Taxis without a fixed fare, hotel doctor bills, fake visa helpers, cheap boat trips and coral souvenirs: the 5 most common Hurghada scams and how to spot them.
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The 5 most common Hurghada scams
Taxis without a fixed fare
How it worksThe driver won’t name a clear price and leaves the meter off. At your destination he asks for far more and keeps up the pressure until you pay.
WhereAll over Hurghada. It’s riskiest at night and when you ride alone.
How to protect yourself
- Use a ride app with a fixed price. In a regular taxi, agree the fare before you get in or insist on the meter.
- Ask your hotel what the ride should roughly cost.
- Get out first, then pay through the window.
The hotel doctor and the fantasy bill
How it worksYou feel unwell and the hotel sends you to its doctor. There’s no price list, just a bill you’re told to pay on the spot. In one case a hotel doctor asked for 1,300 euros when 300 to 400 was expected.
WhereHotel clinics and private doctors in the resorts.
How to protect yourself
- Call your travel insurer first. Many can refer you to doctors who don’t ask for payment up front.
- Get services and prices in writing before treatment starts.
- If you’re pressured: tourist police on 126.
Fake visa helpers
How it worksRight after landing, friendly helpers offer to get your visa “faster.” You don’t need them, and you end up paying more than the official 30 US dollars.
WhereArrivals at Hurghada Airport, before the bank desks and passport control.
How to protect yourself
- Go straight to the official bank desk, or get an eVisa before you fly.
- Have dollars or euros in cash ready and politely turn helpers down.
Cheap boat and dive trips
How it worksSnorkel and dive trips are sold on every corner, often at rock-bottom prices. But safety standards vary a lot, and some operators lack proper equipment and insurance. There have been serious, even fatal, boat accidents on the Red Sea.
WhereBoat, dive and snorkel trips all along the Red Sea coast.
How to protect yourself
- Book only with licensed operators, ideally through your hotel or tour rep.
- Check the life jackets before you set off and ask for the safety briefing.
Coral and shells as souvenirs
How it worksBeaches and souvenir shops openly sell pretty pieces of coral and shells. Exporting them is still strictly banned, even if the sale looked perfectly legal.
WhereOn the beach and anywhere souvenirs are sold.
How to protect yourselfTake nothing from the beach and don’t buy coral or shells, no matter how cheap they are.
Travel Hurghada with fewer surprises
The five scams above are the best known, but they aren’t the only ones. Which ones really matter depends on how you travel: solo, with family, on a budget, or in peak season. That’s why TravelCheck: Safer Trips on iPhone builds your own Hurghada list, usable offline, with Arabic phrases you can play aloud.
FAQ
Is Hurghada safe?
There is no travel warning for Red Sea resorts such as Hurghada. A partial warning covers North Sinai, border areas and remote parts of the Sahara. Typical issues are petty crime, fraudulent taxi drivers and sexual assaults, including in hotels. Metered or app rides, licensed excursions and the tourist police on 126 prevent most problems.
How much is the visa on arrival in Hurghada?
A single-entry visa on arrival costs 30 US dollars and is valid for up to 30 days. Pay at the official bank desk before passport control, since airport helpers often charge more. An eVisa bought in advance also costs 30 US dollars.
What should I do about an inflated hotel doctor bill?
Confirm services and prices in writing before treatment. If staff demand immediate cash or the receipt is unclear, refuse and call your travel insurer. Under pressure, call the tourist police on 126. The Red Sea Governorate runs a WhatsApp complaints line for overpriced medical bills: +20 1022029758.
Can I take coral or shells home from Hurghada?
No. There is a strict export ban on coral, shells and petrified wood, even if they seemed legal to buy.
What is the emergency number in Hurghada?
Tourist police 126, police 122. You can usually reach someone who speaks English.
Are diving and boat trips in Hurghada risky?
There have been serious accidents involving tourist and dive boats on the Red Sea. Book through your hotel or a licensed operator, check the safety kit and briefing before you set off, and don’t dive deeper than your insurance covers.
