Holiday to Egypt, July, Suggestions?

mutley_muppet

DazzaMc wrote:

Priced up hilton waterfalls - £291.34 each. A bit over our budget, but cheap compared to prices in england for a 5 star! I can't believe how cheap accomodation is over there.

I got a price of £200 for 4 star All inclusive - st george three corners.
The cheapest for a good b and b is about £100 each. So is it worth paying another £100 or so and having all inclusive? I have heard that the food is repetetive at most all inclusive hotels in egypt, though.

Have you been all inclusive there before? I'm just thinking about all those free drinks Which hotels have you been to in sharm?

Hiya,

Yes the prices for a nice 5* are amazing in Egypt compared to UK! You really do get value for your money.

The food is usually repetitive in all inclusive places, but it is worth going AI if you like a drink! I don't drink much so its much cheaper for me to eat outside the hotel so I always go B&B.

The local beer is ok, but apparently the local wine if nasty and any imported alcohol is going to be v. v. expensive.
If you are happy to drink the local stuff then go for it!

By the way, eating out is very cheap. We paid about a tenner max for a slap up meal for two in Namma Bay and if you go to Sharm old town and eat in a local cafe you can eat a big meal each for just a few quid for the both of you. (Thats without booze though!)

I've stayed at the Waterfalls and the Baron Resort. Both lovely, and both have amazing snorkelling but I prefer the Waterfalls.

I'm lucky that I have been able to book v.last minute so I could get a good deal. Have booked independently and also package with Thomson.

The St Georges has good reviews. The only thing that put me off is that it is a bit inland so you have to get a bus or taxi to the beach... not a big deal I guess, I supose i'm just lazy and like to spill out of my hotel straight onto the beach and I like a nice sea view from my room.

Wherever you go you will love Sharm. My friends are going to Halomy &/or Al Diwan in a few weeks so I'll let you know how they get on.

Any other questions feel free to ask.:beer:

DazzaMc

I think we'll go b and b. I don't drink that much, and I doubt I'll like the wine or beer so we'll be better off.

Change of plan, though. My boss won't let me change my hols to june

He will swap them from 30th july to 23rd, though. Will that make it any cheaper? Gonna go price hunting again.

Might end up booking a mega last minute deal.

Have you been on any excursions? What would you recommend / advise against? I want to go to cairo, haven't been since I was about 8. Coach trips are a rip off, about £80, but on egyptair.com you can get return flights from sharm to cairo for £30!!!! Just need to pick which tour I want. Suggestions?

Or is the coachdeal better value?

Darran

mutley_muppet

Hi Darran,
Glad to see you found the Trip Advisor forum - they are a helpful bunch!
Yes, I would definately fly to cairo now the prices have come down better than a long bus journey.
I haven't been to Cairo, but my OH has and he just found a taxi driver and used him as a guide. Someone on TA will probably be able to give you a contact name for a guide if you want to pre-book. When you go on the organised tours you often get dragged round perfume & papyrus shops for hours when you really want to be at the pyramids.
I mainly go to Sharm to chill out, enjoy the sun & snorkel, but I have been on several boat trips... glass bottom boat and a full day snorkeling to Tiran Island which was great. Cost about £20 each with nice lunch on boat & three stops for snorkelling.
I would also recommend a trip by land to Ras Mohammed National Park. You see more by land... see my post on TA. (my user name is the same!) You can snorkel straight from deserted beaches and the variety of fish & coral are amazing.
Avoid the grotty dolphinarium near the old town, it's a real pit and they have had begula whales confiscated from them in the past. Nasty place. If you are lucky you may see wild dolphins while out on a boat trip.
When I go back I am going to try the quad biking which a lot of people recommend. Also a sunset cruise on a boat.
Camel Bar & their roof terrace is a great place to eat, drink & hang out in Namma Bay.
Good luck with finding a good deal. Let us know how you get on!

DazzaMc

Another thing - have you been to egypt in the summer holiday season? Just wondering how it compares with going when kids are back at school. It's obviously busier, but is the difference enough to persuade me to go in october?

I'm swaying for october but it's just longer to wait

DazzaMc

OK. Cheapest I've found flights on july 30th is £758.
Cheapest in october is £544.

A no-brainer, I guess.

BUT. What are cheap late deals like in july for egypt? Might be best sticking to those weeks and going late?

Or shall I book for october? This holiday is driving me mad.

mutley_muppet

Darran, I've only been in May/June & December.

My OH went at the end of August when it was still kids hollidays and yes, he did say it was v.busy round the pools etc and of course the prices will be higher.

If you can wait, I would go for October. If you can afford it, maybe try for a real cheapy last minute deal somewhere in the summer if you can get time off work then aswell?

It'll still be really hot in october btw!

p.s. Be careful of otbeach.com - I tried to book a flight with them yesterday and they cancelled twice then tried to blag me to pay more twice! See my post on this forum & TA.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4516198#post4516198

Good luck. All the stress will be worth it in the end!

sloppychops

Just remember if you decide on October that school half term is towards the end so prices will increase for that period.

DazzaMc

I've decided (finally) we'll go early october. Gives me longer to save up. Will get a cheap deal, apparently there are loads in october cos kids are back at school.

Might go for a short break in june / july to tide me over

Thanks for all your help

mutley_muppet

Good luck. I've just booked to go in May with a friend. I can't wait! :cool:

mimi_money_saver

Hi,

Was just reading your post and wanted to add my thoughts. I'm just back from a week at the Hilton Sharm Waterfalls. We booked a week beforehand with Explorers and paid £400 B&B.

Our holiday was fantastic and I would very much recommend the Hilton Waterfalls as others here have. The breakfasts are amazing.

Don't bother with all-inclusive. The food is repetitive and it's much nicer to have a wander in Naama bay or Old Sharm and find somewhere.

Explorers is a specialist dive holiday specialist and as such offer good discounts on pre-booked dive packages. The dive school on site at the Hilton is a 5* Padi and I cannot speak highly enough of the staff and quality of dive trips.

The Ocean Bay is also an Explorers hotel and is not as nice as the Hilton but is perfectly ok if your budget is tight. We met some people that had got this holiday for £239. It's also in Naama bay itself so no need to risk your life with local taxis or being restricted to hotel shuttle services into Naama.

For these prices it is not worth booking independently. You get all your transfers sorted as well which removes haggling and immediately sorting out cash on arrival.

Have a great time - am very jealous!

M