I am a foreigner living in Egypt. People are really suffering here. Try to be a little generous. Make them aware that you know you are being scammed, so to not appear stupid, but sometimes it is nice to give them more than they are asking for, especially if they are honest.
as a person who also a foreigner that is living here for now but speaks Arabic somewhat fluently I can say that Egypt Cairo is a suffering country from a corrupt president and the negatives about coming to Egypt and your from high value countries would disappoint as I came from Canada, and all the Negatives really came, from Dirty Roads and streets to scammy people and of you speak english and don't know any arabic there is 70% chance you might get scammed as of you speak arabic they will think your a local
This is a unique, empathetic view on the situation. Thank you for sharing that thought. Even as an Egyptian living in Egypt its easy to get angry with scammers and just ignore them instead of just take it easy and make their lives a little easier, if possible.
As an Egyptian who travels around Egypt a lot, I meet lots of tourists. Their experiences can be either great or awful for a few select reasons. The majority of bad experiences usually happen to those who travel without a travel buddy. It's okay to travel alone, but Egypt is more fun to share with someone else. Either way, I always recommend a local guide! Egypt is chaotic, with mostly locals around, and tourists, both inside and outside of tourist locations, are likely to get scammed. Even Egyptians get scammed, but not as often and on bigger scale as tourists. Therefore, I recommend having a local guide to accompany you, speak for you, and deal with local interference. While it may cost extra, it can save you a lot of trouble and money, especially when buying items and haggling. Remember that they are there to make your experience better not control it. Another issue is hotels. Those not near tourist areas or that are cheap tend to be awful, poorly managed, and staffed by underpaid workers. This can lead to harassment or poor treatment. I suggest using Airbnb in good neighborhoods or choosing hotels near tourist spots or more expensive ones. Cairo is very busy and crowded, not suited for aimless tourism in local areas. You might have a great time or a terrible one, depending on the neighborhood. Some local neighborhoods are unsafe, and you could get scammed or harassed, even as an Egyptian. A local guide can help you navigate these areas safely and tell you where NOT to go. For information if you choose not to hire a guide, I recommend reddit r/Egypt. For traveling around, always use Uber or a local app called DiDi, which is usually cheaper. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There is often an issue with cash or card payments because Uber in Egypt can take weeks to transfer money. If you have cash, great. If not, just pay by card, and if the driver tries to argue, just say no and report it later. From my experience I never had a DiDi driver complain about card payment. For food in Cairo, if you're not in a hotel, most local fast-food shops are on an app called Talabat. Just check for whatever kind of food you want and use Uber to get there; it's hassle-free that way. Not even Egyptians go to those corner food places I see in vlogs there are a few local gems that aren't on the app, but you can ask online for those. (Reddit) For holiday cities like Marsa Matruh or Kafr El Sheikh, they are usually lively only in the summer. During other times, they are mostly empty, so if you like that, winter in tourist cities is really great. In these places, I highly recommend staying in fancy hotels. Never go cheap in Egypt; it will save you a lot of time and hassle. I know it’s a lot to consider just to visit a country, but it will make your experience infinitely better. Egypt is beautiful, but the circumstances are not. And great vlog I love these long around the country ones and you both seem really fun hope you have great travels!
This is AMAZING information!! Thank you for spending the time to type all this out - it'll help us when we go back and others who plan to visit. If you have any local guides you know/recommend, feel free to leave their contact information here (if you're comfortable).
Yes great comment! I used to live in Egypt so know it's all true. Great place to visit but it takes time to get to know all the 'workings' ....a tourist would be very wise to pay for a guide to avoid pitfalls. Super friendly people though and amazing experiences to be had.
On the neighbourhood issue though if anyone wants a bit of a wander on their own Zamalek is pretty safe...I wandered about for 4 years there as a woman on my own....only negative was one occasion with a pickpocket, could happen anywhere and partly my fault for not being careful. The area is full of shops eateries and very green. The quieter streets always felt safe to me too. There's some nice walks, and it's shady too
Egypt is full of beautiful buildings, neighborhoods and hotels, you went to the worst building ever to stay in when there is tons of other places to stay in and feel comfortable and safe.
Absolutely - we stayed in some nice places. This one just happened to be not so great. We stay in not so great places all the time in different countries - budget matters
@@adamic44yeah your are right,I don't recommend you to go Egypt,do you know guy I'm Egyptian and I admit that reality Egypt is not a good place for tourists yeah it is not a good place for Egyptians so how could it be good for non-egyptian people you should think about it but it isn't the worst place on the earth,Do you understand me,so please think about travelling before you go there ,and I am sorry that my country is bad but it's life,yeah
@@user-zh5ob3dt2i dont get me wrong i had a good trip there I spent 4 days in cairo and 6 days on the red sea. It was definitely cool to see the history behind it and the pyramids but at the same time sad how such an impressive and beautiful place got to where it is today I seen people taking wheelbarrows full of trash and just dumping it in the side of the road
Just to let you know, the driver wasn't trying to overprice the journey. It's just that the parking fees at the airport are not included in Uber's fees, he's just paying them out of his own pocket. Most Uber drivers don't like CC requests because it take so long to get transferred to them from the Uber side.
Hi! Thanks for your comment. We were not in the airport when he picked us up - we had to walk quite a ways outside of the airport to meet him. Also, Uber shows the drivers the method of payment before they pick you up. I completely understand cash is preferred, but the reason we went with Uber was because we had very little cash on us and we wanted to avoid the difficult situations we'd read about online from other people who took drivers from the airport.
@@kineticpassports I know it's kinda fraudy behaviour from the Uber driver. But, since they passed through the gates to enter, they paid the fees. They can't wait outside the arrival gate (only those limousines that have an agreement with the airport company can do).
Welcome to egypt it was a nice video And it's a good thing for me as an Egyptian that foreigners are now aware about scams and try to avoid it , Good work ❤
Thank you so much! We're so glad you liked it. And, we agree - people should be aware things like this happen, but that shouldn't stop them from visiting and enjoying this beautiful place!
I love your spirits and your smile throughout the whole vlog. Plus hats off to the excellent bargaining skills you both have😄👏🏼. I'm really happy you enjoyed it despite the expected percentage of negative people❤ You are always welcome in Egypt🙏🏻
Thank you so much :) Travel is always full of ups and downs, but the benefits of experiencing another country and culture far outweigh the negatives. And, I'm also proud of Rishi's bargaining skills - he can really stand his own!
Egypt and her people are beautiful, historic, interesting, friendly, but yes, chaotic. And they do try to scam Westerners a bit. You need to have your guard up. We had a guide meet us at the airport when we arrived and help us handle the visa and transfer to our hotel and that eliminated the issue right at the start when we were jet lagged and tired. I loved Egypt and will definitely go back. We were there in February of 2024.
We were also there in February 2024. It's an incredible country, but you're absolutely right - you have to have your guard up. And, the times we had a local guide with us were definitely the easiest and least stressful. If we ever go back, I would 100% hire a local guide.
Exactly I am 100% gay and we all know how the Egyptian government is when it comes to gay people. But of course no country is perfect, and each one has flaws. I just hope one day Egypt moves forward into a better stance when it comes to its current problems because it is such a beautiful country with so much potential.
@@keith.anthony.infinity.h I am not gay, however I know gay people feel uncomfortable here in Egypt. As long as you don't show off to be gay in public, you are safe, especially if you are obviously a foreigner. I learned that whatever happens within the walls of your home, your intimacy is respected. Egyptian people are actually very tolerant, especially where tourism is frequent, less so in the villages though. The upside is that in the villages the people are very honest and kind if you show to be humble. Humbleness is not seen as a weakness, as long as you smile and lower your gaze on women. Never touch them or try to shake hands, unless they show their hand first. It is offensive to shake hands firmly also with men.
Great content! I thought I was watching a 1M sub channel I just discovered, so I was amazed that you are still below 1K subs... You definitely deserve more. I subbed and definitely dig the long format... Keep it up guys, you are onto something.
thank you so much for commenting and letting us know you liked the video! and, no need at all to apologize for the scammers. we met so many wonderful and nice people in our travels. you always have to take the bad with the good :)
It was a bit sad to watch the bargaining part. I mean, you can not even buy a plastic magnet for 4 USD in the USA or Europe. I hope the man still made some profit out of that deal.
Completely understand that perspective - in haggling cultures folks won’t sell or part with something unless they’re profitting. If the price is too low there would be no deal.
I know it's too expensive really but as u know all sellers do that for most of foreigners so it's nice to make a deal with him too nice from u, btw I am an Egyptian and if u need any help to reach anywhere I can help u also for sure as a help no money hhhh so It's nice to have friends here and if u spend more time u will spend less than u expect, it's just cause it's ur first time.
thank you! rishi is from india, and they also make deals and haggle there. if both the seller and buyer are open to haggling it can actually be a fun process. and, thank you for your offer! i feel like we're making some great friends in this comments section. we'll let you know the next time we're in Egypt!
30 dollars is too much to see one of most spectacular human achievements and one of the most incredible experiences you'll ever have... These people are infuriating.
I swear you are barging in prices that I can't have it as local. People are offering you an original hand made stone for 7$ nd you wanna it in 4$. If that was in USA, it's minimum 50$
We didn't show this in the video but earlier in the same market, someone offered us the same stone for $4 as a starting price so we kinda knew what we could get this for in another store.
Scams are everywhere my friend, especially the country you're coming from, so don't act like you've never been ripped off in India. P.s. Cairo is giving off major Karachi vibes! Much love from Pakistan
Indeed - scams are everywhere. We were just surprised at the frequency with which we encountered them in Egypt. India is an entirely different experience for us - mostly because Rishi's from there, and when you speak the native language you're (usually) far less likely to get ripped off or scammed. I'm sure if I (Melissa) travelled around alone it would be a different story.
Depends on the type of trip/vacation you want. We enjoyed so many parts of our time there and found a lot of people who were very kind and hospitable to us. Initially, we felt we needed to keep our guard fully up - but, I think we eventually reached a point where we just accepted we’d be scammed/ripped-off (mostly on a small-scale) and figured out how to be okay with it. A lot of the people there are really struggling to live day to day and make ends meet.
as a person who has a british mother and a egyptian father,hearing you say koshary in that accent is so tortures. ITS PRONOUNCED ko-sha-ree and you dare call mahshi green leaves?! GREEN LEAVES!!!???
Thank you! Pyramids were hard to shoot around - the crowds were pretty intense and cameras didn’t seem very kosher with security. But, we definitely enjoyed them 😊
you did a good tour in cairo, i would do even as a local, i didn’t like that you were sarcastic many times about the situations, also didn’t like you being too pushy to lower prices of items, however you are always welcome to Egypt for sure and i am happy you had a nice time and enjoyed, sure i also agree our country is not the best but even in Europe there’s many things to be sarcastic about but people will not interact the same as if it’s Egypt.
that's fair - we didn't mean to offend or come off as looking down on the people. re being push to lower prices - how would you recommend we approach negotiation or haggling in Egypt next time?
Well Egypt is not good travel for cheap travelers who are seeking the cheapest rides, hotels and venues, they will struggle to get their way through except if the know someone local who can get them through without being scammed
Ive moved to egypt temporarily, mainly to learn classical arabic here. And i can say the 1 issue i have is always to do with money (mainly since theyre all generally poor) and they still try bump prices with those who can speak arabic but are foreign, However aside from that, the chaos i dont mind, and its definatly safer than the UK, Its just that the touristy areas are chaotic but more residential areas are a bit calmer and better Theres a lot to enjoy, but it also depends on who you meet. And you have ti expect to get bumped on the price unfortunatly. Happens to all of us lol (not that its a good thing)
Indeed - a few of our guides told us they find themselves in these sorts of situations a lot. I can imagine living there is a very different experience than being a tourist there, though.
Good decision to save your money and not go into the pyramid....many many years ago the whole area was free, I went inside and there was really nothing to see at the top of a crowded stairway. I suppose just to say you've done it but I don't think it's worth the money.
For the guide ( Ebrahim Taye) and the destruction of the Sphinx's nose: The most widely accepted theory attributes the damage to Muhammad Sa'im al-Dahr, a Sufi Muslim who, in the 14th century AD, defaced the Sphinx in an act of religious dissent. He is said to have been outraged by local peasants making offerings to the Sphinx in hopes of increasing their harvest and defacing it to prevent this idolatry. Historical accounts suggest that al-Dahr was executed for his vandalism. FYI : Sketches of the Sphinx were made before Napoleon's arrival to depict the Sphinx without a nose, discrediting this theory of Napoleon's soldiers destroying it.
Just checked Airbnb - the property has been disabled for rental. But, we also felt it was not worth the price we paid for it. Sorry we couldn't be more help!
There is a 20 LE (might have gone up since I was last there) fee for uber drivers to leave the airport. You should cover that even though the app doesn't. It's ok though because he is not supposed to ask for cash and cancel a ride. He must have been looking for foreign currency and also to overcharge you. In the future refuse to go with any driver that does that - both to avoid scams and to keep safe.
Good advice! I forget the exact details, but I believe the Uber price included the airport exit fee which is why we were surprised about him increasing the price (especially by the amount it increased). We realized while we were there that everybody wanted to be paid in USD (or any other stable foreign currency) because of Egypt's currency crisis - which is very understandable. If we were to do things over again, we would have discussed price with him before we got into the car. We had read online that its common for drivers from the airport to increase price on you unexpectedly. We just assumed since we ordered the car via Uber that the price was already set and we wouldn't encounter this sort of problem. Lessons learned all around
@@kineticpassports It is set so he should not have done that. You can contact uber to complain. It is the only way to stop them doing this kind of thing. Anyway, if that is all you got ripped off in Egypt, you got away unscathed lol. I don't think the fee is included in the Uber app but if he was trying to do to me what he did with you, I wouldn't have given him a penny extra. I think the ubers are actually not technically allowed to pick people up at the airport which is why they go to the parking lot below.
Re: the currency - yes, and there is a side market where you can get higher prices but it might not be much of a profit now because they recently floated the pound. Back in Jan/Feb it was 60 to the dollar and the official exchange rate was about 30. If you go to the side market and exhange dollars for 60 and then buy an airplane ticket or extra luggage and pay in Egyptian pounds, you end up spending half the cost because they use the official rate.
@@FlowerzG we were there in Jan/Feb (before they floated the pound), and the side market was crazy. We were approached by a few people people telling us they'd give us a "deal" on Egyptian pounds - some I'm sure were hoping we didn't know the side market rate.
The uber has to go through a toll gate on his way out that’s why he wanted you to pay extra. Most of the time I don’t mind the extra 20 pounds honestly but he was charging more like 60.
Oh, we thought Egypt was beautiful. The flat we chose to stay in in Cairo was a bit different than what we expected. It was one of the few places available within our budget, and it generally had good reviews. We were surprised by what it wound up looking like. Some of the other places we stayed at were amazing - esp this place in Luxor: ruclips.net/video/OYRRlG8X6cg/видео.html
Understood - we didn't know at the time it was reciting text from the Quran. We'd never encountered this before. Apologies for the unintended disrespect.
@@kineticpassports no worries at all, I'm just informing you nothing more. from what i can see u haven't had 10% of the fun you should've had so next time you come let me know to help you have the trip of your life. xo
I am going to Egypt the end of October. Do the markets take US dollars or will I need to get Egyptian Pounds? Where is the best place to change money if I need to?
Egypt recently floated their currency which means you can just use ATMs and you’ll get the rate that google tells you. It’s like 48 Egyptian Pounds for one dollar right now. When we were there - the currency was pegged so there was a huge black market where you could get twice the amount than the official ATM rate. I’d just go to an ATM but if you have cash, there are several exchanges in Cairo but why bother when ATMs work.
@@marycorey4563 also, I'd suggest paying for things in EGP at markets. Most shopkeepers will take USD, but if you're after a good price... having the local currency gets you one step away from being a traditional tourist and might increase your bargaining potential. At least that's how we felt.
Agreed - we initially kept our guard up. But, eventually we just accepted that no matter how hard we tried we’d run in to some scammy situations and we should just be okay with that. Guard came down after that
Interested to know where you thought we were being snobbish. We’ve been to many developing countries - Egypt was incredible but also very difficult to travel through.
Similarly if not worst you will find it also difficult to travel through Cambodia , Myanmar, Nepal! As services are not the best, transportation, roads facilities … etc
@@kineticpassportsyou could meet scammer anywhere, it could happen in Turkey, Georgia as an example, some places you really need to haggle & really don’t expect that things are straight forward!
@@Buhijji understood - we've been to many, many developed and developing countries, but we've never really encountered anything quite like scams and hassling in Egypt. My husband, who is from India (a culture with a lot of haggling and not-so-straightforward systems), and I agreed that Egypt was one of the more difficult countries for us to travel through. That's not to say we didn't meet incredible people or that we didn't enjoy our time there - we did. But, both of these things can be true (in our experience) - Egypt is incredible and Egypt is hard for foreigners to travel through
I have travelled like 50 countries in 4 continents (of 5) and this it was the worst place I have ever been and the only one where I will never go back. I did my longest video about it. BTW, they said ''you look Egyptian'' to everyone who is not blonde. I saw this with Italians, Spanish, Latinos, me etc etc. But when I tried to pay without say any word they still spoke in English to me. 3 USD sooo cheap. They asked me always 8-10 euros in all 3 cities, Hurgada, Luxor and Cairo. I found one finally for 4 euros so like 5 USD
We'll likely go back at some point, but we definitely needed a break after a couple weeks there. Just curious - I assume you've been to India. How did you Egypt experience compare to India?
@@travelerexperience just curious because a lot of people are drawing comparisons in the comments (mostly because we drew one in the video). I know India can be difficult to travel through for foreigners as well. It's easier for us because Rishi is from there.
@@kineticpassports Everytime I complain about something in a country, everyone asked me ''have you been to India''? But still, it would be a dream to go.
@@travelerexperience you should 100% go. There's nothing quite like getting off a plane in India for the first time - so many sounds, smells, people. It's such a unique experience.
If anyone wanting to visit Egypt is feeling uneasy about it - I'd recommend hiring a reputable guide for your trip. So many people we met hired guides for the duration of their trip and felt safe while they were there.
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Comment below if you enjoy the longer vlog format-it's something new we're experimenting with ❤
I am a foreigner living in Egypt. People are really suffering here. Try to be a little generous. Make them aware that you know you are being scammed, so to not appear stupid, but sometimes it is nice to give them more than they are asking for, especially if they are honest.
Thanks for your insight. It's always good to give more, especially when you're in a situation that is positive and honest.
as a person who also a foreigner that is living here for now but speaks Arabic somewhat fluently I can say that Egypt Cairo is a suffering country from a corrupt president and the negatives about coming to Egypt and your from high value countries would disappoint as I came from Canada, and all the Negatives really came, from Dirty Roads and streets to scammy people and of you speak english and don't know any arabic there is 70% chance you might get scammed as of you speak arabic they will think your a local
This is a unique, empathetic view on the situation. Thank you for sharing that thought. Even as an Egyptian living in Egypt its easy to get angry with scammers and just ignore them instead of just take it easy and make their lives a little easier, if possible.
🫂💪🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬💪🫂
@@Abdulhadl Catch an MB!
As an Egyptian who travels around Egypt a lot, I meet lots of tourists. Their experiences can be either great or awful for a few select reasons. The majority of bad experiences usually happen to those who travel without a travel buddy. It's okay to travel alone, but Egypt is more fun to share with someone else. Either way, I always recommend a local guide! Egypt is chaotic, with mostly locals around, and tourists, both inside and outside of tourist locations, are likely to get scammed. Even Egyptians get scammed, but not as often and on bigger scale as tourists. Therefore, I recommend having a local guide to accompany you, speak for you, and deal with local interference. While it may cost extra, it can save you a lot of trouble and money, especially when buying items and haggling. Remember that they are there to make your experience better not control it.
Another issue is hotels. Those not near tourist areas or that are cheap tend to be awful, poorly managed, and staffed by underpaid workers. This can lead to harassment or poor treatment. I suggest using Airbnb in good neighborhoods or choosing hotels near tourist spots or more expensive ones.
Cairo is very busy and crowded, not suited for aimless tourism in local areas. You might have a great time or a terrible one, depending on the neighborhood. Some local neighborhoods are unsafe, and you could get scammed or harassed, even as an Egyptian. A local guide can help you navigate these areas safely and tell you where NOT to go.
For information if you choose not to hire a guide, I recommend reddit r/Egypt.
For traveling around, always use Uber or a local app called DiDi, which is usually cheaper. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There is often an issue with cash or card payments because Uber in Egypt can take weeks to transfer money. If you have cash, great. If not, just pay by card, and if the driver tries to argue, just say no and report it later. From my experience I never had a DiDi driver complain about card payment.
For food in Cairo, if you're not in a hotel, most local fast-food shops are on an app called Talabat. Just check for whatever kind of food you want and use Uber to get there; it's hassle-free that way. Not even Egyptians go to those corner food places I see in vlogs there are a few local gems that aren't on the app, but you can ask online for those. (Reddit)
For holiday cities like Marsa Matruh or Kafr El Sheikh, they are usually lively only in the summer. During other times, they are mostly empty, so if you like that, winter in tourist cities is really great. In these places, I highly recommend staying in fancy hotels. Never go cheap in Egypt; it will save you a lot of time and hassle.
I know it’s a lot to consider just to visit a country, but it will make your experience infinitely better. Egypt is beautiful, but the circumstances are not.
And great vlog I love these long around the country ones and you both seem really fun hope you have great travels!
This is AMAZING information!! Thank you for spending the time to type all this out - it'll help us when we go back and others who plan to visit. If you have any local guides you know/recommend, feel free to leave their contact information here (if you're comfortable).
Yes great comment! I used to live in Egypt so know it's all true. Great place to visit but it takes time to get to know all the 'workings' ....a tourist would be very wise to pay for a guide to avoid pitfalls. Super friendly people though and amazing experiences to be had.
On the neighbourhood issue though if anyone wants a bit of a wander on their own Zamalek is pretty safe...I wandered about for 4 years there as a woman on my own....only negative was one occasion with a pickpocket, could happen anywhere and partly my fault for not being careful. The area is full of shops eateries and very green. The quieter streets always felt safe to me too. There's some nice walks, and it's shady too
Such important info ,,,
Thanks for delivering it to ower friends ❤
A fellow Egyptian sister 😊
Nice advice, but in reality not very practic. How you should find a reliable "buddy"?
Oh Egypt truly the land of love and mystery !
It’s a beautiful country!!
Egypt is full of beautiful buildings, neighborhoods and hotels, you went to the worst building ever to stay in when there is tons of other places to stay in and feel comfortable and safe.
Absolutely - we stayed in some nice places. This one just happened to be not so great. We stay in not so great places all the time in different countries - budget matters
Shut up
Just got back from egypt and it's by far the most dirty placw ive ever been and sadly a terrible place to be a tourist
@@adamic44yeah your are right,I don't recommend you to go Egypt,do you know guy I'm Egyptian and I admit that reality Egypt is not a good place for tourists yeah it is not a good place for Egyptians so how could it be good for non-egyptian people you should think about it but
it isn't the worst place on the earth,Do you understand me,so please think about travelling before you go there ,and I am sorry that my country is bad but it's life,yeah
@@user-zh5ob3dt2i dont get me wrong i had a good trip there I spent 4 days in cairo and 6 days on the red sea. It was definitely cool to see the history behind it and the pyramids but at the same time sad how such an impressive and beautiful place got to where it is today I seen people taking wheelbarrows full of trash and just dumping it in the side of the road
Just to let you know, the driver wasn't trying to overprice the journey.
It's just that the parking fees at the airport are not included in Uber's fees, he's just paying them out of his own pocket.
Most Uber drivers don't like CC requests because it take so long to get transferred to them from the Uber side.
Hi! Thanks for your comment. We were not in the airport when he picked us up - we had to walk quite a ways outside of the airport to meet him. Also, Uber shows the drivers the method of payment before they pick you up. I completely understand cash is preferred, but the reason we went with Uber was because we had very little cash on us and we wanted to avoid the difficult situations we'd read about online from other people who took drivers from the airport.
@@kineticpassports I know it's kinda fraudy behaviour from the Uber driver. But, since they passed through the gates to enter, they paid the fees.
They can't wait outside the arrival gate (only those limousines that have an agreement with the airport company can do).
Welcome to egypt it was a nice video
And it's a good thing for me as an Egyptian that foreigners are now aware about scams and try to avoid it , Good work ❤
Thank you so much! We're so glad you liked it. And, we agree - people should be aware things like this happen, but that shouldn't stop them from visiting and enjoying this beautiful place!
I love your spirits and your smile throughout the whole vlog. Plus hats off to the excellent bargaining skills you both have😄👏🏼. I'm really happy you enjoyed it despite the expected percentage of negative people❤
You are always welcome in Egypt🙏🏻
Thank you so much :) Travel is always full of ups and downs, but the benefits of experiencing another country and culture far outweigh the negatives. And, I'm also proud of Rishi's bargaining skills - he can really stand his own!
Egypt and her people are beautiful, historic, interesting, friendly, but yes, chaotic. And they do try to scam Westerners a bit. You need to have your guard up. We had a guide meet us at the airport when we arrived and help us handle the visa and transfer to our hotel and that eliminated the issue right at the start when we were jet lagged and tired. I loved Egypt and will definitely go back. We were there in February of 2024.
We were also there in February 2024. It's an incredible country, but you're absolutely right - you have to have your guard up. And, the times we had a local guide with us were definitely the easiest and least stressful. If we ever go back, I would 100% hire a local guide.
Exactly I am 100% gay and we all know how the Egyptian government is when it comes to gay people. But of course no country is perfect, and each one has flaws. I just hope one day Egypt moves forward into a better stance when it comes to its current problems because it is such a beautiful country with so much potential.
@@keith.anthony.infinity.h What does being gay have to do with anything? Be gay as much as you want, just don't show it here please.
@@keith.anthony.infinity.h I am not gay, however I know gay people feel uncomfortable here in Egypt. As long as you don't show off to be gay in public, you are safe, especially if you are obviously a foreigner. I learned that whatever happens within the walls of your home, your intimacy is respected. Egyptian people are actually very tolerant, especially where tourism is frequent, less so in the villages though. The upside is that in the villages the people are very honest and kind if you show to be humble. Humbleness is not seen as a weakness, as long as you smile and lower your gaze on women. Never touch them or try to shake hands, unless they show their hand first. It is offensive to shake hands firmly also with men.
@keith.anthony.infinity.h we dont love dogs like you in all situation
The negotiating was cringy. You’re literally negotiating peanuts from abjectly poor people.
Thanks for your comment!
Great content! I thought I was watching a 1M sub channel I just discovered, so I was amazed that you are still below 1K subs... You definitely deserve more. I subbed and definitely dig the long format... Keep it up guys, you are onto something.
Thank you so much!
as an Egyptian...want to say sorry for scamming and scammers...loved the video guys ❤❤❤❤
thank you so much for commenting and letting us know you liked the video! and, no need at all to apologize for the scammers. we met so many wonderful and nice people in our travels. you always have to take the bad with the good :)
what are the real prices in Egypt
@@mariaiovu4712 not sure if anyone really knows :)
Who’s from Cairo ?? Like me ❤
Not from Cairo, but I'm curious to see who is!
Me
@@mahmoudahmed-jc8ib 🙌
It was a bit sad to watch the bargaining part. I mean, you can not even buy a plastic magnet for 4 USD in the USA or Europe. I hope the man still made some profit out of that deal.
Completely understand that perspective - in haggling cultures folks won’t sell or part with something unless they’re profitting. If the price is too low there would be no deal.
I Personally live In Egypt it’s very chaos but if you just live here for a while you get used to it😊😊
Of course! I bet it just takes a little bit to get used to.
Again I’ve never had a problem with Cairo or Luxor and they have been the best holidays I’ve ever had
We also enjoyed our time there. Just because some things were hard doesn’t mean it was all bad - as you can see in the video
I miss Egypt. I lived there twice
Very cool! Which parts of Egypt did you live in?
I know it's too expensive really but as u know all sellers do that for most of foreigners so it's nice to make a deal with him too nice from u, btw I am an Egyptian and if u need any help to reach anywhere I can help u also for sure as a help no money hhhh so It's nice to have friends here and if u spend more time u will spend less than u expect, it's just cause it's ur first time.
thank you! rishi is from india, and they also make deals and haggle there. if both the seller and buyer are open to haggling it can actually be a fun process. and, thank you for your offer! i feel like we're making some great friends in this comments section. we'll let you know the next time we're in Egypt!
@@kineticpassports 💗💗💗Enjoy ur time, have a great day!
Very enjoyable! I hope you had so much fun! Please stay connected! 🕊
@@starglitter3341 thank you so much! Just subscribed to stay connected
30 dollars is too much to see one of most spectacular human achievements and one of the most incredible experiences you'll ever have...
These people are infuriating.
Thanks for watching!
Shame on u bargaining for 1 dollar which means nothing to u but mean alot to these people
Thanks for sharing your opinion
I swear you are barging in prices that I can't have it as local. People are offering you an original hand made stone for 7$ nd you wanna it in 4$. If that was in USA, it's minimum 50$
We didn't show this in the video but earlier in the same market, someone offered us the same stone for $4 as a starting price so we kinda knew what we could get this for in another store.
Scams are everywhere my friend, especially the country you're coming from, so don't act like you've never been ripped off in India.
P.s. Cairo is giving off major Karachi vibes!
Much love from Pakistan
Indeed - scams are everywhere. We were just surprised at the frequency with which we encountered them in Egypt. India is an entirely different experience for us - mostly because Rishi's from there, and when you speak the native language you're (usually) far less likely to get ripped off or scammed. I'm sure if I (Melissa) travelled around alone it would be a different story.
I'm glad you enjoyed being in Cairo!
Thank you - we did enjoy it. We met so many wonderful people
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Thanks for watching!! 🥰
I think when go to Egypt you need to an Egyptian friend
That would have helped immensely!
Great vid, should've come to Alexandria it's the best
Next time! We've heard from so many people that we missed out by not going there. And, glad you to hear you enjoyed the video :)
I think I would find this place too stressful, i wouldn't be able to relax thinking everyone is try to scam / rip me off .
Depends on the type of trip/vacation you want. We enjoyed so many parts of our time there and found a lot of people who were very kind and hospitable to us. Initially, we felt we needed to keep our guard fully up - but, I think we eventually reached a point where we just accepted we’d be scammed/ripped-off (mostly on a small-scale) and figured out how to be okay with it. A lot of the people there are really struggling to live day to day and make ends meet.
Even egyptions scamming egyptions they are equal
even americans scam other americans - we're all equal opportunists :)
as a person who has a british mother and a egyptian father,hearing you say koshary in that accent is so tortures. ITS PRONOUNCED ko-sha-ree and you dare call mahshi green leaves?! GREEN LEAVES!!!???
Probably similar to how Rishi feels when he hears people order a "chai tea latte" - like nails on a chalkboard
Lol. He got me giggling when he said Khan Elkhalili 😅
Enjoyed watching you guys .. smiling faces ❤
The smiles are all for you 😉❤️
People should do there research before going to other countries instead of moaning about it !!!!!!
Thanks for watching!
I love the way you filmed, also i would love to watch more of the pyramids :P
Thank you! Pyramids were hard to shoot around - the crowds were pretty intense and cameras didn’t seem very kosher with security. But, we definitely enjoyed them 😊
you did a good tour in cairo, i would do even as a local, i didn’t like that you were sarcastic many times about the situations, also didn’t like you being too pushy to lower prices of items, however you are always welcome to Egypt for sure and i am happy you had a nice time and enjoyed, sure i also agree our country is not the best but even in Europe there’s many things to be sarcastic about but people will not interact the same as if it’s Egypt.
that's fair - we didn't mean to offend or come off as looking down on the people. re being push to lower prices - how would you recommend we approach negotiation or haggling in Egypt next time?
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Thank you! :)
Well Egypt is not good travel for cheap travelers who are seeking the cheapest rides, hotels and venues, they will struggle to get their way through except if the know someone local who can get them through without being scammed
Yes, having a local show you around is 100% what we would do next time
Ive moved to egypt temporarily, mainly to learn classical arabic here. And i can say the 1 issue i have is always to do with money (mainly since theyre all generally poor) and they still try bump prices with those who can speak arabic but are foreign,
However aside from that, the chaos i dont mind, and its definatly safer than the UK, Its just that the touristy areas are chaotic but more residential areas are a bit calmer and better
Theres a lot to enjoy, but it also depends on who you meet. And you have ti expect to get bumped on the price unfortunatly. Happens to all of us lol (not that its a good thing)
Indeed - a few of our guides told us they find themselves in these sorts of situations a lot. I can imagine living there is a very different experience than being a tourist there, though.
Those people from the privileged parts of the world, why are you being so cheap?! You are literally exploiting the beauties of their country
Sorry you didn't like the video, but thanks for watching
Egypt video is the highest views in the channel :)
It is! First time we’ve broken 15k 🙌
Good decision to save your money and not go into the pyramid....many many years ago the whole area was free, I went inside and there was really nothing to see at the top of a crowded stairway. I suppose just to say you've done it but I don't think it's worth the money.
Its very nice to hear that we didn't miss much. I was having some serious FOMO, but it wasn't enough for us to open our wallets again.
You should get his number plate and report him to the police
At the time, the thought didn't cross our minds. But, our guide later told us that's what we should have done.
Incredible stuff 👌👌👌👌👌👌
Thank you!! 😘
For the guide ( Ebrahim Taye) and the destruction of the Sphinx's nose: The most widely accepted theory attributes the damage to Muhammad Sa'im al-Dahr, a Sufi Muslim who, in the 14th century AD, defaced the Sphinx in an act of religious dissent. He is said to have been outraged by local peasants making offerings to the Sphinx in hopes of increasing their harvest and defacing it to prevent this idolatry. Historical accounts suggest that al-Dahr was executed for his vandalism. FYI : Sketches of the Sphinx were made before Napoleon's arrival to depict the Sphinx without a nose, discrediting this theory of Napoleon's soldiers destroying it.
Good too know! Love to know our historical knowledge is always growing and evolving
Hi can u guys share your accommodations? 2:49 was that an Airbnb? I’m looking to visit Cairo. was it safe to book it ? Thanks
Just checked Airbnb - the property has been disabled for rental. But, we also felt it was not worth the price we paid for it. Sorry we couldn't be more help!
Great video. Can you share your tour guide contact? I'm looking to visit Cairo soon and in need of a guide. Thank you
Thank you! Our Guide's (Ebrahim Taye) Whatsapp contact is +201119010685. Have fun in Egypt ❤
There is a 20 LE (might have gone up since I was last there) fee for uber drivers to leave the airport. You should cover that even though the app doesn't. It's ok though because he is not supposed to ask for cash and cancel a ride. He must have been looking for foreign currency and also to overcharge you. In the future refuse to go with any driver that does that - both to avoid scams and to keep safe.
Good advice! I forget the exact details, but I believe the Uber price included the airport exit fee which is why we were surprised about him increasing the price (especially by the amount it increased). We realized while we were there that everybody wanted to be paid in USD (or any other stable foreign currency) because of Egypt's currency crisis - which is very understandable. If we were to do things over again, we would have discussed price with him before we got into the car. We had read online that its common for drivers from the airport to increase price on you unexpectedly. We just assumed since we ordered the car via Uber that the price was already set and we wouldn't encounter this sort of problem. Lessons learned all around
@@kineticpassports It is set so he should not have done that. You can contact uber to complain. It is the only way to stop them doing this kind of thing. Anyway, if that is all you got ripped off in Egypt, you got away unscathed lol. I don't think the fee is included in the Uber app but if he was trying to do to me what he did with you, I wouldn't have given him a penny extra. I think the ubers are actually not technically allowed to pick people up at the airport which is why they go to the parking lot below.
Re: the currency - yes, and there is a side market where you can get higher prices but it might not be much of a profit now because they recently floated the pound. Back in Jan/Feb it was 60 to the dollar and the official exchange rate was about 30. If you go to the side market and exhange dollars for 60 and then buy an airplane ticket or extra luggage and pay in Egyptian pounds, you end up spending half the cost because they use the official rate.
@@FlowerzG we were there in Jan/Feb (before they floated the pound), and the side market was crazy. We were approached by a few people people telling us they'd give us a "deal" on Egyptian pounds - some I'm sure were hoping we didn't know the side market rate.
@@kineticpassports Of course they assume you know nothing. I wanted to go but i was too busy.
This video is good.
Thank you so much - and, thanks for watching! 😊
mno llah eli 5lana brl 7ala de, fe 2011 w 2ablha mkntsh el nas bel so3ar dah 3shan el feloos ...
not sure what this means...
If you don’t like Cairo cause you stayed in cheap places come to Baltimore and stay in cheap places, let’s see if even survive a day 😂
@@3araab1 thanks for watching!
if you go to different places and countries and not willing to spend then don't ever complain about anything lol if you're cheap then just stay home
Thanks for watching!
The uber has to go through a toll gate on his way out that’s why he wanted you to pay extra. Most of the time I don’t mind the extra 20 pounds honestly but he was charging more like 60.
Overall - it just felt fishy and dishonest. We're totally fine with paying more in situations where folks are honest.
Jesus love you all so much for real❤️✝️
Thanks!
How much was the tour with Ibrahim?
Believe it was something like $70-80 which included entrances everywhere.
Who would go to place like that you chose the awful flat like this egypt is beautiful
Oh, we thought Egypt was beautiful. The flat we chose to stay in in Cairo was a bit different than what we expected. It was one of the few places available within our budget, and it generally had good reviews. We were surprised by what it wound up looking like. Some of the other places we stayed at were amazing - esp this place in Luxor: ruclips.net/video/OYRRlG8X6cg/видео.html
@@kineticpassports I think you should find a hotel instead of an unknown and cheap flat. You will definitely be scammed in any country if you do that
About the Elevetor sound it's Quran not music
Good to know! Thank you for the clarification :) And, sorry for the unintended disrespect
@@kineticpassports Not at all; I'm just trying to help, since I'm a Muslim 😉
FYI Quran is not music.
Understood - we didn't know at the time it was reciting text from the Quran. We'd never encountered this before. Apologies for the unintended disrespect.
@@kineticpassports no worries at all, I'm just informing you nothing more. from what i can see u haven't had 10% of the fun you should've had so next time you come let me know to help you have the trip of your life. xo
@@omarabbas2950 thanks for that - and that's very kind of you. we'll definitely take you up on that offer the next time we make our way to Egypt!
I am going to Egypt the end of October. Do the markets take US dollars or will I need to get Egyptian Pounds? Where is the best place to change money if I need to?
Egypt recently floated their currency which means you can just use ATMs and you’ll get the rate that google tells you. It’s like 48 Egyptian Pounds for one dollar right now. When we were there - the currency was pegged so there was a huge black market where you could get twice the amount than the official ATM rate. I’d just go to an ATM but if you have cash, there are several exchanges in Cairo but why bother when ATMs work.
@@kineticpassports Thank you!
@@marycorey4563 also, I'd suggest paying for things in EGP at markets. Most shopkeepers will take USD, but if you're after a good price... having the local currency gets you one step away from being a traditional tourist and might increase your bargaining potential. At least that's how we felt.
It's better if you try to enjoy your trip instead of being on edge or suspicious constantly!
Agreed - we initially kept our guard up. But, eventually we just accepted that no matter how hard we tried we’d run in to some scammy situations and we should just be okay with that. Guard came down after that
КАИР МАТЬ МИРА!
Thank you for watching!
I think challenges comes with visiting third world countries but this couple looks snobbish and condescending towards Egypt.
Interested to know where you thought we were being snobbish. We’ve been to many developing countries - Egypt was incredible but also very difficult to travel through.
Similarly if not worst you will find it also difficult to travel through Cambodia , Myanmar, Nepal! As services are not the best, transportation, roads facilities … etc
@@Buhijji we’ve actually been to all those places you mentioned. It’s not the infrastructure we found difficult - it was more the threat of scams.
@@kineticpassportsyou could meet scammer anywhere, it could happen in Turkey, Georgia as an example, some places you really need to haggle & really don’t expect that things are straight forward!
@@Buhijji understood - we've been to many, many developed and developing countries, but we've never really encountered anything quite like scams and hassling in Egypt. My husband, who is from India (a culture with a lot of haggling and not-so-straightforward systems), and I agreed that Egypt was one of the more difficult countries for us to travel through. That's not to say we didn't meet incredible people or that we didn't enjoy our time there - we did. But, both of these things can be true (in our experience) - Egypt is incredible and Egypt is hard for foreigners to travel through
I have travelled like 50 countries in 4 continents (of 5) and this it was the worst place I have ever been and the only one where I will never go back. I did my longest video about it.
BTW, they said ''you look Egyptian'' to everyone who is not blonde. I saw this with Italians, Spanish, Latinos, me etc etc. But when I tried to pay without say any word they still spoke in English to me.
3 USD sooo cheap. They asked me always 8-10 euros in all 3 cities, Hurgada, Luxor and Cairo. I found one finally for 4 euros so like 5 USD
We'll likely go back at some point, but we definitely needed a break after a couple weeks there. Just curious - I assume you've been to India. How did you Egypt experience compare to India?
@@kineticpassports I have never been to India. How come you thought that? BTW it's on my top 4 countries to visit
@@travelerexperience just curious because a lot of people are drawing comparisons in the comments (mostly because we drew one in the video). I know India can be difficult to travel through for foreigners as well. It's easier for us because Rishi is from there.
@@kineticpassports Everytime I complain about something in a country, everyone asked me ''have you been to India''? But still, it would be a dream to go.
@@travelerexperience you should 100% go. There's nothing quite like getting off a plane in India for the first time - so many sounds, smells, people. It's such a unique experience.
Worst scammers everywhere. Such an ancient civilization is so uncivilized. Garbage 🗑 everywhere & no traffic laws
There’s always things to improve in any country - but, if you look for good things you will find them anywhere
Egypt is not a safe place to travel
If anyone wanting to visit Egypt is feeling uneasy about it - I'd recommend hiring a reputable guide for your trip. So many people we met hired guides for the duration of their trip and felt safe while they were there.
Egypt it's the worst, you will know that when you travel , it's like the hell
It was one of the hardest countries for us to travel through - but, we did find some really great people we could trust there.
Sorry, you may have gone to slums . Egypt is big and there are a lot of people
Maybe next time you can say "Egypt is the worst FOR ME" because it's just your personal opinion and you know, many tourists come back every year 😊
@@nancy47 absolutely - everybody's experience is totally different. And, nothing is ever all bad. Our time in Egypt was both difficult and incredible.
India is the worst. Egypt is not bad at all compared to India you just need money in order to have a great experience.