Aswan Tourist Traps

3 more images

The day I was looking for the AlMasry Restaurant and walking along the street near the souk (market), one guy crossed my path and asked me where am I going, I said I'm looking for the AlMasry Restaurant. He said, "Do you remember me? We've met in Moevenpick some years back when I used to work with Moevenpick" hmmmmm... I said, I haven't been to any Moevenpick and yeah, btw, I don't remember you from anywhere. And i kept on walking while he was saying the restaurant is there, in fact he was telling me the wrong direction.

So in case you meet this guy or any other guy who tells you the same catchy line...avoid at all cost...unless of course you really remember him.

Unique Suggestions: Smile and walk away...

Fun Alternatives: ...or just ignore and walk away...don't ever catch up on the conversation.

This appears to be the factory that tour guides favor. The prices are outrageous even after bargaining, which became clear once we reached Luxor and did comparative shopping. Worst of all their employees demand tips which is not something we encountered anywhere else in our trip (and we visited Taba, Sharm el Sheik, Luxor, Alexandria and Cairo).

Unique Suggestions: Avoid it.

Fun Alternatives: Wait until you get to the West Bank in Luxor to get comparable merchandise. With hundreds of such shops (versus only a few in Aswan), you'll find a better selection and the presence of such tremendous competition keeps the prices down and gives you more leverage when bargaining.

This is for the traveler to Aswan that doesn't like the idea of being attached to to a large group of tourists, someone that sometimes likes to go it alone.

Unique Suggestions: This is a list of the attractions in Aswan and the average price (These prices are subject to change, per Tour Leader).
Day Trip to Philae Temple 40 L.E. = about 8.00 USD
Philae Temple Sound & Light 75 L.E. = about 14.00 USD
Aswan High Dam 8 L.E. = about 2.00 USD
Unfinished Obelisk 25 L.E. = about 5.00 USD
Fellucca Ride (1 hour ride per person) 25 L.E. = about 5.00 USD
Abu Simbel (air-conditioned bus) per person one way 80 L.E. = about 15.00 USD
Ticket for entry to Abu Simbel 50 L.E. = about 10.00 USD

Most employees in the Egyptian Tourism industry live on the tips or "Baksheesh" they recieve,
most employees are fair and realize the people thet visit are usually on a budget too. But sometimes, you may find overzealous workers who may try to get a little more money tipwise.

Unique Suggestions: Basic Services Recieving Tips:

Washroom Attendant 1-2 L.E.
Tour Guide (Daily) 25 L.E. per person
Luggage Handler (Hotel) 3 L.E. per bag
Hotel Room Housekeeper 15 L.E. for (3 days)
Tour Bus Driver for Day Trips 100 L.E. (around Aswan)
150 L.E. (outside Aswan)
Cafe or Restaurant Waiter 5 L.E.

Be careful about the goodies you received when you bought your items from those aggressive vendors on the street. They often give you less quantity than the numbers you agree on, or they gave you some broken merchandise.
A vendor in Aswan kept yelling at me what is my problem about not buying these cheap looking ceramic scarab bracelets . I just randomly said his asking price for 100 El for 5 is too much, I said its about right if 5 EL for 6 bracelets. Then he pulled me into the store and said deal. While I was surprised, he took my 5 El & gave me 3 bracelets. I said "you said 6 !" Vendor said "another 5 EL I gave you another 3 bracelets". I was not happy because I did not want to buy these to begin with. Then I said yes, give me the other three. Vendor gave me & I left without paying him extra. I thought I won from these dishonest vendors....oh but wait ....most of them are broken items anyway .....I guess Egyptian merchants won !

Unique Suggestions: Just be happy since the goodies in Egypt are cheap. Never give any prices according to american standard and don't feel asham if you offer like 10 percent of their asking price.

On a tour and cruise around Egypt the sellers of Aswan are the most tedious and aggressive. They are also the most stupid because the create an atmosphere that stops you from buying. The old guys seemed fine it was the young men and boys that were the problem; at one point there were four of them grabbing at me. I also had to fend a couple off my teenage son and it was the only time in Egypt that I had to get loud and aggressive (as opposed to assertive) This was also the only place where polite but firm "no thanks" in arabic didn't have any effect at all.

At one point a tourist policeman walked by and for a brief minute they scattered, no one bothered us at all - it was like seeing drugs dealers scatter when the police video van drives by. When he'd gone the mood changed back to awful.

Later in the week we returned to Aswan and our guide told us that Aswan is the place in Egypt where the traders will switch the money you give them for smaller notes and then claim that you haven't given them enough. One trader tried this on a fellow traveller but repented pretty quickly and grovellingly when challenged aggressively.

We wandered from the tourist paved road into dark dirt road area of the town. Here the shops were local shops and the people were much more friendly and genuine - we were invited to buy but got no hassle at all in this down market area.

Unique Suggestions: Take great pleasure in buying nothing from Aswan market - it's the only way they will learn. However; do spend elsewhere in Egypt, tourist money is important for this beautiful country.

Get your guide to tell you the local equivelent language and protocol for telling people to [get lost] Ours told us but after we had been.

SAHRY & ALAA JEWELLERY ASWAN - A government approved/ certified store. We were taken there by friends from Aswan. The owner a soft spoken and gentle mannered person showed us around personally. We bought four semi precious stones worth about a $1000 from him. He convinced me they were genuine and kept pointing out that he was firstly a govt approved store and secondly that he would never cheat a friends friend. on reachiing India my family jeweller had one look and said they were pieces of Plastic!!! I sent them to the instute of gemology that certified them to be plastic.

Sent the certificate and the stones back to Aswan. The jeweller has refunded UD$250 and I am still waiting for the balance.

Buy your Egyptian pounds at a bank or take them from a money machine. Never be alone to do it! Look at your change as you pay for something. 1 pound = 100 piasters and the piasternotes are just as big as the poundnotes. So don't get ***ed in a change trick!

Never tip in euro's or in dollars. Use pounds! Two or three is quiet enough! A to high tip is an insult! Remeber that.