I think I have posted this before but regarding having things repaired and small odd jobs, in El Gouna we call our maintenance department for a plumber, painter, electrician, etc. They usually come round within an hour or later that same day and for one small job the charge is LE10. So having a light fitting put up, sink unblocked, hinges repaired when your shutters blow off in the strong winds, etc. all costs LE10.
I have had a whole room repainted and it cost around LE100 including the paint. Now I went to the hotel next door to enquire about having my finger nails painted and the price was LE120!
My British friend who has a villa half way between El Gouna and Hurghada has a house boy. He met him in Luxor when this boy was driving the horse and caleche for the tourists. My friend had bought a lot of souveniers over several days all with this same boy and at the end of it the boy showed him all the commission he had discreetly been slipped. My friend invited the boy to work at his villa. He couldn't read or write even Arabic but could speak six languages because he had to learn them with all the different nationality tourists in Luxor. He made the beds, did the laundry, cooked, looked after the garden, maintained the swimming pool, arranged any maintenance. He lived in a little annexe with a bed, toilet, shower, cooker, etc. and his wages were LE1,000 per month. Now he shares this job with his brother so they take turns to be in Luxor or Hurghada when my friend is here from the UK.
