Which currency to take to Egypt ?

[CW1]

Hi,
Off to to Egypt in a few weeks time and was all set to take some EGP£ plus sterling for excursions, then use ATMs if I need more EGP£ (better exchange rate out there apparently). That was until I found out low denominations are virtually unheard of, tricky with the tipping culture, and that if you CAN find them, the condition of the notes is disgusting !
Would I be better just taking extra sterling (and £1 coins for tipping), or maybe some Euros too ?

[tigersam258]

Euros wont be worth taking. I would suggest taking some US dollars as that is the international currency but you should be ok with Sterling and Egyptian Pounds.

[Mosaic]

Egypt has been hit by local inflation and the ordinary people feel this the hardest - as ever. I'd urge you to see 5 EG£ as a minimum tip - like you say, the lower notes are tattered and filthy as well as hard to come across. I'd also keep using antibacterial hand-wipes after handling money out there.

[CW1]

Thing is Mosiac, where am I going to get 5 EGP£ notes ?
Are US$ (or GBP£) as widely used as local currency say in markets, restaurants ? I'm gonna get so confused, not knowing how much I'm actually paying !

[Mosaic]

When you arrive and change some money at the airport, ask for 5 pounds and ten pounds as well as the 50s they will want to give you. Then go in something like a supermarket and buy some useful bits to get a large note cacked down - hoard small change for tipping. In tourist resorts and very tourist-driven areas such as Luxor dollars are often accepted but you'll probably find this coms at a cost in that you'll pay more for the thing you buy than if you'd paid egyptian. If it's your first time in egypt, then welcome to the land of the eternal scam. It's a lovely country but they will beg, demand and wheedle money out of you at every turn.

[CW1]

Sound advice Mosaic, thanks. Not easy logistically due to the itinery (won't be getting money at airport, prob no trips to supermarket or the like, not for a few days anyway) but least now I know not to bother with US$. 3 currencies = TOO condusing (yeah, 1st time to Egypt lol) !

[boxtops]

We use the ATMs all the time when you travel, we have a Nationwide account for our travels, you would pay a 1% levy for transactions outside Europe but they make no other charge to you for withdrawing your own money. We never take foreign currency with us, always just draw at the airport, then do as suggested, get a bit of shopping or buy a couple of drinks to get the notes broken down.

[keithlbw]

Went to Sharm el Sheikh last October and visited Cairo and Luxor....Stirling, Euro US Dollars and of course Egyptian pounds are all widely accepted.Don't be surprised to pay in one currency ,say Stirling and get change in another such as as euro or whatever.

[Buenchico]

CW1:
I hope that you won't object to a post which doesn't directly answer your question, but I've just been looking at what Wikitravel has to say about Egypt. There's lots of useful information (including about tipping) which I hope may help you:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Egypt

Chris