If someone has ever traveled abroad, most likely he was either in Egypt or in Turkey. Some go for a lazy vacation on the beach, others for diving near coral reefs, others dream of seeing the pyramids that they once looked at in a history textbook, and someone wants everything at once.
But a vacation abroad is not only about emotions, but also about money. Is it possible to save money without turning a vacation into a quest for survival? Yes, if you know how!
Choosing the right dates
The main rule is not to go to Egypt on holidays. New Year holidays, May, and even local Muslim celebrations - all this instantly raises prices by two or even three times. If you want to relax for adequate money, it is better to choose September-November or March-May: the water is warm, there is no heat, the hotels are not packed to capacity.
But in summer, Egypt is not as scary a place as most people think. Yes, the temperature is over +40 ° C, but this is dry heat, which is easier to tolerate than the same heat in Turkey, where humidity makes the air heavy.
If there are no options other than the New Year holidays, check the festive dinners in hotels. In Egypt, they are loved: Catholic Christmas, New Year, Orthodox Christmas - but all this for a fee. You don't even have to eat dinner, but you will have to pay.
Currency issue: change is a rarity
Egyptians can smile for a long time and have friendly conversations, but they do not like to change money at all. Buying anything can turn into a mini-performance, where they will try to give you change with chocolate, additional goods or just a joyful "thank you".
To avoid this, you need to stock up on small bills in advance. Dollars at 1-5 USD will be a salvation, and if you really need Egyptian pounds, it is better to withdraw them from an ATM, and not change them from anyone.
It should be borne in mind that the old hundred-dollar bills (before 2000) are not liked in Egypt - they will either not be accepted at all, or will be accepted with a sour face and at an unfavorable rate.
Excursions: cheap does not mean good
Yes, excursions from street sellers are cheaper than from a tour operator, but there are exactly zero guarantees: it is not a fact that the bus will be in good working order, and the boat promised as a "yacht" will not turn out to be a leaky vessel. If something goes wrong, there will not even be anyone to file a claim. At least the tour operator has legal responsibility, even if not always willingly fulfilled.
Also if you get to the pyramids, don't buy anything there! No water, no souvenirs, no individual excursions of a "super-guide" who will show "what is not in guidebooks": all this is marketing for naïve tourists.
Bargain!
Egypt is a country where bargaining is not just appropriate, but mandatory. If you are told the price of 15 USD, then it really costs 2 USD, and no one will be offended if you drop the price. They are traded everywhere, except for supermarkets and shops with fixed prices. In tourist places, prices are always higher, but if you go a little further from the resort area, the chances of buying something for normal money grow greatly.
Taxi: a contract is more valuable than money
Getting into an Egyptian taxi without discussing the price in advance is almost a guaranteed adventure with surprises at the end. "Let's agree!" sounds tempting, but the output is always more expensive than expected.
It is better to immediately strictly stipulate the amount and currency (show the banknote, if necessary). If the driver starts to play tricks, just say that you will call Uber - most likely, he will agree.
By the way, Uber and Careem do work in Egypt. If you want comfort, install the app and call a taxi without nerves.
Total
Egypt is a country with an oriental flavor, tricks and a special approach to trade. Here you can have a good rest without spending too much, if you know a couple of life hacks: do not go on holidays, change money wisely, do not take excursions from random people, bargain and control taxi prices. And then the rest will pass without unpleasant surprises - only the sea, the sun and vivid impressions.
