Why do the egyptian tour guides think that just because?

Question

they have some form of Id. it gives them the right to fleece the tourists,and why is it more expensive to buy with a guide, and does the collage training teach them all the ways to get money off the tourist, our first trip was under the guidance of a supposed reputable company, we sussed the guide out when we where in luxor, he had 3 beers the most expensive meal on the menu we as a group of 5 me my husband and another family, we paid the bill, the guide did not see my husband going to the toilet, I and the others left the restaurant the guide was half way out when he said i forget my book and returned to the restaurant,when my husband was coming from the toilet he saw the head waiter giving our guide 400 le,
that was 30% of the bill, and we paid for his beer and meal.the rest of the tour was done needless to say without the guide.we as a group went back to the same resaurant, we had the same again, but a different priced menu,alibaster another shop same vase 60% cheaper,

Answer 1

Excuse me, not all Egyptians tour guides like that & Dear Eminem from Cairo airport to my house in cairo they charge me with 70 LE same you, i wished if they charged me with 5 LE As you said.

Answer 2

This is a huge problem.It is one of the reasons I really attempt to make people visiting Egypt, especially those who ask questions regarding guides on this site. To be very aware that there is a high percentage of con men working as so called guides.
Always use a tour agent that is recognised by the A.E.T.B.I.then at least you have some come back if you get conned or have problems.
I know being in the tourism business from Australia to Egypt just how much these guys make from those commissions.
You may bet that he would have made more out of the added commissions, than the cost of the day tour.
Unfortunately it will take education and a new type of registration to give tourists the fair deal that they deserve.
While do I promote tipping the tomb guardians etc. Who get an absolute pittance for a wage,and we are only talking 1LE.
But,I cannot and will not condone the underhand rip offs that go on far too much.
Always check that i.d.very closely, and ask to see the degree, that all tour guides should have,make sure it is the same name on both.
I come from Australia with my clients,or meet them in Cairo and remain with them as they need, but never expect my meal to be paid for.
I would suggest that other visitors do the same with their guides.
Why should you pay for the guides meal?He has been well paid already.
Ask for some suggested restaurants but always avoid being pushed in a particular direction.
It is your trip you have the right to choose where you go and who you dine with.
On behalf of all the good guides, and there are quite a few.
I do apologise for that occurring on your holiday.

Answer 3

HI I went to Egypt last year. When you travel you have to remember that their culture is not yours. They do things differently. Did you know that the uneducated Egyptian makes $20-50US dollars a month? If you have been to Egypt you know that things can be expensive because of the tourists. They are a poor third world country and they are trying to make a living.

I had a guide in Egypt and he was excellent and I was not overcharged. Instead he informed of what things should cost and when we went to restaurants I would be given the 'tourist' menu but he spoke to the servers and I got charged the local fee.

Maybe you are blaming the wrong person. Maybe you should be bearing some of the blame. Did you fully investigate your options before selecting this guide? Sometimes it trial and error.

Answer 4

I am the owner of a Restaurant on the west bank of Luxor I cannot say the name or my answer will have notice served against it and taken off answers. I for one am tottaly in axceptance of the question all true but what can we do if we do not adhere to the guides rules we lose customers, even though i say it myself we have the best restaurant in the west bank, all that use our place love it but the guides do not care about this, i can answer this Question because they refuse to come here anyway, because I talk to my customers , they think I am going to pass on trade secrets or something, they can make or break a business, I know all that goes on here with the tourist, its none of my business the only thing I can say is its up to you as tourists what you do with your money,a fool and his money is soon parted,

Answer 5

Not all tour guides work like that and now there are some low elements in the Tourism field who are not really qualified to deal with tourists. First you have to chose carefully your travel agency. Second you can report all problems to the company's GM or even you can send your complains by e-mail to the company and authorities. Don't hesitate to send it even by names of the guide and his company to the ministry of tourism.
In case you have a problem that you may need police help, there is the tourist police specially for tourists or anything related to tourism in Egypt.
I feel really sad for what happened to you and I wish we can solve this kind of problems and other problems in tourism that makes our visitors upset. You know tour guides,tour leaders, drivers are working always direct with tourists away from supervisions and others who may not agree with this way of business. In the link below find information and contacts you may like to use.

Answer 6

Well, that's true. In Egypt people are allowed by the government to rip tourism off.. They are running after your money and they all know each others.. Well, I think that's not fair to do all the job that way in a country that's on a bed of corruption.. It's start at the airport.. These people can ripp you off by much mone as 70.00 L.E and it might be only 5.00 L.E for the local people.. Egyptian..

Answer 7

Happened to us also but we anly sussed (as you put it) on the last but one day, day 12 of the tour ,we found out this weasel had duped us as a tour of 16 people out of around 20.000 euro first he insisted that we paid in euro and had to exchange with him, the alibaster and papyrus shops took euro most of the restaurants took euro , we were getting 7 for 1, after we find out he was getting 7.5.for 1 , even as we where traveling we thought wow this is going to be an expensive holiday, but he assured us that Egypt was becoming very expensive, even for him to live here, he had us feeling very sorry for him, always the real gentleman, (of course he was,"been trained")the other thing he asked for was a good tip at the end of the tour, straight out i need to buy telivision for my children and wife.so if i good guide give me good baksheesh,(tip), in the end we went to the police but where really told not in so many words ah well more suckers, insisted to name him and which tour company he worked for ( poor sod is going to have to give them some now) and even they asked us for baksheesh to pay for their time,Is'nt it a lovely country, shame about its inhabitants,

Answer 8

i think of shuttle agency is extra useful in that it supplies excursions to Egypt that combine historic previous and subculture in a fashion that makes historic previous come alive and supplies the customer a feeling of excitement . Egypt excursions right now are uncomplicated, worthwhile and risk-free.From the 2d you arrive in Cairo until you board your flight abode you would be their own palms.