Directory Image
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

What appropriate costs for Tipping in Egypt? “A dealing art of tip”

Author: Fts Travels
by Fts Travels
Posted: May 03, 2020

"Baksheesh" is an Egyptian term used for "Tip" or gratuities that were an area you will found a little confusing during visiting Egypt. Baksheesh or tipping in Egypt is expected from all travelers in Egypt if you have some services from them or even have not.

Of course, it is not obligated if someone have not provided you any service but it is ask you from every guards to hawkers. Tipping in Egypt can be essential part of your trip when service workers disappointed from the amount of low-tipping or may be behave rudely if you didn’t gave them baksheesh. Don’t bother tipping in Egypt; it’s simply the part of their culture or also tipping etiquette. Egyptian currency is in pounds, so always try to keep change with you to make baksheesh or if you haven’t or having little amount for tipping, just smiles and says that’s enough.

How tipping works in Egypt?

Baksheesh or tipping in Egypt travel advice for safe yourself is actually the way of saying ‘thank you’ for their services; it is not obligated but absolutely expected from every tourist.

May tourists come from the background where tipping is not paying but it’s happening in Egypt? Baksheesh notoriously connect to connotation as bribe that would be combination of gratuities or some bribe too.

When planning to visit Egypt, you need to add some tipping in your overall budget. Egyptian can accept your currency as tip but if you get change of pounds in coins that will be fair enough to handle with low budget.

Dining in Egypt is not ends on paying bills or giving tips but also your menu that could be look like cheap will add extra 12% kept by restaurant and 13% for government so overall bills overleaped to your menu bill.

Collectively there are three forms of baksheesh/tipping in Egypt

Tipping_ tipping is a way of doing something legit to get little money.

Permission for favor_ this form of baksheesh is famous in Egypt that is a tweak of getting tip.

Begging or Bribe_ this last form of tipping in Egypt feel some visitors little harsh. The people out of nowhere will walk with you and ask you for a gift or will ask your name to write on a cup to give you a gift and afterwards will pleading ‘give me some baksheesh’ at that point better not to give attention or pay some tip to be hassle free.

Currency to tipping in Egypt

Egyptian will accept your currencies rather than to go out without it. Though having change of your currency in pounds and get some coins from any nearby ATM or Bank.

The changing of money has twofold:

The first one is__ by changing your money you will get a lot more money which could make your tipping go further and will not overleaped your budget.

The second one is__ no one will give you change for coins, so it’s better to give coins as tips because Egyptian prefers the money which they don’t need to change.

How much to tip

I would recommend you a rough idea for it.

  • Always it’s better to give just 10% of your restaurant bills.
  • Paddlers or vendors are ok with some pirates.
  • Don’t ask locals how much for tips… it’s your choice to give tips as much as you want to give it as a reward of their good services.
  • According to the above 3rd form of baksheesh, you can just pay 1piatres or maximum 5piatres are good.
  • 3-5% for hotel attendant or guard
When to tip

Whenever you need or used any service you have to pay tip, even many time without having services you have to tip. Many of the hotel attendants with whom you collaborates each time they will ask you for tip (but not essential to give tip to each attendant). If you look at the customary style, they just leave an envelope with some tip at counter and they divided it (I think that’s good idea to work with little amount).

When not to tip

That’s not compulsory to give tip each person who asks. Just tip only for good services or the attendants who actually deserved that. Give tips in Egypt is just like in your own country so don’t make yourself harsh on it, just spent where you feel they deserve otherwise just smile and pass away, they will not rush back to you or would not hurt you. They just ask for money and that’s it.

There is always a good idea to give tip… try to give money to the children not to vendors or street beggars. It will raise the idea among people who harshly ask for money that tipping is just like a way of donating money where you want. This work will encourage them NOT to ask for money it will feel them bad about you.

That’s not customary to give tips to camel owners, taxi drivers, vendors, street people and also who tells you a way to pyramid of Giza. It just up to you, if you like someone’s services or gratitude give him/her tip.

Other form of tipping where you are likely encounter

Based on your guide or online forums, you will be preparing before you go. Many of my readers asks for me that "how to handle tipping in Egypt?" And "Give me some guideline when or where to give tips" Also "How much to tip is better?"

After my personal experience to Egypt, we believe some sensible tipping techniques mentioned below:

  • Local guide per day maximum 80LE.
  • Taxi driver from airport 10-20LE (according to the distance or his services).
  • Restroom attendant no more than 1LE.
  • Potter average 3-5LE (according to your luggage weight or items).
  • Waiters in any restaurant 5LE
  • Bathroom attendant 3-5LE

Pounds are Egyptian currency, each pound consist on 100piatres. Venders are not able to accept large bills because there total day earring may be just few pounds or sometime few pirates. So always keeping change of money with you is good idea to give tips. Many vendors are not being paid well and they only rely on tipping in Egypt.

Regards

FTS Travels

Mr. Ahmed El-Khatib

12h / 4 Shawky Abdelmenim St. Taksem Ellasilky, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Telephone number..: +20 100 101 3943

web..: https://fts-travels.com/

email: booking@ftstravels.com

About the Author

Fts Travels Egypt Tours & Packages Get a taste of the past on our Egypt Tours, where you’ll walk the footsteps of pharaohs through ancient temples and monuments

Rate this Article
Leave a Comment
Author Thumbnail
I Agree:
Comment 
Pictures
Author: Fts Travels

Fts Travels

Member since: Apr 19, 2020
Published articles: 1

Related Articles