Egypt, a land of ancient wonders and vibrant culture, offers a unique travel experience. Understanding local customs, including tipping, is crucial for a smooth and respectful visit. This guide breaks down how much to tip in various situations, ensuring you navigate Egyptian hospitality with confidence.
Currency Considerations: USD, Euros, or Egyptian Pounds?
While tipping in Egyptian Pounds (EGP) was traditionally recommended, recent economic shifts have made US Dollars (USD) or Euros a more appreciated option. However, individual preferences vary. Don’t hesitate to ask your tour guide, driver, or representative what they prefer. Using a currency converter like Google to determine the EGP equivalent remains a valid approach.
The $1 Bill Dilemma:
Avoid tipping with $1 USD bills or any foreign coins. Egyptian exchange offices generally don’t accept them for conversion. Individuals holding these bills often seek tourists to exchange them for local currency. While tipping with $1 bills is better than not tipping at all, aim to obtain smaller EGP denominations from kiosks or your hotel.
Navigating Tipping Scenarios in Egypt
Here’s a detailed breakdown of common situations and recommended tipping amounts, expressed in USD for clarity due to currency fluctuations. Use Google to convert USD to EGP for current rates (e.g., “20 USD to EGP”).
Transportation Tipping
- Taxis/Uber: A 10-20% tip is appreciated for good service but not mandatory. If possible, pay Uber drivers in cash (EGP), as their income disbursement can be infrequent.
- Public Transportation: Tipping bus or microbus drivers is not customary.
- Private Drivers: For drivers accompanying you for the day (e.g., Luxor temples, Cairo to Siwa), tip $5-$15 per day. It’s preferable to tip daily unless advised otherwise.
- Private Boats: Similar expectations apply to hourly or daily boat rentals. Tip $2-5 for shorter rides.
- Group Tipping: Consolidate tips as a group rather than individual contributions.
Tour Guide Tipping
- Service Level: Base tips on the quality of service. $15 is a reasonable starting point for average service, increasing to $30 for exceptional experiences. These amounts are per day for groups of five or fewer. For larger groups, $5 per person is appropriate.
- Timing: Tip at the end of your time with the guide or at the end of each day, as per their preference.
- Presentation: Presenting the tip in an envelope publicly with a sincere “Thank You” enhances the gesture.
Nile Cruise Tipping
- Large Nile Cruises: Treat these similarly to hotels, tipping cleaning staff and porters.
- Centralized Tipping: Some cruises offer a collective tipping option distributed among the staff. Consult your tour guide for specifics. A general guideline is $10 USD per person per night.
- Dahabiya Nile Cruises: These often have a tip envelope at the end for staff contributions. Aim for at least $20 USD per person per night. Always confirm expectations with your guide.
Restaurant Tipping
- Service Charge: Many upscale restaurants include a 10-15% service charge.
- Direct Tipping: Even with a service charge, consider leaving an additional 5-10% in cash directly for the server, as it’s uncertain how much of the service charge reaches them.
- Informal Restaurants: Rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip (USD $2-3 equivalent) is appreciated but not expected.
- Street Vendors/Markets: Tipping is not customary unless you have small EGP coins or bills to offer. Rounding up the bill is also a kind gesture.
Hotel Tipping
- Room Cleaners: In 5-star hotels, tip the equivalent of $1 USD in Egyptian pounds per day, left in a visible spot. A single tip on the first or last night is also acceptable.
- Smaller Hotels: Leave a tip with reception at the end of your stay, specifying it’s for the cleaning staff. $1-2 USD per day is a thoughtful gesture.
- Baggage Carriers: Tip approximately $1 USD equivalent for assistance with luggage.
- Security/Lobby Staff: Tipping security guards, police officers, or other personnel in the entrance/lobby area is not customary.
Meet-and-Assist Representatives
These individuals facilitate airport navigation, hotel check-ins, and transfers.
- Airport Assistance: Tip $5-$10 for airport assistance.
- Airport and Hotel Assistance: Tip $10-$15 for assistance at both the airport and hotel check-in.
- Full-Day Assistance: Tip $15 (or up to $20 for outstanding service) if a representative is with your group throughout the day.
Miscellaneous Tipping Situations
- Shopkeepers/Store Owners: Tipping is not expected unless they provide a specific favor or demonstrate a handicraft.
- Group Tours: For tours like street food explorations or walking tours of Islamic Cairo, tip $2-5 per person for a few hours or $5 per person for a full day. The total group tip should range from $10-$20 for shorter tours and $20-$30 for full-day tours.
- Temple/Tomb Guards: Tipping is optional. If a guard at a less-visited site opens a tomb, consider leaving around $1 USD equivalent. Avoid tipping guards in heavily touristed areas like temples or the Valley of the Kings if they follow you.
- Photography Permission: If you take photos in restricted areas with a guard’s allowance, a tip of around $5 USD equivalent is expected, although it’s advisable to avoid this practice altogether.
- Shisha Workers: A small tip (under $1 USD in local currency) can ensure attentive service.
- Spa Workers: A 15-20% tip is customary for services like massages, facials, and manicures.
- Tourism Police Escorts: Tour groups with armed police escorts typically tip around $1-2 USD equivalent, often managed by the tour guide.
