SHOPPING

If you hate shopping, you’re really going to hate shopping in Egypt! Forget window browsing, because it doesn’t exist here. The hard sell is one way of looking at it; a fully interactive shopping experience is another. I for one am far too genial to haggle effectively, but my wife has no such qualms and would happily barter, procrastinate and emotionally manipulate sellers until we walked away with a treasure trove of bargains for the price other people were paying for a postcard. This may sound awful, but I swear, they love to haggle in Egypt. When you hear them say ‘I have kids to feed’ you know you’re getting a reasonably good deal. It’s like a game of poker in many respects, don’t show your hand too early or you’ll lose out. Don’t whatever you do open your wallet to reveal a healthy wad of notes.

The goods available range from small scale models of ancient monuments, spices (although these are sometimes not what they appear), perfumes and traditional Egyptian clothing. Egypt is famous for two precious commodities in the form of gold and cotton and many outlets will make a big deal of this. Don't forget to get an idea of what else is available before you buy as there can be huge differences in price.

It is well worth noting that in the tourist hotpots, particularly in the government shops, goods are generally a lot more expensive than in the Red Sea resorts. If you are planning on booking a twin-centre holiday with a week in the Red Sea, many if not all of the goods (including those associated with ancient Egypt) are available in outlets there. In El Gouna for instance you will find things such as jewelry and perfumes are available at a fraction of the cost you might pay in Luxor.