Shopping: Bazaars and Markets
Shopping in Cairo is a time-consuming process, which suits most locals fine. Cairenes regard it as a social event involving salutations and dickering, affirmations of status and servility; smoothly impersonal transactions are not an ideal. Excluding government stores, there are basically three types of retail outlet. Department stores (generally open Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 5-8pm) have fixed prices and the tedious system where you select the goods and get a chit, pay the cashier and then claim your purchases from a third counter. Smaller shops , usually run by the owner, stay open till 9 or 10pm and tend to specialize in certain wares. Although most of them have fixed prices, tourists who don't understand Arabic price tags or Egyptian currency are liable to be overcharged (around the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and Talaat Harb, especially). If you know the correct price, attempts can be thwarted by handing over the exact sum (or as near as possible). In bazaars and markets haggling prevails, so it's worth window-shopping around fixed-price stores before bargaining for lower rates in bazaar stalls. When asked for a quote, merchants often riposte: "What do you think?" Suggest an absurdly low sum to make them respond and don't be fazed by mockery - it's all part of the game. Buyers' tactics include stressing any flaws that might reduce the object's value; talking of lower quotes received elsewhere; feigning indifference or having a friend urge you to leave. Avoid being tricked into raising your bid twice in a row, or admitting your estimation of the object's worth (just reply that you've made an offer). Providing you don't make an offer they're willing to accept, it's okay to terminate a lengthy session without buying anything.
mrabdulrahman says "travel by bus from cairo to saudi arabia" MG StablesMelanie says "MG Stables, Giza, Cairo Egypt is BY FAR THE BEST STABLES in all of Egypt. The HOSPITALITY is unmatched by anyone anywhere. They take excellent care of the horses and all the people are very, very friendly and you will always get a very fair price. They do not try to rip you off. You must meet the owner Osama (Sam), and drink shay.
MG Stables: 012 311 2582 this is Osama's personal cell phone number and he looks forward to your call." hellosam says "hello to mg stables i miss mg horse and i love ool in mg " thinkiswolf says "mgstablesthe best stables in all of egypt they take a very good care of the horses and a very very good hospitalty ask for osama 0123112582or 3851241" dramr waguih says "my current phone no. is 0101642140"
Your Tip for Cairo
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Cairo - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Cairo - visit the main Cairo forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Cairo webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
