Top Egypt hotels
Dress Codes for Women Cairo
19 Reviews Egypt is supposed to be one of the most modern country in entire Middle East & Africa.Contrary to the belief the all women here use veil( Hizab), I found almost every where married and un married work...
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ALEXANDRIAN culture Alexandria
7 Reviews Alexandria is blessed by a long Corniche, and this, of course, gives rise to a very healthy café culture. In the areas of the city such as Montazah, where there are many tourists and locals who come...
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Bargaining Cairo
12 Reviews Bargaining. Us Anglo's just don't get it, do we? In England about the only time we enter into any negotiation over price is when we buy a car or a house. Here' it's different. A love of the deal is...
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Islam Cairo
22 Reviews Islam is the main religion of Egypt with almost 90% of it's population practicing the religion. Other religions are Christianity, who form about another 10%. The city of Cairo has very beautiful...
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Traffic Cairo
10 Reviews The automobile traffic and rules on the roadway in Cairo is unlike any conventional heavy traffic. a. donkeys, camels and donkey drawn carriages hauling garbage share the roads with cars b. the...
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"The people of Egypt are the greatest people on earth and they should deserve the Nobel Prize for Peace".> Austrian President, Heinz Fischer.(this photo shot was taken at Cairo International airport in September 2011).
No, I don't smoke! As a matter of fact I'm allergic to tobacco ash. So, I was not tempted to try the shisha pipe, but noticed that, for many people, that was a must do. My hotel in Cairo had a good idea and placed the smoking area in the roof. Nice place to have a pipe, watching the pyramids, or better than that, watch the pyramids without any pipe at all.
For a western, not used to this kind of deal, it starts to seem odd. It's rather umcomfortable to offer someone a third or fourth of the price he asked you. But that's the use. And bargaining is not a conflict but almost a social way of fraternization. So don't hesitate:make your (small) offer. And even if the deal fails, you will be more considered after a hard bargaining than if you waste your money accepting the high prices they always start asking. Besides, once caught the rhythm, it is funny.
%oWalk Like An EgyptianAll the old paintings on the tombs,They do the sand dance don't you know.If they move too quick (oh whey oh),They're falling down like a domino.All the bazaar men by the Nile, They got the money on a bet.Gold crocodiles (oh whey oh), They snap their teeth on your cigarette.Foreign types with the hookah pipes say,Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey ohWalk like an Egyptian The blonde waitresses take their trays,They spin around and they cross the floor.They've got the moves (oh whey oh),You drop your drink then they bring you more.All the school kids so sick of books,They like the punk and the metal band.When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh),They're walking like an Egyptian.All the kids in the marketplace say,Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey ohWalk like an EgyptianSlide your feet up the street bend your back, Shift your arm then you pull it back.Life is hard you know (oh whey oh),So...
Egypt is one of the best countries for solo travel. Having said that, for my first time in a country where not only do I not speak the language but can't read it either I would go for the tour option. Once you know how the country operates (as far as tourism is concerned) you can return solo to catch up on the bits you missed. I've been to Egypt 3 times.Advice on dress and conduct - remember this is a Muslim coutry and dress and behave with respect for that culture. Cover your shoulders and knees and avoid showing cleavage. Light, loose clothing in natural fibres (cotton, linen) is the best. An ideal outfit is crop pants, a singlet/tank top and an open, sleeved shirt. Carry a scarf with you for visiting mosques etc. No shoes allowed in mosques.Don't drink the water. The water in Cairo is treated but treated so much it is horrible to drink. Bottled water is available everywhere and very...
My tip on bargaining should work for you in many a marketplace, give it a try:When you find an item you like, Think about how much YOU want to pay for it. This will be your maximum price. Always remain calm and polite and playfully answer any questions with a question of your own about the quality or origin of the item, the integrity of the business or merchant or business premises and do not ask the price for the item, instead tell the seller the amount you would like to pay, making your first offer as far below your maximum price as you feel comfortable. Providing that you never exceed your maximum, you will always end up with a bargain. The sellers initial price or even the 'best price' is not an issue, so long as both parties are happy and it has been a happy, stress free enjoyable day which is what holidays are all about. I'd be interested to know how many people try or do this.
About Money in EgyptOn the forum many questions are asked about how you deal with money in Egypt and what you should take with you from home.First of all: Don't buy Traveler Cheques. They are outdated by the ATM Machine and take a lot of hassle either to purchase them and to cash them in Egypt.Take at least 2 Credit Carts of different companies with ATM access possibilities.Than take either USD, Euro's or GBP. Not to much, just to have some money to change at the Airport into Egyptian Pounds and to help you in case of emergencies. When you loose your Credit Cards for instance. 400 to 500 Euro's should be enough. But it depends on your way of traveling; how long, how you it and what you want to do in Egypt. Most 5 star hotels demand to be paid in either USD, Euro's or GBP.National flights and the Sleeper train also need to be paid in those currencies. Or a Credit Card will do in all those...
As a Westerner, I am not used to bargaining. As a Westerner who is currently working and living in Japan ( the land of politesse, modesty and silence ), bargaining is almost alien to me. However, when I travel, I adapt immediately and very well to my surrounds and thus, I learned to bargain on my first few days in Cairo ( at the Khan ) and became an expert at it by the 2nd time I visited later in the week.THE ART OF BARGAINING1) You have to go into any market / bazaar / souq with the very real notion that YOU are the buyer with money and they are the ones who need that money. There are many sellers who sell the same if not similar items....and there is only one of you who is willing to spend some money on a good item. Hence, the favour is always in your hands. 2) Walk into a store and look " disinterested ", as if just casually browsing without any intent to buy. In fact, I even top it...
When you are bartering for your trinkets the merchant will most likely offer you a glass of Egyptian tea. You can decline but you'll hear all about the Eyptian hospitality rule where it is his obligation to offer you a drink. If you're not into tea you can ask for a soda and he'll be more than happy to oblige. Shopping is a leisurely activity and you should be ready to spend a little time bartering for your treasures. The drink is to allow you to linger, give the owner a chance to open a dialogue with you about what you are looking for, how much you want to pay and so forth. To rush in, buy your souvenirs and run off are foreign to them. In addition, it's been my experience that the longer you remain, the better the price will be. I've been in shops where I've put together a few things that I'm interested in buying and when the price stalls and they no longer want to barter I let them...
Egypt is mainly a muslim country and you will see mosques everywhere and hear the prayers from there several times a day.Non muslims are welcome to visit the mosques aswell and egyptians are generally very open to outsiders and eager to show them that their religion is not the evil thing some people in other countries tries to make it look like.go and see for yourself and you are most likely to be welcome.
Four Seasons At The First Cairo
4 Reviews and 208 Opinions You must go through a street barrack and through metal detectors just to get to the elevator and get...
Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa Luxor
8 Reviews and 261 Opinions We had a fabulous time! We were pampered from top to bottom. I am feeling very relaxed. Excellent...
Sultans Gardens Resort Sharm El Sheikh
6 Reviews and 2561 Opinions The Sultans Gardens hotel locate near Sharm El Sheik´s Airport (about 15 minutes drove) and hotel...
Reviews and photos of Egypt attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Egypt sightseeing.
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Q: I'm exploring options on a month in Egypt around Sept 2012. Tours? Home base? Must see, ideas? I'm very interested in the...
A: Visited Egypt a couple of months back. Although it was only a week trip eventually but initially I was planning for a longer trip so I can share some of the...
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