Shopping in Sinai - authentic goods, best outlets, malls and boutiques

While having shopping in South Sinai, you should remember that it is a touristic place. Locals earn a lot of money because of the tourists. If you want to buy something, be ready to bargain and watch the seller carefully. If you have only large banknotes, you should first ask the seller to prepare the change, and only then give your money for the goods. The fact is that if you do not, the seller can "accidentally" replace your banknote, using the fact that the money is all very similar, and then claim that you gave them to him. The second kind of unfair trade is to declare after receiving the money that five pounds is only for half of the goods, and everything will cost ten. It will be difficult to prove anything after you gave your money to a seller.

Remember that it is customary to bargain in Egypt. Moreover, all prices are initially inflated at least twice, and most often the seller expects to get half or a little less of the specified price. Do not start shopping in a hurry – if the trader will see that you want to buy something, but you don’t have enough time, the seller will not make the price lower. Do not show your interest in buying. Make a dispassionate face and show that you bargain because you like the process. Then, the seller will give you in just to sell something.

If the negotiations reached a deadlock, you can leave the shop. If a seller is ready to lower the price, he will overtake you. If not- find more amenable seller. Don’t show that you have large banknotes in the wallet when you visit local markets. One more important thing is to go to the markets a little tanned. Then the locals will decide that your holidays are almost over and you don’t have a lot of money. While thinking about what to bring from Egypt, remember that it is prohibited to take out seashells, corals, ivory, stuffed crocodiles from the country. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A great number of various souvenirs are sold on the streets of Sinai settlements. «Almost real» papyrus can be made of rice paper or banana leaves. Not only cones, magnets, t-shirts and caps with the symbols of Egypt are popular here. You can also buy statues in the shape of a cat and a sphinx. Mini pyramids are one of the most popular souvenirs to buy in Egypt. Handmade glass jewellery such as ashtrays, candlesticks and pitchers deserve your attention.

Many tourists buy jewellery made of precious metals and stones in the shape of Egyptian symbols. Scarab, the eye of Horus, cartouche and ankh are among the most famous symbols. However, you should remember that nothing costs more than something that's free. Suspiciously low price for a large amount of gold or silver shows that it is a counterfeit. Another symbol of Egypt is arafat. Local cotton is famous for its durability and quality, but we must remember that most of the cotton products are sewn in China. However, you can try to look for napkins, towels or parts of the national dress of the Egyptians, which will remind you about yor holidays in Sinai. The jalabeya is a cultural and traditional outfit in Egypt. It is composed of loose fabric, similar to a dress, for men and women. You can find it on local bazaars.

The products of local furriers are usually good quality items. Some of them are made using crocodile skin. You can buy local aromatic oils, and hookahs, shisha. Be careful and don’t buy a souvenir hookah instead of the real one. Local musical instruments can also be a good gift. Delicious Egyptian karcade is a nice gift too. The Bedouins sell carpets made of camel hair and wooden boards for board games, which are quite inexpensive here. Do not pass by halva, stuffed dates and pastes – all these sweets can be easily carried home.