I am a female Italian American student visiting Egypt in a few days for a few days, with another female friend. Ba7kee shway 2arabe, mostly the Lebanese dialect, but my Arabic teacher is from Cairo so I know a bit of Egyptian colloquial [ana ismee magnouna fe msar ].
I have many Arab friends where I am from, both male and female, Christian and Muslim, so I am fairly well educated as far as “acceptable practices” of respectable women are concerned. My friend and I have tours booked for the day, and will be using the hotel’s restaurants at night so as to avoid being “out on our own” for most of the trip.
However, since I will not have a male “escort” while shopping, what are polite ways for me to bargain with vendors, taxi drivers, etc.?
Customarily, who should be tipped and how much? Taxi drivers, waiters, hotel porters, loo attendants, etc. etc. Oh, and do prices at shops / restaurants include taxes, are they added when you buy, or do they not exist?
Also, what is a polite (or just effective even if impolite) way to get rid of unwanted male attention? Normally, I would just ignore it, but if what is the best thing to do if the man is being aggressive? I can curse in Arabic, but I would rather not unless it progresses to a point where I feel it is absolutely necessary!
Any and all help is very much appreciated. Grazzi, shukran, thanks... Ciao!
Posts: 3 | From: Where ever I am at the moment | Registered: Mar 2006
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Sorry... I didn't specify that we are staying in Cairo, as I'm sure Cairo has it's own special set of rules compared to anywhere else in Egypt!
Posts: 3 | From: Where ever I am at the moment | Registered: Mar 2006
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Send me an email and I will try to help you as much as possibly while you are here in Cairo. ivedunit03@yahoo.com I am an american living in cairo while studying.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Mar 2006
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Thanks Ivedunit, I hope your studies go well. However, for the few days I am in Cairo, I already have my time booked up with tours, and I just need to know the basic etiquette for the situations I decribed earlier.
Anyway, how long have you been in Cairo? What's your experience been like so far, being an American? And are you male or female, because I'm fairly certain that makes a huge difference!
Posts: 3 | From: Where ever I am at the moment | Registered: Mar 2006
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I just got back from Egypt for first time. As far a bargaining they love it. I always ended up getting it for half of what they asked. If you walk off, they will come after you to go lower haha. So friendly people. They will act aggrevated with you, but in the end of the deal, they are smiling and happy it is like a game. I tipped bathroom people 2 le, and bag men 5 to 10 le. doormen 2 le. driver of van 20 to 50 le . depending on how far we went. If it was all day I gave 50 le. If it was a couple of hours 20 le. bargain with the cab driver before you get in. agree on place and price before getting in taxi.
Posts: 96 | From: usa | Registered: Jan 2006
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In 10 days I'm gonna travel at Cairo and I feel that I'm a lost case. I hate bargaining lol, and I have never done in my life. Maybe I'm gonna be the only one paying 100% the price lol
Maria Aya
Posts: 20 | From: Athens Greece | Registered: Mar 2006
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You will like it, just keep saying too much and walk off, and they will come with better and better offer until they quit. hahahha then buy it if you want it. haha Just go way low when they ask you how much u want to pay. and then compromise up.
Posts: 96 | From: usa | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by tenngirl9: You will like it, just keep saying too much and walk off, and they will come with better and better offer until they quit. hahahha then buy it if you want it. haha Just go way low when they ask you how much u want to pay. and then compromise up.
Very good advice
Posts: 21 | From: Europe | Registered: Mar 2004
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The best way to know prices is to ask an Egyptian outside of the transaction how much something should be. If the person is in the toursit industry, they will give you a slightly higher price because they have sympathy for people in their industry. Take the price that an Egyptian gives you and reduce it by about 5-10%.
Posts: 166 | Registered: Mar 2006
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