An American Tourist Was Only Three Days Into His Egypt Trip. What Happened Left Him Questioning the Entire Vacation

Traveling to another country means encountering different cultures, traditions, customs, and ways of doing things. Some differences are exciting, others take time to get used to, and a few can leave us wondering whether we chose the right destination for our vacation.

I was reminded of the American tourist who visited Italy and came home with a very negative opinion of the country. His complaints sparked a debate about cultural expectations and how much travelers should adapt to the places they visit.

But the story I came across today involves a different country and a very different set of experiences. A 21-year-old American traveling alone shared what happened during his first three days in Cairo, Egypt. He’d traveled internationally before and was excited to experience somewhere different from home, yet by his third day, he was sitting in his hotel wondering whether going outside was worth the trouble.

His account attracted nearly 2,000 Reddit comments, including stories from people who’d had similar experiences, travelers who loved Egypt, and others who questioned whether he’d prepared sufficiently for the trip. Some of the incidents he described were considerably more troubling than the cultural differences he’d expected. I am sharing this so that we all learn from other experiences and be better prepared when traveling, knowing what we can expect and, perhaps, being able to react better under similar circumstances or prevent some of the situations. I have many friends who visited Egypt and chose different ways to explore it, and they all shared cultural differences beyond their expectations.

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Three Days in Cairo Left This American Tourist Exhausted

On October 7, a 21-year-old American published a Reddit post in r/travel titled “day 3 of Cairo and i’m just tired and miserable.”

He knew Cairo would be busy and that haggling, traffic and culture shock were part of the experience. But he admitted:

“i did not expect to feel this worn down this quickly.”

He then described the incidents that had made his first three days so difficult.

Repeated Requests for Money and Problems With Uber

The traveler complained about constant approaches from people asking for money, children following him and demanding money, and being repeatedly overcharged for basic things.

Transportation was another problem. He said multiple Uber drivers wanted him to cancel his rides through the app and pay them directly at much higher prices.

“today i was literally just trying to get to tahrir and the driver wanted me to cancel and pay $25 cash.”

A Restaurant Dispute Left Him Paying More Just to Leave

One of the most uncomfortable experiences he described happened at a local Egyptian restaurant. He’d ordered a meal costing approximately 250 Egyptian pounds, but staff reportedly brought additional food he hadn’t requested and then demanded 1,000 pounds.

“they surrounded me, demanded tips for the ‘service,’ and i eventually paid 600 just to get out of there.”

Then His Driver Hit a Motorcyclist, and People Opened the Car Doors

While the American was traveling in a car, the driver hit a motorcyclist. According to his account, a crowd gathered around the vehicle, and people began opening its doors while he was still inside.

He described the incident as:

“being in a car when the driver hit a motorcyclist, then having a crowd surround the car and open the doors until police eventually showed up”

He didn’t explain what happened to the motorcyclist or how the confrontation ended after the police arrived. But imagine being alone in a foreign country, inside a vehicle involved in a collision, with people gathering around you and opening the doors. This happened during a trip in which he’d already faced repeated demands for money and situations that left him uncomfortable.

By his third day, he questioned whether he wanted to keep exploring Cairo at all.

He No Longer Knew Whom to Trust

Perhaps the saddest part of his account was how quickly his experiences had changed his attitude toward interacting with people.

“i don’t know when somebody is genuinely being friendly and when i’m about to get hit with another inflated price, tip demand, or sales pitch.”

He wanted to explore downtown Cairo, enjoy Egyptian food and experience the city, but instead found himself reluctant to leave his hotel.

“that’s probably the part that’s bothering me most. i actually want to enjoy cairo. i want to go downtown, walk around, eat local food, have a drink, and just experience the city. instead, i’m sitting in my hotel debating whether going out is even worth the hassle.”

He acknowledged that three days weren’t enough to judge an entire country and made clear that he wasn’t claiming every Egyptian behaved this way. He was describing how exhausting his own experience had become.

Other Travelers Described Similar Experiences – Including Some Who’d Visited More Than 60 Countries

The American’s account struck a nerve with other travelers, including people who’d visited dozens of countries and were accustomed to navigating unfamiliar places.

One commenter said they’d visited Cairo with their spouse the previous year and experienced the same problems with Uber. What caught my attention was their travel background: the commenter’s husband had hosted a travel show, and together they’d visited Mongolia, North Korea, Libya and more than 60 other countries.

“Felt like we couldn’t leave the hotel to walk for dinner. Exact same thing happened with uber.”

They ended their comment by saying they couldn’t wait to get out of Cairo. Another experienced international traveler was equally critical, describing Egypt as the worst country they’d visited and saying they’d felt genuinely frightened for their safety.

Some accounts involved problems at tourist attractions, too. One visitor to Luxor claimed that a guard inside a tomb in the Valley of the Kings tried to extort money after seeing them take a photograph outside. Another traveler described a guard at the Alexandria catacombs encouraging them to enter dark, unlit sections of the site, an invitation they declined before staying close to a tour group.

And for some people, the disappointment was personal. One commenter explained that visiting Egypt had been a childhood dream. They’d saved enough money for a two-month trip, but after only a few days, they found themselves sitting at the pyramids and deciding to go home.

“I’m taking my money home”

Female Travelers Described Feeling Unsafe Even When Accompanied

Several women shared experiences that went beyond persistent sellers and unwanted requests for money. One woman said she’d visited Egypt with her parents, intentionally dressed conservatively and stayed with her father, yet still felt so uncomfortable that she didn’t want to leave their resort.

“It is the only country where I genuinely didn’t want to step outside of a gated holiday resort.”

She explained that the number of people trying to get money from her family, along with other unwanted attention, had been unlike anything she’d experienced elsewhere. She’d previously traveled to Morocco and Cambodia, but said neither had felt as exhausting.

Another female traveler, who’d visited Morocco several times and enjoyed it, described Egypt as an entirely different experience. She said she’d been genuinely frightened for her safety, something she hadn’t felt during visits to other countries in North and East Africa.

These comments help explain why the original post generated such a strong reaction – BTW the post is closed for comments! For several travelers, the problem wasn’t a single unpleasant encounter. It was reaching a point where they no longer felt comfortable leaving their accommodation or exploring places they’d traveled so far to see.

But Not Everyone Agreed: Some Travelers Loved Cairo

Although negative accounts dominated much of the discussion, several people defended Cairo and described memorable visits. Someone wrote:

“Honestly I kinda liked it, though Giza was terrible.”

The commenter explained that walking around older neighborhoods and visiting attractions away from the busiest tourist sites had been much more enjoyable.

Another traveler praised historic Cairo:

“The old part of Cairo is actually really cool, mosques and madrassas over a 1,000 years old, local markets, shisha cafes, low hassle.”

Some commenters praised Luxor, Aswan and Egypt’s Red Sea destinations, while others said they’d encountered similar frustrations outside Cairo. Even among people who enjoyed Egypt, they disagreed about which areas offered the best experience.

Would a Private Guide Have Changed His Experience?

One of the most frequent recommendations was to hire a private guide or join an organized tour, allowing visitors to explore the major attractions with transportation and arrangements handled in advance.

Someone who reported having an excellent trip with a tour company argued:

“Quite literally all you need to do to have an incredible time is to do a private tour.”

Another commenter recommended a tour group or private driver:

“At least you don’t have to feel scammed when you’re just going from place to place.”

Here I have to add that I’ve had friends visiting Egypt and sharing their experiences, and those who had a great time had a private tour guide. 

However, someone else said even an organized tour hadn’t prevented uncomfortable encounters:

“I booked a single person tour from a big tour company, and I still felt the actual employees were trying to scam me non stop”

Choosing accommodation, deciding which neighborhoods to explore and arranging transport are all part of planning an itinerary. In destinations where independent travel may involve additional challenges, those decisions can influence how much of the trip you’ll actually enjoy.

Some Commenters Questioned How Much Research the Tourist Had Done

Several Reddit users argued that the problems described in the post were already widely discussed in travel forums and that the American should’ve known what to expect. One commenter wrote:

“Everyone says that in my research of places to visit I’m not sure how or why OP missed the warnings”

Others pointed out that travelers from countries where prices are generally fixed, and transactions are predictable, may struggle with frequent negotiation. As someone explained:

“there’s an art to haggling and dealing with scammers and if you come from a high trust society where people don’t do that, it’s hard to know how to handle it.”

Some people advised the tourist to leave Cairo for Luxor or Aswan, while others suggested changing his itinerary completely if he was no longer enjoying the trip.

There was considerable disagreement over whether his experience reflected poor preparation, an unsuitable travel style, or problems that even experienced visitors could struggle to avoid.

Why I Always Recommend Researching a Destination Before Traveling

Reading this discussion reminded me why I always recommend researching a destination carefully before booking a trip. Different countries have different cultures, customs, social expectations and ways of doing things, and it’s important to understand those differences before arriving.

Research before planning a trip goes beyond checking attractions and hotels. It includes transportation, local customs, common tourist complaints, payment practices, and the areas where you’re planning to stay.  

For a destination like Cairo, researching the differences between staying in Giza and other neighborhoods, figuring out how to arrange reliable transportation, and deciding whether to book a guide could shape the entire experience.

It’s useful to read recent accounts from other travelers, too, including negative ones. And while AI can help with travel research, AI travel planning mistakes can lead to unsuitable hotel locations, inaccurate transportation advice and unrealistic itineraries if the information isn’t checked.

I think there’s an important distinction between unfamiliar cultural practices and situations involving alleged overcharging, intimidation or pressure to pay for things you didn’t order. Travelers should be prepared to adapt to local customs, but that doesn’t mean they should minimize situations that make them uncomfortable or unsafe. 

Choosing the right destination for your interests and comfort level matters just as much. I always consider where to travel next based on the experiences I want, my budget, the time available, and the type of vacation I’m looking for. A destination can be extraordinary and still not suit every traveler.

Another American Tourist Was Disappointed by Italy, but for Very Different Reasons

This story reminded me of the American tourist who criticized Italy after visiting Milan, Venice and Florence. He complained about several aspects of the experience, including food, air conditioning, transportation and restaurant service.

Many people felt he’d expected Italy to be and feel like the United States, while others agreed with some of his frustrations. Restaurant customs were among the points of disagreement, and understanding Italian dining etiquette before traveling can help visitors avoid some common misunderstandings.

The Cairo story involves more serious complaints, including alleged financial pressure and a frightening traffic incident. Still, both discussions raise questions about travel expectations, cultural differences, and how well we prepare before visiting another country.

I’m curious what you think. Have you ever visited a destination that turned out to be very different from what you expected? If you were in this American tourist’s situation after only three days, would you keep exploring or change your travel plans?

Source: Original Reddit discussion, October 7, 2026. The experiences described are personal accounts shared by Reddit users.

As mentioned, I have many friends who visited Egypt, and even if some of the situations in this article were part of their experience too, they still say visiting Egypt is worth it, especially for its landmarks. This article is in no way a post against the country or city mentioned; it is more about cultural differences and what to expect before visiting Egypt. 

Violeta Loredana

Violeta-Loredana Pascal is a communications expert, business mentor, and the founder of Earth’s Attractions and PRwave INTERNATIONAL. A pioneer in the Romanian digital PR landscape since 2005, she holds a degree in Communication and Social Sciences from SNSPA Bucharest. Violeta is a senior trainer at AcademiadeAfaceri.ro, where she leverages over 20 years of experience to teach professional courses in PR strategy and workplace productivity. By blending high-level business consulting with a passion for holistic travel and wellness, she empowers solopreneurs to overcome procrastination, build profitable brands, and design a life of purposeful adventure.