Egypt money

[anonymous-user]

Hi, Going to Egypt in March, and wondered is it best to get money here or over there..

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Take Euros, Sterling or USD and change the money over there.

Do not bring Egtyption Pounds back - they are worthless and difficult to change.

[Dave_ITR]

As above, change it once you get there.

Take antibacterial hand gel with you as the notes are filthy.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Tuesday 19th January 12:57

[AdeTuono]

Dave_ITR said:

As above, change it once you get there.

Take antibacterial hand gel with you as the notes are filthy.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Tuesday 19th January 12:57

Shouldn't you be called Dave_OCD?

[VxDuncan]

AdeTuono said:

Dave_ITR said:

As above, change it once you get there.

Take antibacterial hand gel with you as the notes are filthy.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Tuesday 19th January 12:57

Shouldn't you be called Dave_OCD?

Nope, totally correct! Friend went on a nile cruise with a largely Egyptian group. Most of the men got food poisoning, and very few of the women. Only thing he could think of was that typically only the men would carry the money. Do also know someone who got court short with no toilet roll in India but happened to have a few ruppees in his pocket... Probably the least said about that the better.

Back on topic I usually carry USD (or pounds to a country I know will be able to change them to save exchange costs twice) and change to local there. In a fairly developed country like Egypt, I don't think you need to take all of your money with you - access to ATM's should be pretty good. Obviously you need a fair float - Split this up. I have a main money belt that goes under the clothes, and belt with hidden money pocket, plus zipped pockets, and split the money between them. Once in the country split the money you carry round with you into large notes and small change - will save you showing large denominations when giving tips or making small purchases.

Might be worth having a bit of local ahead for the taxi fare from the airport, and break a note before you leave the terminal so you have small change for the inevitable tips. Whatever currency you are taking make sure it is all really small notes (unless you have large fixed payments like a diving course) as breaking a large note can be near impossible. Once took me a week to find someone that would break a $50 in Uganda, and in Mozambique even a BP filling station wouldn't have change for the equivalent of a £3 note if your purchase were less than £2.50!

[Dave_ITR]

AdeTuono said:

Shouldn't you be called Dave_OCD?

Possibly, but having worked for 7 years in a travel company specialising in Egypt I know how many people get ill & a large portion of these illnesses are put down to people not washing their hands having had contact with the local currency.

[SerialLurker]

As others have said, change over there.

At xmas I took English notes and you get a better exchange rate there.

[nw28840]

i just got back from Luxor.

I didn't bother taking any money - i just used the ATM's and they take credit card for any larger purchases.

Pay in local currency where possible - prices always seemed hiked up in other currencies.