A British tourist has issued a stark warning for fellow travellers, vowing he will never set foot in Egypt again after a three-week holiday that he claims left him feeling 'completely cooked' and emotionally drained.
A Holiday That Drained the Soul
The traveller, who shared his experience in a detailed Reddit post composed on his flight home, described his trip to the popular destination as an ordeal that 'drained my soul like a Dyson vacuum on turbo mode'. He reported encountering a relentless series of what he labelled 'non-stop scams', alongside unsettling 'aggressive staring' and frustrating issues with restaurant reservations.
A Cascade of Problems From Arrival to Departure
His troubles began the moment he landed. He was immediately faced with an unexpected visa fee, followed by an additional charge to supposedly speed up the immigration process. 'I paid $15 for 'fast immigration,'' he wrote, 'which apparently translates to stand in the same line as everyone else while random people walk straight through anyway.' His scepticism grew when 'some guy appears out of nowhere demanding another $15 for a 'registration fee,'' a charge he believes was invented on the spot.
According to the UK Foreign Office, tourists planning stays in Egypt exceeding 15 days do require a visa. Their guidance states that at approved airports, kiosks before immigration counters sell visas for $25 USD (cash only), valid for up to 30 days.
Beyond the financial tricks, the tourist found the constant gaze of locals deeply uncomfortable. 'I’m a guy, I don’t scare easily,' he admitted, 'but the way people stare here is unbelievable. Men, women, whole families just staring at you nonstop like they’re trying to download your data with their eyes.'
The attempted scams, however, grew even bolder. In one instance, he was charged 1525 EGP for a ticket, but the card reader allegedly displayed the amount as 1525 USD, a discrepancy he called a remarkably 'bold' attempt to defraud him.
His frustrations extended to dining, where a restaurant reservation led to an hour of waiting before ultimately being denied a table. Even transport was fraught, with a taxi driver agreeing on a set price only to later demand an extra 3000 EGP for waiting time.
A Final Warning to Other Travellers
By the conclusion of his three-week stay, the cumulative effect of these chaotic experiences was overwhelming. He felt so exhausted that he did not want to remain in the country for 'another minute'. His passionate advice to other holidaymakers is to think twice, urging them to avoid booking a trip to Egypt based on his own profoundly negative and draining experience.
