Visiting Cairo, Egypt, is a memorable experience for almost every traveler. This glorious city allows you to explore stunning ancient sites and historic treasures while also charming you with its bazaars, food, and culture. However, just like any other major tourist destination, Cairo can serve some negative experiences in the form of tourist traps that visitors can encounter during their stay. Check out the most common ones below.
Tourism Board Trap
You may encounter one of the tourist traps as soon as you land at Cairo airport. Individuals may approach you and introduce themselves as members of the tourism board. They will welcome you to the country and then try to convince you to arrange a tour with them. However, these people are usually not affiliated with the tourism board and are just trying to sell you an overpriced tour.
Tipping Trap
Tipping in Cairo isn’t as straightforward as you might think. It isn’t uncommon for service staff to ask for tips and even try to haggle about it by telling you the tip is too low. To avoid uncomfortable situations, do a bit of research on the appropriate tipping amount.
Shopping Traps
Taxi drivers, tourist guides, and hotel staff will often try to recommend you specialized shops for perfumes, carpets, or papyrus. You should look to avoid those as they often have inflated prices for poor-quality goods. The best place to do your shopping in Cairo is at one of the city’s markets.
Camel Ride Traps
Embarking on a camel ride might sound fun, but it comes with its own set of potential issues. A number of tourists had negative experiences that included being overcharged. Some even got taken to the desert and asked for more money to get a ride back to the city.