THE BEST SHOPPING IN MARSA ALAM AND EGYPT
WHAT TO GET AND WHAT TO AVOID
To book a shopping excursion to Luxor, Cairo or Aswan contact Steven@marsalam.com or via WhatsApp on +201284332337.
Egypt is a real Aladdin’s Cave for the bargain hunter, and especially since the recent depreciation of the Egyptian pound against the Dollar, the Euro and the British pound. However you won’t gain any benefit if you are easily intimidated or persuaded by either outright hassle from street vendors or the more subtle, but financially lethal, charm of the skilled shop salesmen.
Always say “I’ll come back” just to allow yourself time to think. Whatever the shopkeeper says, it’s unlikely to be a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and if he shouts after you “Mr Come Back never comes back” just laugh politely. He’s trying to make you feel guilty – it’s all part and parcel of his sales skills.
Also don’t accept free drinks or food if it’s likely to make you feel obliged to buy something and don’t enter a shop on the pretext of any complicated story, such as helping to translate a letter – it’s usually part of a ruse to turn you into a captive customer.
Please bear in mind that in the hotels the shops will generally charge a lot more than in the towns. This is partly because they often have a monopolistic position with no competition – unlike other resorts, such as Sharm El Sheikh, there are few shops on the roads outside the hotels in Marsa Alam – and also because the hotel shops usually have to pay a very high rent to get such a privileged trading location whereas in the towns, with so much competition, shop rents are usually much lower.
A good idea is to ask Steven’s Limousine Company to arrange for a trip to either El Quseir – the best local town for shopping – or to Luxor, home of the fabled Valley of the Kings, where there is a vast market both in souvenirs and local products.
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And if you can afford the time and the air fare Cairo’s Khan Al Khalili souk is an antique hunter’s heaven, providing you know how to distinguish fake reproductions from genuine oriental antiques.
The discerning shopper can find plenty of opportunities – such as wonderful wood and metal chests and beautifully inlaid wooden backgammon sets. Unless you are experienced always seek advice first. For further information about any of these trips email Steven on steven@marsaalam.com or contact him via WhatApp on +201284332337.
As you probably know, Egypt is the home of haggling but don’t let that put you off. You can seek advice from someone you trust about the value of something or set yourself a price that would be the maximum you would be prepared to pay and start bargaining from a much lower price. Don’t worry about the shopkeeper pretending to be offended and don’t believe any rules about half the asking price being the correct value – the salesmen rarely work to such fixed formulas.
LOCAL (NON-SOUVENIR) SHOPPING
MARKETS IN EL QUSEIR AND MARSA ALAM
Probably the most interesting fruit and vegetable market is the Friday market in El Quseir when the local Ababda bedouin come in to town. You can also try the small permanent souk dealing in fruit, vegetables and all manner of household items which lies hidden behind Marsa Alam’s main street. Just ask for the souk. “Feyn el souk ?” “Where is the market ?” For advice on either market contact Steven at steven@marsaalam.com or via WhatsApp on +201284332337.
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WHAT TO BUY ?
ALABASTER ORNAMENTS
This is a traditional hard-wearing material used to make Pharaonic statues and figurine souvenirs. It is difficult to break and a shopkeeper may even drop one on the floor to prove that its’ quality is genuine. Some shops import cheaper plaster souvenirs – often from China.
BOTTLES OF COLOURED SAND WITH PICTURES
You’ll be amazed how the traders manage to make pictures inside bottles using dyed sand. This is a great novelty gift but don’t pay too much as it doesn’t take long to make one.
JEWELLERY
When bought carefully there are some bargains – especially of genuine antique pieces in Cairo. But be careful that you are buying genuine items of the correct quality. When buying gold a seller might insist it is 18 ct but it might actually be of inferior quality.
LEATHER GOODS
There are lot of bargain priced leather bags, belts, shoes and wallets. Some of them imprinted with tribal patterns but beware of many fake designer labels.
PAPYRUS
The world’s first writing material – It’s light and reasonably easily to transport and framed on your wall at home can be a great way to remember your holiday. There’s a great choice of scenes from Pharaonic legends and gods to Nile valley scenes. Beware however that some shops sell papyrus prints which have been imported from China and others sell prints made on banana leaf which doesn’t last as well as genuine papyrus.
PERFUMES AND OILS
Egypt, home of the jasmine flower, has long been famous for its’ perfumes – but today the buyer has to be especially cautious as some traders mix paraffin and other liquids to “stretch out” their perfume supplies. Perfume salesmen are by reputation highly skilled and will often make a great spectacle of showing you how a tiny drop of perfume will sink intact to the bottom of a glass of water and other similarly impressive displays. However if you bargain well you can certainly get a great deal. Just don’t pay too much and be aware of any customs limitations in your country.
SHISHAS
Otherwise known as the hubbly bubbly or waterpipe, you will see them used extensively in Egyptian coffee houses and cafes – often with the alluring smell of fruit favoured tobacco drifting from them. They are much cheaper to buy in Egypt than in Europe if you get them at the right price but remember they are very fragile and need a lot of protection when being transported.
T-SHIRTS
Many of them imported from China and very cheap although prices tend to be marked up in hotels. Often with humorous slogans and some pretending to be designer brands or authentic football club shirts. Sometimes it’s easy to recognize the fakes but always be cautious !
SILLY STUFF IMPORTED FROM THE UK OR EUROPE
Are you British and crazy about HP sauce, “Yorkshire” tea or marmite ? – then you need to make a trip to Arkwright’s Gourmet Food Supermarket in Luxor. None of it is cheap and, although this is probably the most likely place to find such items, I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll necessarily find them in stock.
( But bear in mind that Marsa Alam is more expensive )
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