Hi all,

first of all I have been to Egypt 3 times varying my trips in locations and the things I do so I have a few reasonable experiences. All of what I post does not refer to every person inside Egypt, just the people I have met so these comments won't generalise too much.

I have just returned from a 10 day trip to Makadi Bay which is 30-40 minutes south of Hurghada, the hotel was absolutely amazing, it was really perfect with service, excellent staff and the food was really good although different to European food although they do try to get as close as possible to it. The hotel was exactly at the beach with its own beach bar and so on. This review isnt about the hotel but the country. The hotel I was in was in a closed area as many hotels are these days with a few local shops.

Often when passing those shops they first try to find out where you are from and try speak your local language , after this they then ask if you have been to Egypt before to find out if you know their tricks etc. If they keep harassing you you can threaten them with the Police and they will back off. If you continue talking to them you run into the problems of them giving you things such as tea or other things, them claiming its a gift and expecting you to pay for those things so be very careful!

I also spent money on a trip to go to Cairo where I was picked up at 4.30am and returned at 9pm which was generally ok. Arriving in Cairo I arrived at the Domestics terminal and picked up and transported around the city. One of the 1st places was of course the Pyramids, you can go inside but beware the pyramids themselves are quite small in the entrances and the air is quite thin due to compression etc, you have to get the ticket to in the pyramid immediately as well as a ticket to go in the area.

Once you walk up the small walkway you come across guys which will try to give you a headscarf which they claim is a gift and then try to get you to pay for it. One guy was requested to change some coins into notes and lost 20 Euro as the guy pulled the money from his hand and he didnt inform the police. If something like this happens say you have stolen from me and I am going to call the police, this makes them back off normally. Beware of the guys at the pyramids as they do try their best to get money from you, often trying to sell things to you and my tour guide just commented they are trying to make a living. They have at the pyramids camel rides and of course cards etc, if you are going to buy those things agree a price first and try to get as close in US dollars as possible as in Egyptian pounds they do try to rip you off.

Be careful also of the papyrus as often it is not what you think it is, often its a cheap rip off which you can tell. On the other side of the pyramids nearest the smallest one I had some tourist police offer to take pictures of me so I let them which was my mistake, they then stood there with their hands open wanting money. They believe as we are tourists and come from the West we can afford these things and they expect it from us. So of course I dont mess with the police so gave them money, if you dont they can make it quite unpleasant for you.

Once you are back on your tourist bus you are often quite safe but they do come around the doors and windows banging on them to get you to buy their things. I have also been to the Mosque of Mohammed Ali which was an experience but please ladies wear long skirts or you have to rent a hooded robe to wear which comes out at 10 Egyptian pounds. Back at the airport I tried to buy 2 cokes which came out at 40 Egyptian pounds but sold to a friend of mine for 4 US dollars, their prices are incredible but still cheaper in dollars rather than Egyptian pounds.

I also was forced on my trip to visit a payprus factory where we were told that the tour guide also gets a percentage of whatever we buy there so also be aware its all about business there and money. I also had a stomach problem there after 3 days regardless of what I ate or drank, 1 big key is drink a minimum of 3 litres per day, it helps keeping you hydrated which I heard if you become hydrated there can also cause stomach issues. If you do become ill, go to the local Doctor they can give you things, I actually received no antibiotics as I didnt want any so I received tablets which I have to look up and anti-diahorreat powders which you mix with water, its like chalk but is effective.

On the way out of Hurghada airport you will find alot of fake goods, be careful as if you are going back to your country of origin and your customs see those bags they may ask for receipts and if they find they are fake they may remove them from you and find you.

I have spent 3 times in Egypt and honestly I have gotten tired of these rip off artists and Egyptians thinking we are just there to give them money for nothing. I found generally in the hotels they staff are well trained to be polite and keep their distance and do not try things with the tourists, but outside you become fair game.