Tips or baksheesh are an integral part of Egyptian culture. You are expected to tip pretty much everybody who does a service for you, and Egyptians will not hesitate to bluntly ask you for baksheesh. Keep a stack of small bills handy for tips — no change is given! Some general guidelines:

• Bathroom attendants: LE 1
• Cruises: LE 10/day, to be divided by all staff on board
• Guide: LE 25-30/day
• Hotel bellman: LE 5 per bag
• Hotel doorman: LE 10 for services rendered (flagging down taxis etc)
• Restaurants: In fancier restaurants, a service charge (10-12%) is added to bills, but a 5-10% tip on top of that is common. In fast-food places, tipping is unnecessary.
• Taxi drivers: 10% on metered fares, but not necessary if you agreed the fare in advance
• Site custodians: LE 5 if they do something useful, none otherwise
• Tour drivers: LE 10/day

An exception: if you ask a stranger for directions, tips are not necessary and may even be considered offensive. Also, officials in uniform should not be tipped, even though a good few will ask you. (Paying officials baksheesh as bribes, not tips, is another story, but beyond the scope of this guide and illegal to boot.)

Last but not least, beware that as foreign tourists, you are seen by many as easy money and you should not let yourself be pressured into tipping for unnecessary or unrequested "services" like self-appointed tour guides latching on to you.