European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                City on Tho Nile travellers tips owners offer Camel rides to adventurous tourists at the great pyramids. A getting there flying into Cairo Airport is your Best bet. From there hire a cab to get to your hotel. Expect to pay about 40 egyptian pounds $13 on the average. There Are military hops available from Ramstein a Germany that Fly into Cairo East Airport. Expect to walk about one mile to catch a cab then pay the same amount for a cab. A accommodations nine Well known european and american hotel chains Dot Cairo s downtown landscape. Base prices Range from $90-$169 per night for a double. Most four and five Star hotels include breakfast. Added on to the Bill is a 12 percent service charge plus a a municipal tax of 2 to 5 percent. A $15 per person per night room tax is also added. A eating the major hotels have restaurants that offer local dishes for around $6 to $20. In keeping with islamic Law Many restaurants Don t serve alcohol. However major hotel bars Are stocked. If you re not adventurous enough to try egyptian food the restaurants also offer american style dishes for about the same prices. There also Are a pizza hut and pfc formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken located next to the Cairo zoo. A family of four can eat for about $12. Taxi fare from downtown will run about $3. A shopping hours during the week stores open Between 9 and 10 . And close around 9 . Some of the stores near the popular tourist spots stay open until 10 . Hours vary on the weekend. You can barter on the prices for souvenirs. A museums museums charge $2, and most Are open from 9 . To Between 1 and 4 . There Are camera restrictions in some museums so be sure to ask. Be prepared to pay about $3 extra to take in your camera and $14 extra for your video camera. If you Don t want to pay the fee the camera must be checked at the desk. A Tours you can take Nile River boat Tours and get a dinner for $30 per person. You also can hire a Sailboat to take you on a romantic evening ride on the Nile for As Little As $5. The hotels have companies that can schedule bus Tours to the popular Sites for Between $40 and $60 per person depending on what you want to see. You also could hire a taxi. A places of interest the Camel Market and Bazaar Are open Only on fridays. You can buy everything from Bic pens to donkeys at the Market. The Bazaar is a Haven for clothing. There Are several papyrus institutes where visitors Are shown Quot How egyptian Art is made. There is no entry fee but you Are expected to buy something. Prices of Art Range from $10 for a piece that is 3 inches by 5 inches to $200 for larger ones. The night Light show at the pyramids gives a detailed history in English of the pyramids and Sphinx. Cost is $6. A night life discos and casinos Are plentiful in Cairo. Hotel bellhops freely give directions. The major hotels also offer dinner shows for about $20 per person. The shows usually feature belly dancers. A local highlights Don t be afraid to Dicker on prices for cab fares and souvenirs. Most of the merchants expect it. Also Don t accept something that is Quot Given Quot to you. The merchants will expect you to buy something. A Good Book to buy is self guided Egypt by Langenscheid available in English in bookstores at shopping centers and hotel lobbies. A family activities Camel rides Are available at the Gaza pyramids. Expect to pay about $2 a ride. Again barter on the Price that they first offer. Don t take your children to the Camel Market if they Nave weak stomachs. The merchants Slaughter the animals and skin them in full View. A tourist information the miss travel Agency is the official travel Agency for Egypt. It can be reached in Frankfurt Germany at 069-2875-13 or 069-287514. In London Call 071-2551087 and in Rome phone 06-47-51-985. The state tourist office has branches at Central station the Airport and the pyramids. At these offices and in All travel agencies and hotels you can get a free brochure Cairo by Day and night with useful addresses. At main tourist Sites tourist police Wear White uniforms with armbands that read Quot tourist  most of them speak some English. A Craig Martin tipping is a Way of life when you visit Egypt be prepared to be swamped with people wanting Quot tips Quot for anything. At the Airport or train station people will offer to carry your bags then demand a tip when they Are done. The usual amount to tip is 1 egyptian Pound about 33 cents per bag. They will hold out their hands for More but Don t feel intimidated. Just walk away. Some people expect to be tipped if they have their picture taken others will expect to be tipped for Selling you a bottle of soda at their Market. At the Gaza pyramids there will be people offering Camel rides for about $3. Then when the ride is done they will expect to be tipped for the Fine Job they did leading the Camel around. Don t pay More than 1 Pound. Be prepared to be forceful in your tone. A Craig Martin december 10, 1992 stripes Magazine 11