How much Egyptian currency should I purchase for a two week trip to Egypt?
Do you think
How much money to Egypt
How much Egyptian currency should I purchase for a two week trip to Egypt?
Do you think
Re: How much money to Egypt
Hi Debbie,
We usually recommend that you carry the majority of your funds (70%) as travellers cheques for security reasons.
Both travellers cheques and cash should be in a major currency (i.e. US Dollars or Sterling.) If you wish you could obtain a small amount of local currency before you arrive but banking services are available in the Arrivals Hall of Cairo Airport.
You may also want to bring your plastic, but this shouldn't be relied upon as your main source of funds. Check with your card supplier to see what services are available in Egypt.
I'd like to open this subject up and ask other travellers what they thought was a good amount of money to take for our trips to Egypt. Money is a subject close to all our hearts so I'm sure you'll all have an opinion!
[b][email]chris@imtrav.co.uk[/email][/b]
Re: How much money to Egypt
Debbie
I think I changed about US$500 into Egyptian Pounds at the Arrival Hall in Cairo. I changed another US$100 at a bank in Cairo, and then later used an ATM in Luxor to get another US$100 (equivalent) for a total of about US$700. This amount also included about US$100 that I paid for the trip to Abu Simbel. If I tried hard, I could perhaps have cut down my expenses by at least US$100, but that really wasnt the point of the trip!
Hope this helps.
Ravi
Re: How much money to Egypt
Hi, my husband & I took $700.00 U.S. in traveller cheques for 12 days. We still had $200.00 left, but charged about $200.00 on Visa!! Guess it just depends how much shopping you will do and where you will eat. Better to take too much than not enough!!
Re: How much money to Egypt
Basically it is up to you to decide the budget you can spend, but take all you can afford. I too recommend going heavy on travellers cheques, as you can always use the remainder when returning home. Be SURE to record the numbers, as I once lost mine and it wasn't as easy as the ads say to recover them. Never say they were stolen, unless you enjoy spending your holiday in police stations with reports, etc..
All the major hotels have banks inside where money can be exchanged. You can get Egyptian pounds daily if necessary. Always keep a little for Baksheesh (tips) as the Egyptian thrives on this for the slightest favor. Doesn't mean you have to pass it out beyond reason.
Although you will find many bargains in Egypt, it is best to go with a mind set that the Egyptian pound has the same value as dollars, sterling, etc. at home. That's hard to do but will help you with bargaining. Never pay more (or as much in many cases) in pounds than you would in your own currency at home (pound for dollar/sterling).
Three hundred pounds only equals about $100 USD. That's not enough in my estimation, and certainly not enough for two weeks. Pounds flow in Egypt like the river Nile.