Shops in Egypt
"Shops in Egypt" (CC BY 2.0) by Francisco Anzola

Cheap tours with hidden fees in Egypt

Last updated on 10 May 2019
Egypt
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How it works:

  • Opening: advertising cheap tours with hidden fees is a common scam.
  • Set-up: fees could include separate payment for food and drinks or transport at inflated prices.

Places to beware:

  • Anywhere

What to do:

  • Offline operators: ask – is the operator licensed? Is there a website, office and working phone number? Are there real online reviews? What does the price cover – is it too cheap?
  • Online platforms: GetYourGuide (leading day tour platform globally) also has many popular tours (e.g. Hurghada swimming with dolphins, desert safari by quad bike, Valley of the Kings day trip, etc).
  • Paying: avoid paying in full upfront (unless reputable operator) or off the (online) platform.
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2 user stories related to this scam

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Tour Scam in Egypt

  Irin   26 Jun 2019   2   0

In the center of Cairo, a local resident came up with a proposal to take me to an unusual and rare tour of excursions near my hotel. At the hotel I clarified the information, I was really told that there are very beautiful excavations, but tours there are not permitted. However, the local guide showed me permission to tour. He asked for some money, told me that a group from my hotel was already picked up tomorrow morning and I agreed to go.

What was my surprise when in the morning I found neither this guide nor the group that was supposed to go with him on this tour.

Where: Cairo Center, hotels, all tourist places.

Tip: Buy official tours from your hotel or your travel company.

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Scams encountered with “legit” tour guides

  Richard   28 Sep 2018   2   0

I’m still in Egypt on my first visit and almost fell a few of these scams and did for a couple.

Part 1: Closed museum and I should visit the official government sanctioned gift shop

Part 2: un-metered taxis which did not bring me to my destination

Part 3: Most surprising were the scams encountered with “legit” tour guides from Viator.com Each of my tours that they brokered came with stops to perfume, jewelry, pottery, carpet and papyrus shops with extremely aggressive high pressure sales pitches. Unfortunately, I didn’t stand my ground on the first 2 and paid way too much for low quality items.

One of the EMO Tour guides encouraged me to purchase a single t-shirt for what converts to $50 USD!!!

At this point, my guards went up and I now suspicious of all encounters here.

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