I just returned from the Grand Tour of Egypt. The tour was fabulous. But I've never run into so many aggressive, pushy, in-your-face vendors before. They'll come right up to you with offers without giving you a chance to look around and browse. That often deterred people from shopping who might be interested in something. In one case, I walked into a stall and was almost blocked from leaving until I shouted the young man out of the way. At the pyramids, a camel driver asked me to take a picture of him, then aggressively tried to get me to pose with the camel. Be loud and they usually back down. (I should have told him, quoting the late Johnny Carson: "May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.")

The best thing to do is shop and ignor the sales talk. Keep walking and say "La Shakran" (Arabic for "No Thank You").

At the Step Pyramid, I got on a camel for a photo op. We agreed to 10 pounds ($2) before I got on. After I got off, the "supervisor" tried to up the price to $5. I said no, paid 10 pounds, and walked away.

I was shopping for figurines. Most of the items in the stalls near the monuments are very poor in quality. Also, when they want to sell you a shirt for 5 pounds ($1), you have to wonder if it's going to fall apart the first time you try to wash it. The better quality items are at the hotel shops or the airport shops, and the store keepers there usually aren't pushy. Those shops may cost more but they're worth it.


P.S. Our Insight tour guide warned us in advance about the vendors. And don't let this deter you from going to Egypt. Like I said, the tour was great, and our guide was very informative.

I agree Trekkie, they are very in your face alright. We would have bought a lot more stuff there if we had have been left alone. Although we did go through a market in Luxor which advertised itself as "hassle free" and it was.

In one place, can't remember the exact location, even the Tourist Police (who carry guns) wanted a tip which was a bit intimidating.

Yes, don't let little things like that put you off going to Egypt. Almost all people I have spoken to who have been there want to go back, including us.

It all adds to the excitment and intrigue of this amazing country, normally a stern No in Arabic is enough to make them back off, best place I found for shopping the markets was Aswan, I bought nearly all my little souvenirs etc from here as there was very little hassling in that market.

Trekkie which guide did you have? I did the Grand tour in April - its amazing isn't it? What was your favourite site?

Try a trip to the touristy areas in China Shenzen in particular where the traders were much more agressive than Egypt. Remember there is no social security or support in Egypt so you must earn to survive and the meagre profit they make on the trinkets they sell is their whole income.

I have spent some time in China to, but thought the traders in Egypt were at least on a par with China, maybe slightly worse. No doubt though the Egyptian traders are among the most aggresive in the world.

We tried twice to walk down the street from the Old Winter Palace in Luxor and were driven back by being swarmed by cab drivers, horse and buggy drivers and peddlars. This was the worst we found.

At most of the sites they were aggressive but when they realized there was no sale they quickly turned their attention to all the other potentials.

Yes the vendors are aggressive. But if you say in a loud firm voice La Shakran(Arabic for no thank you) dont look at any items for sale and definatly dont touch them, keep walking with eyes straight ahead, be polite but firm. we had no problems ( have just returned from Splendours). Do not let this stop you from going to Egypt, it was so good and you must go to Abu simbel it was the highlight of our trip, I would not do Alexandria as it was a waste of time and money such a long day (12 hrs) and most of it driving there and back.
Just my opinion.

We too were hassled by the vendors everywhere we went in Egypt. Finally, in desperation, another woman and I "talked" in a made-up language. Our husbands were mightily embarrassed, but it worked, as after trying a number of languages, they shrugged and waylaid other hapless tourists. We felt like naughty little schoolgirls, but it did the trick.