Upon Arrival

As a US citizen, when you fly into Cairo, Egypt, you can get a Visa on Arrival. Your first stop needs to be at the Egyptian National Bank booth where you will pay for your visa, which costs $25.  You have to pay cash in US dollars. You will receive a sticker that you must put into your passport before you go to Immigration. 

As soon as you clear Immigration, you’ll be at the baggage terminals and someone will probably meet you and offer to get you a car. You can find a cheaper car by going out by the exit. There will be an area marked Airport Limousine and there’s a lot of people there. Everybody wants to give you a ride so you can bargain with them to get your best deal. The person who met us as we passed Immigration quoted us $30 US, but the taxi quote we got was approximately $15 or $16 which would be 350 pounds Egyptian. Be prepared to walk away from the first offer that the taxis make and they will come back to you with a lower price. The airport is approximately 40 minutes from central downtown.

Money Matters

Egypt has a cash based economy.  Many places, including restaurants and stores, will not accept credit cards.  Most places will accept either Egyptian Pounds or US Dollars.  We were told that Egyptian banks are fussy about accepting hard currencies like the dollar or Euro which are damaged or dirty.  The damage can be very minor in the eyes of US citizens, like small tears or writing on the bills, but Egyptians may not want to accept them.  They will not accept coins because they can’t exchange them at the banks.

Something that you need to be aware of is the practice of Baksheesh or tipping.  This is an act of showing appreciation and thanking someone for helping you.  Most service workers do a great job and expect you to acknowledge this with a tip.  This includes the hotel workers, drivers and restaurant staff.  Please don’t confuse this with those who are simply begging, especially children.  They may pull at your heartstrings, but giving money to children who are begging encourages them to turn begging into a business and to not attend school.

Getting Around

Unlike many cities in Europe, Cairo is not a pedestrian friendly city.  The sites are not close together.  Uber is available.  At most of the sites, there are cars offering to drive you.  The drivers will quote you a price, but they are willing to bargain.  For a drive from the Citadel to our hotel, we paid a quarter of the initial quote.  Be prepared for the driver to ask for additional money because of the heavy traffic.  Hold firm to the agreed upon price.  The white taxis are the only ones with meters.  Check with your hotel to get an idea of how much your trip should cost.

Scams

We went to Giza to see the pyramids and the Sphinx on our recent visit.  You can walk around the Great Pyramid and over to the others.  Once you pass through the entry gate, you do not need to show your ticket to anyone. There are a number of men around the Great Pyramid who look official, with name tags and some with whistles, who will ask to see your ticket.  They are attempting to find out if you are with a group or not. They may tell you that your ticket doesn’t allow you to be where you are and ask for additional money.  Some will offer to show you the best spots to take pictures and offer to take them for you. Then they ask for money, usually in US dollars.  You can pay them if you like, but be prepared for them to ask for more.  Remember that you can say no, put the money back in your pocket and walk away.  

Another common scam is for someone to approach you on the street and say that they work at your hotel and recognize you.  After gaining your confidence, they will offer to take you to a shop, restaurant or attraction in an attempt to get your money.  Usually, just asking which hotel is enough to discourage them.

Crime

Crime is not very common because of a heavy police presence.  You do need to be aware that there are pickpockets around the major attractions and in the bazaars, just like there are in almost every major city in the world.  Only take with you what you need for the day so that if the unfortunate happens, you are only out a small amount.  Keep the rest in the safe in your hotel room.

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