MONEY ?

[BIGLICKER]

Could anyone tell me if I would be better off taking £ sterling to Egypt or would I be better off changing my money before I went?? My wife was told we would be better off changing it there by one of her work colleagues, is she right? Can anyone help please??

Cheers, Roy.;)

[ianfirmin]

I found the best bet was to take a few US dollars (50ish) for tips and to buy the visa then get Egyptian cash out of the ATM's. Cheaper than changing it in the UK.

[AndyXB]

I took US $, they are accepted everywhere and they seem to be prefered over the Egyption £, I'll leave it to your imagination as to why...

Andy :)

[Steve in Sharm]

Could anyone tell me if I would be better off taking £ sterling to Egypt or would I be better off changing my money before I went?? My wife was told we would be better off changing it there by one of her work colleagues, is she right? Can anyone help please??

Cheers, Roy.;)

Dont listen to anyone who tells you to bring $....... :mad:

Why would you want to get stung in the UK on exchange rates?
stung in Egypt on exchange rates?
stung again in the UK when u change it back?

This country uses Euro's and LE - sure when you're tipping they will accept anything cos its all money to them (average wage here for an egyptian is around 80 quid english a month - so go figure) and mostly they like sterling or dollars when being tipped cos they know the sort of person who brings dollars isn't that savvy when it comes to cash/exchange rates and they will get more tip this way from him/her or can rip them off on exchange rates or both......

You could bring LE with you but you get a very bad exchange rate in the UK, far better to get a few quids worth (say 50 english) to tide you over and then use the ATM's here - much better exchange rate - and no rip off........

C U soon

Steve

[Tony_W]

I always take £GBP and experience in Oona's & Sharks Bay has been pretty good - i.e. exchange rate much better than in the UK and you only change what you need (without the ATM charges I get from my bank :o(...). You can pay for you visa on entry easily with GBP too :)

[SABenson]

Egypt pounds or Euro's were the best option when I was there last year.

[Steve in Sharm]

I always take £GBP and experience in Oona's & Sharks Bay has been pretty good - i.e. exchange rate much better than in the UK and you only change what you need (without the ATM charges I get from my bank :o(...).

Your bill is calculated in Euro's.

Pay in any other currency than LE or Euro's and you get ripped off by the hotel/centre who use their own exchange rates - and guess whose side the're in favour......... :rolleyes:

[IainC]

Your bill is calculated in Euro's.

Pay in any other currency than LE or Euro's and you get ripped off by the hotel/centre who use their own exchange rates - and guess whose side the're in favour.........

Does that apply across all of Egypt?

What would be your advice for a liveabaord when you wind up straight on the boat from the airport? Just bring Euros in cash?

I recall a liveabord trip where this Australian guy got to the end of the weke and tried to settle his bar bill with a credit card - very embarrasing for him.

Iain.

[Tony_W]

Your bill is calculated in Euro's.

Pay in any other currency than LE or Euro's and you get ripped off by the hotel/centre who use their own exchange rates - and guess whose side the're in favour......... :rolleyes:

Where I've stayed the dive bill (Ras Mo, Thistlegorm, extra dives etc) added up over the week and I paid it on the credit card at the end. So I just changed enough GBP for food/beer etc - and that doesn't run to much when you're becoming a ol' git like me :p

The GBP>LE rate was much better than in the UK, and vs other exchange rates I had seen, the difference was so small it wasn't really a factor... just my experience tho :)

[jim oldham]

(without the ATM charges I get from my bank :)

Use Nationwide. No charges and no hassle in six years.
Jim.

[BIGLICKER]

thanks everyone for the advice. See you soon Steve, 3 weeks and counting!!!:D
Cheers, Roy.

[NickMcV]

In my experience, ANYTHING negotiable is accepted - Since the Euro came in, and the majority of Red-Sea divers are european, the Euro has taken over from the US Dollar.

Low denomination LE notes are good to have (1,5,10) when you arrive (for tips/taxis etc) but almost impossible to get from foreign exchange places in the UK - Suggest you ask around for the odd few that others in your club have got stashed in the back of a wallet from previous trips.

I always take £sterling, any Euros that I have left over from european trips and get a few LE at the airport to get me started. Credit card & cash card are good backups. I always hang on to a few low denomination bills for the next trip.

Don't take too much with you on day boats - There is a new scam, that thankfully is not too prevalent yet, that some unscrupulous crew will take a couple of notes from each wallet left on board - can you remember EXACTLY what you had? It is the exception rather than the rule - but be canny anyway.

Have a good trip!