USD in Egypt
 

I thought I had read about this a few months ago, but can't find via search.

I understand that for tips folks in Egypt like dollar bills. Is the USD accepted for other purchases or restaurants, taxis, etc... ? I plan on doing a withdraw at an ATM upon arrival, but I'm figuring out how many EGPs to get and that depends on whether I can just take and use USD.

Thoughts?

Besides tourist places (like trinket shops), I wouldn't count on being able to use USD. I've only spent a couple of weeks in Cairo, and it didn't really occur to me to try to use USD, but it seems like restaurants, taxis, and other local places wouldn't be equipped to accept them.

Just use the local currency--it is very easy to get money from ATMs. Particularly in the last couple of years, as the USD has been cratering in value, it is a mistake to assume that people in foreign countries actually want our currency. The EGP has been pretty strong against the dollar, so giving people dollars is not much of a gift--more of a negative.

I find it presumptuous to assume that everyone in the world is clamoring for USD and will be happy to receive them. In most places, it is not only the law that only local currency can be used, but it is also a major PIA for recipients to spend dollars. The only places I'd even contemplate it are those countries that are (a) very close to the US geographically, like Mexico or Central America, and/or (b) with super- or hyper-inflationary currencies (i.e. not Canada). And even in those instances, I would only use USD if the seller specifically asked me to.

I am not being presumptious, thank you. I have travelled (and lived) around the world myself including central and south american and african countries and have indeed run into place where locals WANT USD. I have no problem getting local currency but there are indeed places where people WANT our money and I would be glad to give them it if that is the case. I do not give them USD if that is not what they prefer.

I wanted advice not a lecture ... nor the presumption that I was being presumptious.

Thanks mecabq for the input.

So have I. As I said, Egypt is not one of them, because it is not a country with a weak currency. And the USD is a lot less attractive than it used to be (for everyone, including Americans) as a safe store of value. In much of the world, with the exception of central America and Ecuador, people are just not that interested in USD these days.

More importantly, EGPs are pegged to the USD and exchange is now relatively free. So there's not much premium to be hand either way.

The key thing, JenGal, if you haven't already gone, is once you're there, hoard small baknotes. Break big bills at every opportunity, and never pay with exact change unless you must. One of the perennial games over there -- for Egyptians and tourists alike -- is for merchants to pretend they can't make change in the hopes it will get you to just fork over the larger banknote. Notes of 1 L.E. and less (i.e., 50p, 25p) are useful for tips and buying little things when you need them. You will find larger notes (200 L.E., 100 L.E. and even 50 L.E.) very difficult to break.

To be clear, USD will not be accepted in restaurants, taxis, etc. Perhaps someone trying to sell you an alabaster pyramid at inflated prices would do so, but nowhere with fixed prices. It's just not worth their time or effort to convert the money.

It depends on the merchant.

A cash-only merchant might attempt to haggle with a Westerner in Euros or dollars. That happened to us often - although I'd usually direct the negotiations back to LE since that's what was in my pocket.

Cab drivers tend to quote LE, although if you do a day-hire you may be able to negotiate in dollars or Euros. (Plan on using LE though.)

Nearly all of the restaurants we visited accepted MC/Visa. We never used foreign currency at a restaurant. We had one or two meals that were fairly off the beaten path - no other tourists - and we used local cash.

I definitely second the advice to obtain small change whenever possible. If you have a 200LE note, use it at a hotel where you know they will make change. If you are in a hotel with a bank branch inside (common at larger hotels), they'll make change for you without any hassle.

It took me a couple days to stop overtipping people. Having coins and 5LE notes onhand is essential.

Thanks for advice. I'm sure that at the ATM I'll get bigger bills, but will break them as often as I can. Getting change at the hotel is a good idea. Now I just have to figure how much I'll need to wd...

The good news is that most ATMs allow you to select any amount ending in 0. (Up to whatever their maximum is, of course.)

For example, if you want LE1000, enter LE990. That will at least generate a 100, a 50, and a couple 20s. I never got a 10 from an ATM no matter how hard I tried: doing something like 1010 would get us a 100, a 50, and three 20s. But still...better'n nothing.

If Egyptians prefer USD as tips, it's because they represent a chunky upgrade on EGP. Even a single $1 bill is a very hefty tip for the small courtesies you might hand over EGP1 for. US currency is useless to most Egyptians for their everyday purchases, they will simply exchange it for Egyptian currency. USD might still be required in the "duty-free" shops, but this a specialist activity in which the recipient of your largesse is unlikely to be involved.

For all other purchases it would be odd indeed to offer any currency other than the national one. Odd because you will always suffer on the conversion applied. A cafe owner might scratch his head and accept US notes, but if he does you can be sure he has factored into the conversion rate the favour he believes he is doing you: and you won't get any change in USD. Much the same as a restaurant in New York might accept Euros instead of USD:)

Tourist stalls/markets are exceptions. But again, you won't benefit in any way from using non-Egyptian currency.

By all means carry USD with you. You'll be able to exchange them quickly and easily in banks and bank-run exchange facilities. These are often inside large hotels, but be careful not to use the hotel reception unless it is clear they are using the published exchange rate There should be no commission charged, so you can change cash as and when you need it. But DO count the money you receive before leaving the counter, and check it with the receipt you MUST be given.

You can also use the ubiquitous ATM - but there might be a considerable transaction charge levied.

And please - don't over-tip!!!!


I fogot to underline the other advice re SMALL DENOMINATION NOTES. Insist on getting a good proportion of notes from your currency conversion in tens/twenties and the odd fifty, with a fair amount in single Lira/Pound denomination. Your hotel cashier will understand absolutely the need to break any large denomination notes for you.

Yes - LOTS of small notes - and carry these in a separate pocket. The locals have risen begging to an art form (without the art I might add) and will constantly harass you for "baksheesh" for no other reason than that you are standing near them. Throwing a tiny bill their way will get them off your back...at least until you walk back out of the historical site.

Also carry LOTS of toilet paper and little soap papers with you.

^ Tip top advice. I always carry a full roll of toilet paper with me when in the ME, in addition to 2-3 packets of tissue paper. Out in the boonies, I'd rather take a dump alfresco rather than the public loos which generally remind me of the toilet in Trainspotting.

When I was in Luxor, it was impossible to get ones. And they were essential to use the public toilets. So, if you are going to tourist sites where you might need to use public facilities, make sure you have stacks and stacks of ones. (And bring your own toilet paper as noted above.)

I agree about the need to carry lots of small bills, but I don't tip "for no other reason than that you are standing near them." I don't understand the logic, but of course every traveler can make his/her own choice.