Our usual routine for our 'Independent Travel' is to pick up a rental car at the airport. When we went to Egypt though, we were advised not to do so!
Leave the airport, we were told, go to the taxi rank and get an official taxi.
First lesson, Egyptians do not appear to like haggling with women! Lesson number two, taxi rank drivers at the airport won't budge on price - or not for us anyway.
A hefty £25 charge for a 15 minute drive, our fare was handed to the 'minder' who told us that, if the driver was good, we should give him a good tip, our suitcases precariously balanced on the car roof and we were on our way.
We soon found out why we should not drive in Egypt! Fast and furious! Cars three abreast across two lanes! No lights.
Suddenly, he muttered something, pulled over at the side of the road and got out of the car. We sat here for ages thinking we had been abandoned.
It must have been about five minutes later when the driver came back, threw a piece of paper on the seat and complained bitterly that he had been pulled over by the police for speeding! £30 fine! He was not a happy man!
Needless to say, our tip was no bigger.
Our return trip to the airport was with the Hilton minibus - £8.
Moral of the story, contact the resort and see if they will collect you for a small fee.
timetraveller
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