Are small chocolate bars useful as tips or gifts for hotel staff in Egypt?

In the first half of September, Alenka bars were reportedly accepted by hotel staff as an alternative to small US-dollar notes. Staff may take them home for their children, making them useful when you do not want to exchange cash into small denominations.

Do not rely on chocolate alone: at one hotel, about half of the bars brought by a traveler went unused. Bring only a modest supply and combine it with small cash tips.

Chocolate is particularly suitable for housekeeping staff and can accompany a small extra request in a restaurant, such as cutting up purchased mango. In general, however, cash US-dollar tips are more valued.

At Baron hotel, staff were reportedly happy to receive—and sometimes asked for—Alenka chocolate, so packing a few bars can be useful for small thank-you gifts.