@daradventures ye a bunch of stories, met this great guy named Dio Brando, he seemed a bit odd though, had a strange sense of fashion and kept saying "The world!"
You will see so many temples, tombs, and antiquities that no matter how dedicated you are, it will start to blur together. Anytime you go to a new site or new tomb, find a sign that depicts what you are about to see, and grab a quick pic of the sign, first. It will help to keep your photos; and your memories; organized. I recommend getting a tour company. There are some sites that cannot be visited without governmental approval. Abydos and Dendera are two. An official guide company can take care of that for you.
I have watched so many tips etc on travel to Egypt (we will be there in very hot August) - but yours is the best, and what nailed that for me was your tips on dress, language and most of all to TREASURE the experience! Shokran gazeelan!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope you have a wonderful time in august - make sure you drink lots of water and have a good hat! Have a wonderful time and enjoy it!
Thanks for posting. I spent 2 weeks going up and down the Nile, after 3 weeks on a paleont. & archeolog. project in the western desert and loved Egypt. In 1992. Lucky to have been first in the Western Desert village where I learnt a little arabic to to know some Egyptians.
Oh that sounds incredible! On my next trip to Egypt I’d love to see the western desert. I looked up some 4WD tours prior to this trip, but I just didn’t have enough time in the schedule to do everything. Siwa oasis is on my list for the future!
Thank you so much for your amazing video. I think you covered everything there is to cover about Egypt. My tip is: if you can afford to hire a travel company or go with a group tour, that would be the best option. The country is massive and can be ridiculously hard to manouver. Having a guide with you will take a lot of hassle off your shoulders and you would just be left to relax and enjoy. Even as an Egyptian, that is what i do to enjoy my country.
Thanks for the comment and the compliment! Very interested to hear that even as an Egyptian you prefer to use a guide. It does certainly make the logistics easier! There are a few places I didn’t get to see on my trip, and when I get the opportunity to visit again I think I’ll stick with having a guide as well.
Thank you for your tips and tricks! Tipping was mentioned a lot during the video but not the actual amount or percentage. Presumably different amounts are needed for a small service as opposed to a tour guide.
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Loved it - will be traveling to Egypt this coming December and ur pieces of advice are no doubt awesome. I loved your final tip:TREASURE each moment and experience. Blessings - Toby from Costa Rica.
Awesome tips, this video will help me survive the chaos of Cairo and make my trip much enjoyable now that I know what to expect. Thank you, you are the best
Glad it was helpful! Yeah I think knowing what to expect and embracing the different way of doing things in this part of the world is key to getting the most out of the experience- it’s a lot easier to have a good time and roll with the punches when you know what the deal is. Have an amazing time!
Your advice is incredibly insightful and practical! Capturing a photo of the sign at each site is a fantastic tip for keeping memories organized. Using a tour company to navigate sites requiring governmental approval is also very helpful. Have you had any particularly memorable experiences at places like Abydos or Dendera? Do you have any favorite lesser-known sites that travelers should consider visiting?
Yes, I live by my sign photos - especially if I don't end up organizing my photos as soon as I get home, I'd forget everything otherwise! Thankfully in the digital camera age we can snap as many sign or informational photos as we want for reference :-) Abydos, Dendera, along with Kom Ombo and Edfu are all on my list for my return trip :-( (along with scuba diving in the red sea and exploring the white desert and siwa oasis) Simply too much to see in one visit, and traveling with a guided tour did restrict me a bit. I thought I would have the opportunity to visit Kom Ombo as an optional excursion on this trip, which turned out not to be true :-/ Kom Ombo and Edfu are pretty easy to get to if you book an independent Nile cruise though, as they boats will often stop there. I did have a lengthy conversation with my guide on this trip about wanting to visit Abydos, as that was probably the site I was most upset to miss out on, and he indicated that it wasn't as easy as some of the other sites. He said having a guide is pretty necessary for visiting, although I haven't looked into it further, so take that with a grain of salt! Honestly one of my favorite days was visiting Saqqara and Dashour. It is on some tourist itineraries, so it's not completely off the beaten path, but I do think quite a few tourists skip it. The necropolis isn't far from Cairo, and the history there is SO incredibly rich. Fewer crowds and more flexibility to find a pocket of ancient Egypt that you can have all to yourself. If you want to do inside a pyramid, I'd recommend doing it here versus at Giza - much fewer crowds and it's the same sort of experience. Also if you make it to Alexandria, get lost in the markets! Khan El-Khalili in Cairo is great, but it's very touristy. The markets in Alexandria are full of locals. We had a great time wandering through one rainy night!
Thank you so much 😊I'm Egyptian and enjoyed your video a lot ....What I really liked about it is that it has a full, honest review of my country without any biased opinions .. Now I can send it to my friends who will be coming next month .. Thanks again, and I hope you return here so soon❤ 🇪🇬
Oh I’m so glad you found it useful and accurate. That means a lot coming from an Egyptian. Your country is a very special place and I do look forward to returning! Still much more to see and do 😃
Wow, thank you! That means a lot. I worked hard on this one, and I loved my experience in Egypt, so happy I was able to put something out there that others are finding useful and enjoyable. Appreciate the kind words!
Hello, I’m so glad I found your channel. Thank you for the many useful tips. We are traveling to Egypt in late September - mid October, 2023. As for clothing, can you share where you found your lovely maxi skirts? Also, did you find that you were encumbered by them when walking all day? Thank you.
Hi Lynne! I’m not much of a fashionista, the skirts and dresses all came from Amazon! I didn’t feel encumbered by them in general - I actually enjoy the looseness, I found them comfortable. The long red one I wish I had hemmed up by an inch or two, as I had to hold it up on stairs, but other than that I found them really comfortable for being out and about as a tourist in the warm weather.
This was by far the best travel Egypt video I have watched to date! It was informative, realistic, while being respectful. I'll be checking out this channel.
Finally found a helpful video. Love it thank you so much. All the other ones I have seen are just people complaining and not embracing where they are at.
Glad it was helpful! Yeah having the right mindset is important, especially when you’re traveling to a place outside of your cultural norms. At the end of the day people are just trying to make a living. There are going to be bad actors everywhere, but tourism is an important part of Egypt’s economy - the overall goal is not going to be for tourists to walk away with bad experiences.
Thank you! I hope your next trip is wonderful. Anything new for the next itinerary? I have a second trip in mind to do within the next couple of years… there were a ton of things I had to cut while I was in my original planning phase just for lack of time. I probably need another 3 weeks there to get to everything 😎
I greatly appreciate your incredible video. You have undoubtedly provided a comprehensive overview of Egypt. If you have the means, I highly recommend hiring a travel agency or joining a guided tour group. It is undeniably the best option. Navigating through this vast country can be incredibly challenging and arduous. Having a guide by your side will alleviate a great deal of stress, leaving you free to unwind and fully enjoy your experience. Even as
Great suggestion! I personally traveled with a tour group for most of time in Egypt, but I chose one that allowed for some free time to explore. That way I had some freedom at the sites and in individual cities, but important logistics like hotels, transportation, restaurant recommendations and site entry fees were covered. I also spent a few days on my own in Cairo at the start and finish to do what I wanted. Definitely agree, a tour group or guide will make your experience much easier, especially if this is your first time visiting.
Hi, excellent video, you deserve a lot more subs! 🙂 The advice you give is really useful for a lot of people (I've travelled quite a bit (67 countries and counting ;-) ) but there are so many people I've met travelling who definitely could avail of your wisdom! - Subscribed and Thumbs up!
Thanks so much for the kind words! They really mean a lot as I try to build the channel, and positive feedback is greatly appreciated to help keep me moving forward! 67 countries is impressive!! I’m at 31, planning to add a few more soon 😊. Thanks again for taking the time to leave such a nice comment, and welcome to the channel!!
Yeah it was a trip saver for me - I don’t know how things would have gone without it. Sorry you had a rough time and ended up in the hospital 😬 - hope you got to enjoy at least a little bit before the problems started.
@@fd5122 it's an intestinal antiseptic for the treatment of gastroenteritis - a medication for travelers' diarrhea 🙂. It attacks the bacteria that often cause upset stomachs in travelers in Egypt. Cheap and easy to find in local pharmacies.
You're absolutely right about being transported to a time when magic was a part of life. Read s "Arabian Nights and Days" by Nobel Prize winner Naguib Nafouz who " refashions the classic tales of Scheherazade into a novel written in his own imaginative, spellbinding style. Here are genies and flying carpets, Aladdin and Sinbad, Ali Baba, and more". It tells you how people used to think and feel and still run their daily lives. Much shorter and more fun than the very long "Palace Walk"
Thanks for the recommendations (I’m a big reader, always looking to add to the goodreads list) and for taking the time to write such thoughtful comments!
Very 😊 usefull info..thank you…I enjoy listening to accents when travelling…..but I cannot for the life of me figure out where yours emanates from….where you USA born but educated abroad …. There is not a trace of your heritage in anything you say….north south east west or is that a university influenced manner of dialogue …. You really are a mystery …keep up the vids of to Cairo soon 🤗
Interesting question! I’m from New York City originally, went to university in the rural part of New York State…I’ve been told in the past that I do have a pretty region-less accent, but when I’m casually talking to friends I have gotten teased that sometimes the Queens accent pops out on certain words 😆
I just found your channel and subbed right away. A big reason is how informative you are. The other reason is how much you remind me of my best friend. Things from your way of speaking, your facial features, and even your voice itself all are almost identical to her. It's so strange.
The video was amazing! I really enjoyed the content and details, thank you for sharing this unique experience. If you’re planning to create new videos or need any professional video editing services, I’d be happy to help. Best of luck with your future projects!
Excellent video! I travel a lot, and I have my own Lila Talks youtube channel, and you were very informative and engaging! Im going to Egypt next week. I can't wait. Thank you!!! Please do more videos 😊.
Thanks Lila! Looks like your channel is doing pretty well ☺️ thanks for the kind words and encouragement and I hope you have an incredible experience in Egypt!
Glad you found it useful! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
@@daradventures LOL…. Thank you but you don’t understand… And that’s my fault. I’m from Egypt and I travel every year to visit my family. Everyone near me wants to travel and I tell them the same thing you state in the video. The only thing I add is to “pack your patience”. The Egyptian minute is actual one hour. Thank you again for the video. I enjoyed it.
Great information. Thank you, especially tips on what a woman should wear. With regards to tipping..what is considered a decent tip? Keep on traveling! Thanks
Thank you! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were
I’m a big fan of David P. Silberman’s book titled simply “Ancient Egypt” - it starts out with a brief overview of the timeline of the ancient period, and then there are chapters on individual topics like the language, art, architecture, medicine, trade, etc… so you can read it all or choose the topics that interest you the most. The book has over 200 charts and illustrations as well. If you want to learn about more than just the ancient history, Jason Thompson’s “A History of Egypt” covers everything from the ancient period up until the modern era, but it’s a bit of a denser read. Hope you enjoy learning more about the history of this amazing land!
I had an advantage going in as I had some formal education in basic Arabic from when I studied it in college, but it had been many years since I actively used the language and had forgotten most of it - plus I had learned Levantine Arabic, not Egyptian, which has a lot of differences. I used the Mango language app and started from scratch. Just did a little bit each day for a couple months. When I initially learned back in college we used the Alif Baa book written by Brusad, Al-Batal and Al-Tonsi. I loved that book, still have it!
I am visiting Egypt next month for a week I was going to do it on my own now I watched your video I’m worry it’ll be my first time going to that side of the world should I hire a travel company before I go? Or should I go and once in Egypt look for a travel company that can take me around and plan everything for me? I would like to visit Aswan- Kom Ombo - Edfu- Luxor and take a Nile River cruise for a few days
Personally, I wouldn’t do Egypt solo as a first time visitor unless you’re a pretty experienced and confident traveler and are aware of what to expect and are comfortable with that. I did a few days solo in Cairo and very much enjoyed that, but as a first timer I think I would have been a bit overwhelmed tackling multiple cities and the transportation alone. Group travel is a good option if you enjoy organized tours, for me they are a bit hit or miss, but you can always hire your own guide. I personally think that’s the best way to experience the sites. You maintain freedom and flexibility while having someone help you with all the logistics and historical information to enrich your visit. Your accommodation in Egypt can certainly help you hire someone to take you around! Hope the trip goes well however you choose to do it, it’s an amazing country to experience.
I am traveling to Egypt next month for a couple of weeks and so this video was great for me! I’ve written down tons of tips and am trying my best to prepare myself! Out of curiosity, how much cash do you think I should budget for a two week trip? I was planning on bringing USD and only converting a few Pounds in country when I arrive. Is that a good strategy or should I focus more on Pounds and less on USD? Thank you again!
Glad it was helpful! I would focus mainly on using Egyptian pounds… you’ll make things easier on yourself using the local currency. And make sure to keep plenty of small bills on hand for all the tips 😀budgeting cash is a hard question, it really depends on what style of traveler you are, how much souvenir shopping you plan on, are you going to eat in fancy restaurants, do expensive activities etc… I was convinced I had enough cash for the remainder of my trip and then found myself running to an atm again when we were presented with the option of taking a hot air balloon ride over Luxor 😊. I’d start with maybe $200 USD in pounds and go from there, but it really does depend on what style of trip you’re doing. Remember you can always get more cash from a bank and it’s always safer to not carry too much on you at once. As long as your bank knows you’re traveling (you can usually add a travel advisory on the app), then you can withdraw as needed during the trip. Once you’re in country for a few days and start moving you’ll probably get a better idea how much cash per day you’re going through. I know that was a bit vague, but hope it was a little helpful and happy travels! Enjoy your trip!!!
You are weacolm my friend visting my country,i hope spend agood time in my home,this video is very usefel for every One you need visting egypt,if you need help you ok,can commation with me about Whats up,honstly my english not perfect but iam trying, i hope to be happier in my home,the weather is good , when to go perymides you must Go early because the sun is hot, 🥵, take more of water,cap 🧢, scarf,in Egypt can visit square,moaz street, islamic historical,the most all advise in vedio is correct,by,i waiting you in Egypt, have a good trip all-time,
Get Egyptian pounds and try to get a lot of smaller denomination bills because you will be tipping a LOT. ATM's are plentiful and you can get pounds, using your credit card. Sometimes your hotel front desk can convert small amounts for you.
Thanks for info. I'm visiting Egypt with tour company so, I'm somewhat at ease as a group/family. For a few gifts, I feel more secure buying gifts at a museum AKA GEM, my family will be staying away from any market places are there hacklers inside these places at the gift shops too? Are any items ever priced with tags? Thanks
That’s a good question. From memory, yes, items in gift shops at museums are priced and there is definitely no haggling in these types of places. However, even if you’re not interested in purchasing anything in markets, don’t skip them! Particularly the Khan El Khalili in Cairo - it’s absolutely magical and would be a shame to miss! Markets can be wonderful experiences, and a firm no thank you and walking away will do if you’re not interested in buying. In any case, I hope you have a wonderful trip and find some lovely gifts for your loved ones 😊.
Very useful video thank you! I’m traveling to Egypt with my husband in about 3 weeks, we’re staying in Hurghada so will mainly be staying at our resort but we are planning a day trip Luxor! What’s your tip on getting smaller notes of money? I’ve read that many hotels/shops are reluctant to give out small notes? but we’re keen to have a selection of notes for tipping ect ☺️
thank you! This is a good question, and maybe a bit trickier in your case since you’re going to mostly be resort based. My best advice would be to try and find a place at/near the resort where you can use a bit of cash to break down your larger bills. Regardless of whether you get your cash from an ATM or at an exchange, you’ll get larger notes not suitable for tipping. If there’s a souvenir shop or a bar or a restaurant where you can us cash instead of a credit card or putting the charge on your room bill, then do that. When I first got to Egypt and withdrew money I made a point to break down the large bills every chance I got, trying to turn those 200 pound notes into increasingly smaller ones and then I kept the smaller notes and change aside to use only for tips. You can also ask your hotel once you arrive. The concierge might be able to help facilitate making change or have a good recommendation for a local spot where you can pay with large bills to get change. In any case, enjoy Hurghada and Luxor! The Red Sea is gorgeous and Luxor will be an epic experience.
Thank you! I’m just getting started on my journey for the travel community I’d like to build, but I do sincerely hope down the road to host trips for women - that’s certainly a big goal I hope is reachable ❤️
Thank you for your tips. Is it possible to get small notes out of local ATMs or do you they only give large denominations that you need to change somewhere else?
Generally only large denominations. I make a point to break all of my large bills at the start of the trip at places like museums or restaurants and keep the smaller change separate for tips/small snacks etc…
Thank you for such an informative video. We plan to go in Oct. But are nit sure if we should stay in Luxor as we want to do th3 Nile cruise as well. Would you recommend staying in Luxor? Thanks
Yes!!! Cruising the Nile is a wonderful part of visiting Egypt, so make sure you do that, but Luxor takes a few days to really see everything in the area, and the town itself is nice and compact to walk around. spend as much time there as your travel permits! If I could have modified one thing about my own trip, it would have been to add more time in Luxor.
@@jdavid0506 nothing in particular… my tour group our hotel. It was fine, but forgettable. Not sure what kind of traveler you are or how fancy you like your places to be, but when I’m booking on my own I always use the Lonely Planet guide books! They’ve never steered me wrong.
Ammzing vlog my hony,i am from egypt,i am respect you,i am very happy ☺️ visiting my country,i inviting 🥰 you visiting Aswan in future, i live in Cairo now,i know the traffic ⛔ is difficult,but most if pepole is very friendly, have agood time in my home,thankes alot
So with what's happening now in the west bank, is it prudent to go to Egypt now? I had booked a cruise on the Nile but canceled. My family was so concerned.
I would check government travel advisories for recommendations. Trips operating in the standard tourist regions are still operating as normal, as far as I am aware. If you do proceed with your trip, make sure you have full travel insurance in case of any issues.
HELLO TERESA VERY NICE VIDEO MY QUESTION IS FOR 16 DAYS IN EGYPT SOLO BACK PAKER IN MID BUTTGE VISITING CAIRO GIZA PARK OF THE KINGS, LUXOR ASWAN ABU SIMBEL ! WITHOUT INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION AND HOSTALS HOW MUCH SHOULD I WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BANK IN EGYPTIAN POUNS ? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WONDERFUL VIDEO WAITING FOR ANSWER JUNIOR
Hi there - thanks for watching. It’s really hard to say, depends on how you plan to spend on food/drinks/souvenirs, whether you want to use all cash or try to use credit cards when you are able… I’d say start with about 5,000 pounds (roughly $161 in US dollars) and see how far that gets you. When you see how many days that lasts you’ll have a better idea of your own personal spending pattern. Depending on your bank you may get a small fee when you withdraw from the local ATM, so it’s usually better to minimize your withdrawals when that’s the case. But I’d recommend start with about 5,000 and go from there. Personally I prefer to revisit the ATM a few times if needed versus carrying a ton of cash on me, but that’s your call! I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the experience!
@@daradventures TERESA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER IT GIVES ME A GREAT SENSATION OF HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY IN EGYPT HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VIDEOS
Touring, operators, and budgets would be a very different topic! Like anywhere else, how you visit the country would depend on your budget, expectations, and style preference. Glad you enjoyed the video though, and if you’re planning a trip I hope you’ll have a wonderful time! 😃
It can be, up north at night. I don’t recall the hotels I stayed at having heat, but I also stayed in fairly basic accommodations. I wouldn’t expect heating to be common, but if you’re looking at specific hotels I’d ask them directly if you’re concerned about it. I don’t remember being cold/heat being an issue in the hotel rooms at night when an was in Cairo and Alexandria, just a bit chilly sometimes walking around in the evenings.
Awesome suggestions! On average How much of a tip are u supposed to give 1 or 5 or 10 EGP? I’m going in October. I don’t want to under or over tip. Most useful info was purchasing a SIM card at the airport, getting currency and trusting the pharmacy there and that nothing is free 🤣
Thank you! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Whenever I travel I only use bank ATMs, never independent ones. You will often find bank atms at the airport, but when you run out you can stop by any local bank machine and get cash. Machines will have an English language option. Just make sure your bank is aware of your travel plans beforehand!
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Typically the camera fees are for big items - large DSLR types and tripods. Some sites don’t allow photography inside at all, but if you’re careful and not obvious about it you can film or snap photos with your phone or a tiny camera that fits in your pocket. I managed to get some snapshots on my phone of places where it technically wasn’t allowed. The rules vary according to the site, so read the signage before you go inside. At spots where it isn’t allowed or where they charge a fee, there are guards roaming who are on the lookout for people who didn’t pay. Sometimes you can get them to leave you be if you offer a small tip. Best practice is to read the signs on the rules before you go in, and don’t be super obvious about your photos if it isn’t allowed.
NO, only for professional gear and for that you have to get previous approval, not to buy a ticket. I used a Cnon DSLR, GoPro and a phone, nobody asks you anything. In some tombs, Nefertary tomb in the Valley of the queens you are told not to film, just photos. A small tip and you you can film as long as you wish (official time inside - 10 minutes)
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Hi, i'll be going solo to egypt in a couple weeks. Do you have any specific tips for me? It's my first solo trip so i'm a bit nervous hehe, did you have company or did you go alone?
Well congrats on making the leap to travel solo - I’ve done many solo trips and have loved them all! It’s a different experience. I did most of my exploring with a company and a few days on my own. To be honest, if I could redo it I probably would have gone on my own. I would have loved the additional freedom and flexibility that the tour just didn’t provide. I would say best advice I can think of is just be really firm with vendors and guides if you don’t want their services. If you’re in your own you’ll probably be hounded a bit more. You may even have to be rude sometimes to get your message across to be left alone. Happy travels, and have a wonderful time!!!
Hi Diana! I traveled over alone, and joined a budget level tour that allowed for free exploration time, and then took a few solo days at the beginning and the end of the trip.
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Individual spend really depends on what kind of traveler you are. I did my trip at a fairly budget price point. The link to the tour I did will give you an idea of current prices, plus the add-ons that aren’t included. I also spent a couple of days on my own at the start, and then set aside an additional couple hundred US dollars for meals, snacks, souvenirs, etc.
Thank you. I would really like to do the same things you did they looked amazing I’m hoping next year or the year after to do this adventure that you did
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Just got back from a 50 day trip to Egypt, went with my grandpa and a few of our friends. It was such a bizarre adventure!
Wow 50 days! I can imagine you must have a lifetime worth of stories from that 😉
@daradventures ye a bunch of stories, met this great guy named Dio Brando, he seemed a bit odd though, had a strange sense of fashion and kept saying "The world!"
You will see so many temples, tombs, and antiquities that no matter how dedicated you are, it will start to blur together. Anytime you go to a new site or new tomb, find a sign that depicts what you are about to see, and grab a quick pic of the sign, first. It will help to keep your photos; and your memories; organized. I recommend getting a tour company. There are some sites that cannot be visited without governmental approval. Abydos and Dendera are two. An official guide company can take care of that for you.
We do this too! Along with a screen shot in the morning showing the calendar so we know what day it is!
As an Egyptian, I rate this one 10/10.
Thank you!
IM AN EGYPTIAN TO AND A MUSLIM AND BORN IN EGYPT
I have watched so many tips etc on travel to Egypt (we will be there in very hot August) - but yours is the best, and what nailed that for me was your tips on dress, language and most of all
to TREASURE the experience! Shokran gazeelan!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope you have a wonderful time in august - make sure you drink lots of water and have a good hat! Have a wonderful time and enjoy it!
Thanks for posting. I spent 2 weeks going up and down the Nile, after 3 weeks on a paleont. & archeolog. project in the western desert and loved Egypt. In 1992. Lucky to have been first in the Western Desert village where I learnt a little arabic to to know some Egyptians.
Oh that sounds incredible! On my next trip to Egypt I’d love to see the western desert. I looked up some 4WD tours prior to this trip, but I just didn’t have enough time in the schedule to do everything. Siwa oasis is on my list for the future!
Your video is wonderful. Helpful/informative, and positive. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
I love Egypt been there many times it feels like home. Hugs
Egypt loves you too❤
@@OmarJustice Thank you I am home sick for Egypt and my Adopted family there. 🤗🤗🤗hugs
I've watched so many videos on egypt and this was the best. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!, thanks for the compliment!
Thank you so much for your amazing video. I think you covered everything there is to cover about Egypt. My tip is: if you can afford to hire a travel company or go with a group tour, that would be the best option. The country is massive and can be ridiculously hard to manouver. Having a guide with you will take a lot of hassle off your shoulders and you would just be left to relax and enjoy. Even as an Egyptian, that is what i do to enjoy my country.
Thanks for the comment and the compliment! Very interested to hear that even as an Egyptian you prefer to use a guide. It does certainly make the logistics easier! There are a few places I didn’t get to see on my trip, and when I get the opportunity to visit again I think I’ll stick with having a guide as well.
I'm traveling to Egypt next month thanks for the great advice 👌🙏
Thank you for your tips and tricks! Tipping was mentioned a lot during the video but not the actual amount or percentage. Presumably different amounts are needed for a small service as opposed to a tour guide.
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Thank you, that is very helpful. Happy travels!
@@daradventures
I Am Born, Raised In Cairo / Alexandria…… I must say, your tips, descriptions are very accurate and impressive! My favorite tip is #8!
🙏🎅🎄😎
Thank you! Egypt is a beautiful country, I look forward to returning one day to explore some more 🙂
Thank you so much for this lovely positive video. Very helpful tips - we leave next May. I'll spend my birthday in Cairo!
Oh fun! That will be a special birthday - enjoy the experience!
Loved it - will be traveling to Egypt this coming December and ur pieces of advice are no doubt awesome. I loved your final tip:TREASURE each moment and experience. Blessings - Toby from Costa Rica.
Glad it was helpful! I hope you have a wonderful trip to Egypt!
This is a really good vid.
Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Love the content. Keep going. Going to Egypt for a couple of months in two days and I found this one really interesting.
Thanks for the compliment! A couple of months! Sounds amazing, I hope you have an incredible experience.
Wow! Great video! I will save this and watch it again before going to Egypt 🇪🇬
Awesome! Thank you!
Awesome tips, this video will help me survive the chaos of Cairo and make my trip much enjoyable now that I know what to expect. Thank you, you are the best
Glad it was helpful! Yeah I think knowing what to expect and embracing the different way of doing things in this part of the world is key to getting the most out of the experience- it’s a lot easier to have a good time and roll with the punches when you know what the deal is. Have an amazing time!
Amazing video iam an Egyptian living in NY I can not describe Egypt the way you did very useful tips thank you❤❤
Glad to hear from an Egyptian that the video was good! Thanks for the comment!
Great video, thanks for the tips! I'm looking forward to my Egypt adventure in May.
Have an amazing time!!!!
Your advice is incredibly insightful and practical! Capturing a photo of the sign at each site is a fantastic tip for keeping memories organized. Using a tour company to navigate sites requiring governmental approval is also very helpful. Have you had any particularly memorable experiences at places like Abydos or Dendera? Do you have any favorite lesser-known sites that travelers should consider visiting?
Yes, I live by my sign photos - especially if I don't end up organizing my photos as soon as I get home, I'd forget everything otherwise! Thankfully in the digital camera age we can snap as many sign or informational photos as we want for reference :-)
Abydos, Dendera, along with Kom Ombo and Edfu are all on my list for my return trip :-( (along with scuba diving in the red sea and exploring the white desert and siwa oasis) Simply too much to see in one visit, and traveling with a guided tour did restrict me a bit. I thought I would have the opportunity to visit Kom Ombo as an optional excursion on this trip, which turned out not to be true :-/ Kom Ombo and Edfu are pretty easy to get to if you book an independent Nile cruise though, as they boats will often stop there. I did have a lengthy conversation with my guide on this trip about wanting to visit Abydos, as that was probably the site I was most upset to miss out on, and he indicated that it wasn't as easy as some of the other sites. He said having a guide is pretty necessary for visiting, although I haven't looked into it further, so take that with a grain of salt!
Honestly one of my favorite days was visiting Saqqara and Dashour. It is on some tourist itineraries, so it's not completely off the beaten path, but I do think quite a few tourists skip it. The necropolis isn't far from Cairo, and the history there is SO incredibly rich. Fewer crowds and more flexibility to find a pocket of ancient Egypt that you can have all to yourself. If you want to do inside a pyramid, I'd recommend doing it here versus at Giza - much fewer crowds and it's the same sort of experience. Also if you make it to Alexandria, get lost in the markets! Khan El-Khalili in Cairo is great, but it's very touristy. The markets in Alexandria are full of locals. We had a great time wandering through one rainy night!
Thank you so much 😊I'm Egyptian and enjoyed your video a lot ....What I really liked about it is that it has a full, honest review of my country without any biased opinions .. Now I can send it to my friends who will be coming next month .. Thanks again, and I hope you return here so soon❤ 🇪🇬
Oh I’m so glad you found it useful and accurate. That means a lot coming from an Egyptian. Your country is a very special place and I do look forward to returning! Still much more to see and do 😃
I absolutely loved this video. It's exceptional and outstands the sea of low quality videos and misinformation. ❤
Wow, thank you! That means a lot. I worked hard on this one, and I loved my experience in Egypt, so happy I was able to put something out there that others are finding useful and enjoyable. Appreciate the kind words!
Good information and tips of EGYPT 😘😘
So nice of you
Hello, I’m so glad I found your channel. Thank you for the many useful tips.
We are traveling to Egypt in late September - mid October, 2023. As for clothing, can you share where you found your lovely maxi skirts? Also, did you find that you were encumbered by them when walking all day?
Thank you.
Hi Lynne! I’m not much of a fashionista, the skirts and dresses all came from Amazon! I didn’t feel encumbered by them in general - I actually enjoy the looseness, I found them comfortable. The long red one I wish I had hemmed up by an inch or two, as I had to hold it up on stairs, but other than that I found them really comfortable for being out and about as a tourist in the warm weather.
@@daradventuresThank you
This was by far the best travel Egypt video I have watched to date! It was informative, realistic, while being respectful. I'll be checking out this channel.
Thank you, i appreciate that!
@@daradventures Most welcome, I don't post praise easily
Finally found a helpful video. Love it thank you so much. All the other ones I have seen are just people complaining and not embracing where they are at.
Glad it was helpful! Yeah having the right mindset is important, especially when you’re traveling to a place outside of your cultural norms. At the end of the day people are just trying to make a living. There are going to be bad actors everywhere, but tourism is an important part of Egypt’s economy - the overall goal is not going to be for tourists to walk away with bad experiences.
Good job very accurate 👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed!
You did a great job on your travel tips. I've visited Egypt 3 times and I'm planning on doing my 4th trip soon. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you! I hope your next trip is wonderful. Anything new for the next itinerary? I have a second trip in mind to do within the next couple of years… there were a ton of things I had to cut while I was in my original planning phase just for lack of time. I probably need another 3 weeks there to get to everything 😎
Lovely video
Lovely country
I greatly appreciate your incredible video. You have undoubtedly provided a comprehensive overview of Egypt. If you have the means, I highly recommend hiring a travel agency or joining a guided tour group. It is undeniably the best option. Navigating through this vast country can be incredibly challenging and arduous. Having a guide by your side will alleviate a great deal of stress, leaving you free to unwind and fully enjoy your experience. Even as
Great suggestion! I personally traveled with a tour group for most of time in Egypt, but I chose one that allowed for some free time to explore. That way I had some freedom at the sites and in individual cities, but important logistics like hotels, transportation, restaurant recommendations and site entry fees were covered. I also spent a few days on my own in Cairo at the start and finish to do what I wanted. Definitely agree, a tour group or guide will make your experience much easier, especially if this is your first time visiting.
@@daradventures How did you find the driver you used to see Saqqara & Memphis?
@@kelleyprice3450 I found her in the Lonely Planet guidebook and contacted her via WhatsApp, her phone number was published: +20 114 888 5561
Great Video, I loved it so much ❤
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Very positive message. Thank you!
You're welcome, I hope it's helpful!
Really clear and fun guide for future travelers. You just received new follower.
Awesome, thank you! Welcome aboard!
Ooh, love the Hired Driver tip.
How did you find yours? How much did you pay for an entire day of driving?
I found mine through the Lonely Planet guide book - they had her and her number listed. For the full day of driving I paid about $60 USD
@@daradventures cheers! Much cheaper than I would’ve guessed for sure!
@daradventures do you have her contact information? I will be in Egypt in October.
@@juliemornar5822 +20 114 888 5561 is the phone number I have for her - I communicated through WhatsApp.
Wonderful video tank you, going in March to Egypt
I hope you have a wonderful time!
Hi, excellent video, you deserve a lot more subs! 🙂 The advice you give is really useful for a lot of people (I've travelled quite a bit (67 countries and counting ;-) ) but there are so many people I've met travelling who definitely could avail of your wisdom! - Subscribed and Thumbs up!
Thanks so much for the kind words! They really mean a lot as I try to build the channel, and positive feedback is greatly appreciated to help keep me moving forward! 67 countries is impressive!! I’m at 31, planning to add a few more soon 😊. Thanks again for taking the time to leave such a nice comment, and welcome to the channel!!
Speaking of pharmacies and medicines, Antinal is a MUST in Egypt. I didn’t know that and I landed in Egyptian hospital.
Yeah it was a trip saver for me - I don’t know how things would have gone without it. Sorry you had a rough time and ended up in the hospital 😬 - hope you got to enjoy at least a little bit before the problems started.
What is Artinal?@@daradventures
@@fd5122 it's an intestinal antiseptic for the treatment of gastroenteritis - a medication for travelers' diarrhea 🙂. It attacks the bacteria that often cause upset stomachs in travelers in Egypt. Cheap and easy to find in local pharmacies.
You did an amazing job, thank you 🌺🌺
I’m glad you liked it!
The best Egypt tips !! Great info ❤
Thanks!!! If you’ve got a trip coming up hope you have an amazing experience!!
Excellent straight to the point 👍🏽 I Subscribed
Thank you! Welcome!
Subscribed as I loved the way you have done the vlogging. Great stuff! Cheers!
Awesome, thank you!!! Appreciate the kind words and sub 🙂
I want to go there from Europe before going back to NewZealand had a look on line but airplane tickets so expensive
Yeah, airfare is very expensive these days 😞
Well said treasure every moment. Thank you for this informative video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
fantastic video ... Thank you very much for creating this wonderful video and for the time you invested to make this video as perfect as possible
Thanks for the kind words!
Amazing content and info
Greetings from Egypt ❤
Thanks for watching!
You're absolutely right about being transported to a time when magic was a part of life. Read s "Arabian Nights and Days" by Nobel Prize winner Naguib Nafouz who " refashions the classic tales of Scheherazade into a novel written in his own imaginative, spellbinding style. Here are genies and flying carpets, Aladdin and Sinbad, Ali Baba, and more". It tells you how people used to think and feel and still run their daily lives. Much shorter and more fun than the very long "Palace Walk"
Thanks for the recommendations (I’m a big reader, always looking to add to the goodreads list) and for taking the time to write such thoughtful comments!
Very 😊 usefull info..thank you…I enjoy listening to accents when travelling…..but I cannot for the life of me figure out where yours emanates from….where you USA born but educated abroad …. There is not a trace of your heritage in anything you say….north south east west or is that a university influenced manner of dialogue …. You really are a mystery …keep up the vids of to Cairo soon 🤗
Interesting question! I’m from New York City originally, went to university in the rural part of New York State…I’ve been told in the past that I do have a pretty region-less accent, but when I’m casually talking to friends I have gotten teased that sometimes the Queens accent pops out on certain words 😆
thanks for all this tips, i am planning to go Egypt august
I hope you have a wonderful time!!! Drink lots of water 😃
Great video! Really enjoyed it and subscribed. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for the compliment, and welcome to the channel! 😃
Beautiful and exciting Egypt!
Thank you for your precious video.
Have a peaceful day dear friend!😊
Thank you! You too!
I just found your channel and subbed right away. A big reason is how informative you are. The other reason is how much you remind me of my best friend. Things from your way of speaking, your facial features, and even your voice itself all are almost identical to her. It's so strange.
Haha long lost twin perhaps - thanks for the sub!!
The video was amazing! I really enjoyed the content and details, thank you for sharing this unique experience. If you’re planning to create new videos or need any professional video editing services, I’d be happy to help. Best of luck with your future projects!
Thank you!
Excellent video! I travel a lot, and I have my own Lila Talks youtube channel, and you were very informative and engaging! Im going to Egypt next week. I can't wait. Thank you!!! Please do more videos 😊.
Thanks Lila! Looks like your channel is doing pretty well ☺️ thanks for the kind words and encouragement and I hope you have an incredible experience in Egypt!
Thanks for all the invaluable pre tourist information. How much is a generally acceptable tip amount?
Glad you found it useful! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
I wish to see this place
Thanks
Thank you....
You're welcome! Hope the tips are helpful 👍🏻
@@daradventures LOL…. Thank you but you don’t understand… And that’s my fault. I’m from Egypt and I travel every year to visit my family. Everyone near me wants to travel and I tell them the same thing you state in the video. The only thing I add is to “pack your patience”. The Egyptian minute is actual one hour. Thank you again for the video. I enjoyed it.
@@aomar220 Ha! Pack your patience! I love that. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks again for the comment and complement!
This was Great! Thank You
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great information. Thank you, especially tips on what a woman should wear.
With regards to tipping..what is considered a decent tip?
Keep on traveling! Thanks
Thank you! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were
Excellent video! Any suggestions for readings?
I’m a big fan of David P. Silberman’s book titled simply “Ancient Egypt” - it starts out with a brief overview of the timeline of the ancient period, and then there are chapters on individual topics like the language, art, architecture, medicine, trade, etc… so you can read it all or choose the topics that interest you the most. The book has over 200 charts and illustrations as well. If you want to learn about more than just the ancient history, Jason Thompson’s “A History of Egypt” covers everything from the ancient period up until the modern era, but it’s a bit of a denser read. Hope you enjoy learning more about the history of this amazing land!
Thank you! I just purchased Ancient Egypt off of Amazon.
@@moann7234 wonderful! I hope you enjoy it!
I loved this
I always like to dive into the local language before going to a specific country. But what course would you recommend for basic Egyptian Arabic?
I had an advantage going in as I had some formal education in basic Arabic from when I studied it in college, but it had been many years since I actively used the language and had forgotten most of it - plus I had learned Levantine Arabic, not Egyptian, which has a lot of differences. I used the Mango language app and started from scratch. Just did a little bit each day for a couple months. When I initially learned back in college we used the Alif Baa book written by Brusad, Al-Batal and Al-Tonsi. I loved that book, still have it!
I am visiting Egypt next month for a week I was going to do it on my own now I watched your video I’m worry it’ll be my first time going to that side of the world should I hire a travel company before I go? Or should I go and once in Egypt look for a travel company that can take me around and plan everything for me? I would like to visit Aswan- Kom Ombo - Edfu- Luxor and take a Nile River cruise for a few days
Personally, I wouldn’t do Egypt solo as a first time visitor unless you’re a pretty experienced and confident traveler and are aware of what to expect and are comfortable with that. I did a few days solo in Cairo and very much enjoyed that, but as a first timer I think I would have been a bit overwhelmed tackling multiple cities and the transportation alone. Group travel is a good option if you enjoy organized tours, for me they are a bit hit or miss, but you can always hire your own guide. I personally think that’s the best way to experience the sites. You maintain freedom and flexibility while having someone help you with all the logistics and historical information to enrich your visit. Your accommodation in Egypt can certainly help you hire someone to take you around! Hope the trip goes well however you choose to do it, it’s an amazing country to experience.
very details and informative
I am traveling to Egypt next month for a couple of weeks and so this video was great for me! I’ve written down tons of tips and am trying my best to prepare myself! Out of curiosity, how much cash do you think I should budget for a two week trip? I was planning on bringing USD and only converting a few Pounds in country when I arrive. Is that a good strategy or should I focus more on Pounds and less on USD? Thank you again!
Glad it was helpful! I would focus mainly on using Egyptian pounds… you’ll make things easier on yourself using the local currency. And make sure to keep plenty of small bills on hand for all the tips 😀budgeting cash is a hard question, it really depends on what style of traveler you are, how much souvenir shopping you plan on, are you going to eat in fancy restaurants, do expensive activities etc… I was convinced I had enough cash for the remainder of my trip and then found myself running to an atm again when we were presented with the option of taking a hot air balloon ride over Luxor 😊. I’d start with maybe $200 USD in pounds and go from there, but it really does depend on what style of trip you’re doing. Remember you can always get more cash from a bank and it’s always safer to not carry too much on you at once. As long as your bank knows you’re traveling (you can usually add a travel advisory on the app), then you can withdraw as needed during the trip. Once you’re in country for a few days and start moving you’ll probably get a better idea how much cash per day you’re going through. I know that was a bit vague, but hope it was a little helpful and happy travels! Enjoy your trip!!!
You are weacolm my friend visting my country,i hope spend agood time in my home,this video is very usefel for every One you need visting egypt,if you need help you ok,can commation with me about Whats up,honstly my english not perfect but iam trying, i hope to be happier in my home,the weather is good , when to go perymides you must Go early because the sun is hot, 🥵, take more of water,cap 🧢, scarf,in Egypt can visit square,moaz street, islamic historical,the most all advise in vedio is correct,by,i waiting you in Egypt, have a good trip all-time,
Get Egyptian pounds and try to get a lot of smaller denomination bills because you will be tipping a LOT. ATM's are plentiful and you can get pounds, using your credit card. Sometimes your hotel front desk can convert small amounts for you.
How way your journey
@@NadMohammad There were a few hiccups in my trip, but I always expect that. Otherwise, it was very lovely!
Great tips!@!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for info. I'm visiting Egypt with tour company so, I'm somewhat at ease as a group/family. For a few gifts, I feel more secure buying gifts at a museum AKA GEM, my family will be staying away from any market places are there hacklers inside these places at the gift shops too? Are any items ever priced with tags? Thanks
That’s a good question. From memory, yes, items in gift shops at museums are priced and there is definitely no haggling in these types of places. However, even if you’re not interested in purchasing anything in markets, don’t skip them! Particularly the Khan El Khalili in Cairo - it’s absolutely magical and would be a shame to miss! Markets can be wonderful experiences, and a firm no thank you and walking away will do if you’re not interested in buying. In any case, I hope you have a wonderful trip and find some lovely gifts for your loved ones 😊.
Very useful video thank you! I’m traveling to Egypt with my husband in about 3 weeks, we’re staying in Hurghada so will mainly be staying at our resort but we are planning a day trip Luxor! What’s your tip on getting smaller notes of money? I’ve read that many hotels/shops are reluctant to give out small notes? but we’re keen to have a selection of notes for tipping ect ☺️
thank you! This is a good question, and maybe a bit trickier in your case since you’re going to mostly be resort based. My best advice would be to try and find a place at/near the resort where you can use a bit of cash to break down your larger bills. Regardless of whether you get your cash from an ATM or at an exchange, you’ll get larger notes not suitable for tipping. If there’s a souvenir shop or a bar or a restaurant where you can us cash instead of a credit card or putting the charge on your room bill, then do that. When I first got to Egypt and withdrew money I made a point to break down the large bills every chance I got, trying to turn those 200 pound notes into increasingly smaller ones and then I kept the smaller notes and change aside to use only for tips. You can also ask your hotel once you arrive. The concierge might be able to help facilitate making change or have a good recommendation for a local spot where you can pay with large bills to get change. In any case, enjoy Hurghada and Luxor! The Red Sea is gorgeous and Luxor will be an epic experience.
Great video!!! Let us know if you do a tour with a group of women....
Thank you! I’m just getting started on my journey for the travel community I’d like to build, but I do sincerely hope down the road to host trips for women - that’s certainly a big goal I hope is reachable ❤️
Excellent!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you for your tips. Is it possible to get small notes out of local ATMs or do you they only give large denominations that you need to change somewhere else?
Generally only large denominations. I make a point to break all of my large bills at the start of the trip at places like museums or restaurants and keep the smaller change separate for tips/small snacks etc…
Thank you for such an informative video. We plan to go in Oct. But are nit sure if we should stay in Luxor as we want to do th3 Nile cruise as well. Would you recommend staying in Luxor? Thanks
Yes!!! Cruising the Nile is a wonderful part of visiting Egypt, so make sure you do that, but Luxor takes a few days to really see everything in the area, and the town itself is nice and compact to walk around. spend as much time there as your travel permits! If I could have modified one thing about my own trip, it would have been to add more time in Luxor.
@@daradventures thanks again. Any suggestions for hotels in Luxor 👍🏻
@@jdavid0506 nothing in particular… my tour group our hotel. It was fine, but forgettable. Not sure what kind of traveler you are or how fancy you like your places to be, but when I’m booking on my own I always use the Lonely Planet guide books! They’ve never steered me wrong.
I will be traveling in October also, staying in Cairo.
Oh really.. nice one..should catch up for coffee ☕️
GREAT video!
Thanks! Appreciate the compliment and hope you found it useful!
very helpful thanks
Fantastic video
Thanks! 😃
Very helpful
Glad to hear that!
Ammzing vlog my hony,i am from egypt,i am respect you,i am very happy ☺️ visiting my country,i inviting 🥰 you visiting Aswan in future, i live in Cairo now,i know the traffic ⛔ is difficult,but most if pepole is very friendly, have agood time in my home,thankes alot
Thank you so much 😊
Egypt is a beautiful country. Even though I'm Egyptian, I still watch the cool tourist videos 😂
It is a beautiful country! I’m excited to go back and explore some more in the future. Still so much to see.
So with what's happening now in the west bank, is it prudent to go to Egypt now? I had booked a cruise on the Nile but canceled. My family was so concerned.
I would check government travel advisories for recommendations. Trips operating in the standard tourist regions are still operating as normal, as far as I am aware. If you do proceed with your trip, make sure you have full travel insurance in case of any issues.
Thanks 😊 ❤
You're welcome 😊
Matrouh, zayed, sharm el shiek , red sea resorts ,north coast, dahab , saint catrine the core of egypt ❤❤
Really want to visit the white desert one day!
HELLO TERESA VERY NICE VIDEO MY QUESTION IS FOR 16 DAYS IN EGYPT SOLO BACK PAKER IN MID BUTTGE VISITING CAIRO GIZA PARK OF THE KINGS, LUXOR ASWAN ABU SIMBEL ! WITHOUT INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION AND HOSTALS HOW MUCH SHOULD I WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BANK IN EGYPTIAN POUNS ? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WONDERFUL VIDEO WAITING FOR ANSWER JUNIOR
Hi there - thanks for watching. It’s really hard to say, depends on how you plan to spend on food/drinks/souvenirs, whether you want to use all cash or try to use credit cards when you are able… I’d say start with about 5,000 pounds (roughly $161 in US dollars) and see how far that gets you. When you see how many days that lasts you’ll have a better idea of your own personal spending pattern. Depending on your bank you may get a small fee when you withdraw from the local ATM, so it’s usually better to minimize your withdrawals when that’s the case. But I’d recommend start with about 5,000 and go from there. Personally I prefer to revisit the ATM a few times if needed versus carrying a ton of cash on me, but that’s your call! I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the experience!
@@daradventures TERESA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER IT GIVES ME A GREAT SENSATION OF HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY IN EGYPT HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VIDEOS
Very nice 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks 🤗
Good video. Would have been better with prices for tours etc.
Touring, operators, and budgets would be a very different topic! Like anywhere else, how you visit the country would depend on your budget, expectations, and style preference. Glad you enjoyed the video though, and if you’re planning a trip I hope you’ll have a wonderful time! 😃
Hi just a question in January will it be cold?if it is there central heating in hotels?
It can be, up north at night. I don’t recall the hotels I stayed at having heat, but I also stayed in fairly basic accommodations. I wouldn’t expect heating to be common, but if you’re looking at specific hotels I’d ask them directly if you’re concerned about it. I don’t remember being cold/heat being an issue in the hotel rooms at night when an was in Cairo and Alexandria, just a bit chilly sometimes walking around in the evenings.
Great video. Thanks.
great video, you are funny, young lady :)
Thank you 😁
Awesome suggestions! On average How much of a tip are u supposed to give 1 or 5 or 10 EGP? I’m going in October. I don’t want to under or over tip. Most useful info was purchasing a SIM card at the airport, getting currency and trusting the pharmacy there and that nothing is free 🤣
Thank you! For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Where is it best to take out cash? At airport?
Whenever I travel I only use bank ATMs, never independent ones. You will often find bank atms at the airport, but when you run out you can stop by any local bank machine and get cash. Machines will have an English language option. Just make sure your bank is aware of your travel plans beforehand!
How much are you supposed to give for tip / baksheesh
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Do they charge for point and shoots or phones?
Typically the camera fees are for big items - large DSLR types and tripods. Some sites don’t allow photography inside at all, but if you’re careful and not obvious about it you can film or snap photos with your phone or a tiny camera that fits in your pocket. I managed to get some snapshots on my phone of places where it technically wasn’t allowed. The rules vary according to the site, so read the signage before you go inside. At spots where it isn’t allowed or where they charge a fee, there are guards roaming who are on the lookout for people who didn’t pay. Sometimes you can get them to leave you be if you offer a small tip. Best practice is to read the signs on the rules before you go in, and don’t be super obvious about your photos if it isn’t allowed.
NO, only for professional gear and for that you have to get previous approval, not to buy a ticket. I used a Cnon DSLR, GoPro and a phone, nobody asks you anything. In some tombs, Nefertary tomb in the Valley of the queens you are told not to film, just photos. A small tip and you you can film as long as you wish (official time inside - 10 minutes)
How much do you tip for each service
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor.
For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Great video, music is beautiful but very distracting
How much do you typically tip???
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Hi, i'll be going solo to egypt in a couple weeks. Do you have any specific tips for me? It's my first solo trip so i'm a bit nervous hehe, did you have company or did you go alone?
Well congrats on making the leap to travel solo - I’ve done many solo trips and have loved them all! It’s a different experience. I did most of my exploring with a company and a few days on my own. To be honest, if I could redo it I probably would have gone on my own. I would have loved the additional freedom and flexibility that the tour just didn’t provide. I would say best advice I can think of is just be really firm with vendors and guides if you don’t want their services. If you’re in your own you’ll probably be hounded a bit more. You may even have to be rude sometimes to get your message across to be left alone. Happy travels, and have a wonderful time!!!
@@daradventures Thank you!!
Did you travel by yourself? I’m think about going in April.
Hi Diana! I traveled over alone, and joined a budget level tour that allowed for free exploration time, and then took a few solo days at the beginning and the end of the trip.
Hi
How much tips we supposed to give?
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor. For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.
Sorry to ask about how much did you spend just to give me a rough idea to do all the things you did
www.intrepidtravel.com/us/egypt/explore-egypt-144573
Individual spend really depends on what kind of traveler you are. I did my trip at a fairly budget price point. The link to the tour I did will give you an idea of current prices, plus the add-ons that aren’t included. I also spent a couple of days on my own at the start, and then set aside an additional couple hundred US dollars for meals, snacks, souvenirs, etc.
Thank you. I would really like to do the same things you did they looked amazing I’m hoping next year or the year after to do this adventure that you did
As Egyptians we also give each other bakshesh“ old tradition “ Crazy 🤪 in konw 🤣
How much should I tip without making them angry at me?
For restaurants and cafes, I’d say 10-15% of your bill is good and and just whatever loose change you have is fine if you’re grabbing food from a street vendor.
For drivers and tour guides, approx 50 Egyptian pounds per day for the driver and maybe 80-100 for the guide. Taxi drivers you can round up the fare - I’d give like 20% on my Uber rides (because they were so cheap to begin with) and the drivers were always super grateful. Also, If I was just grabbing a local guide at a site to show me around, I’d give maybe 20 pounds, depending on how long they stayed with me and how helpful/knowledgeable they actually were.