Egypt with children????

neil2jo

Hi, I am looking at booking a holiday to Sharm el sheik for my family - 2 Adults & 2 children aged 4 & 1 - going around the 29th March for 2 weeks. Please can anyone advise if they have taken children this young and if it is a good/bad idea. Is it hot, is it a child friendly place etc.

Also, is there much that we will be able to do with children if we do go as we do like to be quite active and not just sit on a beach/pool every day.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

maemaesmummy

We went to Egypt in April last year..we didnt go to Sharm and from what it gather its the most commercialised resort so probably better with young children. Make sure its a minimum of 5 stars and read every review you can on Trip Advisor before booking.

Our kids were 2 and 7 months....it was very, very hot so plenty of sunblock. Also we ran out of formula and getting baby milk was a nightmare.. but maybe not in Sharm..

Personally I wouldnt go again and certainly not with our kids so young but Im sure others will disagree.

maemaesmummy

Where we were there was nothing only the hotel so not a lot to do other than swim... they had a kids club but as is the case frequently in Eqypt they catered for Germans and Russians...

We were AI and the food was okay (ish) but very repetitive... and we all got the dreaded lurgy despite no icecreams, salad etc and only bottled water..

poe.tuesday

We have taken our children to Egypt many times since a very young age and have not had any problems, however, it will be hard work with your youngest despite going in March (which is hot but not as hot as it gets), not only will you have to contend with the heat but also there is a likelihood that you may get ill, as an adult it is bad enough but for a baby it could be serious. As for things to do, there are plenty of water sports based activities and trips out but again, these are not really suitable for your youngest.

Personally I would wait until your youngest is old enough to be able to cope with the heat and the posibility of getting ill, I would say they need to be at least 3 years old.

neil2jo

Thanks for the replies so far. I had a feeling, all of what you mentioned may be the case but guess I just needed to hear it from someone else - if you know what I mean.

Does anyone have any alternatives for a 2 week holiday at the end of Mar/beginning of April to somewhere child friendly and fairly warm?

Strapped

If it's within your budget, I'd suggest Dubai as an alternative.

poe.tuesday

Dubai would be good but there may not be enough there to occupy you for 2 weeks

one of my fav places which is near by is Mallorca - it's a stunning island, safe and great for kids - as long as you stay away from magaluf you will be fine

DUKE

I went to Luxor a few years ago and it is so very hot! There were a few kids there but I wouldn't recommend that you take your children to Egypt. It's not the type of place where you go to sit on the beach really and I think a 1 & 4 year old may not be that interested in the tombs ... bit boring for them.

eco123

Egypt is a stunning country, I have been more than 15 times !!!


It is very hot & I would recommend high factor sun cream for the kids, temperatures reached 54 degrees last time I went & that's roasting...don't underestimate it. I am 38 & use childrens nivea factor 35

Sharm is obviously near the sea & is a little cooler (JUST)...so better for children

• Buy your visa's at the airport when you arrive in Egypt it's cheaper.
• Buy your currency at the airport in Egypt you get a much better rate.
• Pay about 20% of the starting prices if buying...always haggle.
• Take good quality tablets just in case you get deli-belly.
• The people are wonderful.

I have eaten tripe & meat that has been covered in flies on the streets & not suffered ...lucky I reckon. To give you an idea of the heat, I put a disposable lighter under my sunbed WRAPPED in a towel & it still exploded !!!

travelchick

I have been to both Egypt and Morocco (Agadir) and I loved them both, although there was more to do in Morocco, its very cheap out there and all places are family friendly.
Also if you are going to Sharm you don’t have to get a visa if you do not leave the area of the Sinai, the link shows a map but I don’t know how to shrink it lol.

http://http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/sinai.jpg

I phoned the consulate before I traveled who confirmed I didn’t need a visa and after a little argument with the commission earning rep the other side they confirmed it.
I hope that helps

njwill

We are looking at going to Egypt for 2 weeks at Easter with our kids aged 7 and 3. We first went to Sharm in June 2005 just before my son was 1 and then we went to Hurghada in July the following year when he was 2.

We had a fab holiday both times and the kids were not ill at all or bothered by the heat.
We made sure they were covered with high factor sunscream (we use Piz Buin once a day or the boots once one) and drank plenty of water.

We now just have to find somewhere with waterslides for Easter.