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I haven't been to Egypt and I've heard nothing but bad things from multiple sources. This is the only place in the world where I can say this about. It's really

I haven't been to Egypt and I've heard nothing but bad things from multiple sources. This is the only place in the world where I can say this about. It's really disappointing, as I'd love to see some of the history there.

spiderfarmer 4mo ago
The bad things are all true. Scamming people is their default. You can’t trust anyone you haven’t paid.
- BoggleOhYeah 4mo ago
  Eh. I concede that there are a ton of scammers in the tourist areas. However, I think a lot of people used to the manners of the West really struggle with Egypt’s (admittedly, exhausting) haggling culture.
  - NitpickLawyer 4mo ago
    > haggling culture. There's haggling where you actually enjoy the process (i.e. Turkey, visiting the bazaars, you get to haggle, then you get invited for some cay w/ the vendor, talk a bit, that's really enjoyable) and then there's outright scamming. Friend of mine went to Egypt, really wanted to ride a camel. Agreed on a price, rode the camel, and at the end they wouldn't bring the wooden thingy so that he could dismount, and they were asking for more money. That's not enjoyable at all.
    - BoggleOhYeah 4mo ago
      Yeah, that’s just scamming. Unfortunately, that’s pretty common with the camel vendors. Since camel rides are almost exclusively bought by tourists, it attracts scammers that see the “customers” as easy marks. The government won’t do anything about it until it starts negatively affecting the money coming into the country via tourism.
eahm 4mo ago
>This is the only place in the world where I can say this about. Really dude? About India? South America in general, especially Brazil? I traveled a lot and I love everywhere, everyone and everything buy there are some places that scam 24/7.
- al_borland 4mo ago
  I spent 6 weeks in India, mostly for work, but also ventured out quite a bit. I didn't really have any major issues and would go back. That said, I wasn't in any of the major tourist areas. My cousin has also started going there for work more recently and has enjoyed it a lot. I was little more nervous for her as a woman going by herself. But to your point, when I think about it, I do hear a lot of negative things from others. A lot of people tried to talk me out of going there, but none of them had actually been there. The negative stuff I've heard about Egypt has all been from people who have been there.
  - anon291 4mo ago
    I've been to India many times (visiting family) as someone born and raised in America, and most people on the internet have bizarre views on India. I'm someone who is generally 'down' on travel to India because it's just a lot to ingest and I prefer easier places, but I personally would never worry about the sorts of things people online claim. It's not particularly dangerous in terms of violence. Food is amazing obviously. Hotels are out of this world if you're willing to pay the totally normal rates and not stay in hovels -- in fact hospitality is miles ahead of most western countries. Chaotic, loud, dirty at times, sure. You have to be used to seeing visible, sometimes shocking, poverty. And of course, if you don't know the local language and are not traveling with someone who is, it can be even more overwhelming. But I mean people are nice, and in some places, it's really nice and there are even some places I've been where I could see the appeal of living there. I think India tends to defy common categorization. It's a developing country, but also quite advanced in many ways. Certain things work better. Trains are great. Metros are now really nice. Payment is great. They mostly do their own thing and it seems to be working for them. To be totally honest, a lot of the India negging is from accounts associated with 'rival' countries. This has become more obvious as places like X have started showing the origins of many accounts. And before people start bringing up caste or whatever to explain my neutral-to-positive disposition towards the country, my 'community' in India is technically an 'otherwise backwards class', so it's not like I'm basing this based off of my family's non-existent wealth. By far, I'd rather stay in actual accommodations in India rather than with family because the accommodations are legit nice, and staying with family can be really hit or miss.

spiderfarmer 4mo ago

The bad things are all true. Scamming people is their default. You can’t trust anyone you haven’t paid.

BoggleOhYeah 4mo ago
Eh. I concede that there are a ton of scammers in the tourist areas. However, I think a lot of people used to the manners of the West really struggle with Egypt’s (admittedly, exhausting) haggling culture.
- NitpickLawyer 4mo ago
  > haggling culture. There's haggling where you actually enjoy the process (i.e. Turkey, visiting the bazaars, you get to haggle, then you get invited for some cay w/ the vendor, talk a bit, that's really enjoyable) and then there's outright scamming. Friend of mine went to Egypt, really wanted to ride a camel. Agreed on a price, rode the camel, and at the end they wouldn't bring the wooden thingy so that he could dismount, and they were asking for more money. That's not enjoyable at all.
  - BoggleOhYeah 4mo ago
    Yeah, that’s just scamming. Unfortunately, that’s pretty common with the camel vendors. Since camel rides are almost exclusively bought by tourists, it attracts scammers that see the “customers” as easy marks. The government won’t do anything about it until it starts negatively affecting the money coming into the country via tourism.

eahm 4mo ago

>This is the only place in the world where I can say this about. Really dude? About India? South America in general, especially Brazil? I traveled a lot and I love everywhere, everyone and everything buy there are some places that scam 24/7.

al_borland 4mo ago
I spent 6 weeks in India, mostly for work, but also ventured out quite a bit. I didn't really have any major issues and would go back. That said, I wasn't in any of the major tourist areas. My cousin has also started going there for work more recently and has enjoyed it a lot. I was little more nervous for her as a woman going by herself. But to your point, when I think about it, I do hear a lot of negative things from others. A lot of people tried to talk me out of going there, but none of them had actually been there. The negative stuff I've heard about Egypt has all been from people who have been there.
- anon291 4mo ago
  I've been to India many times (visiting family) as someone born and raised in America, and most people on the internet have bizarre views on India. I'm someone who is generally 'down' on travel to India because it's just a lot to ingest and I prefer easier places, but I personally would never worry about the sorts of things people online claim. It's not particularly dangerous in terms of violence. Food is amazing obviously. Hotels are out of this world if you're willing to pay the totally normal rates and not stay in hovels -- in fact hospitality is miles ahead of most western countries. Chaotic, loud, dirty at times, sure. You have to be used to seeing visible, sometimes shocking, poverty. And of course, if you don't know the local language and are not traveling with someone who is, it can be even more overwhelming. But I mean people are nice, and in some places, it's really nice and there are even some places I've been where I could see the appeal of living there. I think India tends to defy common categorization. It's a developing country, but also quite advanced in many ways. Certain things work better. Trains are great. Metros are now really nice. Payment is great. They mostly do their own thing and it seems to be working for them. To be totally honest, a lot of the India negging is from accounts associated with 'rival' countries. This has become more obvious as places like X have started showing the origins of many accounts. And before people start bringing up caste or whatever to explain my neutral-to-positive disposition towards the country, my 'community' in India is technically an 'otherwise backwards class', so it's not like I'm basing this based off of my family's non-existent wealth. By far, I'd rather stay in actual accommodations in India rather than with family because the accommodations are legit nice, and staying with family can be really hit or miss.