Taking money to Egypt

[tigerb]

So, we're booked in for Cairo next March! Yay!

What's the best way to take your money along? Pre-loaded credit card for the ATMs? (Are there many ATMs?) Traveler's checks in US$? Traveler's checks in something else? Just plain cash?

Your advice appreciated!

[cbarros]

Originally Posted by tigerb

So, we're booked in for Cairo next March! Yay!

What's the best way to take your money along? Pre-loaded credit card for the ATMs? (Are there many ATMs?) Traveler's checks in US$? Traveler's checks in something else? Just plain cash?

Your advice appreciated!

I take cash with an ATM/debit card for a backup . . . there are lots of ATMs around Cairo. Credit cards aren't taken by many places you will shop, but I would take one just in case . . . I think Mahmoud Abd El Ghaffar / Al Wikalah(according to Meissoun's website definitely) in the Khan el Khalili does take them (must remember that myself next time I go, lol).

I to mention that I found an ATM right near the Khan el Khalilli that I used several times right before I shopped at the Khan . . . It was for the Bank of Egypt if I remember correctly (probably still have receipts around the house as I save everything for some reason). And when I stayed in the Grand Hotel (probably just a 3 star) in downtown Cairo, there were several banks with ATMs within walking distance of the hotel . . near Tahrir Square, etc. I never have contacted my bank to tell them I am traveling out of the country and they are probably used to foreign bank charges coming thru for me (and AMEX too, hehe) . . . but it might be a good idea to notify any debit/credit card companies regarding where you are traveling. There is a great deal of credit card fraud in foreign countries these days.

ALSO, I have one of those money belts that I can wear around my body . . . important if carrying lots of cash and wanting to shop . . . I always have to go off somewhere to drag it out, but it is safer than having all of it in your handbag.

check out Meissoun's website for shopping info if you haven't already: http://www.meissoun.ch/e/kairo-e.htm

[*Shira*]

I always take cash, and wear it in a money belt around my waist.

It's true that Al Wikala takes credit cards, BUT if you pay cash you get a discount. So I always pay cash there for that reason.

If you stay at a 5-star hotel, you'll probably be able to change your traveler's checks to cash there. However, if you're staying at a lower-budget place (when not going to the festival, I stay at a 3-star hotel which suits me just fine), traveler's checks are a bad idea, because about the only places you can exchange them for cash are 5-star hotels.

I've never tried the ATM card approach myself, but I remember that one year at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival the ATM machine just outside our hotel seemed to be perpetually out of order (or maybe it was out of cash). For that reason, I wouldn't rely on being able to get cash from a magic money machine.

[banatsusan]

I took lots of cash and a Visa TravelMoney card which is what was recommended by the bank to replace travelers checks. The ATM outside our hotel was also out of cash often but there were banks with ATM's all over the city and the sellers are usually happy to walk you to the nearest one! My room mate took only her ATM card and she had no problems getting cash to fund her shopping...and she spent alot!

We did a cruise also and had no problems finding ATM's in Luxor and Aswan.

[Sashy]

I always take lots of cash and my ATM,besides my credit card to mainly use at my hotel.Never traveler checks cause i find them to be a lot of hassle.I have seen plenty of ATM machines all over Cairo,and if you`re staying at a good hotel they will have more than one there.

[outi]

There is more and more ATM machines around the Cairo all the time. So the situation is better and better every year.

[Monica]

I have relied on my ATM card to get pounds out and have never had a problem.

I also bring some cash (US dollars) as a back-up and to have something small to change over for when I arrive (for a taxi in to town, a snack, whatever).

[tigerb]

Thanks so much, bhuzzers!

I love the bhuz dancers... you are always so helpful.

[lizajuk]

We took some cash but mainly used Amex travellers cheques as it was easier to cash in hotel/boat and they gave us a decent rate with a very low commission but this was Luxor and Aswan. We were warned credit cards would only be useful in the hotel and places like jewellers were you might spend a lot!I am not talking Cairo though.

[amina_kamal]

Take cash! I had difficulty taking really large amounts of money out when I was at AWS trying to buy costumes.

[kamilia]

I heard the ATM's weren't really safe, and that Egyptian hackers had these programs that just get lists and lists of numbers and expiration dates from those machines and others. Could this be true?

Just what I heard, not trying to ruin everyone's tea party. I just don't know if I would feel safe with my info floating around Egypt...

I've read a lot of good reviews online about bringing traveler's checks. I'm guessing reputable banks will change them without extra fees. I'm also glad to hear that some hotels change them without too much commission.

I'm just nervous because the traveler's checks were a bitch in Morocco. What to do??

[cbarros]

Originally Posted by amina_kamal

Take cash! I had difficulty taking really large amounts of money out when I was at AWS trying to buy costumes.

Well, I think that most accounts have a daily limit . . . $1000 or such . . . so if you are a die-hard costume shopper, yeah , you might want to take lots of cash ($100 bills to save some space).

[cbarros]

Originally Posted by kamilia

I heard the ATM's weren't really safe, and that Egyptian hackers had these programs that just get lists and lists of numbers and expiration dates from those machines and others. Could this be true?

Just what I heard, not trying to ruin everyone's tea party. I just don't know if I would feel safe with my info floating around Egypt...

They have those programs here in the States too. One I've heard about is a device the fits into the ATM and you never notice there is something extra when you put your card into it. Not sure how common that can be. There is a lot of technology out there for stealing information. And one of my friends who hadnt used her card anywhere internationally recently had someone in Japan charge something to her card and I've heard other people say the same thing . . . . so you never know.

I haven't had a problem with ATMs in Egypt yet . . . but you never know what could happen in the future.

Actually someone mentioned a pre-loaded card, which sounds like something interesting to investigate regarding how useful it might be while traveling internationally. I think AMEX has one, but can it be used at an ATM???

[bintbeled]

Not wanting to put all of my eggs in one basket money-wise when I went to Egypt this summer, I took cash, a pre-loaded AmEx card, AmEx travelers' checks, and credit cards (for ATM cash advances if necessary). All worked very well. If you go during Ahlan wa Sahlan, cash is probably the best. The ATM at the Mena House routinely runs out of cash, and the bank there was running out of small bills.

The only problem -- endemic in Egypt -- is maintaining a supply of small change.

[Kalirah]

If you plan on wearing loose pants/long skirts I'd recommend using the 'hidden' that straps to your calf... for me the waist or neck ones are more obvious.

Also, there are usually fees for changing each traveler's check... and your credit card will charge a fee for each foreign transaction charged.

Have fun!

[cbarros]

Originally Posted by Kalirah

If you plan on wearing loose pants/long skirts I'd recommend using the 'hidden' that straps to your calf... for me the waist or neck ones are more obvious.

Also, there are usually fees for changing each traveler's check... and your credit card will charge a fee for each foreign transaction charged.

Have fun!

Oh, I did forget to mention that everytime the ATM is used, I get charged a foreign fee also. Amex charges the fee when I charged something too. They are all trying to figure out ways to make money off of us!

Maybe it is back to cash only!!

But you always need something for an emergency . . . because if the cash is used up (too many costumes and hip scarves???) or stolen . . then you need something that has been stored safely somewhere (hotel safe, whatever).

[bintbeled]

Originally Posted by cbarros

Oh, I did forget to mention that everytime the ATM is used, I get charged a foreign fee also. Amex charges the fee when I charged something too. They are all trying to figure out ways to make money off of us!

Maybe it is back to cash only!!

But you always need something for an emergency . . . because if the cash is used up (too many costumes and hip scarves???) or stolen . . then you need something that has been stored safely somewhere (hotel safe, whatever).

Haha -- I have a funny story about the hotel safe at the Victoria. When I was in Cairo in 2000 on a summer fellowship to study Arabic, the program I was participating in gave me a stipend of 400 Egyptian pounds a month -- given in cash, all small bills. I was very excited, figuring I wouldn't have to be hunting for change all summer... but the wad was so large that I put it in an envelope and asked the hotel to put it in their safe. When I asked for my money back, it had been changed into four 100-pound notes! They made change from my money!

[leylalanty]

I always take a large amount of cash in US dollars, then withdraw using my ATM card, usually at the bank in the Mena House (which happens to be close to where I usually stay). I always take a credit card as backup. As others have said, there are fees for using any kind of card and for cashing travelers checks, which are getting harder and harder to use. If you have to change your dollars/euros/Br.pounds cash for Egyptian pounds, there will be a small exchange fee. Get used to it! If you use a card, it's wise to get what you think you will use over a few days' time to keep the number of fees charged to your account to a minimum.

And good luck being able to get small change, which always seems to be in short supply. I LOVE your story about the hotel's making change on your money, Latifa!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

My advice is to take cash. When you get to Egypt, you can exchange your US dollars for Egyptian pounds. Don't exchange too many dollars because any Egyptian pounds you have left over, the banks in Egypt will not give you U S dollars again. Once they get your dollars, they won't give accept left over Egyptian pounds for US dollars. So my advice is to take US dollars cash and exchange them for Egyptian pounds when you get to Egypt. A lot of places don't take traveler's checks anymore. The touristy places do take credit cards. There are plenty of ATM's in the hotels and tourist districts. For the belly dance costume studios, they prefer you pay in US dollars, but at Khan El Khalili you can pay in LE (Egyptian pounds).

Originally Posted by tigerb

So, we're booked in for Cairo next March! Yay!

What's the best way to take your money along? Pre-loaded credit card for the ATMs? (Are there many ATMs?) Traveler's checks in US$? Traveler's checks in something else? Just plain cash?

Your advice appreciated!