Hope these Egypt tips help you out - some of them we definitely learned the hard way. Whatever you do, don't let this scare you away from visiting. The sites are seriously jaw dropping.
Hello, I'm an Egyptian local who saw the 2 parts you posted and I'm really sorry. Facts: Vendors, sellers, service providers .. etc. are a bit greedy when it comes to tourists. Most of them are not very well educated, they just think they can benefit from foreigners as they're not familiar with the prices, and they think an extra $1 wouldn't hurt you but it is equivalent to EGP31 now so it would matter to them. A good tip from me is to ask a local about the price of anything you'd like to get before getting to the vendor/service provider. Locals won't scam you. As for the "nothing jobs", even us, locals, get manipulated by these (The temple guards, the toilet boy, the photographer .. etc.) It is kind of an emotional manipulation. However, in any case, and anywhere in Egypt, do not hesitate to ignore these people, no one will ever harm/hurt a tourist even if they're angry at you. To fix it, we need to really invest in educating these people to understand that less profit with tourist satisfaction is a better investment than more profit with tourist dissatisfaction. They need to understand the power of the word of mouth and the long-term impact it has on them being in the tourism industry. Man, I'm really sorry you had to go through this ❤
Egypt is amazing, even if I got scammed it's a part of the experience. But sometimes it can be to much. The local people are some of the most kindhearted people, unfortunately many tourists don't give them a chance because that feeling of everyone just want your money or something from you. It starts already when you set you foot into the airport. But overall it's a different and enjoyable experience to visit Egypt. I will recommend to everyone 👍
Very smart! I’ve found when traveling as a couple, it’s a little harder because it would be weird for both of us to have headphones in and walk around without talking to each other haha. The headphones are a key ingredient to ignoring people.
When I went to Egypt some years ago, I went on an organised tour with a company which includes all tips in the price of the tour, so the Tour Leader was the one who dealt with the service providers such as felucca guy, camel riding ,restaurants, etc. and he gave tips . Of course, even so, the providers would ask us for tips, but we were told by the Tour guide that if that happened we should just directed them to him. This way, the trip was bearable.
I lived (American) with my Egyptian husband for two years in Egypt. You were so brave to travel on your own. I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Even when my husband took me to Aswan and Luxor, he made arrangements through a local travel agent. He did this alone so they charged him the Egyptian price and not the foreigner’s price. It was a great trip since I was the only one who didn’t speak Arabic, the company got me a private car (vs bus) and an English speaking tour guide! I always tell my friends who want to go to Egypt to go with a tour group.
One of the many scam tricks that Egyptians use is to first agree on a price with tourists in pounds (which is the Egyptian currency) and then later claim that they meant English pounds, which is 27 times more expensive
A taxi driver in Sharm tried that with me once, I just said what country are we in? They don't have a leg to stand on. If all else fails just tell them you'll get the police and they'll soon change their tune.
Wow - fantastic advice and tips! You were jumping around but I've found if you are staying in one place long enough (at least a week) then the best thing is to find a local taxi driver and do a deal. It'll work out really cheap for the week and he will pick you up each day, drive you to where you want to go, wait for you and so on.
We went to Egypt with an escorted tour and never experience the scam that you were talking about. I saw our tour guide handing some money to the police when we arrive in one of our destination and asked him what is that for. He said it's normal in Egypt that way he won't get harass. Tour company give him a budget for that.
Thanks for your honesty! I wish your videos were up when we were on our scammed Egypt trip... Now I will only enjoy the beauty of and admire Egypt from my armchair.
The best way to see Egypt is to go with an escorted, all inclusive tour (hotels & meals with admission to sites included). The tour guide and armed escort will shield and intervene on your behalf from most of these scams.
For hawkers - How about using sign language and pretending you are deaf. You could even hand them a card that says you can't hear. My next tips really only work for expats or if you are going to be in one place for a while. In the town where I live in Guatemala, the best restaurants and coffee shops are on the main tourist street, so you are constantly bothered by street sellers. I use two responses. First - The sellers are indigenous Maya, so I learned to say, "No, thank you, ma'am" in the local Mayan language to show I wasn't a tourist. Second, I try to learn the sellers names. I know how much they struggle to earn a living, so I will offer them enough to buy a cold drink or let them use my cell phone to make a call or even giving them enough to pay their transportation back to their home village (less than $1) because they may be working all day when no sales. Those little gestures of kindness are always appreciated.
I took a two-week luxury tour and cruise in Egypt in 2013 which included everything and had absolutely zero hassles. In Cairo I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel and then flew to Luxor and boarded the cruise ship that went up the Nile to Aswan and back to Luxor. Stopped every day to visit another temple.
Bargaining - I used to bargain hard for any hand-made items I bought in Guatemala. Then I learned about the people and how difficult their lives were because of poverty. After that, I'd think about how much a similar hand-made item would cost in the US. Let's say you want to buy a hand-woven scarf in the US. $30 would not be an unreasonable price for that. So if someone offers me the same in Guatemala for $15 or $20, I'm happy to pay that, especially if it means that their kids will eat more than tortillas for the next two meals.
As I've traveled all over the world primarily to view total solar eclipses, I've now visited 19 countries. Just about the only thing I have ever brought back with me is photos.
Really helpful advice! We're just planning our trip to Egypt in February and can't wait to get scammed ourselves!😄 But after watching your videos it might at least not happen as often. Thank you!
Bahaha you probably won't have to wait very long!! If you can brush it off, you'll love it though. The historical sites in Egypt make the rest of the world look like bush league.
I remember the free camel ride scam. Sure, the camel ride is free but if you want the handler to get the camel to sit so you can easily get off easily, that costs a donation. hahahaha
Hahahaha that's a classic! Sometimes you just gotta laugh it off and accept defeat. Imagine what Egypt would be like if all the scammers used their creativity and effort for good instead of evil!
@@ProjectUntethered Imagine what THE WORLD would be like if the people who send me a half dozen scam messages each day did something that benefits all humankind. I agree with you 100%.
It happened me 22 years ago in Saqqara , but it was a donkey ride ... A young Egyptian guy in a traditional robe offered me a ride on his donkey, I said I have no money. He answered it doesn't matter. So I hopped on. At the end of ride he told me Now pay!. Now he wasn't alone, men in same robes were standing around me and eyeing me suspiciously. I stupidly had only a 100 Deutsche Mark bill, so I had to give him. He gave me back some money in Egyptian pounds. Later I realised how little exchange I got back .... Basically I paid appr. 90 Deutsche Mark for that ride... That was an expensive one! At least for me certainly because I was skint anyway. The lesson from this story is always have a small change with you and never accept anything if they are telling you it's free. Ask always for the price.
as an Egyptian archaeologist, i advise you to visit Egypt, unless you are seeking a dystopian Kafkaesque adventure in real life😂 but it actually can be a lot better if you have a local friend here, if you don't have any. you can consider me as your friendly neighborhood spider man, i will be glad to help, but u r on ur own with the pyramid, even locals find it hard to deal with these scammers .😅
You gave really good advice! Before watching this video, I had written comments about your last video and our advice is quite close. I completely agree with not having too high of a wall, a lot could be missed if you create that wall. Egyptians are wonderful people (I am not Egyptian BTW). They are really funny and kind. Here is what I wrote in the other review: I have been to Egypt three times and often stay for weeks at a time travelling in tourist areas and off-the-beaten path. Egypt requires a mindset and acclimitization. The best advice is to travel with a culturally competent person who speaks Arabic, but if that is not available then the alternative is to go there with a mindset. The mindset is that haggling is fun, and no one will hurt you if you haggle and say no. The tourist police will always stand by you, so don't be afraid. Enjoy the touts, haggles, and poorly concealed scams. Always remember that if you were traveling in a Western country, the prices you pay for equivalent things in Egypt are way above what you would pay in Egypt. So be generous, you are already getting an amazing deal even when they rip you off. Just pay what you would pay for a similar commodity or service in a Western country, then you won't feel ripped off. Also, be aware they don't see it as ripping you off, the see it as being good merchants. Go with the mindset of "I love to haggle," then enjoy it and laugh with them (not at them)...be friendly and kind (but also assertive)...don't be afraid. If you are afraid, some might use that against you. They figure out that your fear will mean at least a few pounds (i.e., in Western money; a negligable amount) and will use it. Try your best to laugh and be funny; mirror their affect...Egyptians are the most humorous people in the Middle East and if you can be relaxed and funny with them, they will treat you like one of them. I am not Egyptian, but I do speak Arabic, so I do have a slight advantage...but if you use humor and kindness and you are not afraid of the cultural differences, you'll really love your travels in Egypt.
Good luck you will need tons and tons of it. Anyway, be prepared, you better be prepared for all the hassle, harassment, lying, scamming, touting, begging, pickpocketing and perverting.
I stayed in a city called Qena in a hotel called Basma, and it was directly on the Nile, it was nice. Can get pretty hot though on the 31st of December I was sitting on the terrace watching The Nile go by and sipping a sugar cane juice so good. In Hurghada I stayed at Scandic Resort and it's pretty good 👍 beachfront.
Sounds like the way to go is with a pre-planned tour. Going as a solo traveler seems to potentially be more of a hassle than its worth. I find that flat out ignoring to the point of no eye contact and not even turning your head to acknowledge their presence is the best method in obviously hostile merchant environments.
Great Advice, You are awesome communicator, Also you can add. If you plan to exchange USD , make sure Money Bills are not damaged, because most exchange offices, won’t accept, or accept at less rate. Cheers
After a while I got tired of the guys that followed me and didn't take no for an answer. Finally I decided that for them I would just take off running. It would have looked bad for them if they chased after me at that point, so nobody tried it. Haha.
I grew up in the hood with a family full of hustlers. Egypt sounds like home to me 😂 So from what I heard is to call the hotel to confirm the room is ready and get an email confirmation before you get there. Have your cell and vpn ready, Uber where you need to go. Record their responses when they set a price, tally up your bill before reaching the register. Headphones in, keep my eyes forward, and black shades. Got it 😂
We visited Tunisia once and I have no intention to return to North Africa at all. I have visited 46 countries in the world and it is the only one I would not recommend to anyone. It is just such a hassle. Vendors try to drag you in their shops, follow you over long distances - even if you made clear you dont want their offers. If you dont buy anything it often ends up with them yelling at you. If you want to experience a different culture as someone living in a „western“ country I would highly recommend you to go to (South)east Asia - especially Thailand or Vietnam.
I had to pay extra for my wife to get off a camel on a short ride (I walked) near the pyramids and we had to pay double the negotiated price at the end of a caleche ride in port Said, but that was minor. Egypt is very worthwhile for its true history and for the amazing wonders in the pyramids, the Serapeum, and the quarry at Aswan, especially if you are an engineer like me and want to look beyond what guides tell you. I’ve taken tours and strongly recommend them but have gone on my own. Do your homework and enjoy Egypt and bring a sense of humor and vigilance. Egypt is absolutely worth the minor hassles.
There’s app I use in Egypt call didi, is worth it but avoid less review drivers from all apps cause most of them don’t take the ride to charge you more, but if they do take the ride, end of the trip the app will tell you you cost to pay, affordable than taxis and Uber app’s
In regards to "Tipping", how much did you give out in Egyptian currency? Weather its taxi ride, tour guide, restaurant, i.e. in general what is the min?
I live in CA and when the homeless asks me for money I will give him without hesitation and will happen all the way I am walking I think now that stuff happening too much if you have money just give
I went to Egypt from Cyprus an overnight cruise . We travelled by coach under armed guard, which was a little scary, we went to the pyramids which I was disappointed to see were not 'in the middle of nowhere' just the other side of the river. Some people on our coach got coned by taking a camel ride around the closest pyramid, they agreed a price and instead of paying when they were brought back to the car park, they did their own haggling, it back fired as they were taken half way round before the camel driver demanded more money to take them back, they only just made it back to the coach. I unsettling thing happened in the museum, in certain parts no photos were allowed to be taken, this was in 1999, before phones with cameras, probably before mobile phones 😅 but I took a few shots as you do. Once home having photos developed, all came out before and after the museum but not the ones I should not have taken. There must have been something in the glass cabinets, I don't know but a little spooky lol. I agree about the traffic you mentioned in pt 1 of your Egypt video, 8 lanes of care on a 5 lane road, busses slowed but didn't stop people just jumped on and off, Crazy place but I think India traffic is worse lol😊
Hahhaha look at those Westerners worrying about being polite in Egypt lol I’m Egyptian and when I lived in Egypt, I used to walk around with a razor! You guys are salt of the Earth!
Beware ⚠️ Of reviews ? India, Egypt, and similar countries. They will have friends and relatives, write nice reviews. How to catch that ? It will be in broken English or common phrases. Thank you
Can't you just hire one of the scammer to follow you around and have them tell the other scammers to stay away from you and if you get bothered then it's only half price to encourage them to keep the other scammers away
I don't think that lying to people that you "already did" something to avoid them bothering you and other such little lies instead of confronting them is a very honourable thing to do. The world is such a bad place because of conflict-avoiding people like you - always looking the other way instead of making things better.
Hi Mitch. I find it very interesting that as an honest and ethical digital nomad like yourself, you promote bribery. I know it is not your country and all what you want is to have a seamless journey. However, that does not justify encouraging people to accept bribery. How would you feel if I travel to the US and act the same way you did and bribe people to leave me alone? Would you like it if I post a video on youtube promoting it?
I have a clever Egypt tip. Don't go there. There are plenty of places to visit in the world where you can have a relaxing time without being harassed or scammed at every turn. Why go somewhere where you are viewed as prey?
If people were getting scammed out of thousands of dollars in other countries then they would stop going there. It's not about spending a dollar or two, as you claim. The overwhelming majority of people are more than happy to pay a fair price for what they are getting. Most people however do not like being harassed and cheated, which is just a form of being robbed.
I'm sure Egypt is a beautiful country with lots of history with amazing tourist sites etc. However, From all of the videos I've seen from people who have visited this hell hole. I would never visit Egypt just because of all of the scams, insanity and dishonesty from every corner of Egypt that one will experience once you arrive there. I've done a lot of traveling and been to many countries. I have never dealt with anything that you experienced in Egypt. There are many other wonderful and welcoming countries that one can visit and not be scammed everywhere one goes.
Hope these Egypt tips help you out - some of them we definitely learned the hard way. Whatever you do, don't let this scare you away from visiting. The sites are seriously jaw dropping.
Hello, I'm an Egyptian local who saw the 2 parts you posted and I'm really sorry.
Facts: Vendors, sellers, service providers .. etc. are a bit greedy when it comes to tourists. Most of them are not very well educated, they just think they can benefit from foreigners as they're not familiar with the prices, and they think an extra $1 wouldn't hurt you but it is equivalent to EGP31 now so it would matter to them. A good tip from me is to ask a local about the price of anything you'd like to get before getting to the vendor/service provider. Locals won't scam you.
As for the "nothing jobs", even us, locals, get manipulated by these (The temple guards, the toilet boy, the photographer .. etc.) It is kind of an emotional manipulation. However, in any case, and anywhere in Egypt, do not hesitate to ignore these people, no one will ever harm/hurt a tourist even if they're angry at you.
To fix it, we need to really invest in educating these people to understand that less profit with tourist satisfaction is a better investment than more profit with tourist dissatisfaction. They need to understand the power of the word of mouth and the long-term impact it has on them being in the tourism industry.
Man, I'm really sorry you had to go through this ❤
You are absolutely right! Next time we’re in Egypt, we’ll have to get in touch with you 🤓
Why not? I'd be glad to help
Egypt is amazing, even if I got scammed it's a part of the experience. But sometimes it can be to much. The local people are some of the most kindhearted people, unfortunately many tourists don't give them a chance because that feeling of everyone just want your money or something from you. It starts already when you set you foot into the airport. But overall it's a different and enjoyable experience to visit Egypt. I will recommend to everyone 👍
I totally agree!
Out of all 3rd world countries on planet earth, Egypt ranks #1. By the way, Egypt has more educated people per capita than Peru or Costa Rica.
The headphone tip is fire. I always do this and rarely have people come talk to me if I don't want them to.
So simple, yet so effective 🤓
Headphones, hat with brim down, and sunglasses. I do it places with touts all the time.
Very smart! I’ve found when traveling as a couple, it’s a little harder because it would be weird for both of us to have headphones in and walk around without talking to each other haha. The headphones are a key ingredient to ignoring people.
When I went to Egypt some years ago, I went on an organised tour with a company which includes all tips in the price of the tour, so the Tour Leader was the one who dealt with the service providers such as felucca guy, camel riding ,restaurants, etc. and he gave tips . Of course, even so, the providers would ask us for tips, but we were told by the Tour guide that if that happened we should just directed them to him. This way, the trip was bearable.
That sounds like much less of a headache!
I lived (American) with my Egyptian husband for two years in Egypt. You were so brave to travel on your own. I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Even when my husband took me to Aswan and Luxor, he made arrangements through a local travel agent. He did this alone so they charged him the Egyptian price and not the foreigner’s price. It was a great trip since I was the only one who didn’t speak Arabic, the company got me a private car (vs bus) and an English speaking tour guide! I always tell my friends who want to go to Egypt to go with a tour group.
@behrouzvossoughi5465. 86-88
That’s my plan. No winging it. Plot and plan and hire guides
Re the kids wanting selfies … my brother-in-law was pickpocketed by one of those “innocent” kids.
😫😫😫
This is one of the best, most brutually honest travel videos I've ever watched. Bravo!!! Thank you!
I'm glad you found it helpful!!
One of the many scam tricks that Egyptians use is to first agree on a price with tourists in pounds (which is the Egyptian currency) and then later claim that they meant English pounds, which is 27 times more expensive
Woooooow, that is just so annoying. It's a shame scammers scare away tourists from such an amazing historical place.
@@ProjectUntethered correct so sad
A taxi driver in Sharm tried that with me once, I just said what country are we in? They don't have a leg to stand on. If all else fails just tell them you'll get the police and they'll soon change their tune.
Your best advice is to simply go with a tour. We did that in Egypt, and really enjoyed it.
Yeah I’m sure they “didn’t have change” seems very convenient 😅 especially the one that didn’t have $2!
sounds exhausting, thank you for the video I like your style and how you get to the point
Wow - fantastic advice and tips! You were jumping around but I've found if you are staying in one place long enough (at least a week) then the best thing is to find a local taxi driver and do a deal. It'll work out really cheap for the week and he will pick you up each day, drive you to where you want to go, wait for you and so on.
We went to Egypt with an escorted tour and never experience the scam that you were talking about. I saw our tour guide handing some money to the police when we arrive in one of our destination and asked him what is that for. He said it's normal in Egypt that way he won't get harass. Tour company give him a budget for that.
Thanks for your honesty! I wish your videos were up when we were on our scammed Egypt trip... Now I will only enjoy the beauty of and admire Egypt from my armchair.
You’re very welcome and I’m sorry you had a rough time. Egypt is definitely the ultimate test in patience 😅
The best way to see Egypt is to go with an escorted, all inclusive tour (hotels & meals with admission to sites included). The tour guide and armed escort will shield and intervene on your behalf from most of these scams.
I went in 1980....with a tour group. Going it alone there is equvalent to being tossed into a shark tank!
learn the symbols for the arabic numbers or take a copy of the numbers, that would help in shopping for example.
I am travelling to Cairo next month, This video makes me nervous and also optimistic.
Thank you for the great tips, will see how it goes for us 🙂
If you're an unmarried couple, ALWAYS say you are married when asked- why do they want to know? so they have a green light to be physical.
Really useful for my trip there end of month
For hawkers - How about using sign language and pretending you are deaf. You could even hand them a card that says you can't hear. My next tips really only work for expats or if you are going to be in one place for a while. In the town where I live in Guatemala, the best restaurants and coffee shops are on the main tourist street, so you are constantly bothered by street sellers. I use two responses. First - The sellers are indigenous Maya, so I learned to say, "No, thank you, ma'am" in the local Mayan language to show I wasn't a tourist. Second, I try to learn the sellers names. I know how much they struggle to earn a living, so I will offer them enough to buy a cold drink or let them use my cell phone to make a call or even giving them enough to pay their transportation back to their home village (less than $1) because they may be working all day when no sales. Those little gestures of kindness are always appreciated.
I love these tips! It’s clear you have a very kind and generous heart ❤️
I took a two-week luxury tour and cruise in Egypt in 2013 which included everything and had absolutely zero hassles. In Cairo I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel and then flew to Luxor and boarded the cruise ship that went up the Nile to Aswan and back to Luxor. Stopped every day to visit another temple.
Excellent content
Makes sense to have a legitimate tour guide to help you identify and avoid the scams.
Bargaining - I used to bargain hard for any hand-made items I bought in Guatemala. Then I learned about the people and how difficult their lives were because of poverty. After that, I'd think about how much a similar hand-made item would cost in the US. Let's say you want to buy a hand-woven scarf in the US. $30 would not be an unreasonable price for that. So if someone offers me the same in Guatemala for $15 or $20, I'm happy to pay that, especially if it means that their kids will eat more than tortillas for the next two meals.
Especially if it’s handmade! In some places it can be tricky to tell the difference unless you actually watch them make it.
@@ProjectUntethered Very true.
What a lovely sentiment! I cannot agree more.
As I've traveled all over the world primarily to view total solar eclipses, I've now visited 19 countries. Just about the only thing I have ever brought back with me is photos.
Really helpful advice! We're just planning our trip to Egypt in February and can't wait to get scammed ourselves!😄 But after watching your videos it might at least not happen as often. Thank you!
Bahaha you probably won't have to wait very long!! If you can brush it off, you'll love it though. The historical sites in Egypt make the rest of the world look like bush league.
@@ProjectUntethered it all sounds like a big challenge but totally worth it!
For sure. You’ll definitely leave as a hardened veteran traveler 😎
I remember the free camel ride scam. Sure, the camel ride is free but if you want the handler to get the camel to sit so you can easily get off easily, that costs a donation. hahahaha
Hahahaha that's a classic! Sometimes you just gotta laugh it off and accept defeat. Imagine what Egypt would be like if all the scammers used their creativity and effort for good instead of evil!
@@ProjectUntethered Imagine what THE WORLD would be like if the people who send me a half dozen scam messages each day did something that benefits all humankind.
I agree with you 100%.
Wow, sounds like heaven to me!
It happened me 22 years ago in Saqqara , but it was a donkey ride ... A young Egyptian guy in a traditional robe offered me a ride on his donkey, I said I have no money. He answered it doesn't matter. So I hopped on. At the end of ride he told me Now pay!. Now he wasn't alone, men in same robes were standing around me and eyeing me suspiciously. I stupidly had only a 100 Deutsche Mark bill, so I had to give him. He gave me back some money in Egyptian pounds. Later I realised how little exchange I got back .... Basically I paid appr. 90 Deutsche Mark for that ride... That was an expensive one! At least for me certainly because I was skint anyway. The lesson from this story is always have a small change with you and never accept anything if they are telling you it's free. Ask always for the price.
Yikes! That is definitely a lesson learned the hard way 😓
as an Egyptian archaeologist, i advise you to visit Egypt, unless you are seeking a dystopian Kafkaesque adventure in real life😂
but it actually can be a lot better if you have a local friend here, if you don't have any. you can consider me as your friendly neighborhood spider man, i will be glad to help, but u r on ur own with the pyramid, even locals find it hard to deal with these scammers .😅
You gave really good advice! Before watching this video, I had written comments about your last video and our advice is quite close. I completely agree with not having too high of a wall, a lot could be missed if you create that wall. Egyptians are wonderful people (I am not Egyptian BTW). They are really funny and kind. Here is what I wrote in the other review: I have been to Egypt three times and often stay for weeks at a time travelling in tourist areas and off-the-beaten path. Egypt requires a mindset and acclimitization. The best advice is to travel with a culturally competent person who speaks Arabic, but if that is not available then the alternative is to go there with a mindset. The mindset is that haggling is fun, and no one will hurt you if you haggle and say no. The tourist police will always stand by you, so don't be afraid. Enjoy the touts, haggles, and poorly concealed scams. Always remember that if you were traveling in a Western country, the prices you pay for equivalent things in Egypt are way above what you would pay in Egypt. So be generous, you are already getting an amazing deal even when they rip you off. Just pay what you would pay for a similar commodity or service in a Western country, then you won't feel ripped off. Also, be aware they don't see it as ripping you off, the see it as being good merchants. Go with the mindset of "I love to haggle," then enjoy it and laugh with them (not at them)...be friendly and kind (but also assertive)...don't be afraid. If you are afraid, some might use that against you. They figure out that your fear will mean at least a few pounds (i.e., in Western money; a negligable amount) and will use it. Try your best to laugh and be funny; mirror their affect...Egyptians are the most humorous people in the Middle East and if you can be relaxed and funny with them, they will treat you like one of them. I am not Egyptian, but I do speak Arabic, so I do have a slight advantage...but if you use humor and kindness and you are not afraid of the cultural differences, you'll really love your travels in Egypt.
Great Video! thank you for sharing
thank you, love your vids
We are visiting next month. Thanks for the tips 😊
Good luck you will need tons and tons of it.
Anyway, be prepared, you better be prepared for all the hassle, harassment, lying, scamming, touting, begging, pickpocketing and perverting.
I stayed in a city called Qena in a hotel called Basma, and it was directly on the Nile, it was nice. Can get pretty hot though on the 31st of December I was sitting on the terrace watching The Nile go by and sipping a sugar cane juice so good.
In Hurghada I stayed at Scandic Resort and it's pretty good 👍 beachfront.
Visiting Egypt sounds like a hot mess. Thank you for the great content. Very helpful. 👍
Sounds like the way to go is with a pre-planned tour. Going as a solo traveler seems to potentially be more of a hassle than its worth. I find that flat out ignoring to the point of no eye contact and not even turning your head to acknowledge their presence is the best method in obviously hostile merchant environments.
Great tips
Great Advice, You are awesome communicator, Also you can add. If you plan to exchange USD , make sure Money Bills are not damaged, because most exchange offices, won’t accept, or accept at less rate. Cheers
Thank you! :-) And that's a great tip for anyone thinking about exchanging!
i like the way you think. thanks for the tips.
After a while I got tired of the guys that followed me and didn't take no for an answer. Finally I decided that for them I would just take off running. It would have looked bad for them if they chased after me at that point, so nobody tried it. Haha.
😂😂😂😂
I grew up in the hood with a family full of hustlers. Egypt sounds like home to me 😂 So from what I heard is to call the hotel to confirm the room is ready and get an email confirmation before you get there. Have your cell and vpn ready, Uber where you need to go. Record their responses when they set a price, tally up your bill before reaching the register. Headphones in, keep my eyes forward, and black shades. Got it 😂
Have an Uber app instead of the taxi cabs in Egypt.
Great tips! Thank you!
We visited Tunisia once and I have no intention to return to North Africa at all. I have visited 46 countries in the world and it is the only one I would not recommend to anyone. It is just such a hassle. Vendors try to drag you in their shops, follow you over long distances - even if you made clear you dont want their offers. If you dont buy anything it often ends up with them yelling at you.
If you want to experience a different culture as someone living in a „western“ country I would highly recommend you to go to (South)east Asia - especially Thailand or Vietnam.
You don't go to a country where tipping and haggling is part of the culture and not expect to have to tip or haggle for most things
I'm sure that's true. It's just the dishonesty used in negotiations that's unbearable when it's almost every interaction.
I had to pay extra for my wife to get off a camel on a short ride (I walked) near the pyramids and we had to pay double the negotiated price at the end of a caleche ride in port Said, but that was minor. Egypt is very worthwhile for its true history and for the amazing wonders in the pyramids, the Serapeum, and the quarry at Aswan, especially if you are an engineer like me and want to look beyond what guides tell you. I’ve taken tours and strongly recommend them but have gone on my own. Do your homework and enjoy Egypt and bring a sense of humor and vigilance. Egypt is absolutely worth the minor hassles.
💯
EXCELLENT TIPS AND RECOMENDATIONS I AM ADDICTED TO YOUR CHANEL I AM THE GUY FROM COLOMBIA WHO IS PROUD TO BE IN NORTH AMERICAN CITIZEN
There’s app I use in Egypt call didi, is worth it but avoid less review drivers from all apps cause most of them don’t take the ride to charge you more, but if they do take the ride, end of the trip the app will tell you you cost to pay, affordable than taxis and Uber app’s
Thanks for the tip! Yeah it sounds like different apps work in different cities sometimes!
Does this work in Sharm
In regards to "Tipping", how much did you give out in Egyptian currency? Weather its taxi ride, tour guide, restaurant, i.e. in general what is the min?
I live in CA and when the homeless asks me for money I will give him without hesitation and will happen all the way I am walking I think now that stuff happening too much if you have money just give
I went to Egypt from Cyprus an overnight cruise . We travelled by coach under armed guard, which was a little scary, we went to the pyramids which I was disappointed to see were not 'in the middle of nowhere' just the other side of the river. Some people on our coach got coned by taking a camel ride around the closest pyramid, they agreed a price and instead of paying when they were brought back to the car park, they did their own haggling, it back fired as they were taken half way round before the camel driver demanded more money to take them back, they only just made it back to the coach. I unsettling thing happened in the museum, in certain parts no photos were allowed to be taken, this was in 1999, before phones with cameras, probably before mobile phones 😅 but I took a few shots as you do. Once home having photos developed, all came out before and after the museum but not the ones I should not have taken. There must have been something in the glass cabinets, I don't know but a little spooky lol. I agree about the traffic you mentioned in pt 1 of your Egypt video, 8 lanes of care on a 5 lane road, busses slowed but didn't stop people just jumped on and off, Crazy place but I think India traffic is worse lol😊
Regarding the "hotel switching" part, what hotels did this to you, if can name them?
Yo girl on thumbnail has cakes, put her on more😂
Mindset of war? Geez im from philly. Thats the default setting 😂. Great video!
I’m staying away from that country! Their favorite word is tip. Everything is a scam. Just watching this video gives me PTSD from that place.
What app do you use as the tour guide at the sites?
UA-cam :-)
I Will survive it because I will never ever go to that dump.
Hahhaha look at those Westerners worrying about being polite in Egypt lol I’m Egyptian and when I lived in Egypt, I used to walk around with a razor!
You guys are salt of the Earth!
What about the food? Is it easy to develop food poisoning or severe travelers diarrhea?
I didn’t seem to have any problems! But we like to eat where we see lots of others eating. I think we were pretty careful with the water though.
@@ProjectUntethered Right on. Thanks for the reply!
I was careful and got severe diarrhea
Beware ⚠️
Of reviews ?
India, Egypt, and similar countries.
They will have friends and relatives, write nice reviews.
How to catch that ?
It will be in broken English or common phrases.
Thank you
Can't you just hire one of the scammer to follow you around and have them tell the other scammers to stay away from you and if you get bothered then it's only half price to encourage them to keep the other scammers away
This sounds so stressfull
I don't think that lying to people that you "already did" something to avoid them bothering you and other such little lies instead of confronting them is a very honourable thing to do. The world is such a bad place because of conflict-avoiding people like you - always looking the other way instead of making things better.
I won't go to Egypt because of this. Yes, it sucks because I'd love to see pyramids but I don't want to put up with this.
Hi Mitch. I find it very interesting that as an honest and ethical digital nomad like yourself, you promote bribery. I know it is not your country and all what you want is to have a seamless journey. However, that does not justify encouraging people to accept bribery. How would you feel if I travel to the US and act the same way you did and bribe people to leave me alone? Would you like it if I post a video on youtube promoting it?
I have a clever Egypt tip. Don't go there. There are plenty of places to visit in the world where you can have a relaxing time without being harassed or scammed at every turn. Why go somewhere where you are viewed as prey?
Egypt is a tourist attraction place not for a cheap people worrying about spending dollar or two dollar while they spend thousands in other countries
If people were getting scammed out of thousands of dollars in other countries then they would stop going there. It's not about spending a dollar or two, as you claim. The overwhelming majority of people are more than happy to pay a fair price for what they are getting. Most people however do not like being harassed and cheated, which is just a form of being robbed.
Don’t travel to Egypt
I think neither I should until this horrible current head of state has been removed.... Long live Muhammad Mursi!
I'm sure Egypt is a beautiful country with lots of history with amazing tourist sites etc. However, From all of the videos I've seen from people who have visited this hell hole. I would never visit Egypt just because of all of the scams, insanity and dishonesty from every corner of Egypt that one will experience once you arrive there. I've done a lot of traveling and been to many countries. I have never dealt with anything that you experienced in Egypt. There are many other wonderful and welcoming countries that one can visit and not be scammed everywhere one goes.
big liars in that part of world.
You convinced me not to visit Egypt ever
Just dont go to Egypt, you go on holiday to relax
Not worth going there. Simple as.
So NEVER go there 😂