Egypt, Red Sea area any advice?

C

cara mc k

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I am thinking of going to the Red Sea area for a week in January.
Most hotels seem to be in Sharm El Sheikh, does anyone know what it is like, are you stuck to the hotel, or is there restaurants etc in the local town, it looks nice but I don't want to be just in a hotel for everything for a week.

Any advice much appreciated

Cara Mc K
 
Do you have your heart set on the Red sea? Luxor should not be missed & as all tours are organised for very early in the morning, you have afternoons free to laze by the pool if that's your thing. But if you are going for diving, that's a different matter.
 
I suppose you know that there was a terrorist bombing in Sharm Al-Sheikh in July, it killed around 100.
I know there's been bombing in London which would have little effect on a decision to go there, but if I was just picking a resort out of a selection of similiar alternatives I'd be giving this place a miss for a while.
 
We were in Egypt in May and we went to Dahab which is just up the coast from Sharm. We drove through Sharm on the way to Dahab and it does apper to be just a string of hotels, albeit luxury ones.

Are you planning on going on a package holiday? Maybe your travel agent will be able to give you more advise, or check out one of the guide books such as The Lonely Planet

Dahab is less glitzy than Sharm. Its more of a backpackers hangout, plenty of dive schools, restaruants and a few western style bars too...a real laid back kind of place...you can do day trips from here to.

As Moneyhoney said if your not going for the diving then Luxor is amazing.
 
Check the Department of Foreign Affairs website before going. They were advising Irish Nationals not to travel to Egypt because of terrorist threats, which is a pity as it is a fantastic country.
 
See [broken link removed].
Egypt - updated 7/10/05

 Irish citizens should be aware that there is a threat of terrorism in Egypt. The bomb attacks in Sharm-al-Sheikh on 23 July follow three separate incidents in Cairo in April 2005 in which tourist areas were targeted. Notwithstanding the stringent measures taken by the Egyptian authorities to safeguard visitors, Irish citizens should exercise caution and maintain a high level of vigilance, especially in commercial establishments and public areas, including tourist sites. They should also monitor local developments, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and follow the advice of their tour operators as well as the local authorities. Irish citizens should also be aware that there have been some accidents involving Nile cruisers in recent years and it is advisable to obtain travel and medical insurance before departure.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Cara,

On the danger front, you can't let the Terrorists dictate your life. In saying that I wouldn't go looking for trouble but Egypt is not as dangerous 'Terrorist-wise' as a lot of places. I probably would be concerned if I was staying in a Western hotels (Hilton, Best Western, etc.) in one of the main tourist areas. But where is safe now?

There's a lot more to the Red Sea than the Sharm al-Sheikh area. It's just the best known.

Check out Hurghada & El Gouna. They are much further down the coast than Sharm al-Sheikh. They are not as busy as Sharm al-Sheikh and they have not had any attacks there.

I stayed in El Gouna on 2 occasions. It's just a small resort outside Hurghada. There's not much there to be honest but that's fine. It's beautiful, so relaxing. The restaurants in the hotels were excellant. Really enjoyed it.

Hurghada is a large town. Worth looking into staying there too.

If if Scuba Diving you want maybe Sharm al-Sheikh is the place for you. I don't know how much of it goes on around Hurghada.

One other important bit of advice... Travel with a male in Egypt. Not as important in a resort, but if you intend spending a day or two in the cities, or at the Pyramids.

Larry
 
Thanks for your advice

Many thanks for your advice, holiday is now booked, I just saw in a magazine that Jade Goody from big brother was on her holidays there so it would suit me classy person that I am!

Cara.
 
We went to Sharm a couple of years ago and stayed in the Ritz Charlton. An amazing hotel with magnificent swimming pools including a diving pool. There was also a walk way out to the sea for diving. The hotel wasn't that expensive to stay there but the bar and food was dear if you bought separate. Worth checking it out!
 
Every cent brought to Egypt is suporting the dictator Mubarak, a friend of torturing nations as for example the USA. Egypt is used as a dungeon, a torture chamber and that is feeding terorrism. Don't ask why your head is blown off by a suicide bomber, she/he is desperate enough, desperated by the ignorance of these tourists financing the suppressor.
Stay away from the war zones!
 
Heinbloed, You are painting a very dark and frightening picture of Egypt. I lived there for over a year and never felt in danger, either from criminals or the regime. President Mubarrak might have his faults but the majority of the people are a happy content crowd and these would include some of my family. If you mind your own business whilst a guest in these countries you will enjoy yourself. My husband and son had a fantastic holiday also in Sharm El Sheikh last January. The threat of terrorism is everywhere unfortunately and it is very worrying, but its important to have a balanced view of life in Egypt.
 
Hi Heinbloed,
I think you may have smoked something dodgy with your hippy friends over the weekend before you wrote the last piece. You'll be okay.
You should go to Egypt some time and ask the locals what they think of Mubarack. I can tell you they love him! They never seemed too oppressed to me.
I hope you also avoiding buying American products, watching their TV shows, same for China. Hope you don't have anything "Made in China" in your house. And what about the British? Their no Saints! Hang on... we're friends with the US and Bertie is just back from China as well. Oh no! Where does it all end?

Larry
 
When the opposition candidate is in prison : [broken link removed] ,
when the masses boykott the elections, when candidates "dissapear" , election helpers are shot in the street by police man having a day off ,abducted , when union leaders are murdered - sure a happy country for the deaf , the blind, the ignorant. And good business for those selling pink glasses.
Saigon was a holiday resort as well where people invited their familys for a stay, the olympic games 1936 where a fine thing , showing the world how peacefull and democratic the German Nazis are.....and what a safeplace for familys!

The regime's opponents have familys as well!
Every penny spend there can be turned into a bullet costing a life. Don't forget to teach your children well. For example why it is so cheap there. And who is responsible for the cheapness - namely those who like it as it is. Those who are paying to keep up the supressors.
There are democratic parts in the world. But holidays there cost real money. The financial poverty -of the tourist-does not have to be reflected by his mental/moral poverty. Or does it ?!
Of course one could say with Freud and Mitscherlich that every underdog is glad to see another dog under it -or asking the heratic question: how low must one be at home in his social ranking to go to Egypt on a holiday ?!
 
God Heinbloed! Your postings are so depressing. Sure, Egypt is still in its democratic infancy; but politicians been arrested and imprisioned is nothing new (even to us here). When I go to Egypt on holidays I know I am helping the working man there by staying in a hotel, riding a camel, hiring a taxi, eating at the food kiosk up the street or whatever. Egyptians are very kind optimistic people and I would hate to see the much needed tourist trade damaged by way over the top doom and gloom predictions by foreigners who really don't know the full story unless they have lived life there.
 
The tourist trade is used in many countrys as a cover up for money laundering. As Al Capone used the washing saloons, hence the name. You might not have realised the money changers (luggage handlers, taxi drivers etc.) that give you "a much better rate" in Egypt. In a nation where the currency is not freely tradeable and the ordinary people can't buy what they want -I have seen that once myself- ALL valuta(hard currency) has only one benefactor:the Mafia.
The CIA has just dissolved their torture chambers in Poland and Romania (countrys with a simalar financial/political situation in the past) and flown the victims - to Egypt. A safe haven.
It has cost plenty of taxpayers money to buy these European countrys out of the hands of the Mafia, so if some one thinks spending money in Egypt is a sort of developement aid -look back. Every penny spend there is a golden nail in the coffin of the EU taxpayer.
The EU is the last resort in the world where fair trade and human rights have a base.
If any common sense has a chance than it's the EU. Don't undermine it.Act responsible.
 
Heinbloed,

I think if someone wants to see the Red Sea, the Pyramids, The Valley of the Kings etc, then it's their God-given right to see them. So why should they care if a few dodgy locals or whatever get tortured using their holiday money. Their probably gonna get it anyway. The country is still cheap, it's not like it really expensive because of it.

To be honest, I wouldn't turn down the chance to see some of the ancient wonders of the world just in case someone I never met or will meet get a few volts. And anyway, you don't end up being tortured for helping grannies across the road. Maybe those volts will encourage him to tell the truth and stop his messing. Maybe he'll see the error of his ways and find the right path in life.

The CIA never tortured me or anyone I know, and I know I'll feel a bit safer boarding that flight to Cairo knowing the CIA are watching my back. Fair Play to them I say. Where would we be without them brave men and women who protect our freedom?

So I'm looking forward to spending my tourist money in Egypt again soon, getting the best exchange rate I can from whomever I find, knowing that my money will be put to good use and at the end of the day it will be coming out of your taxpaying pocket.

Thanks for that,
Larry

p.s. Send me your address and I'll send you a postcard of the Pyramids !
 
going to egypt.

has anybody any advice on what to expect by going to egypt. could you enjoy your holiday esp with there customs over there. am a bit apprehenive now about going
 
Re: going to egypt.

lorr01 said:
has anybody any advice on what to expect by going to egypt. could you enjoy your holiday esp with there customs over there. am a bit apprehenive now about going
Click to expand...

Egypt is a fantastic place loor01, the people are friendly and helpful. Like any place you go, be respectful of their customs and they will respect you. I bought the Lonely Planet guide before I went and it goes through their customs and tells you how to respect them as a tourist.

The main points as far as I remember are..
1. Tips. Tipping is widespread and an important pert of their culture. When you arrive in the airport they will rush up to help you with your bags etc. they will expect a tip for this so make sure you have small denomination notes to hand. One pound is plenty for most tips.

2. Ladies. Ladies should be accompanied by a man at all times while outside tourist areas. They are not really in danger but will receive a lot of possibly unwanted attention if alone.

3. Traders, everywhere you go, you will have to run the gauntlet of traders trying to sell you all sorts of tourist stuff. If you do not want to engage with them, do not make eye contact as once they get talking to you it is nearly impossible (and considered rude) to walk away without buying something. I would suggest, however, that you do engage with them as I found it to be great fun. Haggeling is expected and most of them are experts at it so it's really fun trying to haggle them down from £70 to £10. They will ALL tell you that they have about 12 hungry mouths to feed or their father is starving or some suce line but I wouldn't believe a word. Just think Delboy from "only fools..." and you will get the idea.

4. Kids, bring a box of pens or pencils as for some reason that I didn't figure out, the kids over there love them. Kids will flock around tourists in the hope of getting money but I was told it was best not to give money to the Children, so pens or pencils will get you off the hook.

5. This one is out of personal experience, do NOT go near beggers, do NOT give them money unless it is a tip for doing something for you. Beggers can be dangerous and if they see your wallet they will make an attempt to take it from you. This is probably out of desparation rather than badness because as far as I know there is no social welfare in Egypt.

Finally, go and enjoy it, it is a wonderful country.
 
Re: going to egypt.

Squire said:
Egypt is a fantastic place loor01, the people are friendly and helpful. Like any place you go, be respectful of their customs and they will respect you. I bought the Lonely Planet guide before I went and it goes through their customs and tells you how to respect them as a tourist.
thank you very much squire for all your advice, i appreciate it very much, am okay now about going, it like another turkey as we were plaged by people there wanting us to buy but we had fun haggling so this place will be similar ha!!!!.
was very anxious with what ome of the other people were aying but they entitled to speak out. any way. thanks again

lorr

The main points as far as I remember are..
1. Tips. Tipping is widespread and an important pert of their culture. When you arrive in the airport they will rush up to help you with your bags etc. they will expect a tip for this so make sure you have small denomination notes to hand. One pound is plenty for most tips.

2. Ladies. Ladies should be accompanied by a man at all times while outside tourist areas. They are not really in danger but will receive a lot of possibly unwanted attention if alone.

3. Traders, everywhere you go, you will have to run the gauntlet of traders trying to sell you all sorts of tourist stuff. If you do not want to engage with them, do not make eye contact as once they get talking to you it is nearly impossible (and considered rude) to walk away without buying something. I would suggest, however, that you do engage with them as I found it to be great fun. Haggeling is expected and most of them are experts at it so it's really fun trying to haggle them down from £70 to £10. They will ALL tell you that they have about 12 hungry mouths to feed or their father is starving or some suce line but I wouldn't believe a word. Just think Delboy from "only fools..." and you will get the idea.

4. Kids, bring a box of pens or pencils as for some reason that I didn't figure out, the kids over there love them. Kids will flock around tourists in the hope of getting money but I was told it was best not to give money to the Children, so pens or pencils will get you off the hook.

5. This one is out of personal experience, do NOT go near beggers, do NOT give them money unless it is a tip for doing something for you. Beggers can be dangerous and if they see your wallet they will make an attempt to take it from you. This is probably out of desparation rather than badness because as far as I know there is no social welfare in Egypt.

Finally, go and enjoy it, it is a wonderful country.
Click to expand...
 
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