What to do in Sharm El Sheikh with kids?

Moose_2

All in the title really.
I have two children aged 7 and 2 and was wondering what trips or places to visit while we are there.

Also how much do you tip? I hear that you have to tip everyone for everything but I'm not sure what the usual amount is.

Final question....do you HAVE to have injectons to go to Sharm El Sheikh?
My surgery says yes but my freind said that her surgery told her she didn't need any so Im a bit confused.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

H

silverfoxdude

Hi Moose,

We are off to Eygpt end of Nov, on a nile cruise and the advice on here was great, someone gave me this brilliant info site

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=32

Plenty for you to read in there. Hope you have a nice hol, let us know how it is

Funkymum

We all had Hep A & Typhoid jabs for travel to Egypt. Thats what we were told we needed at the doctors.

lush_walrus

Moose wrote:

All in the title really.
I have two children aged 7 and 2 and was wondering what trips or places to visit while we are there.

Also how much do you tip? I hear that you have to tip everyone for everything but I'm not sure what the usual amount is.

Final question....do you HAVE to have injectons to go to Sharm El Sheikh?
My surgery says yes but my freind said that her surgery told her she didn't need any so Im a bit confused.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

H

I went to Sharm El Sheikh towards the end of November 2 years ago, and same thing, my doctor advised jabs, my bfs said you dont need to due to the time of year. We both had them done, as its on the cusp of the mossy time of year so low risk but still a little. Also it means that if you decide to go elsewhere in Eygpt you can as near the nile and the risk is higher.

We went for the diving, but to be honest outside of any of the hotels locally (walking distance) there is nothing to do AT ALL! But the weather is brilliant and the hotels generally are well geared up for people staying around the pool. You can't really swim in the sea as such due to the corels (arent allowed to walk out to sea at least to protect the corel) but make sure that if the children can swim you get them snorkelling equipment as the fish are all very close to the shore and they can spend hours snorkelling away!!!!

It gets dark very early at this time of year, by the end of Nov it was getting dark at 3-3.30 but it gives you a chance to clean yourself up for an early dinner and all the hotels have shows on in the evening (or you can go on fantastic night dives).

You can arrange day trips to Luxor or Cairo, but these arent cheap as it entails leaving yr hotel at 5 in the morning and catching a short flight. From memory I think it cost in excess of £100 each person. We did it and it was brilliant but very tiring so might not be an idea for children.

There is a place quite close called Narma Bay, complete with bars and tacky shops which is the closest amusement really, the hotels lay on buses.

Walking around outside of the hotels locally isnt really an option as surroundings are purely barron. Also remember that Eygpt has a bad history for tourists after the 80s and the masacur of German tourists on a tour bus, so all hotels have armed guards on the main gates.

There are also trips to St Catherines Monastery (I think thats the name) which would be a good trip with children. The other trips that were available I really cant remember!

The whole place is basically geared for lazing around in the sun or diving with the odd trip thrown in. I hope I don't sound too negative, we had a good time, but there really isnt huge amounts to do there, just relax relax relax. The hotels have plenty of entertainment for children and so Im sure they will be fine and taken off your hands for a few hours each day.

The_Lambton_Worm

Went on an AI to Sharm in October. Didn't get any jabs apart from when i was over there and got some sort of bug/food poisoning.

We stayed at Dreams Beach Resort and were warned by the reps on the first day that we would be bad whilst there and that any medical supplies we'd taken with us would be useless (there was two nurses with us who concurred). We were told that as soon as the symptoms (stomach cramps, nausia & diarrhea) started to go and see the on-site Dr. All of us (9+other Brits we met) were bad. I started getting cramps after four days and saw the Dr straight away. It cost me £20 for a jab and course of tablets. Two hours later i was as right as rain.

Tipping - I found the locals happy with whatever you gave them. In the bars i just gave them the difference from the price of drinks and the next 5LE or 10LE note(£1=10LE approx). We gave our room cleaners 50LE a week and our room was spotless. They even folded our clothes up! Tipping in restaurants is about the same as here ie. 15%. Tipping is not compulsory and you certainly don't tip for everything. Basically, its the same as here.

Excursions - There are a few trips (Luxor, Cairo, Petra etc) but they are expensive and time consuming (Cairo & Luxor is an overnight stay). You can visit St Catherines Monastery or Mt Sinai (Moses Mountain) easily enough from Sharm but again they're an all day trip. I didn't go to any of the above but i did go quad biking in the desert. Not sure if a 2yo can do this but kids can bunk up with an adult. You get to meet the Bedouins but the desert is a mess. Discarded plastic bottles, old rugs and suchlike lying everywhere. Its still a very fun experience especially if you do it at dusk. Cost us £20 each but some others had payed £30. Haggle with the locals to get a good deal. Be sure to use the local people for booking any trips as they're cheaper than going through the reps. They'll introduce themselves to you but they don't hassle you.

Eating out in Sharm is done at Narma Bay. There's plenty to choose from including Mexican, Chinese, Thai and local restaurants plus Hard Rock, KFC and any amount of English pubs offering both local and English fayre. The Camel Bar is a good place as it has a rooftop terrace with great views to people watch but i dont think they let children in after 7pm. You'll also walk down a street with what has to be the worlds longest name. Can't remember the full name but it starts off as 'His Royal Highness the................' You'll know what i mean when you see it. This street is one of two main thoroughfares through Narma where all the shops/pubs/restaurants are. A word of warning if you stray off these two main avenues - you'll get hassled off every shopkeeper and his dog. They won't intimidate but they're a nuisance.

Just remembered, there's some sort of theme park but i can't remember its name. Never went but we did pass it on the bus when we arrived. Ask your rep about it.

Don't let getting bad put you off, the place is clean, safe and friendly. I'd go back tomorrow but i'm a snorkling/diving freak which is what Sharm excels at.

Have a nice trip!

Quackers

Where are you staying Moose? And when are you going? Aren't I nosey

We're off to Sharm on the 13th Nov - cant wait. Although I have to say I'd like to avoid the tummy bug that EVERYONE keeps saying i'll get.

I've not been before so am grateful for any hints 'n' tips anyone can give

I've read that lots of places take american dollars - I'm contemplating taking those as well as Egyptian pounds - any advice anyone?

paul2louise

i went to naama bay last year. Stayed in a B&B. We had lovely food in Naama bay never had any tummy upsets. If you are nervous about what you are eating then start off with hard rock cafe, very cheap and you can't go wrong with a burger or steak.

We went diving a bit and snorkling but the beach at naama bay it safe to swim, there isnt a lot of coral there. You have to be out of the resort for the good reef.

You can visit st catherines monastery, have a bedowin(can't spell sorry) feast in the desert. There are other trips to do if you dont want to go in the water.

cairo is a long way and is guaranteed to give you tummy upsets.

email me if you want to know anymore, but i loved it there and would recommend it to anyone.

Not sure about the jabs as i have had them anyway ut there wasnt many mozzies.

money is no problem i think they take all currencies.

hope it helps

louise

Moose_2

Quackers wrote:

Where are you staying Moose? And when are you going? Aren't I nosey

We're off to Sharm on the 13th Nov - cant wait. Although I have to say I'd like to avoid the tummy bug that EVERYONE keeps saying i'll get.

I've not been before so am grateful for any hints 'n' tips anyone can give

I've read that lots of places take american dollars - I'm contemplating taking those as well as Egyptian pounds - any advice anyone?

Hi, we are going on the 10th of November (thursday). It's my birthday treat and we are staying AI at the Three Corners Kirosiez as that was the only Hotel that could accomodate the four of us.

We are only taking egyptian pounds as I was told that was all you need really. I think they like British pounds too although not sure.

So see you there! Have a good holiday.

richardw

Stay at a place with very good activities for them. Sports, games and swimming. Get them involved so they are tired and have to go to bed early.
Organise a listening service and then go out for great food and drink and nightlife.

Quackers

Moose wrote:

So see you there! Have a good holiday.

Hope you have a fab time too

I sooooo nearly booked that hotel :rotfl: