Luxor Travel Tips & Reflections 😮‍💨

I spent two days and two nights in Luxor. While I wasn’t scammed, the overall experience was pretty exhausting. ❶ Luxor is HOT! 🌞 As soon as you step outside, kids and adults will follow you, greet you, and ask for tips or try to sell you a "Ferrari" (horse carriage ride). 🐎💨 If you want to try the carriage, negotiate the price in advance and confirm whether it’s per person or for the whole ride. We took a 3 km ride for just $1 for two people. ❷ Not all kindness comes for free 🫤 In Egypt, you can’t assume that everyone who talks to you is being genuinely friendly—many just want money. It’s exhausting. Even if you’re not being scammed, you have to keep saying "no." The best strategy is to stay cold and ignore them. 🚫🙊 ❸ About prices 💡 A 1.5L bottle of water should cost 10 EGP. If they ask for 20-30, just say you know the real price is 10. Most shopkeepers will agree. If not, go to another shop. (We encountered only two who refused.) For souvenirs, we bought from a shop in the Luxor Temple market. The owner was honest, and there were many notes from Chinese tourists. 🧾✍️ Fridge magnets: 30 EGP each Medium-sized Aladdin lamp: 100 EGP (the owner gave us a stone tablet as a gift!) 🔖 In summary: If someone asks for 100-200 EGP for a small souvenir and won’t bargain, just walk away. If you want a reliable shop, try the one we visited. ❹ WiFi is barely usable 📵 Even hotel WiFi is weak and hardly works. It seems like internet access isn’t really prioritized for tourists. We bought a WE SIM card at the airport—the signal is okay, and it was the cheapest among the three options. Daily use is a bit slow but manageable. ❺ Transport tips 🚗 Don’t link your card to ride-hailing apps! Some drivers might drive off without you. Always pay in cash. People in Luxor can be pushy. If you book a 4-seater car, they’ll often charge extra—and it’s not a small amount! Wait times can also be long. If you’re okay with riding a motorcycle 🏍️, use inDrive and book a bike. You can ride with two people (mention it in the notes and offer a little extra money). It’s cheaper and faster than a car—the only downside is the sun! ☀️ ❻ Student tickets 🎓 Staff often claim that electronic student IDs aren’t valid and ask for physical cards—it’s just a way to ask for a tip. You can negotiate and offer a 20 EGP tip. At entrances, they might also stop you for the same reason. Stand your ground, tell them you know your rights, and even threaten to call the police. 🚨 You need to be firm and speak loudly. In Egypt, if you want to save money, you have to be bold—and maybe a little crazy! 😤 #LuxorTravel #EgyptTips #TravelSmart #AvoidScams #SoloTravel #BackpackingEgypt 🌍✌️