Shopping Tipping

Shopping Tipping: 

Shopping:

Shopping in Egypt, presents a mind-boggling range of choices. In Southern Egypt, you get Nubian handicrafts & gifts. In eastern & western Egypt, you can get Bedouin options. Of the 3 souqs (Aswan, Luxor & Cairo), Aswan can be rated the best. Though, Cairo’s Khan-Al-Khalili is the largest. Even the shops by the sea, at Dahab, have interesting buys.

If you are looking for specialties like Nubian or Bedouin work, it is best to pick them up at the local souqs, rather than at Khan-Al-Khalili. Not only is the best variety available in the local souqs, the prices too are considerably cheaper than Cairo.

If you plan to visit factories - perfume, alabaster, papyrus, carpets etc, remember not to be forced into buying anything. Visiting these factories can be good, as they explain how these products are made, but, there is a lot of hard-sell. If you are uncomfortable about it, make sure you let your guide know that you do not want to go….it is quite okay to do so. If you do visit them, but are not tempted to buy anything, you can leave a tip behind for the factory / the person who showed you the demonstration, as a gesture of appreciation.

In the souqs, bargain hard. It can be particularly distressing for people not used to bargaining. Make your offer, of what you feel is a fair price. Remember to start a little below your final price, as you eventually have to step up your offer a bit. If it is not viable for the shopkeeper, he will refuse. Walk away, or say that you’ll think about his final offer & come back later…..most times, this does the trick & they call after you. If the shopkeeper had genuinely quoted his lowest price, he will not call you back….then, you can decide later if you want to go back or not. Do not feel guilty about haggling…..but remember – bargain politely & with a smile…..this allows for no hard feelings. Nobody will ever sell you anything below cost price, for a loss (contrary to what they may tell you while selling it). You can get most purchases for almost 1/4th the quoted price. Another trick to use is to ask your hotel staff for prices of some items like hats, t-shirts, carpets, keychains, jewellery etc. This way, you have an idea before-hand, and bargain accordingly.

Tax and Tipping: 

Tipping is a very tricky & sensitive issue in Egypt. Be prepared for tipping so that it does not dent your budget. Tipping is expected, whether the service is good or not. However, that does not mean you have. People are usually not averse to tipping at all, but here, something as small as pointing out the obvious (say, Horus on a temple wall) may demand a tip. Learn fast…..when people come to you, offering help which you don’t need, politely, but firmly tell them “No, thanks”. A few times, people may demand more tips & get angry, but, you also have to realize that most people expect such huge tips, only because their livelihood depends on tourism.

Speak to your hotel staff or guide to come up with a ready reckoner for tipping. As on December 2008, some handy figures are:

Car driver – 30 min to 4 hours – 20 LE minimum.

Car driver – 4 to 6 hrs (half day) – 25 to 30 LE

Car driver – full day / driving between cities – 40 LE / depending on distances

Guide – half day - 25 to 30 LE

Guide – full day – 50 LE

Egyptologist guide – maybe 75-100 LE for a full day?

Felucca / motorboat captain – upto 3 hours - 30 LE

Restaurant (not up-market) – minimum 5 LE or 10% of the bill, which-ever is more.

For carrying luggage / room service – 5 LE

Toilets / for minding shoes at mosques – 1 LE / 2 LE

For good service – use your discretion

It is nice to tip drivers at the end of the day, as you may get a different driver the next day. Guides can be tipped on the last day. At your hotel, where you would eat breakfast & maybe 1 other meal, you could tip every day, to ensure good service. At hotels, you can also leave a tip for the cleaning staff at the end of your stay. While in restaurants that have a service charge, it is still nice to tip the waiter separately, as the service charge is distributed only at the end of the month.

Please tip in local currency. It is advised to keep all the change required for tipping in a separate pouch so that you don’t have to dig into a loaded wallet while tipping. Aswan, Luxor & Cairo is where tips are demanded & expected. In Bahariya & Dahab, people seem pleasantly surprised & there is no demanding.

Professional services, such as translators and tour guides, should be given a tip of around 20 percent, while 10 to 15 percent is accepted by restaurants and taxis. Service charge is added in most restaurants and hotels, though five percent is normally given as a direct tip to the waiter.