๐ต Money and tipping
Tips are called baksheesh. Expected, small, often.
- ๐งGet Egyptian pounds (EGP) from an airport ATM. Check the rate on your phone.
- ๐ฝ๏ธRestaurants: the bill often adds 12% service. That goes to the house. Leave 5 to 10% extra in cash for the waiter.
- โCafรฉs: round up. Leave the coins.
- ๐Uber: round up, or tip in the app.
- ๐งณPorter: 20 to 50 EGP per bag.
- ๐๏ธRoom cleaning: 50 to 100 EGP a day. Leave it on the pillow.
- ๐นBar and restaurant at the resort: 50 to 100 EGP now and then. Service gets better.
- ๐คฟGuide or boat crew: 100 to 200 EGP each, per trip.
- ๐ปToilet attendant: 5 to 10 EGP.
Euro notes are fine at the resort. Coins are not: staff can't change them.
๐ค Local ways
- ๐ Touts: smile, "la shukran", keep walking. Free help is rarely free.
- ๐ชCamel or horse: agree price, time and the way back before you get on.
- ๐๏ธHaggle in markets. Start at a third. Walk away nicely.
- ๐In town: cover shoulders and knees. Resort: anything goes.
- ๐ธPhotos of people: ask first. No photos of police or army.
- ๐Friday is the weekend. Quiet morning, busy evening.
- ๐ถCrossing the road: walk steadily with locals. Don't run.
- ๐ฐDrink bottled water. Resort ice is fine.
- ๐คRight hand for eating, paying, handshakes.
๐ Visa
- ๐ปDan: e-visa before the trip. Keep it on your phone and printed.
- ๐ตDad: visa at Marsa Alam airport. $25 cash, clean notes. Pay at the bank desk before passport control.
๐ฃ๏ธ A little Arabic
Egyptian Arabic. Try it. People love it.
๐ Hello and goodbye
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Salaam alaykum | Hello (peace be with you) | ุงูุณูุงู ุนูููู |
| Wa alaykum es-salaam | The reply | ูุนูููู ุงูุณูุงู |
| Ahlan wa sahlan | Welcome | ุฃููุงู ูุณููุงู |
| Sabah el-kheir | Good morning | ุตุจุงุญ ุงูุฎูุฑ |
| Sabah en-noor | The reply | ุตุจุงุญ ุงูููุฑ |
| Masa el-kheir | Good evening | ู ุณุงุก ุงูุฎูุฑ |
| Izzayak? | How are you? (to a man) | ุฅุฒููุ |
| Kwayyes, el-hamdulillah | Good, thank God | ูููุณุ ุงูุญู ุฏ ููู |
| Ana ismi Dan | My name is Dan | ุฃูุง ุงุณู ู ุฏุงู |
| Ma'a salaama | Goodbye | ู ุน ุงูุณูุงู ุฉ |
๐ Please and thanks
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Shukran | Thank you | ุดูุฑุงู |
| Shukran gazeelan | Thanks a lot | ุดูุฑุงู ุฌุฒููุงู |
| Afwan | You're welcome | ุนููุงู |
| Min fadlak | Please (to a man) | ู ู ูุถูู |
| Min fadlik | Please (to a woman) | ู ู ูุถูู |
| La shukran | No thanks | ูุง ุดูุฑุงู |
| Ana asif | Sorry | ุฃูุง ุขุณู |
| Mumkin? | May I? Could I? | ู ู ููุ |
๐๏ธ Shopping and haggling
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Bikam? | How much? | ุจูุงู ุ |
| Ghali awi | Too expensive | ุบุงูู ุฃูู |
| Mumkin a'al? | Can it be less? | ู ู ูู ุฃููุ |
| Akhir kalam? | Final price? | ุขุฎุฑ ููุงู ุ |
| Ana bas batfarrag | I'm just looking | ุฃูุง ุจุณ ุจุชูุฑุฌ |
| Mish ayez | I don't want it | ู ุด ุนุงูุฒ |
โ Cafรฉ and restaurant
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| El-menu, min fadlak | The menu, please | ุงูู ููู ู ู ูุถูู |
| Wahid ahwa | One coffee | ูุงุญุฏ ูููุฉ |
| Shay bi na'na' | Mint tea | ุดุงู ุจุงููุนูุงุน |
| Mayya | Water | ู ูุฉ |
| Mish harra' | Not spicy | ู ุด ุญุฑุงู |
| Lazeez | Delicious | ูุฐูุฐ |
| El-hisaab, min fadlak | The bill, please | ุงูุญุณุงุจ ู ู ูุถูู |
๐ Taxi and directions
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Fein...? | Where is...? | ููู...ุ |
| Yemeen / Shemal | Right / Left | ูู ูู / ุดู ุงู |
| Ala tool | Straight on | ุนูู ุทูู |
| Hena, min fadlak | Here, please (stop) | ููุง ู ู ูุถูู |
| Shwaya shwaya | Slowly | ุดููุฉ ุดููุฉ |
| El-matar | The airport | ุงูู ุทุงุฑ |
| El-fondo' | The hotel | ุงูููุฏู |
๐ At the sea
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Bahr | Sea | ุจุญุฑ |
| Samak | Fish | ุณู ู |
| Tirsa | Turtle | ุชุฑุณุฉ |
| Shams | Sun | ุดู ุณ |
| Mumkin foota? | A towel, please? | ู ู ูู ููุทุฉุ |
๐ฌ Handy words
| Say | Means | ุนุฑุจู |
|---|---|---|
| Aywa / La' | Yes / No | ุฃููู / ูุฃ |
| Tamam | OK, fine | ุชู ุงู |
| Yalla | Let's go | ููุง |
| Mafeesh mushkila | No problem | ู ููุด ู ุดููุฉ |
| Inshallah | Hopefully (God willing) | ุฅู ุดุงุก ุงููู |
| Mish fahem | I don't understand | ู ุด ูุงูู |
| Bititkallem ingilizi? | Do you speak English? | ุจุชุชููู ุฅูุฌููุฒูุ |
| Gameel | Beautiful, lovely | ุฌู ูู |
๐ข Numbers
Prices and bus numbers often use these digits.
ู 0 ยท sifr
ูก1 ยท wahid
ูข2 ยท itnein
ูฃ3 ยท talata
ูค4 ยท arba'a
ูฅ5 ยท khamsa
ูฆ6 ยท sitta
ูง7 ยท sab'a
ูจ8 ยท tamanya
ูฉ9 ยท tis'a
ูกู 10 ยท 'ashara
ูกู ู 100 ยท miyya
๐ Emergency
At the resort: call reception first. They have a doctor.