Egypt & currency - change before you leave or while you're there?

[ronnie69]

The missus is off to Egypt soon and has been giving conflicting info whether to buy Egyptian pounds before she goes, or while she's there or just to take sterling which appears to be commonly accepted.

Had a quick search on here but but nothing specific. Been on money saving expert but it talks more about best buy credit cards for overseas use than about the bigger issue of where to change moolah. She's left it too late to get one of the best buy and cashback credit cards

Asda/Tesco seem to have reasonable exchange rates and commission free for any spends left over.

Any wise and travelled types on here got any views on this?

 

[oblertone]

Take sterling ...

... or Euros, both were equally acceptable when we did our Nile cruise. Opportunities to change money are literally everywhere, but be careful and don't bring home more than a keepsake as it's pretty hard to get rid of Egyptian pounds outside the country.

 

[mike6631]

The easiest method is to take sterling and change it upon arrival at whichever airport she flies into. There will be plenty of official exchange places, usually in the arrivals hall where she will get a better rate that in the UK. If she has time it might be worth getting a card that you pre-load with cash at this end and then can draw currency from ATMs in country eg Caxton FX. They do charge but rates are usually better than using an ordinary credit/debit card. Don't use the 'cash' card to pay for things just for getting local currency!

Mike

 

[ralphy]

Take your £'s and change up there: you'll get at least 10EGP's for £1 from the local shopkeepers.

R

 

[Gossy]

Don't save any Egyptian pounds for duty free at the airport they as they wouldn't take them (2012) they want dollars or sterling, food outlets ok though.

 

[Stupot]

Get your money there !

I go to Sharm el Sheikh several times a year, always get my currency there, straight from the cash machine, HSBC, Arab Bank, there are normally plenty of cash machines around and even with exchange charges on your debit or credit card, you get a much better rte out there.
Trust me, if you try and change it at the local shops, they will haggle the hell out of you and you'll probably find it a pain in the ass !

 

[STUBBS]

have always changed it there

 

[ronnie69]

Thanks for all replies, much appreciated

 

[wreck diver]

Have been several times on dive trips and found that they seemed to prefered US dollars.