February 16th, 2012 
Tushar Mathur If you have never been to Egypt before, you surely have some questions about what you need to know about your trip. This travel guide aims to answer some of your queries. Please note, there is a lot of information about international travel and tourism in Egypt available, and there are many more pieces of advice that you and your party may want to heed. These three tips for travel to Egypt are really just the start of what you need to know for your exciting journey.
1.) Change money in Egypt.
Especially if you are coming from the United States or the United Kingdom, you should change your money in Egypt. The US Dollar and British Pound particularly still have high value here, and money changers give you a premium rate for it. It is very easy to change money in Egypt, even in the Cairo airport, where you can exchange your money before you even get through customs. You can also change money at many banks, especially at large hotels and tourist attractions. As you change money, be sure to request small bills as these are very useful for shopping and tipping. While you can try to spend your foreign currency, not everyone will accept it. If they do accept it, you may end up getting yourself a poor deal, especially when bartering, as you could end up paying more than you would in Egyptian pounds.
2.) You should tip.
Depending on what part of the world you are travelling from, you may or may not be familiar with giving gratuities for service. As you travel to Egypt, you should get acquainted with it quickly. Egyptians tip; it is part of their culture. Those who work in the tourist industry generally expect to receive tips, as it makes up a massive part of their living wage as it is for food servers in the United States. Tip appropriate amounts. Smaller tips should go to those who help you with your bags or a washroom attendant. Larger tips are for tour guides and drivers.
3.) Dress and act conservatively.
If you are reading this, you are most likely heading to Egypt from a relatively liberal culture. You need to keep in mind that when in Egypt, things that would be acceptable to do, say or wear at home may not be tolerable here. These are just some examples of conduct that you should know about. Egypt is an Islamic nation and a more conservative society. There are certain cultural and societal differences that you need to acknowledge and respect. Most Muslims don’t consume alcoholic beverages. It is acceptable for those who are not Muslims, such as tourists to do so, but in moderation. You also won’t find many restaurants that serve pork products, so it may be a good idea to not seek them out. Clothing is more conservative. You aren’t likely to see men in shorts, and women will most likely be seen in headscarves with their ankles, neck and wrists covered. While there isn’t a specific dress code that needs to be observed, apparel should be modest and sunbathers should keep in mind that this is not the place for topless or nude sunbathing.
Dino Navarette is freelance writer interested in seo, online marketing, clean my mac, and different software programs.
