Mexico City vs. Cairo for visitors

[fusion2]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

I'm hoping that isn't the case, but also assuming it won't be. Buenos Aires and Santiago would seem to be relatively comparable to Mexico City (albeit different in a number of ways, and not quite as much of corporate centers), and not one person haggled me while I was in either.

TBH I walked around M.C quite a bit and I can't think of one example of being haggled. It is a non issue as far as i'm concerned. Cairo is a bit different. There is a general feeling in Egypt as in other places in the arab world whereby the people feel entitled to 'baksheesh' from Westerners. This is alive and well in Egypt. Khan al Khalili market is not for the faint of heart in Cairo. It is totally worth going but you must be used to the art of haggling or they'll roll over you!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_el-Khalili

Also DO NOT accept offers from people on the street to take you on tours. They will expect a hefty finders fee and take you to places to buy things before you even get to the overpriced tour.. I learned from many mistakes I made in my first trip to Egypt 10 years ago when I was a travel newbie.

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by UrbanLuis

What is the nightlife like in Cairo?

A lot of people go out at night, especially in summer.
I walked around at 2 am in a business area and there were crowds everywhere, mostly local people. I even wondered why they do not have to wake up in the morning.

However, if you want bars/clubs. They almost do not exist.

[iMarvin]

Originally Posted by MarisaAnna

I went to Mexico City in 1991 and to Cairo in 2011. I do understand that both cities may have changed considerably, especially Mexico City.
However, my experience of when I was in both is that they were the worse places I have ever visited. In Mexico City at that time the begging by children and the aggressive hawkers were very distressing. In Cairo, just after the Arab spring, everywhere was overwhelmingly filthy. The hawkers were beyond anything I have experienced anywhere.

Giving a nearly 30-year old opinion on a city is pointless.