#1 Find out how much locals pay and refuse to pay more than that (ask a trusted local or take a peek over the shoulder of the buyer in front of you). For instance, state craft shops and hotel gift shops generally have fixed (high) prices, which will give you an idea of the upper real price limit range of goods.

#2 If the vendor’s initial offer is ridiculously high, you can laugh. This will quickly show them that you’re aware of the real price.

#3 Just as vendors often start with ridiculously high prices, you can offer a ridiculously lower price than you expect to finally pay. This allows you to negotiate.

#4 If you’ve made up your mind to buy something, you might as well say goodbye to the vendor, showing that you won’t continue with the negotiations and you’re leaving. This will guarantee you at least two more new prices, each lower than the previous. Alternatively, they might ask you “OK, how much would you pay?”, which means that the vendor is sensing that the potential sale is slipping away.

#5 If there’s two of you or more, you can act it out. You want the goods but your husband keeps the money and won’t let you pay so much, or something like that.

#6 Be polite and friendly (but firm) in the negotiations. If the vendor likes you, you will most probably strike a good bargain.

#7 They may offer you tea, coffee, something to eat, etc. You can accept but this doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Still, they may try to make you feel guilty. Stay firm.

#8 Learn the numbers in the local language and you can win some respect, hence a better price. Stick to the local language, if you can, even if the vendor speaks to you in English or your own language.

[Here are a few free language learning websites to start with]

#9 Remember that usually vendors aren’t evil frauds trying to take people’s hard-earned money. Often these are just businessmen working to support their family. By bargaining you’re not aiming to cut their profit but to reach a price that satisfies both sides.

#10 Last but not least, don’t take it too seriously.

Featured image: © Maria Angelova/203challenges

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#1 Dress for the heat

Although Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, you don’t have to dress too conservatively (unless you visit mosques, where you are required to cover your head, shoulders and knees). You can pack shorts, but you’re often better wearing light, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect you from the merciless sun, especially if you go on a desert tour.

Camels in front of the Giza Pyramids | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

#2 Be careful with the local money

The official currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound. In tourist areas most places also accept euros and dollars, but keep in mind that the exchange rate won’t be very good and you’ll have to bargain twice as hard. It’s almost impossible to exchange Egyptian pounds back to foreign currency at the end of your trip, so think twice before exchanging big amounts. For a one-week trip we didn’t use a single Egyptian pound and paid in dollars everywhere, and we didn’t have any problems.

#3 Haggle everywhere, even at pharmacies

Haggling is ubiquitous in Egypt, and it’s obligatory if you don’t want to pay double the actual price. The fiercest hagglers are the souvenir salesmen and bottled water vendors at the main tourist attractions like the Giza Pyramids or Luxor. Feel free to negotiate down to less than half the initial price there. You can even haggle at pharmacies, unless you see a “Fixed prices” sign.

Visitors in front of the Giza Pyramids | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

#4 Drink a lot of water

This is kind of self-explanatory, but it’s worth a mention as in many parts of Egypt the temperature can rise above 40 degrees Celsius, while the humidity can be as low as 20%.

#5 Don’t drink tap water

Don’t do it. Ever. Unless you want to spend the rest of your trip squatting over the toilet.

#6 Take care with what you eat

While the food in 4- and 5-star hotels in Egypt – as well as on Nile cruises – is safe and fresh, eating street food is a far riskier proposition. The moment you see bread resting on the dirty pavement next to a main boulevard, you’ll understand what we mean.

Food at a bedouine camp, Egypt | © Marina Garbeva/ 203challenges

#7 Check your visa requirements

Citizens of most countries can get a visa on arrival, which costs $USD25 (single entry, valid for 30 days) or $USD35 (multi-entry).

#8 Don’t take shells, bits of coral etc.

Taking any piece of coral out of Egypt is illegal. Even if you find it dead on the beach, don’t be tempted to smuggle it in your suitcase, because airport security has special software that can detect pieces of coral by their shape.

#9 Beware of camel scams

Some of the camel-drivers by the Giza Pyramids and other attractions may claim that mounting the camel won’t cost you a cent. Unfortunately, getting down will. If you do climb onto a camel’s back, it will probably rush away deep into the desert, and you’ll have to pay a lot of money to go back.

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