| Hawkers and hassle tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cairo locals. • 31 Photos
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We stopped at a locally known lookout point to take some spectacular pics of the Pyramids when a very old and innocent-looking Egyptian man wandered up to my Mum. He gestured to ask if she wanted him in a pic with her and, in her innocent delight, she said yes and he posed beside her.
Next thing, before she had a chance to object, he unwound some dirty bangades and wrapped them around my Mum's head.
"Hey!" I thought "This guy is trying to make a Mummy of my Mammy. She was a bit upset and nervous at this point and I could see that she was bothered by the dirty headdress.
The trick from the old guys point of view was that he would not take the bandages off her unless she gave him money, and he would not leave without his bandages.
I handed him some money, he demanded more, but our guide intervened and he took his bandages away.
It was a really unpleasant experience though - if I were Mum I'd still be scratching my head.
Watch out for the locals wandering the Pyramids - most of them are up to some scam. Leave a Comment
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 souvenir salesmen by uglyscot
Most people in Egypt are paid a pittance compared to the rest of the western world, so they are only trying to make a living.
Bargain. Inevitably you will get the price down considerably, and take it as all part of the holiday fun.
Today [27 May 2005] I got 3 large metal model pyramids for 25 E Pounds,; he originally began at 40E pounds. I don't think I was ripped off, because last year I was with someone at Khan el Khalili who was happy to pay 19 E pounds for the smaller models. The little boy I bought them for was over the moon, and that compensates for any extra profit the salesman made.
Try somewhere else away from the tourist sites. Many smaller shops will have similar things, and as the economy is not very good these days may be prepared to sell at a lower price just to make a sale. Leave a Comment
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When going to most touristic sites you will be followed and surrounded by lots of men offering you to buy their original papyrus papers. It is not an original papyrus they are liers.
If he is offering you a papyrus as an original one tell him No this is not Original and that you are the brother of picaso or leonardo Da vinchi and that you cant be decieved by this.
If you are stuck by his hassle then give him a 3-5 egyptian pounds (less than 1 dollar). and ask him to give you the papyrus.
Dont buy papyrus from the streets cause they are not for real but a sketchy.
There are special places to buy them from. ask you tour operator. Leave a Comment
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 by Cabana_Boy
I swear the concept of sales and marketing had to originate in Cairo, because the locals can get even the shrewdest and most well traveled foreigner’s attention long enough to get the opening lines of their sales pitch out. Naturally the most annoying scam artists work the tourist sites….Gizeh, Saqqara, the Egyptian Museum all the places you want to go and simply gaze in bewilderment, the silence (and your attention) broken by “Where you from, my fren…England, España, français, United States???” “How ‘bout a camel ride…my fren…Egyptian price today for my fren…only twenty-five LE… I take you to see tomb of Akhethotep…my fren…nice camel ride.” Be wary, the camel ride “into” the desert will probably cost you less than the camel ride “back” to civilization…
So, how do you discern the difference between the good Cairenes and those that are annoy….perhaps the best way is to listen carefully to their opening salutation…If they say “Salaam” with a smile, then your probably alright, but if their opening line is “Hello, my fren” followed with an even bigger smile, then you’d better quicken your pace before you are ushered into a store for tea….because that’s where the heavy sales pitches are made and the next thing you know you’ve bought fake papyrus or one of those stupid toy camels stuffed with sawdust…
Oh, one last thing, don’t even try to throw the hawkers off your trail by speaking a “foreign” language…it’s futile….these dudes know their opening sales lines in a variety of languages and will only come back with a response in the same “foreign” language. I tried to habla the espanol out of a situation in the Khan one day only to find that my Egyptian counterpart spoke better Spanish, much better Spanish… Leave a Comment
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I can honestly say that my experience at the Pyramids of Giza was the only time I felt truly uncomfortable and harrassed as a tourist while in Egypt. From the moment we entered the approach to the pyramids, we were followed, intercepted, offered goods and even touched - with headscarves placed on our heads despite our refusal.
If only I'd learnt the word 'baksheesh' means 'gift', which does not appear to mean something given freely, rather something to be offered in exchange for something else. So when a headscarf is placed on your head and offered as a 'baksheesh', you will be expected to offer something back in return. Attempting to give back the headscarf proved a challenge. Persistance is key, I personally found this all too overwhelming because I had not expected it at all.
We actually escaped by way of a camel ride... which was a great experience though only then led to further disputes about the cost of the ride. We agreed a journey time and price before setting out but it was still a matter of dispute when we were right out in the desert and not able to get off and walk. We ultimately bartered for a reasonable price - above our original - but I still ended up giving them camel riders my pens hung around my neck through their persistance. It was no big deal, but a little frustrating to feel so obliged to give them.
Be prepared to be hassled, and try to remain calm and firm in your response. Remember to say 'la shukran' for 'no thank you', with a smile.
I felt that my experience distorted by view of the site, and with the firey heat I found it a little exhausting. However, when we were out in the desert on the camels we were able to gain an amaZing view of this wonder of the world.
Despite the pyramids of Giza, there are many other pyramids you can visit in Egypt - over 100 in total - so why not visit some of them instead?
We took a day out with a driver hired for the day - thanks to our hotel reception. We visited the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid in Sakkur... with an early start enough to avoid any tourists at all for the first half an hour, and were able to enter the [Red] pyramid itself to get a feel for what life could have been like some 4000 years ago when they were first built........ Leave a Comment
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Although 99% of Cairenes are probably kind, open people, be aware that people that approach foreigners on the street do not really want to be your friend (would you do that?). No matter how friendly, how many things in common ... "you are from ___? My sister is studying at university there!", these people can spot an 'off the plane' tourist and make a beeline accordingly. Just be aware when you hear 'Where are you from?', people are not really trying to reach out to you from the goodness of their heart.
From there, you are invariably brought into their shop and then you're mildly trapped until going through 'the pitch', for perfume oil, papyrus, whatever, which will invariably have inflated prices.
Also, if someone attaches themselves to you and walks with you into any shop (or to any taxi, or any hotel), it is understood that they will receive a cut of whatever you spend, and the price goes up accordingly.
There are so many of these types around, and they do at least approach you in a somewhat polite way, we found the best way to deal with them is a polite but firm, "No, thank-you" with the hand sign for "Stop", and don't even slow down. Leave a Comment
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 Camel ride? by bpwillet
If you really want to do this which is not a bad idea, just make sure you are going and seeing what YOU want to see. There are a few individuals who will claim a camel ride but won't take you but around in circles. There are a few that will take you to a spot away from the pyramids so you can turn around and see the entire goup of them. It is great and well worth the price. If you don't get tired of the haggling before you get out there.
The alternative is to go to one of the cafe's just outside the park or the cafe that is connected to it for some refreshments and watch the sunset from there. You can see all three pyramids and the sphynx, so it is still a good option. Leave a Comment
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 The man in the photo is a tout by sswagner
"Hello, where are you from?"
Translates as: "I need to ascertain how much money you have."
"How long have you been in Egypt?"
Tranlates as: "I need to know whether you are fresh off the plane so I can take full advantage of what you have not yet learned about the ways of the tout."
"Is this your first time in Egypt?"
Translates as: "Are you naive or are you already keen to what I want from you?"
"Because you are my friend, I will make you a special offer"
Translates as: "Finally, someone who will pay 4 times what this is worth!"
"How can I take your money?"
No translation required.
Most of us were taught certain manners growing up such as how to make eye contact and how to be polite and respond when someone is addressing you. When you reach Cairo's tourist areas, forget what you have learned. Leave a Comment
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Be very careful when someone offers you help in Egypt (unfortunately) - they ALWAYS want money om you. This includes the tourist police and guards at the pyramids, valley of kings.
When in Egypt always be suspicious of people's intentions (unfortunately).
Also, my lonely planet stated that the price (per gram) for perfumes was actuall 1/10th the price I was being asked to pay. Egypt is a supplier of essential oils to the big perfume houses so I did want to buy some but decided against it ...
A fellow traveller was sold a genuine papyrus but later on we found out that it was machine made. Another traveller bought a basalt statue (really heavy) but it was fake - basalt does not chip/break when thrown onto the ground
I dunno know - tell them u want fake stuff and if they say they don't have fake stuff ?? Leave a Comment
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Most travellers admit that at one point or another in Egypt they are usually taken in by some local businessmen or friendly locals and led to a shop. I am rarely duped by con men but in Egypt they are professionals and know exactly what to say at the appropiate time. In Egypt be cautious when following people (although most people are nice) the worst case scenario involves being led to a shop to buy some over priced souvenirs of the mans friend. Leave a Comment
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