DealStays guide
Egypt tipping guide for UK travellers
Last updated · 2026-07-01
The anxiety most UK travellers feel is not about whether to tip but about how much, when, and in what currency. This guide gives you the actual amounts — not vague "carry small change" advice.
The essentials
Budget $5 to $10 per person per day for tipping on top of your all-inclusive or hotel costs. For a couple on a seven-night all-inclusive holiday, bring roughly $70 to $140 in small bills specifically for tips. Excursion tips are separate and larger.
Use US dollars for larger tips (tour guides, drivers, boat crews). Use Egyptian pounds (EGP) for daily small tips within the resort. As of 2026, roughly 48 to 50 EGP = $1 USD, and 57 to 60 EGP = £1 GBP.
Arrive with $1 and $5 USD bills. Withdraw EGP at bank ATMs on arrival — Banque Misr, CIB and QNB machines at major airports are reliable. Request 20, 50 and 100 EGP notes; 200 EGP notes are too large for most daily tips.
Hotel and resort tipping
These amounts apply even on all-inclusive. All-inclusive covers food and drinks but not personal service tipping.
| Who | How much | When |
|---|---|---|
| Room cleaner / housekeeper | $1 to $2 per day | Leave on pillow each morning |
| Buffet or restaurant waiter | $1 per meal or 20 to 50 EGP | When leaving the table |
| Pool or beach attendant | $1 per day or 20 to 50 EGP | When they set up your lounger |
| Bar staff | $1 per round or 20 EGP | With your order |
| Porter / bellboy | $1 to $2 per bag | On delivery to room |
| Concierge or guest relations | $5 to $10 for significant help | When the favour is done |
| Spa therapist | 10 to 15% of treatment cost | After the treatment |
Restaurant tipping (outside resort)
Check the bill for a service charge. Many restaurants add 10 to 12% automatically — but this typically goes to the establishment, not your server. Add 10 to 15% in cash directly to your waiter on top of any printed charge.
At casual cafes and street food stalls, rounding up or leaving 10 to 20 EGP is sufficient.
Tour and excursion tipping
| Who | How much | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day tour guide | $15 to $25 per person | Luxor, Cairo, Pyramids day trips |
| Half-day tour guide | $10 to $15 per person | Shorter excursions |
| Driver (day trip) | $5 to $10 per person | Separate from the guide tip |
| Boat crew (snorkel trip) | $5 per person | Shared among crew |
| Dive instructor | $10 to $20 per session | After the dive |
| Desert safari guide | $5 to $10 per person | Quad biking, Bedouin dinners |
Mosque and site tipping
At ticketed sites you do not need to tip for standard entry. Guards who open a tomb or provide genuine help may expect 20 to 50 EGP. Photography passes are official charges, not tips.
At smaller mosques where a caretaker shows you around, 20 to 50 EGP is a respectful acknowledgement.
Handling unsolicited help
At the Pyramids, Luxor temples and Khan el-Khalili market, people will offer unsolicited help. If you did not ask and would have been fine without it, you have no obligation to tip. A clear "la shukran" (no thank you) with a steady walk away is universally understood.
Once you have accepted help, the interaction becomes commercial and a tip is expected. Decide before engaging whether you want the help.
Bathroom attendants
Public bathrooms at tourist sites and restaurants often have an attendant. Tip 5 to 10 EGP per visit. Carry small EGP notes specifically for this.
Taxi and transport tipping
- Short taxi rides within resort areas: round up the fare
- Longer journeys or private transfers: 10 to 15% of the agreed fare
- Uber or Careem: 10 to 20 EGP cash tip appreciated
- Hotel or tour airport transfers: $2 to $5 per person
How much cash to bring — worked example
Couple, seven-night all-inclusive in Hurghada, one Luxor day trip, one snorkelling boat trip:
| Category | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| Daily resort tipping (7 days × $8 average) | $56 |
| Luxor day trip (guide + driver × 2 people) | $50 to $70 |
| Snorkel boat trip (crew tip × 2) | $10 |
| Bathroom tips, rounding up, misc | $10 to $15 |
| Total tipping budget | $126 to $151 |
Tipping mistakes to avoid
- Tipping with large bills and expecting change — bring small denominations
- Leaving all tips at the end of the stay — tip daily so every staff member is covered
- Tipping in coins — use notes only
- Tipping in British pounds — use USD or EGP
- Feeling pressured into tipping for unwanted help — polite refusal before engaging is fine
- Not tipping at all because you are on all-inclusive — staff expect and rely on tips regardless
Egypt Red Sea resorts worth checking
All-inclusive tipping still applies at these resorts — budget $5–$10 per person per day on top of your package.
Steigenberger ALDAU Beach Hotel
Hurghada
Luxury all-inclusive. Swahili-style five-star with a lazy river, 500m private beach, 9-hole golf and dive club — 5km from the airport. Best for couples and families wanting upscale all-inclusive with strong sports and spa facilities.
Rixos Premium Seagate
Sharm El Sheikh — Nabq Bay
Ultra all-inclusive. 1,058 rooms, 8 pools, 7 à la carte restaurants, private beach cabanas with butler service — 9km from airport, snorkelling off the jetty. UK guests rate the snorkelling off the jetty as a highlight. Book à la carte restaurants at 4pm daily at reception.
Rixos Premium Magawish Suites & Villas
Hurghada
Ultra all-inclusive. 1km private beach, 30 pools, 6 à la carte restaurants, kids' club and private beach cabanas — 7km from airport. Best for families and couples wanting the most comprehensive ultra all-inclusive package in Hurghada.
DealStays verdict
Tipping in Egypt is normal, expected and manageable once you know the amounts. Bring small USD bills, withdraw EGP on arrival, budget $5 to $10 per person per day for resort stays, and tip guides and drivers separately on excursions. The goal is to feel prepared, not ambushed.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to tip in Egypt on all-inclusive?
- Yes. All-inclusive covers meals and drinks but does not replace tipping for personal service. Room cleaners, waiters, pool attendants and porters all expect daily tips. Budget $5 to $10 per person per day.
- How much should I tip my tour guide in Egypt?
- $15 to $25 per person for a full-day guide such as a Luxor or Pyramids trip. $10 to $15 for a half day. Tip the driver separately at $5 to $10 per person. Always use US dollar bills for guide and driver tips.
- What currency should I tip in Egypt?
- Use US dollars for larger tips such as tour guides, drivers and boat crews. Use Egyptian pounds for daily small tips such as hotel staff, waiters and bathroom attendants. Arrive with $1 and $5 USD bills and withdraw EGP at a bank ATM on arrival.
- How much cash should I bring for tipping in Egypt?
- For a couple on a seven-night all-inclusive holiday with one Luxor day trip and one snorkelling boat trip, budget roughly $150 in mixed small USD bills plus 500 to 1,000 EGP in small notes. This covers all tipping without running out of change.