Should I take cash or card to Egypt?

Cash is King in Egypt For best rates go to the nearest currency exchange shops or banks, and these are readily available across all Egyptian cities. Exchange shops have shorter waiting lines than banks. NOTE: you now need your passport with you at both exchange shops and banks.



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Most mid- and high-end tourist hotels will accept major credit cards, with Visa and MasterCard having the widest acceptance in Egypt. American Express is less commonly accepted but still useful in higher-end facilities. Diner's Club is rarely accepted in Egypt. The majority of restaurants and shops remain cash-only.

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While Euros, dollars, and sterling notes are widely accepted, opting for Egyptian pounds can stretch your funds further, especially when buying smaller items, such as toiletries, water, snacks, souvenirs.

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A budget traveler can expect to spend around $30 to $50 per day in Egypt, while a mid-range traveler can expect to spend around $50 to $100 per day. It is important to plan ahead and research activities and costs to create a budget that works for you.

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Money, haggling & tips As a rule, the best exchange rates are found once you've arrived in Egypt - US Dollars, British Pounds and Euros are the easiest currencies to convert, and you can take cash out at the majority of ATMs.

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Egypt promotes cashless payments with increased contactless transaction limit, free prepaid cards and mobile wallets.

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Budgeting for Tipping in Egypt A good rule of thumb is to set aside an additional 10-15% of your total trip budget for tipping.

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It's always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler's checks. American and Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, and euros are all easily exchanged in Egypt, and Cairo International Airport has a number of 24-hour banks that give the same rates as in town.

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A budget traveler can expect to spend around $30 to $50 per day in Egypt, while a mid-range traveler can expect to spend around $50 to $100 per day. It is important to plan ahead and research activities and costs to create a budget that works for you.

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Egypt travel adaptors For Egypt there are two associated plug types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Egypt operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

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Whenever you tip during your trip to Egypt it is important to use the local currency, that is - Egyptian pounds. Otherwise you'll leave your service providers with cash they can't use without paying high fees on currency exchange.

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The Egyptian Tourism Authority advises that travelers are not allowed to bring more than 5,000 EGP (approximately 320 USD) into the country in local currency. You can bring up to 10,000 USD or the equivalent in foreign currency and then swap it for Egyptian pounds at a currency exchange.

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When traveling throughout Egypt, I highly recommend using Egyptian Pounds or credit card to pay for all purchases. Not only is it easier for Egyptian's to accept money in Egyptian Pounds (they will not need to exchange it later), tourists also often receive better prices when using Egyptian Pounds to make purchases.

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Reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism. Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to the Embassy's limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained. Do not travel to: The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to terrorism.

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Rather than converting your money prior to arrival, consider waiting until you're in Egypt for a more favorable exchange rate without currency exchange fees. Accepted currencies include Euros, US dollars, AUS dollars and British pounds, offering flexibility in payment methods.

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US dollars are widely accepted in major tourist establishments, hotels, and souvenir shops. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers cheques which may be brought into the country. However, passengers entering Egypt with Egyptian currency exceeding 1000 USD must declare this on arrival.

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Is it rude not to tip at all-inclusive resorts? While tipping is allowed at some resorts, it is optional, so you won't have to worry about staff pressuring you to do so.

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Although it is not customary to tip your taxi driver in Egypt, they do appreciate tips. Normally a fare will be agreed upon prior to your taxi ride and most times this will include a tip. You can always leave a little extra change or round up to the next dollar.

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Mobile phones are widely used across the country at cheap rates. You can only use your mobile phone if you have a roaming facility, and don't forget there is always an extra roaming surcharge. If you want to avoid high cost we recommend using an Egyptian SIM.

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