Safety and Security

It's generally accepted that Egypt is a safe and friendly country. Still, you should be aware that pickpockets operate around tourist sites, so avoid carrying money in your back pocket. Well-known brands of travelers cheques will be honored everywhere.

Credit and Debit cards as American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB and Euro cards are accepted at various points of sales such as, stores and hotels displaying the appropriate signage. And, you can use Visa and MasterCard to obtain cash advances from ATM machines at Banque Misr and National Bank of Egypt branches.

A service charge of 12% applies in restaurants and hotels, and a sales tax of 5-10% is also levied. Additionally, you might find yourself paying a further 1-4% tax on upper-end accommodation, so it is possible to find that a 23% tax has been added to the price you've been quoted for a mid-range or top-end hotel room.

Bargaining is a part of life in Egypt and virtually many things are open to negotiation. This includes your room for the night, your lunchtime roadside snack and the felucca you ride down the Nile in. The few rules to observe in the bazaars are these: never offer a price that you're not prepared to pay, get a feel for the real price before you begin haggling, take your time and enjoy the friendly sport of it (which might include a cup of tea from the vendor), and remember that you're never obliged to buy anything - you won't offend anyone.