How to break large dollar bills ($100) in Egypt?

If a hotel ATM refuses to break a large bill, it may simply be out of Egyptian pounds — try another machine: there's one in the lobby near 'The V', and another one if you pass the Mango market and turn right.

The hotel ATM rejected a $100 bill dated 2006, even though other tourists' bills of the same series went through — but a $20 bill from the same traveler was accepted without issue.

A Mango store gave a $20 bill dated 2006 as change, but the same store later refused to accept that bill back. The traveler ended up exchanging it for pounds via the hotel ATM instead.

Waiters at the lobby bar are happy to break large bills — $20 and $10 were exchanged multiple times without any issues. They'll also bring you a drink while they're at it.

At a pharmacy across from the hotel, you can pay in dollars and ask for change in small Egyptian pound notes — handy for tips.

Hotel ATMs exchange old-series US dollar bills into Egyptian pounds, but new-series $100 bills may be rejected by the machine.

The hotel porter or room escort staff will readily exchange small bills — down to $1 denominations. Bills of $10 and $20 were exchanged without issue. They're not interested in tips in kind — only cash.

Exchanging with informal street money changers is risky — one traveler received only $90 back from a $100 bill and had to negotiate hard to recover the rest.

A Mango store is a reliable spot to break $100 bills. Buy something small like a can of soda and you'll get change in smaller denominations. Three travelers each successfully broke a $100 bill this way.

Hotel reception will typically exchange only one $100 bill per request. If you need to break multiple large bills at once, expect a refusal.