hand one out to every person who deserved it.

The other thing to do is remember the Arabic term "emshi" which is basically a strong word for "go away". That's what you say to the people who pester you for baksheesh when they don't deserve it.

PompeyPete

jhe wrote: »

Agree with the egyptian pound, but we found it difficult to get low denomination notes for tips, i gave pound coins and happily changed coins into notes for staff.

I got the money changer to give me everything in E£20, and you soon stock up lesser denominations.
We were quite careful with tipping too. A lot of these waiters etc end up with tips that make them higher wage earners than Egyptian Brain Surgeons. That's not good!

jhe wrote: »

I am sure you already know but when u buy anything in naama bay or any other shops haggle and haggle hard! whatever price we were told we offered a third and worked from there

Good idea. But shop round first, and get an idea of what something is worth [to you]. When you start haggling don't exceed that amount.

GlynD

PompeyPete wrote: »

I got the money changer to give me everything in E£20, and you soon stock up lesser denominations.
We were quite careful with tipping too. A lot of these waiters etc end up with tips that make them higher wage earners than Egyptian Brain Surgeons. That's not good!



Good idea. But shop round first, and get an idea of what something is worth [to you]. When you start haggling don't exceed that amount.

Our guide filled us in on that. Every doctor who qualifies in Egypt must do so many years public service and the wage is around £400 per calendar month. He quite openly admitted that he'd earned that in just one week of tips from us.

pattycake

We travel quite often to Hurghada. You need a visa there and we always buy from the bank kiosks and change sterling into £E at the same time. We ask for low denomination notes so we can use for tips.

On our last trip in November, the cashier gave us all the money in £E20 notes. Just right for tips.

If you tip in one pound sterling coins, the staff cannot take them to the bank. They need notes. They are always trying to get Brits to take the coins off their hands and give them notes. Personally, the last thing I want is a bag full of £1 coins so I never do change for the staff.

Bebs

Does one normally tip 12% in resturants?