It is expensive to telephone home from hotels. Phone cards cost E£20 or E£30 for a approx. Ask your representative for further advice.

Tip: When calling, do not allow the number of rings to exceed 05 as you will be charged anyway, even if the call has not been answered.

WINE: As a Moslem country, the production of alcohol has naturally been of restricted interest. However, spirits and wines are readily available, though expensive. The quality of local wines has improved but may not be up to standards with which you are familiar in Europe or USA.

BEER: The choice is somewhat limited, but local beer is good and of better value than that designated as export, which is generally in smaller bottles and more expensive. Imported beer, such as Heineken, is available in cans in hotel bars but is expensive.

WATER: Remember to drink plenty of water while in Egypt, particularly during the summer months, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to prevent dehydration. Drink only bottled water.

COFFEE AND TEA: Unless you want Turkish style coffee, ask for a Nescafe. More hotels now have coffee machines so it is possible to order cappuccino, expressos, etc, but such machines are far from universal. Outside the hotels, tea is usually served in a glass, without milk (but plenty of sugar) and quite often flavored with mint.

KARKADE: A local drink made from hibiscus petals. It is burgundy in colour and very thirst- quenching. It can be served hot or cold and sweetened to taste. Sweetened with 7-up, it makes a long, cool drink.

FRUIT JUICES: Freshly squeezed juices such as orange, mango are widely available. The local specialty is sugar cane juice.

Tip: Egyptian beverages are usually enjoyed without milk and with loads of sugar. Remember to ask for milk if you want it, as it often does not come automatically.

10.00 am to 09.00 pm in winter and 09.00 am to 10.00 pm in summer. Many shops are closed on Sunday. In tourist areas, you will find shops open outside these hours. You may be offered tea or a soft drink in larger shops, which is customary.

Bargaining is a common practice in all bazaars and can be fun. Your guide will be able to give you information on the best way to haggle and also guidance on what you should pay for common souvenirs such as papyrus, gala bias, gold jewelry, perfume, spices etc

In Egypt, we operate an optional tipping kitty system to save you money & embarrassment in countries where tipping is a way of life & where requests for tips can be infuriatingly persistent. Each member of the group contributes to the kitty & this is then used to pay tips to any people who provide services to the group as a whole. The tour leader administers these tips. It should be noted that although tipping is customary and expected it is at your discretion and it is entirely up to you how much you tip and whether to tip or not:
PORTER: $5
COACH DRIVER: $ 10, Per Day
TOUR GUIDE: $ 50 Per Day
REPRESENTATIVE: $ 20 Per Day
Tip around 02 $ on a restaurant bill.
However, on a Nile cruise, you will be asked to pay a sum of money from which your guide will pay all tipping outside the boat for you throughout your holiday. Then it is customary on a Nile Cruise to tip the crew collectively at the end of your holiday so all staff get something –about LE 50 per person per day is the norm, plus a similar amount for your Egyptologist guide handed to him or her personally.

If you want to take something to hand out to the kids when appropriate Pens or Candy are very popular. If someone asks you for the loan of a pen don't expect to get it back. So don't lend any good pens. Remember if you give out pens or candy to one child there will be 10 others come out of nowhere within seconds looking to get one from you.