Sharm El Sheikh Shopping

There are hundreds of small shops in Sharm el Sheikh, in Naama Bay as well as in the Old market. The goods are the same but the prices are very different, generally everything is much more expensive in Naama Bay, which is the new and commercial centre of Sharm. There are so many tourists all year and shopkeepers just don't want to bargain because there will always be some Italian or German or French or Englishman to pay the price they demand. We, the Serbs, just can't afford to pay every price and therefore we appreciate shopping at the Old market where prices are even 50% lower than in Naama Bay.
There are very nice papyrus, souvenirs, nargile etc. everywhere in Sharm, only the prices differ.

What to pay: Always bargain, especially in the Old market. Always start 50 or even 60% off of the price they say.

Great pizza etc at an outstanding price. They range from 18LE (£1.80) for you basic C&T up to 25LE (£2.50) for a full loaded special,and they are more than big enough for one person.They make and cook them fresh in front of your eyes.We found that most of the time one between two was enough.They only sell soft drinks but they have no problem at all with you either bringing your own alcohol or popping out to the beer shop(30secs away) to get your own.They are also open from 11am until 3am every day

What to pay: It would be very hard to spend more than £5 a head including pudding and drinks

A real good bakery and take away,but you can eat in if you prefer.

What to buy: Bread of all sort plus sandwich fillers and soups.Puddings. The filled subs are particularly good ranging from about LE12(£1.20) for cheese and onion up to about LE18(£1.80) for really tender roast beef or about the same for a "build you own".There is plenty of other choices.

What to pay: Nice and cheap.

There are about 4 kinds of shop in sharm, Jewellry, Perfume, Clothes and everything else! Every shop you pass will have an owner running out of it asking where you are from and asking if you would sign his book, or just come in for a look. Dont get offended or annoyed, they are only trying to earn a living, but they can be persistent!

What to buy: I found Silver Cartouches to be very well priced, I bought a few here ( not as cheap as Luxor) and they cost me around 35LE each, and they are beautiful. I also picked up some nice leather wallets and purses, just check that its leather not plastic! A good sniff usually tells you.

Everywhere you go in Egypt you will find people trying to lure you into their shop to buy perfume. They will serve you cups of Hibiscus tea, sit you down to chat about your world, and display their wares at leisure.

Most of the shopkeepers are charming people, and it is difficult indeed not to be tempted to buy something. The first time you go you will probably buy many things. In fact, you'll be trying to think of people at home that you can buy things for! You will be tempted by the thought that "this" was Cleopatra's favourite scent. Forget Western advertising - you wil picture yourself languishing ravishingly in a bath of perfumed asses milk!

The perfume here is sold in oil form and so is far longer lasting than the usual alcohol-based perfumes. Most of the scents are also very pleasant indeed. In addition to the scented oils, all of the shops sell prettily crafted, multicoloured glass perfume bottles. These are all incredibly fragile and delicate, so make sure that they are very well packed with bubble wrap before you travel.

What to buy: Perfume oil, glass perfume bottles, scent burners etc.

What to pay: Bargain - it's not very expensive and they WANT you to bargain.

Few women can resist the lure of a beautiful handbag on holiday, and in recent years there is a huge demand for great designer fakes.

Just down from the Savoy Hotel in Sharm is a little shop selling bags, purses, suitcases, and umbrellas. They're all designer fakes - mostly Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Burberry.

Most of the fakes are obvious fakes but a couple are pretty well made. Even most of those have tell-tale "Made in Egypt" tags:-)

I had a very amusing chat with the owner of this little shop. I was carrying a real LV that I paid Euro600 for and he was trying to persuade me to buy a fake from him for Euro40. he just couldn't see the difference between a real one and a fake, even when I pointed out the differences to him. In fairness I don't think he had any concept of what a designer label was, and just knew that everyone was anxious to buy these bags. initially I was afraid I had insulted him, but then realised that he was delighted with the chat and was already scheming how he might make his look more like mine.

I even bought one for fun and it made his day. Pic will be posted.....

The duty free shop is located in Naama bay, behind Pacha at the very bottom on a corner. You can't miss it, it's usually very busy.

Word of advise, don't go without your passport or you won't be able to buy anything from here, but you can look.

It sells a range of things from alcohol, perfume, make up, shoes etc

I wouldn't exactly say its very cheap, but cheaper than retail shop price in the UK.

What to pay: They are fixed prices - sorry no bartering here!

As you will soon gather when you visit any part of Egypt, papyrus shops are part of the scenery and you will also find that you are dragged into any shop that you cast even a casual glance at.

Initially I have no doubt but that you (like me) will be fascinated by what's on offer and tempted to buy all around you.

My first visit to Egypt was spent eight nights in Sharm and two in Cairo. I was indeed entranced by the papyrus and, wanting to bring home a part of authentic Egyptian culture, I bought lots of them in my hotel and again at a shop in the Old Sharm market. They were pretty, but to be honest it was a mistake. When I eventually went to Cairo and visited the genuine papyrus museum I noted that the quality of the papyrus and the paintings on them was far and away superior to the Sharm ones.

I'm posting a pic of my favourite Cairo papyrus purchase. This is supposedly by a famous Egyptian artist, but I can't even read his name on the painting:-)

What to buy: If you're going to Cairo, wait till you get there to buy "decent" papyrus, otherwise just buy some small souvenirs in the local supermarket in Sharm.