How much money to take to Egypt and in what currency?

Each traveler, going abroad for the first time, is interested in the question of how much cash he will need to take with him to feel completely free. In this article we will talk about Egypt - the most popular country for recreation with Russian tourists. We will try to answer the most frequent questions about the local currency and tell you how much money to take to Egypt.

Planning a future vacation

Most often, Russians buy tours, the cost of which includes accommodation, meals and a transfer to the hotel. If you are only interested in beach vacations, then you can limit yourself to the minimum amount. In case you plan to go shopping, visit several excursions and go diving, then plan the entertainment program in advance and calculate the costs. How much money to take to Egypt depends on various factors. For example, if you are traveling with children, then spending on their entertainment can be very significant. Let's consider the most frequent expenses, which are waiting for tourists in this country.

Visa

Egypt is very loyal to the citizens of Russia and does not require them to complete a large number of documents for entry. Registration of the visa takes place directly at the airport of the host country after arrival and costs 25 USD. In South Sinai and Sharm el-Sheikh, you do not have to pay at all if you do not plan to stay here more than 15 days.

Tip

You will learn the word "baksheesh" right after you arrive in Egypt. It will be heard from the service staff at the hotel, porters, taxi drivers and waiters. Usually Europeans encourage quick Egyptians to coins and bills in one to five Egyptian pounds. Remember, you are not required to tip everyone who asks for it, and you can choose the size of this amount yourself.

There are unspoken "tariffs" for which the work of staff is paid. So, the waiter is accepted to leave 10% of the bill, the porter is given 5 pounds, and the maid - one or two pounds every other day. However, if you are not satisfied with the level of cleanliness in the room or the quickness of the restaurant worker, do not tip at all. A conscious payment for a negligent attitude will worsen the situation even more. In case you are all happy and want to encourage the employee, then try not to do it demonstratively. The fact is that the rules of some hotels are strict and prohibit employees from taking money from guests.

Food

Even if you are satisfied with the dinners at your hotel, be sure to visit the local cafes and restaurants. Dishes of national cuisine will be remembered for a long time and, most likely, you will highly appreciate the work of the chef. A romantic dinner for two will cost about 20-25 dollars. This means that $ 100 is enough for a few pleasant evenings, which you will spend outside the hotel.

How much money to take to Egypt, if you want to eat local fruits? Five or ten dollars is enough for you to stock up on food for a week ahead. In case you came with children, then count on big spending.

Directions

Independent journey by taxi in the resort areas costs from 15 to 30 pounds in the afternoon and 20 to 40 pounds at night. Travel on the route you will cost only two Egyptian pounds. Do not take the car at the box office, as the behavior of local motorists on the road leaves much to be desired. Sitting in a taxi, negotiate with the driver in advance and specify which pounds (English or Egyptian) he had in mind, sounding the price.

What money to pay in Egypt? Experienced tourists are advised to always have a few local currency bills on hand. Of course, taxi drivers will gladly accept dollars and euros, but they will establish a course, and not the fact that it will coincide with the real one.

Excursions

How much money to take with you to Egypt, if you are determined to get acquainted with the ancient culture of the country? The average cost of one tour varies from 50 to 100 dollars. If you stayed in one of the hotels on the Red Sea coast, then Giza and Cornac will have to travel by air. This means that the price of such an excursion will increase several times. You can get to these areas and by bus, but such a journey is guaranteed to exhaust you and not bring much pleasure. Thus, three or four excursions for one will cost from 200 to 500 dollars.

Many Russians manage to save a considerable amount by buying one day tours not in a hotel, but on the street. However, no one can guarantee you security and the fulfillment of all the conditions that are stipulated before the conclusion of the transaction. Independently travel is generally not recommended, since some of the population is very negative about visitors.

Souvenirs

A variety of souvenirs, offered by local craftsmen, amazes inexperienced Russian tourists. How much money to take to Egypt, to bring with you a piece of this wonderful country:

• Papyrus, alabaster figurines of cats, scarabs - this is perhaps the most popular gifts that are brought from Egypt by European tourists. The average cost of such trifles varies from 10 to 15 pounds.
• Ornaments. In local shops and shops you will be offered earrings, rings, bracelets and pendants for every taste. Costume jewelry is inexpensive, about 10-30 dollars, but the price of gold and silver is much higher.
• Hookah - Egyptian "shisha" is a colorful gift, which will be appreciated by any male representative. The cost of this classic hookah reaches 40 dollars.
• Aromatic oils - it is difficult to specify the real price of this gift, since its cost depends on the composition of the product and the place where it is sold. Take a walk at local shops, ask the price, try to bargain and bring down the original price.

Money of Egypt. Rate to ruble

The Egyptian pound is the national currency of the country, it is equal to 100 piastres and 1000 millimeters. The official name used by the international community to refer to Egyptian money is EGP, but in the country itself there is often another reduction - LE (Egyptian lyre). The peculiarity of the appearance of banknotes is that they are all the same size. And if you take into account the fact that most of them are dirty and crumpled, it's no wonder that Europeans often become victims of deception of local scammers. If you use the services of exchange offices, first carefully study how the money looks like Egypt. The rate to the ruble is estimated by local bank employees, and often it does not correspond to reality. To avoid losing a large percentage during the exchange, come and relax with dollars or euros.

Where to change money in Egypt? You can make an exchange in any exchange office, bank or ATM. Buy pounds easily at the hotel or airport. For security reasons, you should not contact private persons and do not respond to offers received on the street.

How to transfer money to Egypt?

If you are in a difficult situation, then your relatives and friends can help you to rectify the situation. They can go the simplest way and use the services of Western Union. To do this, they only need to come to any point of service with an identity document. The sender will name the operator the amount, your personal data, and in a few minutes you can already get money from Russia or any other country. The transfer of money to Egypt can be done at any time of the day, regardless of the difference in time zones.

Where to store money during the rest

Unfortunately, cases of theft in Egyptian hotels can not be called a rarity. For the convenience of tourists, hotels are equipped with safes for storing money and valuables. They are located either at the reception desk, or directly in the rooms. However, this type of storage is not as secure as it might seem at first glance. The fact is that employees of the hotel always have spare keys or cards, which are used in emergency cases. Where to keep money in Egypt? First, never keep all the savings in one place. Secondly, have credit cards with you that you can use in an emergency. Distribute cash among your things, check their safety and quantity on a daily basis. Some hotel employees have a habit at every opportunity to take a few bills from the guests of the room. Vacationers do not even notice that their wallet becomes easier every day and leaves home, remaining in blissful ignorance of the true state of affairs.

How much money to take to Egypt, everyone decides for himself. But try to stock up enough money to not deny yourself the pleasures that traditionally make a holiday in this country unforgettable and full of vivid impressions.