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babyirish
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27-07-2006 01:21 PM
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Joined: 13 Jun 2006
Posts: 7
| Hi
can anyone advise what is the best currency to take?
Firstly are travellers cheques best? What is the best to tip the staff with?
Is is best to exchange while you are there?
Thanks! :occasion1
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kazl
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28-07-2006 08:21 PM
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Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 124
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| I found it was easiest to take sterling and change it there. The hotel I stayed in had room safes so it wasn't a problem. I tipped in £1 coins for the first day (truth being only tipped the man who brought my suitcases to the room as we arrived late afternoon) then changed some money over to Egyptian Pounds with the hotel. The rate in Egypt is higher than you would get at home.
Some people I spoke to took their bank card and withdraw as and when they wanted it (bear in mind some banks charge for this) as most hotels have a cash machine.
Kazl
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My Latest Review: Apr 2006 Navas Hotel, Granada (8/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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28-07-2006 09:24 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| Take £ for your visas (If you intend to leave the Sinai area only)
Take a small amount of Egyptian money for your first day or so
Takes £££ to change into Egyptian money in Naama Bay or othe town.
Your hotel will not give you as good a rate as the banks (exchanges) in town and these exchanges are open til late 11pm or later!
Tip your room staff £1 day or 10LE (Egyptian Pounds) for good continued service throughout your holiday.
Don't take travellers cheques
Have a good one! :thumleft:
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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kazl
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29-07-2006 06:38 PM
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Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 124
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| iantwoeyes my hotel gave exactly the same rate as what people were getting in Naama Bay!!! Was I lucky or is it the norm????
Kazl
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My Latest Review: Apr 2006 Navas Hotel, Granada (8/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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29-07-2006 07:54 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| "iantwoeyes my hotel gave exactly the same rate as what people were getting in Naama Bay!!! Was I lucky or is it the norm????
Kazl" --- kazl
Lucky I would say :thumleft:
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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babyirish
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01-08-2006 08:50 AM
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Joined: 13 Jun 2006
Posts: 7
| Why is it not best to take travellers cheques? :)
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swisssinai
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05-08-2006 06:41 AM
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Joined: 19 Sep 2004
Posts: 100
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| The official bank rates for changing travellers cheques is very slightly better ( i.e. in your favour ) than bank notes. Very slightly... so the question is does it outweigh the hassle. There are now ATMs in Egypt which accept foreign currency and change it into local currency.
In brief, my strong recommendation is always the following :
1 - Take bank notes from your own foreign currency i.e. Brits take sterling, Americans dollars, French & Germans euros etc
2 - Do not buy a small amount of Egyptian pounds in the UK or elsewhere before coming to Egypt unless you like wasting money - there is 10 - 15 % difference in the rates !
3 - Take one or two ATM cards such as Visa, MC etc
Thats all you need believe me.
You can buy you visa in any foreign currency and, strangely enough, I know of two seperate incidents whereby the visitors bought their visa with Egyptian pounds !
You can buy the visa stamps from the bank exchange counters located just before the passport control so you can get a little bit of Egyptian currency there at the same time.
There are banks and ATMs literally everywhere. Most large resorts have one ( a requirement of the local tourist ministry.
Its best to tip in local currency as it makes it easier for the staff to spend / use the money - instead of them collecting it and then asking other tourists to change it back for them ( in the case of Euros and Sterling ). They will nevertheless accept willingly all tips in all currencies so don t worry if you have no local currency left.
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carrieq
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11-08-2006 01:23 PM
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Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4
| Just back from Makadi Bay. We did the same. Took a small amount of Egyptian Pounds and a larger amount of Sterling, which has to be English notes, we are from Scotland so needed to request this from bank!!
Tipped pound coins on first night until we had broken into Egyptian currency as it is hard to get low denomination notes in UK.
Paid for Visas with Sterling
Happy hols!
Carrie
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JulesV
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02-10-2006 02:04 PM
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Joined: 12 Sep 2006
Posts: 1
| £Sterling, US$, Euro and LE(Egyptian Pounds) are generally accepted in most places. Hotels often prefer bills paid in £ $ or Euro, but not always, it would depend where you were staying. Traders in around busy resort accept all currencies too, but if you were off the beaten track LE would be preferable. Whichever you use, make sure you mentally convert the currency very carefully when haggling. A clever trader will try to confuse you by mixing his currencies to desguise a poor 'bargain'. I would take LE for local purchases and £Sterling for Hotels and Tour reps etc.
I don't know how widely Travellers Cheques are accepted.
Hope that helps.
:)
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elledee
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22-10-2006 12:53 AM
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Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 9
| I prefer sterling travellers cheques, cause then you can monitor your 'spend' eaiser and I found in El Gouna this year I got exactly the same rate for them as english sterling. I didnt exchange money before I went, as the rate is poor here, and just tipped in pound coins and signed for anything at the hotel until I could cash money into LE. Credit card is best for trips, then settle up once home!!
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crystal64
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30-11-2006 07:43 PM
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Joined: 01 May 2006
Posts: 8
| I am going to the coral sea on monday, as this is my first time in egypt abit wary so many different opinions regarding taking money can you give any sound advise also wondering about the cigarettes where is the best place to buy them any help and advise would be greatly appreciated also is it quite cold at night. Thanks
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My Latest Review: Mar 2006 Duo Hotel, Prague (10/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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30-11-2006 09:13 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| Reading all the above posts, they do seem to say.....take ££££
If you can stand the hassle of changing travellers cheques for a slightly better (thx swiss sinai) rate then take TC's
But honestly all you'll need is ££££
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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dinky20
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03-12-2006 08:22 PM
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Joined: 03 Dec 2006
Posts: 1
| Hi, we took american dollars with us in may which we were able to change at the hotel, the egyptian pound is apparantly worth nothing, i was however able to exchange the egyptian pounds into sterling when i got back to england. Not sure about travellers cheques as we did not take any as we were all inclusive.
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iaintwoeyes
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03-12-2006 09:32 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| If you've got some USA $ hanging around thats fine but dont lose sight of the exchange rates by changing £ into $ and then into Egyptian pounds....whats the point?
If you live in the UK....take ££££ and nothing else.....you wont go far wrong.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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blueyes
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04-12-2006 10:39 AM
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Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 1
| Im thinking of going to Taba in February. how is egypt in exchanging euros.
what is this visa i keep hearing about if i wish to travel to cairo etc.
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iaintwoeyes
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04-12-2006 11:24 AM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| Egypt has no problem in exchanging Euros! You'll find that they are widely accepted by most hotels and stores.
If during your trip to Sharm / Taba (part of the Sinai peninsular) you wish to leave the Sinai area to visit other parts of Egypt, then you will require a visa. It is best to purchase your visa at the airport on arrival at a cost of approx £13 each.
If you have no intention of leaving the Sinai Peninsular then you do not require a visa. You may well be bullied into buying one but just keep telling the authorities Sinai only!
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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hollser
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04-08-2007 10:36 PM
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Joined: 04 Aug 2007
Posts: 1
| Ive changed sterling into dollars for egypt, will i be able to use this easily or will it be better if i change it to egyptian pounds when i get over there? stressfulnesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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iaintwoeyes
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05-08-2007 04:50 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
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| Why have you changed your money into $$$$????
You will be losing in the long run, cos you have to go through two exchange rates!
As all the above posts echo.......take £££££...that is all you will need.
Just about every shop, bar, shack, trader, hotel, cafe, restaurant will be more than happy to take £££.
Out of interest I changed some £££ for EgyptianLE in the bank at the Coral Sea Resort and I got a really really good rate..I was very surprised!
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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Hudstar
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02-10-2007 12:34 PM
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Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 3
| What about Taxi's? We arrive late in Cairo this Friday and need to get a taxi to our hotel (Hilton Pyramids..any idea how much I should expect to pay?)
So should I change some before going or will the cabbie take GBP??
Toby
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Currency To Take To Egypt
