Good information on tipping from Karen
“A lot of people ask me about this, as it is one of those issues that comes up time and time again! Some first-time visitors to Egypt are taken aback by the number of people who expect (or ask for) tips or baksheesh for the smallest service. I can assure you however that tipping is a way of life here, even for us residents! I tip my bawab (building caretaker) for running small errands, anyone who delivers anything to my house, the supermarket guy who packs my groceries and gets me a taxi, even sometimes the sales person who assists me with my purchases in a store. I normally tip from 50 piastres (half an Egyptian pound - “LE”) to LE1 or LE2, depending on how much assistance has been given. Be prepared for this in public toilets, even in hotels! There’s invariably an attendant who cheerfully hands you a sheet or two of toilet paper as you enter, perhaps turns the taps on for you and points to the soap. This normally merits a small tip - I recommend LE.50 - LE1.
Tipping guides, hotel and cruise staff is another issue. On a Nile cruise, the standard recommended tip amount is $5 per person per day of the cruise - so for a couple on a 4-day cruise that would be $40. This is normally handed to the cruise boat reception staff in an envelope when you check out, and then the sum is divided between all the departments on the boat - housekeeping, food & beverage, front office staff, etc. However, if you feel a particular staff member or members have performed exceptionally, then by all means slip them a little extra. For my part, I always tend to make friends with the housekeeping staff (you can expect to have the same one or two persons taking care of your cabin for the duration of the cruise) which ensures my cabin receives a little extra attention for which I’m happy to show my appreciation at the end.
In hotels there are no set guidelines; if you wish to thank members of the housekeeping staff for taking good care of your room, particularly after a multiple-night stay, then by all means offer them a token of your appreciation before you leave. The bellman who carries your bags to and from your room deserves at least LE5 per bag (more if they’re really heavy!), and if the doorman has helped you by getting a taxi for you, assisting with directions and information, etc., it would be nice to give him LE10 or so when you leave. Please note, these are only suggested guidelines, you are free to tip as much or as little as you like - after all, it’s the thought that counts!
As for tour guides, that is entirely at your discretion. If you feel that the guide has been exceptionally informative, knowledgeable and personable, then give from the heart. If you have a single guide for one full day’ touring, then I might suggest that $10-20 would be a nice gesture (or the equivalent in LE). If you have the same guide over a longer period or on a Nile cruise program, then multiply that by the number of days. I’ve heard from colleagues in the industry (professional tour guides) about some generous clients who have tipped them $100 for one day’s work, while at the other end of the scale some clients don’t tip at all! I stress again, it is whatever you feel comfortable giving based on the quality of the service you have received.
As for site custodians, this is something of a special case that merits clarification. At practically every tourist site there will be numerous people lurking around trying to look “official” and offer assistance, for which they will undoubtedly expect compensation - sometimes even for taking your photo with your own camera! I witness this all the time at all the tourist sites I visit, and it drives me to distraction. The best advice I can offer you is, if someone performs an actual service, e.g. opening a closed area, showing me a point of interest that I would not have otherwise seen, offers useful, interesting and ACCURATE information, or has otherwise enhanced my visit, then I have no problem with tipping LE2 - LE5 or more. However, if someone expects a tip for just standing there taking the tickets, pointing at a relief and saying “Ramses!”, tries to wrestle my camera from my grip in order to take pictures of me that I don’t even want, follows me around and won’t go away even when I have told them I don’t want any assistance, or worse, flat out asks me for money just because I happen to be within a 6-foot radius, then I tend to lose my patience. Further, if I have given someone a fair tip for a minor service and they stare at it as if I’ve just insulted them, or dare to ask for more, then I really give them an earful - lol!
I would further like to mention that while you are in Egypt you will undoubtedly encounter raggedy children on the street and forlorn-looking mothers clutching sickly-looking babies (who are not always as poor as they look) asking you for money. In this situation, as with all of the above, do NOT feel pressured into dishing out cash just because it is asked for. The key here is, give if you feel a tip is warranted for a service rendered, or if it touches your heart.
For this reason it’s always good to keep lots of small bills and coins (LE1, 50 and 25 piastres) in your pocket at all times for just such occasions. After all, when you think about it, we’re only talking about a pound or two here and there, much less than the price of a cup of coffee in your own country. One final point to bear in mind is that, if you choose tip anyone in foreign currency, please give them paper money only – coins are not accepted for exchange at any bank here in Egypt. Unfortunately a surprising amount of people dish out their pocket change without thinking, probably not even realising that the unfortunate recipients cannot redeem the money! I can’t tell you the number of times I’m asked by locals to change Euros, sterling and other coins for Egyptian pounds. I always do it, even though I can’t change them either, but I figure I’d rather help out the poor person who was landed with a tip that he can’t even spend!
As usual, I’ve rambled on at great length 
but I feel that this is an issue that merits clarification. I hope you’ve found it helpful.”
PS: One important issue that I forgot to mention in my original post: tips to wait staff in restaurants. On your bill you will see an amount added for taxes and another for “service charge”. The latter actually goes to the house, not to the wait staff themselves, therefore it is customary to leave a 10-15% tip - provided the service has been satisfactory of course!