Egypt Scams: Never Ride A Random Man’s Camel
Photo by Matt Peoples/Flickr CC
There are about as many Egypt scams as there are camels. However, one that may catch you off guard is one in which the camels themselves are a part of. (OK, not willingly.) It’s easy to get caught off guard by the cuteness of a camel, and before you know it you are riding one, then you are told you have to pay or you won’t be let down. That’s right. That cute camel, suddenly, became a terrifying ride. This Egypt scam most often happens around the pyramids in Cairo. You agree to a price for a picture or a ride, but then the tout won’t let you down until you pay the same amount to disembark. It’s best to stick to a well-known tour company for a ride rather than get on a stranger’s camel.
Other Egypt Scams To Be Aware Of
Also, many people who offer to take your picture in Egypt expect a tip, so know this before you hand your camera over.
Make sure to always count your change and be familiar with the currency in Egypt as it can be very confusing. Many vendors are known for not giving back the right change. You should know that Egypt is a country where it is expected that you will haggle for everything. Shop around for the tours that you do take, as some places will charge twice as much as others.
Some taxi drivers will try to tell you that the taxi cost is per person, but this is incorrect. You should only pay for the trip. And, if the taxi driver quotes the cost to you in pounds, make sure to clarify if it is in pounds or pounds sterling. Also, be aware that the taxi drivers don’t use meters in Egypt. Always agree to a price before you set off.
Follow these tips, and you should be able to avoid most Egypt scams. Most of the people are friendly and interested in knowing you, but just like any place that draws a lot of tourists, it also draws its share of scammers. Be alert, have fun, and stay off the stranger’s camels, and your trip should be a great one.
Michael Hodson At Go, See, Write has his own story of an Egypt scam if you want to read his personal story of being there.
Do you have your own story of a scam in Egypt? Let us know in the comments below!!
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That would suck to go for a ride on a camel only to be held captive atop it until you pay for your own release.
Devlin @ Marginal Boundaries recently posted…Comment on Safety While Traveling Abroad – Situational Awareness by T.W. Anderson
Right? But, what a great story it would make!
Oh man! Thank you for informing us of these scams. Those poor camels are made to hold tourists hostage. 🙁
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted…PHOTO GALLERY: 40 Amazing Costa Rican Wildlife Species
I know, crazy, huh?!
Bad enough to have to climb onto a camel without having to pay to climb off. But good to know when the situation presents itself. Staying away from ronen camel owners sounds like the way to go.
Terry at Overnight New York recently posted…January bargain hunting
WOW. Thanks for the tips – I never would have thought of that.
wanderingeducators recently posted…Miscommunication: The Joy of the Family Vacation
Scams in Egypt completely turned me off the country. It’s so frustrating! Definitely experienced the taxi scam 🙁
Adam recently posted…Edinburgh’s Prettiest Little Hotel: Stay Central (near Grassmarket)
Love the title 🙂
Lillie – @WorldLillie recently posted…Cute and Funny Baby Activities During Maternity Leave
I love camels… but this would terrify me!
Elle recently posted…Riding holidays in Spain
Interesting scam! After spending over an hour on a camel in Morocco I can’t say that I’m anxious to get back on another one. It would be an interesting argument when I wanted to get off though.
I’ve heard that Egypt can be a little crooked but it helps to know what to watch out for before you get there. Thanks for the heads up!
Charles @ The Barefoot Nomad recently posted…Five International Family Destinations For Under $100 A Day
We have our own scams on Gran Canaria. One of the biggest one being the ladies selling bracelets in the south of the island. They will grab you and forcibly place a bracelet on your wrist, and then demand payment. And, boy, have they got a strong grip. Take our advice, steer well clear of women bearing bracelets on GC.
Gran Canaria Local recently posted…British Club
Ha, ha! Now I will have nightmares of ladies chasing me down with bracelets!
It’s too bad that people try to take advantage of tourists like this. Egypt has enough reasons not to go with all the trouble going on.
Jennifer recently posted…13 of the Cutest Baby Animals to See on Safari #SkySafari
I think you have to be a bit rude in Egypt. You can see most scams a mile off and Luxor seems particularly bad. If the conversation starts of with “excuse me, no hassle”, you can be almost certain you are about to be hassled and struggle to escape. Learning how to say “no thank you” in Arabic and then pretending you don’t understand English (or any other language) worked well. It sounds sad, but unfortunately this was one of the best ways of not getting hassled.
Wandering Me recently posted…Is Cairo safe for tourists in 2015?
I think I would have a very hard time there!!
Luxor is a lot worse than Cairo at the moment. Touts seem to have given up in Cairo as there are so few tourists. In Luxor, it looks like they are so dependent on tourism it isn’t an option. As such, there are so few tourists per taxi/caleche/felluca that those who are dependant on getting business are very pushy.
Wandering Me recently posted…Is Luxor Safe to visit in 2015?