What to get and what to avoid when shopping

Egypt is a veritable Aladdin’s cave for bargain hunters, especially since the recent drop in the value of the Egyptian pound against the Euro, Dollar and Sterling, but when buying, you should avoid salesmen who try to convince you of anything through direct harassment or that they tell you that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you should buy these products, so you should just laugh politely because he is trying to make you feel guilty through his sales skills.

Also, do not accept drinks or food if it is likely to make you feel obligated to buy something from inside the store under an excuse or a complicated story such as helping to translate a letter, as this is usually part of the shopkeeper’s trick to turn you into a captive  man so that you are forced to buy from them.

Please bear in mind that shops in hotels usually charge much higher prices than shops in cities as they enjoy a monopoly position that does not impose any competition on them, and because shops in hotels usually have to pay very high rents to obtain such a distinguished commercial location within the hotel or resort, so They increase the prices

Think well about asking Cascia Taxi Limousine to arrange a trip for you to Quseir or to Marsa Alam city. You can choose the place closest to you, which are better for shopping and much cheaper than hotels, or go on a trip to Luxor, home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Queens, where there is a large market for souvenirs and local products. If you have time and a plane ticket, or if you are going on a trip to Cairo, you can go to Khan El Khalili, which is considered a paradise for antiques lovers, provided that you know how to distinguish between fake copies and authentic oriental antiques.

Experienced shoppers can find many great bargains, such as beautiful wooden or metal boxes and beautifully decorated wooden tables. If you are not experienced, ask someone to help you first so that you do not pay exorbitant amounts for something very cheap. Always be prepared to bargain for a much lower price. Do not worry about the shopkeeper pretending that you must pay half the asking price, as the seller rarely works according to such a fixed formula.

EL Quseir and Marsa Alam markets

In El Quseir and Marsa Alam there are the cheapest markets for shopping where you can buy many souvenirs from there, as there are marble decorations, colored sand glass, jewelry, leather goods, papyrus, perfumes, oils, hookah, shirts, spices and many more. You can also buy fresh fruits from there such as mangoes and others.

The Friday market in Quseir is probably the most interesting fruit and vegetable market when the local Bedouins from the Ababda tribe come to town. You can also try the small permanent market that sells fruits, vegetables and all kinds of household items, which is hidden behind the main street in Marsa Alam. Just ask where the market is located and there are many things that you can buy there at very low prices.

Port Ghalib Markets

There is also a market for buying in Port Ghalib, which has many shops, but I advise you not to buy from there because the prices are more expensive than in Quseir and Marsa Alam because they pay expensive rents, so when buying try to bargain well.

What to buy

Marble decorations

This is a traditional durable material used in making pharaonic statues and souvenirs. It is difficult to break and the shopkeeper may drop it on the floor to prove its original quality. Some gypsum souvenirs are imported, usually cheaper from China, but gypsum products break.

Colored sand bottles with pictures

You will be amazed at how well the merchants have made pictures inside the bottles using dyed sand. It is a wonderful gift, but do not pay a lot because it does not take long to make.

Jewelry

When shopping, you will find some good deals, especially original artifacts in Cairo, but be sure to buy original pieces of suitable quality. When buying gold, the seller may insist that it is 18 carats, but in reality it may be of poor quality.

Leather goods

There are many bags, belts, shoes and leather wallets at cheap prices, some of which are printed with tribal patterns, but beware of many fake brands.

Al-Bardi

Awal Writing material in the world It is lightweight and easy to carry and put it on the wall in your home It can be a great way to remember your holiday There is a wide range of scenes from mythology and pharaonic gods to scenes of the Nile Valley But beware that some merchants sell papyrus prints imported from China and others sell prints drawn on banana leaves which do not last as long as the original papyrus

Perfumes and oils

Egypt, the home of the jasmine flower, has long been famous for its perfumes, but today the buyer has to be especially careful as some merchants mix paraffin with other substances to extend their stock of perfume Prevents the perfume seller with a good reputation and often offers wonderful displays to show how a small drop of intact perfume sinks to the bottom of a glass of water and other impressive displays However, if you vary well you can certainly get a great deal Just don’t pay too much and be aware of any customs restrictions in your country.

Shisha

Also known as a sparkling shisha or water shisha You will find them widely used in Egyptian cafes and they often emit the attractive tobacco smell that the fruit prefers. Buying them in Egypt is much cheaper than buying them in Europe if you get them at a reasonable price, but remember that they are very fragile and need a lot of protection when transporting them.

 Shirts

 Many of them are imported from China and are very cheap, although prices tend to be high in hotels. They are often accompanied by funny slogans and some pretend to be designer brands or original football club shirts. Sometimes it is easy to spot fake products, but always be careful.