Tipping customs in Egypt

-Why tip?

Tipping is considered to be part of the income of the person serving you, and is expected in this culture. However, it should only be given if the service is of an excellent standard. Tipping encourages the guides ,drivers, hotel staff, waiters to always do their best, and you personally giving them the tip will encourage them to continue serving you well. Tips are best given in an envelope with a short word of thanks.

Tipping is not compulsory

IMPORTANT TO KNOW. If you are not accustoms for tipping or don’t know when and where to give ask us for  tipping list as suggestions or even to include the tipping in your tour package and pay it in your favor. Let us know. – please confirm before your tour which you prefer to do.

Tipping suggestions: 

Note

The arrival and Departure days, both of them will be counted as one day in the tipping calculations

Tipping guidelines in EGP per service providers (in case you want to handle the tipping yourself) – (not compulsory)

Tipping in Egyptian pounds EGP (these amounts are per group not per person). The Minimum amount is for a small group (1-2 people) and the Max amount for a larger group.* Driver 150-250 for a full day* Driver 100-200 for a half day or airport transfer.* Bellman in hotel 30 when you check in and 30 when you check out* Dahabiya Cruise per cabin (as in the list below), deliver it to the captain and he will distribute it among his crew. .* Hotel, 100 per night per room of your hotel stay (for the hotel staff, at time of departure, delivered to the front desk)* Nile Cruise, 150 per night per cabin of your cruise stay (for the hotel staff, at time of departure, delivered to the front desk)* In restaurants 5-10% of the meal cost (about 50-150 )* Tour guide about 300-450 per full day (7-8 hours)* Tour guide about 200-350 per half day (3-4 hours)* Motor boats or Felucca rides 50 – 100.* Airports/transfers/ operator/ assists 75 – 100* Camel / Carriage driver 50 – 100.

EX: If you have 4 full days tours and you are in a private tour in a group of 4 people, your average tipping is as following: 

(Guide = 300x 4 )+ (Driver = 200×4) = EGP 2000 (about USD 125 as total) for the guide and driver. 

Tipping For Dahabiya only PP in USD
Days/ People	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Notes
4 Days	80	48	44	40	40	36	28	28	24	20	20	20	20	20	20
5 Days	100	60	55	50	50	45	35	35	30	25	25	25	25	25	25
6 Days	120	72	66	60	60	54	42	42	36	30	30	30	30	30	30
7 Days	140	84	77	70	70	63	49	49	42	35	35	35	35	35	35
8 Days	160	96	88	80	80	72	56	56	48	40	40	40	40	40	40
9 Days	180	108	99	90	90	81	63	63	54	45	45	45	45	45	45
10 Days	200	120	110	100	100	90	70	70	60	50	50	50	50	50	50
11 Days	220	132	121	110	110	99	77	77	66	55	55	55	55	55	55
12 Days	240	144	132	120	120	108	84	84	72	60	60	60	60	60	60
13 Days	260	156	143	130	130	117	91	91	78	65	65	65	65	65	65
14 Days	280	168	154	140	140	126	98	98	84	70	70	70	70	70	70
15 Days	300	180	165	150	150	135	105	105	90	75	75	75	75	75	75

EX: If the total no of people on board the Dahabiya are 10 and your Dahabiya sailing tour is for 4 days, you pay usd 20 per person x 4 days = USD 80 per person in 4 days.. 

Note: Tipping delivers it to the captain and he will distribute it among his crew. 

Before you travel

Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date.

Get travel insurance, essential for medical emergencies,

Email to yourself scans / photographs of your important documents – passport, including the stamped Visa page, travel insurance, both sides of your debit and credit cards. This makes it easy for you to have copies to arrange replacement, if the originals are lost or damaged. Also email yourself a list of your important phone numbers in case of phone loss or damage.

While you will be with your guide for much of the time, there will be times you are on your own. Don’t expect all Egyptians to understand your language. Instead, learn some useful phrases. Even if you have only a few basic phrases, people will appreciate this and make an effort to communicate or help you.