Sharm el Sheikh

by **Shelley04** on Sun Jul 11, 2004 13:21 pm

Can anyone help in September we are going to Sharm el Sheikh and was wondering what is the best currency to use there?
The hotel is the Hilton Sharks Bay all inclusive is it customary to tip everybody? :scratch:

by **carrot2502** on Sun Jul 11, 2004 19:04 pm

Hi Shelley,

Both sterling and US$ are accepted by most places in Egypt. Cash machines are widespread in Sharm so no problem getting hold of Egyptian pounds whilst you are there.

Regarding tips, its very much up to you. Most people dont hover expecting a tip. Personally, I always leave a few Egyptian pounds every couple of days for the room maid, then, at the end of our stay I go and see our favourite waiter and barman and show my gratitude with a few pounds. These people earn so little that they appreciate even a small tip.

Hope you enjoy your hotel, I keep looking at that one!

Regards,

Roger.

by **AnneD** on Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:27 am

I agree re the tips - they are always so grateful for them, as they earn so little. And you'll find that they'll give you extra good service.

Currency - you get a far better rate of exchange over in Sharm, than you do here. So I would advise to only take enough currency for the first day or so, and then change the rest out there. (Don't forget to make sure you have enough on you for your VISA when you arrive!)

by **Funk_pig** on Thu Aug 12, 2004 12:10 pm

US$ are much less widely accepted than they used to be in Sharm - Euros are much more popular now and most places charge directly in Euros.

Exchange rates are much better out there but its worth taking a few quids worth of Egyptian pounds with you before you go, but I don't reckon you will need more than �10-�20 (sterling) worth

One tip though - try to order a whole bunch of egyptian �1 notes - a favourite scam out there is to charge everything with a 1 on the end ( i.e E�11, E�21, E�31) and then they claim that they have no change so you end up spending E�9 more or haggling over the �1.

by **Tell-it-as-it-is** on Sat Aug 14, 2004 12:54 pm

We just got back from Sharm El Sheikh. Egyption Pounds are accepted no problem. The only place they did not want Egyption Pounds was to pay any extras that may have occured on our Hotel bill. Apparently a new law was introduced in March of this year stating that hotel bills have to be paid in foreign currency.

Check your all inclusive deal as we found out that half our food/drinks were not actually included and the rep said that different countries have variations on what all inclusive means.

by **swisssinai** on Sun Sep 19, 2004 17:00 pm

Don't buy Egyptian pounds in the UK, you'll get much less than at the official bank exchange counters in Egypt. Much less.

Don't bother changing your sterling into dollars or euros. Just take sterling and your plastic friend. Change 20 pounds at the airport when you buy your visa and that will give you enough for drinks and tips to start with.

Use your card to get extra cash from the many ATMs that are around, whenevr you need it. They only give out Egyptian pounds. Don't draw out too much at a time, just top up whenever you pass a machine ( if in remote areas ).

LE = Egyptian pounds. For the latest exchange rates go to http://www.nsgb.com.eg and click on exchange rates.

It is useful having small notes. For some notes on tips go to the thread under that title.

Don't bother with travellers cheques.