Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Egypt or I have to give them cash
It got annoying after a while in Egypt. Hostels around Luxor and Aswan were cash only, and the card excuse was always “machine broken.” Sometimes even ATMs nearby were out of cash, like the Banque Misr one near Luxor Temple. I ended up carrying USD just in case, which some hostels accepted. Egypt’s system works on cash more than cards, especially at budget places. If you’re backpacking, plan your cash runs ahead of time.
I actually had a decent experience in Alexandria. My hostel near Corniche did accept cards, though they charged a small fee. In Cairo, though, cash was easier. Thankfully, ATMs from Banque Misr and CIB were everywhere, and my Revolut Mastercard worked fine. Hostel staff are usually understanding and will point you to the nearest bank if you don’t have cash. If you’re only carrying cards, be ready for extra ATM runs.
My hostel near Downtown Cairo wouldn’t accept my Visa. They wanted cash upfront, and their card machine was “not working.” I had to walk to a National Bank of Egypt ATM on Talaat Harb Street to grab pounds. In Luxor, the hostel close to Karnak Temple also insisted on cash. The only time I used my card was at a big hotel chain in Giza. So yeah, budget hostels = cash.
In Cairo and Alexandria, most hostels ask for cash in Egyptian pounds. I stayed at one near Tahrir Square, and they said cash only. Booking online might let you use a card, but once you’re there it’s usually EGP in hand. Banque Misr and CIB ATMs are nearby, so withdrawing isn’t hard. In Dahab and Luxor, same story: cash preferred. You can sometimes use card at hotels, but not the budget hostels.