Reply With QuoteStayed in the Rixos Seagate in Sharm last year- Lovely hotel, has a massive water park attached to it, two sections the hotel so you don't have to stay in the Aqua side. Well worth looking at the website.
Hi all, just after a bit of advice about holidaying in Egypt as will be the first time we've been. Looking to go April 2024, will be myself and wife and 2 daughters (age 14 and 16). Would like a resort where we can get out a bit and explore the surrounding areas and also do some organised trips. Would be great if the hotel had a water park with it as both kids love them (we also love snorkeling). Budget around £8k. Any ideas, hints tips much appreciated👍
Stayed in the Rixos Seagate in Sharm last year- Lovely hotel, has a massive water park attached to it, two sections the hotel so you don't have to stay in the Aqua side. Well worth looking at the website.
A friend stayed at the Hilton in Marsa Alam last week. His 10th or so trip to that resort. When your kids are 16+, you’re also welcome at the Steigenberger in Marsa. We were there Christmas 2019.
The resorts are great, the mountains are beautiful and the sealife under water is breathtaking. Padi courses etc are possible.
Two things that annoyed me: the horrible, inhospitable airport where corrupt civil servants try to twist your arm for another(…) visum. Apply for that official visum before you go. They hate it when you have a visum when you enter the country… Second: the rubbish, filth and debris next to road, scattered all over the ground. It’s like being driven over a landfill. Granted: the resorts are clean.
Thanks for that, have heard that the airports can be a bit of a nightmare. Trying to decide between Sharm and Hurghada, think I'm leaning towards Hurghada at the moment.
The Steigenberger Aldau Beach Hotel is nice with a shuttle bus from Hurghada
Stayed at Jaz aquaviva, Hurghada,nice, you should get a swim up room for that budget. Good food, but stay off the salad....unless you want a ring piece like a septic Wigan rosette. (I assume they wash salad in tap water)
Explore the surroundings? What exactly is the plan outside the resort?Originally Posted by Toddy
I’v been to Marsa Alam last October specific for diving. We had to drive sometimes outside the resort (chauffeur).
It’s a desert. Lot of controles gun posts. not a nice place to be.
The resort was nice. Diving exceptional. One of the most professional diving centers i’v seen on this globe. Airport is terrible. Take some ass pills with you as you’ll probably get sick.
For Egypt, 100% this ^^^^^
It's highly likely (if not guarantted) you'll get the squits at some point.........
Airport wise avoid Sharm.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Nothing too adventurous, just to be able to walk out of the hotel complex and have a wander round shops etc. We'll be booking organised trips for things further afield.
Cheers, Toddy
There's plenty of thing to see and do outside of the tourist towns; Mount Sinai, St Catherine Monastery, Nawamis site, Coloured Canyon, Ras Mohammed National Park are all well worth a visit. The South Sinai desert is itself a fascinating place, especially with a Bedouin guide showing you around. Checkpoints are just something you have to accept in South Sinai and passing through them shouldn't delay your journey too much.
OP: some tips as requested:
Drink lots and lots of bottled water
Use hand sanitisers frequently
Expect to hand out small tips for any service you receive
Haggling is a way of life when shopping, but as things are generally much cheaper over there you may prefer to just pay the asking price
Vendors will often approach and invite you to look at their wares, one of the most effective ways to deal with them is to put your right hand on your chest and shake your head - with a smile
A few words of Arabic will be much appreciated
Modest dressing is respectful, especially when away from the tourist hotels
Be aware the standard of driving is rather haphazard to us westerners
Have a great holiday!
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
I've travelled to many countries ... there are only two placed I have vowed never to return to; Egypt and Israel.
I'm sure there are some very nice high end resorts but as a whole it's not a nice place in my experience and I'm certain you will need imodium ... who wants that on their holidays???
Transiting all the airports can be frustrating at times, it's better to just accept it and not to get uptight.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Speaking again about Marsa: there's absolutely nothing outside the 'compound' that's worth going out. It's the littered desert road and that's it. Kalashnikov-wearing guards and military, a fuel pump (no kidding). You can jump on a shuttle bus to Port Ghalib in the south. A spooky town: newly-built houses but no people living in those houses. It has a harbour where delapitated former super yachts now act as diving vessel for tourists that want to go out on the Red Sea to dive. Port Ghalib also has a 'bazar' where you can buy the usual stuff: "Best price my friend!" The place to be to buy a his-and-hers matching Patek Phillipe (note the spelling of 'Phillipe') for less than $ 100.
One tip when you book a hotel room: get one facing north or east! Temp wise, much nicer in April and the Summer. In the winter, book a room facing south or southwest. They're airco'd but you want to be able to sit outside on the balcony. And SW and S is not what you want in the afternoon during the warm/hot season.
When you go with your daughters, go for a hotel where there's entertainment that fits the age of your children. We were lucky back then: the people who entertained guests were mostly young (male and female - not only from Egypt) with tons of energy. That was 'catching'.
As I wrote: the Steigenberger in Marsa allows only kids >16. And they try to uphold a certain 'decorum' during dinner time. People are asked to dress properly. And they did when we were there. Without small kids running around, the atmosphere was different than we knew from non-Egyptian resorts when the boys were younger. The food was at the time outstanding. The waiters' service is irritating. They expect a tip; but what is the good moment to give it? First night? Last night? My wife speaks a little Arabic and told one of the older waiters that we would tip them on the last night of our stay. And 'no hustling near our table'. That, with the fact that she talked to him Arabic helped a lot; they didn't didn't bother us, but others (Dutch and German) found waiters to be intrusive (for the lack of a better word) when we talked about that.
One thing you should do: get a shave. The quality of the shave and the full skin treatment that goes with the shave is absolutely amazing.
To sum it up: some people like it in the Egyptian resorts and come back every year. We only went once and that was enough.
With 8K to spend, I would fly to Florida, stay in Orlando (Universal!) for a few days and/or head to the beaches near Cape Canaveral (one hr drive east).
Last edited by thieuster; 11th May 2023 at 16:10.
I was thinking the same thing! Think I’ll pass. What’s the point in paying £0000 to spend days on the bog?!
Thanks for the tips, as for Florida we're going again this October. Was looking to go to Mexico next April but the seaweed situation has put us off hence looking at Egypt. If there's anywhere else that's nice that time of year then I'm all ears😁 (Already done Thailand).
Thanks all.
We’re of to Sharm in 5 weeks. Staying at the Charmilion sea life resort. So we’ll see what it’s like, never been to Egypt before.
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This re Egypt......wont ever go again.
Many more places we would go.
Egypt is top on my list of countries never to visit again.
Did a Nile Cruise followed by a week in Hurghada.
The cruise itself, and the sites we visited were enjoyable but the constant shadowing by armed guards and the small army who escorted our convoy to Abu Simbel and back were a concern throughout that part of the trip.
Time spent with the locals was horrendous. Incredibly rude individuals and actually blocked us on several occasions when trying to walk away from a market stall without being anything. Only times on the trip I was glad our armed escorts stepped in.
Onward to Hurghada, the hotel itself was fine. We ventured out once to a local shopping area, something we chose not to repeat, and met similarly rude individuals to earlier in the trip.
It may have changed since but I’m not going back to try it out.
Yeah, Egypt - never again. Me and the missus were mooching around Karnak Temple site in Luxor at a quiet period. An armed 'Security guard' approached us in a deserted area, held out his hand and said "Money". Like an idiot I asked him 'why'. At which point he un-holstered his sidearm and waved it around. I hastily gave him some banknotes and we skedaddled back to a busier part of the site.
Also, had to sign a waiver for a Nile cruise as the local fundamentalists were wont to take potshots at passing cruise boats. That, and constant pestering cries of "Caleche! Caleche!" means I won't be returning to Egypt in a hurry.
BTW, make sure any females in your party do not wear ankle bracelets - the local lads believe they are only worn by prostitutes or girls with loose morals. They will get pestered accordingly.
I could tell you how I know this.
Egypt - Beautiful place - not so nice people.
I went with my two kids last year. All three of us had the trots and both my kids were sick as well. We won’t be going back.
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Go to Oman or Dubai instead.
I’ve done Egypt a few times ,didn’t always get the trots,but I also never paid 8k.
It was well cheap when I used to go.
I’d go to the canaries,and with 8k you get a great place.
Better food better drink ,what’s not to like .
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Please do tell.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
He asked an English girl how much by mistake
I went in 1988 and did a full tour, but those were different days. I wouldn’t go back now.
I've been on a couple of liveaboards in recent years and before that a short stay in Sharm.
My first visit to Sharm matched a lot of the experiences here, but on the second the traders were a lot less persistent, I heard that they had been told to tone it down as it was driving away tourists.
On the two liveaboards, the crew were all helpful and mostly friendly (the first from Marsa Alan, was noticeably better though).
On the most recent we had 3 days at a pretty modest hotel and found it very relaxing and no one suffered any stomach problems.
Walking around Sharm old market area in December last year, we found the traders unaggressive and friendly and we happily sat in bars and restaurants without being hassled or feeling uncomfortable (a mixed age and gender group).
I'd say Egypt has got better over my visits, but if you just want some sun, I would probably favour Madeira or the Canaries.
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
I'm.gwtting the feeling that Egypt might not be the best place to go😁 Might have to rethink this, wanted a decent holiday in the sun in April, like I said we were going to go to Mexico but the seaweed situation has put us off, don't want the Caneries as we've done them to death, might have a look at Dominic or if somebody cab suggested elsewhere?
Thanks again for all the replies, much appreciated.
Thailand, but not the main tourist areas, too expensive compared to lesser trodden areas.(not been for 20 years though)
What about Cape Verde islands ?
I’ve been twice and both times I’ve been sick as a dog.
The last time I didn’t have a solid Barry White for about 6 months after I returned.
I was careful not to have ice in my drinks, washing hands etc but it still got me twice.
Never again.
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I am genuinely baffled by these reports of stomach issues.
Foreigners who live in Egypt rarely suffer them, likewise foreigners who frequently travel there. I've been to the region well over a hundred times over the years and can recall only a couple of 'events' - and they were over within two days.
I don't believe Egypt is any worse than other African/middle east countries in this repect, IME I'd say it's above with regards to food standards.
And FWIW the worst case of stomach illness I've ever had was traced back to a 5* London hotel.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
With £8k to spend I can’t believe anyone would even think about Egypt. There are so many amazing places in the world and Egypt wouldn’t be anywhere near my top thirty or forty.
I guess it depents where you stay. Like thieuster says, at Marsa Alam’s it’s a god forsaken desert around the resort.
I wouldn’t go to Marsa Alam if you aren’t there for diving.
For 8k and especially if you don’t dive I would go someplace else.
I am not as familiar with arabic countries as I was with the Far East, but I remember as a child I was explained that haggling is part of what makes trading fun for everyone, and not haggling meant that you did not understand the value of what you were buying; if you were buying from a craftsman it would not have been unusual for them to refuse selling to you if you had agreed the first asking price.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
An £8k budget for a family of 4 (2 teenagers) does not make the world your oyster.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Equally as popular in both, IME. My natural impatience when shopping is the despair of my Arab friends. Pricing in the middle east falls into three catergories: locals, foreign workers and tourists. When out on my own I'm more than happy with the foreign worker price, but if I'm with friends they will haggle interminably with the vendor until he gives me the local price.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
I don’t know a single person who’s been who hasn’t had stomach issues.
The plan journey home on my last trip was horrific, people were queuing the whole way home for the toilets.
My friends ended up with a big payout from a holiday provider 20k+ as his wife ended up with ecoli and another bacteria. She was hospitalised and was in a bad way for months.
You couldnt pay me 8k to go to Egypt again on holiday.
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Agree about not returning to Egypt .
If you speak any arabic the constant insults from the locals behind your back is utterly disgusting .
I was on a felucca ride as part of a trip and midway through the crew taught the tourist group to recite a profanity and blasphemy riddled song , the tour guide ( a self professed professor of egyptology no less) sat there smiling , at one point I caught him making sexual remarks about my wife ( we were on honeymoon) and the next minute he was making sexual remarks about me !
Gropings and sexual remarks from shopkeepers and monument staff were quite common , I chased two young men out of a perfume shop for molesting my wife and chased them down the street shouting haram at them to shame them.
Armed guards at some monuments . I had a 70 year old with an M60 casually over his shoulder flagging the entire tour group with it as we walked about .
40 tourists were massacred at
Then at the end the cruise ship owner trying to shake us down for more money to tip the crew as its traditional.
Horrendous place all round . There was a massacre in Luxor about a week after we left in 97 , 50 people including small children . Stabbed . The families found the bodies had been looted on retrieval ( wedding rings removed along with fingers ) watches and jewelry . Local police were implicated .
Vietnam , Thailand , Mauritius , India , Maldives all better places with much better people. I’d happily go back to Beirut and Syria over Egypt. Even in Russia people are more honest and trustworthy.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/l...e-1297059.html
And my understanding is that its worse now than then.
Can’t say I had stomach issues but a few sensible precautions when travelling .
Don’t eat cut fruit ( I recommend this everywhere including the UK , get a piece of fruit and peel and cut it yourself ) too much handling fir a commercial aetting you are guaranteed cross contamination and thats before you get to the buffet situation. Avoid salads and raw veg for the same reason .
Avoid buffets when possible . If not stick to ordering fresh or boiled eggs and sealed yoghurt .
Don’t over indulge , your system can handle most pathogens if you don’t overload it . Eat what you need don’t be a glutton.
Stay hydrated . There is nothing wrong with a glass of whisky or spirits as a digestive immediately after dinner . Its not a very effective antiseptic and won’t help with toxins already produced on food by existing bacteria but it won’t hurt .
If something tastes very bland or dirt like don’t eat it .
It really does. I bet I could list 20 four star or higher holidays for that party for significantly less than £8k in places where you’re not captive on a complex and have to ensure armed checkpoints. That’s not a holiday, it sounds more like the Palestinian Authority.
regarding tummy upset (highly likely) take charcoal capsules. take three each morning as a preventative. usually does the trick. easy to get hold of over here
If you are talking about heading to a hotel for two weeks it's possible but for many locations it is not - that is not what some of us class as a holiday, YMMV.
I agree with the idea of a 'complex'.
Last edited by Chris_in_the_UK; 12th May 2023 at 11:31.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Fair enough.
I hope you like Russians.
We went to Sharm for some sun and snorkelling last October, and the whole place was over-run with Russians, as Egypt is not fussed about sanctions etc.
I think it is fair to say that they didn't improve our holiday.
I don't like to generalise at all, but in that week we saw a lot of unfair treatment of perfectly well-mannered staff, all from Russian guests, ranging from being impolite to being downright offensive.
Not at all surprising.
I have witnessed the same in a few places (skiing in Zermatt, Dubai and others). Not sure if it's down to the them being wealthy enough to travel of if it's just inherent to how they are?.
Last edited by Chris_in_the_UK; 12th May 2023 at 12:16.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Sinai not Egypt, me and the Missus, well GF then, spent a very happy couple or 3 months in this place, early 90's, so it's looking a little a bit bigger now. Though doesn't appear to have lost all it's rustic charms, probably got more than treacherous drop toilets too by the look of it, and you won't have to brush your teeth down at the sea edge, as in the good old days... which has to be a good thing...I'd imagine it's only a fraction of your 8k...We stayed here and went to Sharm for an overnight, hated it even then, too touristy, returned promptly to Ras al satan,...just a thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atTEya4u8z4
Bit more info here , looks like where we stayed, Ras al satan, has evolved into the New Moon camp, it wasn't much more than 6 no frills grass huts back then, a bigger hut as the restaurant, in the middle of nowhere. Nonetheless the striking, desert beauty of the place appears unchanged, the skyscapes, stars were epic as it was some miles from Neweiba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bwVYtiLLKc
Maybe not quite what the OP's looking for in fairness.
Last edited by Passenger; 12th May 2023 at 12:45.
I find normal working class Russians to be decent people . The ones that can afford foreign holidays tend to be of another ilk entirely . Certain parts of India have a similar problem.
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