Tipping in Egypt, UPDATED: Do I tip in Dollars or Egyptian Pounds? Whom do I tip? How much to tip?

Tipping in Egypt is an important part of any trip, so let me help by giving exact recommendations on whom you should be tipping in Egypt, when, and how much!

1:06 Why tip in Egypt
4:15 Why I give Egypt tipping recommendations in USD $
5:38 How much to tip your Egypt tour guide
9:40 How much to tip your Egypt driver
12:38 How much to tip meet-and-assist representatives in Egypt
16:03 Do I tip at restaurants in Egypt?
18:42 Tipping on a Nile Cruise or Dahabiya
21:25 Tipping at hotels (cleaning staff and porterage)
23:48 Tipping bathroom attendants in Egypt
25:50 Do I tip Uber/taxis in Egypt?
27:38 Tipping tomb/pyramids attendants
29:59 Do I tip military/police/security?
30:52 Tipping for spa services in Egypt
31:57 Should I tip in US Dollars, or Egyptian Pounds?
33:45 Can I tip with $1 bills?
35:46 How do I get small bills in local currency for tipping?
37:05 Do I need new, crisp bills for paying cash tips?
38:45 What is the "black market"?

Don't see your question in this video? Leave a comment below and I'll answer it!

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[marcuscina]

Great resource, very well done good Sir! Thank you.

[michaelfridgen]

I'm glad you spoke about how to give a tip and what to say. I've noticed that, even though tips are necessary compensation, most Egyptians want a tip as a form of gratitude and not as just something that is expected. It seems that giving someone $5 and saying, "here you go, " doesn't sit well and is awkward. It works much better to give some sort of expression of thanks as you hand over the money. Thanks for the excellent model of how to give a tip!

[juanfelipecaicedo]

Thanks for the insights. However, you should talk more about travelling solo tipping

[flutingaround]

Not even the local banks in the U.S. have fresh crisp bills for traveling...I have tried

[AndysAwesomeAdventures]

Gus, are your recommendations for tips for guides and drivers the same for private tours? It's going to be just me, a guide, and driver most days and I will be asking the guide to take photos and video of me from time to time. Thanks!

[Amghannam]

Egyptian here, why would you tip in any currency other than Egyptian pounds?

[ameliamathew]

Thank you so much, very valuable information

[donnanickerson]

I always tip in sterling I always tip cleaners, taxi transfers to and from airport.
Person that takes us to our room, usual take £100 in 5.00 notes me and my partner always tip 5.00 per person

[billdeibner]

We are on a Nile tour/cruise with one of the big river cruise companies. They say tipping is included, but is giving an additional tip to their employees customary?

[imhoteppsm]

LOVE your informational videos! I go to Egypt every year and this is very helpful for me. I love Egypt so much....Luxor is my favorite city but enjoy the entire country!! Not sure if you believe in psychic mediums, but my Medium Thomas John told me that I lived in Egypt my past lives...which makes sense to me because I feel a strong connection there. :)

[danoneall]

If you ever want a sidekick to travel with you throughout Egypt, let me know

I'm American and live in Egypt. Ive been here since 2014 and love teaveling around Egypt.

Take care. Love your video's

[AHMEDkhaled-inuo]

Hello brother, I am Ahmed from Egypt. Thank you very much for your videos. I know of archaeological landmarks and places that you should photograph.

[JAKETHEACCOUNTANT]

Do people use digital platforms for payment like paypal, cashapp, or venmo?

[AB-lpjd]

Thanks for the helpful info, but I feel like tipping the driver from the airport 10 dollars is a lot.. You're already paying for the ride, and then on top of that 10 dollars, so in total 25-30 dollars... In that case we may as well be in the USA. That can't be right. Surely a tip is a percentage of the service cost, like 10%

A taxi ride that costs 350 egp should get an extra 30... Not 250 or another 350

My concern is that by getting them used to this, it'll just create an expectation that will hurt other tourists and locals too. Locals can't tip like foreigners, so they'll be ignored in favour for the foreigners.. And the foreigners who don't or can't pay that much will get bad treatment. We're not all super wealthy BTW

[livelxy]

Where to find Egyptologist tour guides?

[markshaw]

If someone is generous enough to tip someone there, why should it matter if it is your currency of there's? They're lucky that you're tipping at all.

[johncleaver]

Hi Gus, thanks for the info…very much appreciated. Mate are ATM’s readily available for withdrawing cash? A group of us (six) from Australia are headed over end of Feb to late March 2025 (Ramadan) and we’ve been told different things about the availability of ATM’s….cheers.

[cooksmary]

Those bathroom attendants need the money they get for their service. I have heard that often tips are their entire salary. Be generous. She might be struggling to feed her family. Prices of food and housing have risen like crazy and she is stuck in a stinky bathroom all day. Usually, these ppl will fold the bill and kiss it in gratitude. Thank you for this video.

[garyhenderson]

Important subject Gus but I cant watch a 40 minute video on tips. Having to bail after 7mins.