Egypt tips

[Steve Clark]

You get what you pay for, go with a twobit outfit and you can expect the service you list above

Agreed.

[Noggin the Nog]

Sun block

+1

I'd make it Reinemann P20. So long as you RTFM you won't end up with a yellow T-shirt etc & because it's not slimy you don't have any problems donning wetsuits etc. And it really does last all day. It works for me & I can get a tan from the light coming on in the fridge when you open the door.

[JimmE]

Egypt tips

Last time we were checking in at Marsa Alam airport, we were offered "tubes " of £1 coins in exchange for notes. Our friends said OK (we said "no thanks") - lo and behold most of the pound coins were counterfeit. - beware.

Thanks, I was very dubious, but this was along the main promenades between the hotels and the beach, and the coins were all 'used' and loose for inspection - he counted them out for us. They all seemed fine, but I suppose they'd only need to mix a handful of forgeries in with the genuine ones to make a profit. Had they been pre-packaged, even bagged, I'd have been much more wary, somehow.

[David D]

.... Egypt (other dodgy nations are available) taxi scam. When we got into a taxi the other night after agreeing a price of 20 Egyptian pounds the driver said he would give me 80 change if I gave him 100. When I got my cash out he snatched a note saying "that's it" then returned it to me saying, sorry my mistake, that was a 10..... The robbing turd had switched notes. Very quick hands and when you've had a few beers difficult to compute!! Many of the same group experienced the same with the worst being £60 UK down. The moral of the story. Get the exact change out or only one note if you need change. Please spread the word to any exped leaders you know.

TG

This is a serious problem and worth a bump.

On two of my last three trips to Hurghada, guests from the boat have been ripped off in this way, both times on the way back from town to the boat. On the last trip the guest was a petite woman, not in any way worse for wear, but obviously the taxi driver saw an easy target; down £20 on that occassion.

Twenty-ish LE gets you most places in Hughada, have the correct money, don't fuss about with a fist-full of bills when it comes time to pay.

[Intranicity]

We were warned in Hurghada this year (By local shop keeper) not to ever pay Taxi's using LE50 notes as they are doing the 50 Piastre note trick, only paid for one taxi and agreed LE20 as others have suggested, but just watch out for any 50 notes and make sure they are what you thought you should have.

[Squidge]

This is a serious problem and worth a bump.

On two of my last three trips to Hurghada, guests from the boat have been ripped off in this way, both times on the way back from town to the boat. On the last trip the guest was a petite woman, not in any way worse for wear, but obviously the taxi driver saw an easy target; down £20 on that occassion.

Twenty-ish LE gets you most places in Hughada, have the correct money, don't fuss about with a fist-full of bills when it comes time to pay.

I made this mistake in Hurgada and had a wodge of notes snatched from me by the taxi driver - while me, Paul and a mate were still sitting in the taxi. Quite where the driver thought he was going to go, god alone knows, anyway, the lads 'persuaded' him to give the money back but the bugger had managed to swap some notes in the meantime. Luckily it didn't involve a large sum, but the experience was enough to put Paul and I off going back to Egypt.

[londonsean69]

but the experience was enough to put Paul and I off going back to Egypt.

I can't imagine Claire and I going back to Sharm, no reason in particular, but we just didn't like the place. I have been a fair few times in the past, and it just seems to have gone downhill.

I'd rather spend a bit more wedge and go elsewhere.

[JimmE]

I'd read these posts about taxis before we went in September this year, so each time we were very careful to ask the driver in advance, how much to take us to the destination. We then got them to confirm that that was for both of us, not each, and that was LE, not GBP!

I then made sure that we had the right money ready before the taxi stopped, wallet away, and clearly handed over the amount one note at a time.

We got on OK, but if it hadn't been for the warnings from others before hand, I'd never have given it a second thought.

[Squidge]

I can't imagine Claire and I going back to Sharm, no reason in particular, but we just didn't like the place. I have been a fair few times in the past, and it just seems to have gone downhill.

I'd rather spend a bit more wedge and go elsewhere.

Yep, us too.

I know it's unfair to compare but we prefer the underwater wildlife elsewhere too And that wasn't an invitation to crow about your forthcoming trip, either!

[londonsean69]

Yep, us too.

I know it's unfair to compare but we prefer the underwater wildlife elsewhere too And that wasn't an invitation to crow about your forthcoming trip, either!

Look,
Each
Mention
Brings
Epic
Happiness

[Tunicates]

Look,
Each
Mention
Brings
Epic
Happiness

Meanwhile
Almost
Limitless
Diving
Imparts
Vibrantly
Euphoric
Sensations

[Squidge]

Meanwhile
Almost
Limitless
Diving
Imparts
Vibrantly
Euphoric
Sensations

Sod
Off
Divers

[londonsean69]

Just
Exercise
A
Lot
Of
Utter
Surprise
?

[Squidge]

Just
Exercise
A
Lot
Of
Utter
Surprise
?

Not
Obviously

[londonsean69]

Making
Odd
Noises,
Girl