Cairo-Bring Dollar Bills

We went on the Ramses overnight in Cairo. Everyone, I mean everyone you encounter is looking for a tip. This includes the Tourist Police that escort you accross the street. Bring lots of dollar bills. Everything seems to cost 1 or 2 dollars and everyone looking for a tip is happy with a dollar. The Tourist Police probably got about $20 from us for different things. I got this advice from CC and it was very helpful.

wow, finally a place worse than U.S. in regards to tips; I don't have to tip the police here.

sounds alot like ocho rios too!!

Traveling to Cairo, we had to tip a lady standing at the ladies room door for a few sheets of toilet paper!

Traveling to Cairo, we had to tip a lady standing at the ladies room door for a few sheets of toilet paper!

An in my opinion it's worth every penny! Paid 1.5 Euro in Venice and was happy to do so. At that point, you decide that it is better than the alternative.

Traveling to Cairo, we had to tip a lady standing at the ladies room door for a few sheets of toilet paper!

While it used to be normal in Europe to tip out the keeper of the saucer at the Ladies door, in the past few years we have not encountered it UNTIL we got to Egypt.

The first time I needed to tip, I left my stuff with husband and only had some small change in my pocket. I handed it over, declined the tp (I carry my own Charmin). When I came out, she was yelling something to me in whatever language they speak and threw the money back at me. Apparently, they only want euros in 1 and up. I was told the bank won't take small change. Well somebody must take it or why would they give it to us? Can she not use it to buy a candy bar from the corner grocery?

Later, we discovered "2-fers." One person would give a euro and say it is for me, thee, and the lady behind the tree.

Tucker in Texas

Been to Egypt 3 times and not once did I tip any police nor did I tip in US$ or Euro. The public toilet SERVICE charge is just that, a service charge, not considered a tip. It's their job to keep the facility clean and they make money from the service charge. This practice was very much prevalent in Europe but not so much any more although the "self serve automatic" toilets do charge a fee.

Been to Egypt 3 times and not once did I tip any police nor did I tip in US$ or Euro. The public toilet SERVICE charge is just that, a service charge, not considered a tip. It's their job to keep the facility clean and they make money from the service charge. This practice was very much prevalent in Europe but not so much any more although the "self serve automatic" toilets do charge a fee.

I am not an ugly American, but I would have to use the word "clean" loosely. Since protocol is to not flush the paper, there was a 1' high pile in the corner of the stall!

On our 1st stop, our tour guide had given us each and Egyptian pound to tip with. While touring the museum, I pulled our 4 dollars for 4 of us to use the rest room, and the poor attendant grabbed me and kissed me on the cheek. It was a very good lesson for my 18 yo daughter and her friend who was traveling with us. It's so easy to take for granted how much we have.

I know we had to pay to use a public restroom on one of the caribbean islands. I want to say it was St. Maarten, but I could be wrong. Entrance is blocked until you can pay. My 79 year old Mother had to wait until I could go out and get change and bring it back. I'll have to talk to the others who were with us on the trip to be sure which island, but I want to say it was on the French side of St. Maarten.

The first time I needed to tip, I left my stuff with husband and only had some small change in my pocket. I handed it over, declined the tp (I carry my own Charmin). When I came out, she was yelling something to me in whatever language they speak and threw the money back at me. Apparently, they only want euros in 1 and up. I was told the bank won't take small change. Well somebody must take it or why would they give it to us? Can she not use it to buy a candy bar from the corner grocery?

 

 

Tucker in Texas

Wow. Did it occur to you that she might not get to keep all the money that is handed to her? A portion probably gets handed over to management, who takes their cut.

Were you trying to give her foreign currency coins? If that's the case, whatever makes you think she could use that to buy something? If I went to my local store with euro cents, they certainly wouldn't let me buy a candy bar or anything else.

Finally, to suggest that she could use the money to buy a candy bar is ludicrous when she probably can barely afford to put meals on the table.

P.S. They speak Egyptian. :rolleyes:

We went on the Ramses overnight in Cairo. Everyone, I mean everyone you encounter is looking for a tip. This includes the Tourist Police that escort you accross the street. Bring lots of dollar bills. Everything seems to cost 1 or 2 dollars and everyone looking for a tip is happy with a dollar. The Tourist Police probably got about $20 from us for different things. I got this advice from CC and it was very helpful.

What exactly are the tourist police? I have no intention of tipping any police.

What exactly are the tourist police? I have no intention of tipping any police.

They are part of the regular police force, but they do speak another language and as such, they are assigned to tourist areas. I never tipped any police.

They are part of the regular police force, but they do speak another language and as such, they are assigned to tourist areas. I never tipped any police.

Thanks - as we will have a guide with us I don't see that I will need to speak to them anyway but I can't imagine myself tipping a cop to answer a question.

They are part of the regular police force, but they do speak another language and as such, they are assigned to tourist areas. I never tipped any police.

We were in Egypt 9/17-10/1/10 and one night had a "tourist police" escort us across the street near the pyramids. Upon reaching the other side of the 6 lane street, he promptly asked for a tip. After experiencing the most dangerous street crossing of my life, I had no problem giving him a dollar!

Traveling to Cairo, we had to tip a lady standing at the ladies room door for a few sheets of toilet paper!

We have seen that all over the world.

My first trip to Italy many, many moons ago we had to "tip" to get the toilet paper (more like crepe paper). Just bank from China and didn't have to tip for the toilet. BTW, Egyptians do not speak EGYPTIAN, they speak Arabic...:D

BTW, Egyptians do not speak EGYPTIAN, they speak Arabic...:D

I guess you did not notice the "sarcastic" icon? :cool:

I guess you did not notice the "sarcastic" icon? :cool:

Sorry, read too fast, I guess I didn't notice that. Surely the one who said "whatever language" didn't know it was Arabic and probably would think it was Egyptian :eek:

"Baksheesh" is a way of life in Egypt. Mark Twain describes it 150 years ago in the Innocents Abroad, with his usual sardonic humor twist.

These people are immensely poor. Even those with jobs make very little. The tourist police, in white uniforms, are at every tourist site. Some of them sit behind concrete shield bunkers with machine guns. Others wander around posing for pictures and asking for "baksheesh." At Dashur there was only one riding on a camel and he was happy to pose also.

Check out our trip report and pictures at http://www.bully4.us/holyland2.html#egypt. Every tourist policeman that is in a picture got $1 for it.

Just relax and go with it. In our two day tour, I probably spent about $30 off my stack of ones. When you consider the cruise cost over $10,000 all considered, why worry about $30?

Have a GREAT cruise!

I picked up 75 U.S. ones today. I'm not chintzy.

We leave next Wed. for a 15 day tour of Egypt with Gate 1. Been following another thread in River and Canal cruise forum with lots of great info........

I plan on taking at least $ 100.00 in 1.00 bills as well as some $5.00 bills (I don't want MY luggage going missing ;))........ it is a fact of life there .....tip and get better service (or any service :o) That may not be how you are use to, but it is how it is done there. As another poster said, relax and go with it. :D

We leave next Wed. for a 15 day tour of Egypt with Gate 1. Been following another thread in River and Canal cruise forum with lots of great info........

 

I plan on taking at least $ 100.00 in 1.00 bills as well as some $5.00 bills (I don't want MY luggage going missing ;))........ it is a fact of life there .....tip and get better service (or any service :o) That may not be how you are use to, but it is how it is done there. As another poster said, relax and go with it. :D

Again, wishing you a great journey. We've been home 2 weeks now from our 2 week tour of Egypt and we still talk about it everyday. We took $100 in ones, per person, and $100 in fives and did just fine. As Americans we don't realize the value of just a single one dollar bill in a country where some live on an equivalent of only 5-10 USD a month. Have a safe and glorious trip!

Again, wishing you a great journey. We've been home 2 weeks now from our 2 week tour of Egypt and we still talk about it everyday. We took $100 in ones, per person, and $100 in fives and did just fine. As Americans we don't realize the value of just a single one dollar bill in a country where some live on an equivalent of only 5-10 USD a month. Have a safe and glorious trip!

I imagine you will be talking about that trip for quite some time ;) I am sure my dh will be handing out the $1's freely......he is a tipper :D I plan on going to the $1.00 store also and picking up some small goodies for some of the kids we will encounter too. On another thread I have been following where some recent travelers went, they took pens and rubber balls for the kids. The pens are welcome by all (heard about store keepers asking about them while bargaining for souveniers) BUT the rubber balls that bounce real high were a super duper big hit with the kids !!!!! It is alot of fun to watch their faces light up when they are given an item that they otherwise would never receive....... that is one part of traveling I truly enjoy.......

I recommend taking between $75 and $100 in one dollar bills for the two days in Egypt for tipping and other items for a nominal amount....even some of the street vendors sell really cute necklaces/bracelets, etc. for a dollar....fun souvenir type things....in the Coptic area of Cairo, there was a police officer who smiled and said hello as we walked by with our guide. I asked if I could take a photo with him and he said yes. After the photo was taken, he asked for a tip....I have to admit I was surprised because I have tipped many people all over the world but have never had a police officer ask for a tip for anything.....I gave him a dollar and you would think I had given him a million!! He could not stop smiling and saying thank you. The bellman at the LeMeredien hotel was so young and cute and dressed in traditional Egyptian attire....I asked if I could take a picture of him and he said yes, and asked for a tip also...I had the dollar ready to give him even before he asked.....he was thrilled also...One dollar can buy a lot of food. I have seen the tipping in public restrooms in many places in the world.....we gave our guide with Ramses the dollars and he in turn gave us the Egyptian coins to give to the toilet attendants....I had my own toilet paper in my bag but went with the program and tipped the lady for the one or two small sheets she handed me.....just part of rolling with the flow and part of the adventure when traveling the world.

Clothing to give away. Too many jackets in the closet? Baseball caps beginning to stack up? There are people in Egypt that would love to receive these. It is fun to give something that you know will make someone very happy. They especially like things with a popular logo.

Items which would be good:

- children's clothing (t-shirts, pants, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, sneakers, baby clothes).

- men’s clothing (t-shirts, polo’s, dress shirts, pants, jeans, baseball caps, jackets, suits, sweaters) The men often wear business suits.

- women (knee high stockings, sweaters, jackets) - note that most of the women who would be receiving the give-away's wear the kaftan-like dresses called "galabeyas." So they can wear a sweater or jacket over that, but would not be using the blouses, slacks, skirts or dresses that we do.

- flip-flop's and sandals - women, men and children

If you have any spare baseball caps, the bus drivers and porters love them.

Other items:

-Ball-point pens – many of the people (not just the children) in Egypt will want these. Pens are a universal gift in Egypt.

-Chocolate and nuts are expensive in Egypt, so a good gift. If you bring a lot of nuts (or candy) to have as snacks during your trip, you can leave the extras in Egypt as a gift for someone.

-Children's' toys - without batteries, please.