Hurghada - 1st week of March

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Me and Mrs C are off to Hurghada on 29th February for (hopefully) a week of lots of sun, sea, and sand.

I'd be perfectly happy to laze by the pool for the whole week and relax (work gets ridiculously busy between April - july) but Mrs C likes to get out of the hotel visit some local sights, do a bit of shopping.

Does anybody have any hints and tips about what there is to do in Hurghada, anywhere recommended, anywhere to avoid.

All suggestions and comments welcome

[ScubaBiker]

Outside the hotels Hurghada doesn't have much to see and do. The area sold by travel agents as 'Hurghada' covers a fairly large area. Depending on your hotel you can be up to an hour from central Hurghada so bear that in mind if you are planning to travel.

The nicest place is probably the New Marina, which has a good selection of restaurants and bars. Worth a visit in the evening for a walk about and a change from hotel food and drink. Prices are slightly cheaper than a European resort, but not by much, food is typically good and the beer is cold.
Sheraton Road is the main shopping area. I have been to Hurghada several times, but never felt the need to go shopping, so not really sure what it is like.
Senzo Mall is a large modern shopping centre. I have been there once, and it was just like a typical shopping centre.

If you do walk around local shops expect a bit of hassle from shopkeepers, but a firm no is enough to stop it. Overall it is very safe for tourists.

To get about local taxis are cheap, and you can use Uber. However I have heard of a few people having issues with the Uber drivers wanting more money from tourists, so watch out for that. I normally use a local company called Hurgahda Drivers for transfers, and they have always been good to deal with.

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Cheers Scuba - much appreciated

[Carl_VivaEspana]

Countdown said:

All suggestions and comments welcome

I used to be a regular at the Steinberger Al Dau Beach (the hotel and diving centre are excellent) for around ten years (i can't remember the year it was built) but quit going when it got a bit dodgy around 2014. There was also an increasing amount of lion fish and stone fish towards the tail end of my visits there, spotting sharks and wreck diving was fun until the tiger shark attack and I quit diving there after that.

There was then the incident in the sister Al Dau hotel opposite.

Hed Kandi licenced a bar and nightclub in the marina and Ministry Of Sound were next door in the early days of the marina. They were good times, I would definitely check it out. I doubt they are still there in their original form but someone would have bought them if they sold up and they are probably still fun to visit. The Buddah Lounge used to be full of Russian couples drinking enormous amounts of vodka and was fun to people watch in.

If I were going now I would avoid anything other than a hotel booked taxi, especially at the airport and back from the marina.

I got into one taxi once and it had no windscreen, one had no floor under the drivers pedals and you could see the road, it was all part of the fun back then but after the downturn I was attempted to be mugged on almost every return trip back from the harbour or, involved in some kind of incident. One driver sped through a speed trap at 30mph over, got stopped by police and demanded I pay the ticket. I refused and then he kidnapped me (not joking) for about 10 minutes by refusing to stop and driving quickly out of town until he realised I was on the phone to the hotel.

They don't try to mug you in the traditional sense, they just try to mildly intimidate you into giving them money. I always kept cool and I never got hurt but others might have freaked out I suppose.

Why go? Well, the hotels themselves are great value, I actually got a 'no rain' guarantee with all my bookings which stated that if it rained I got my money back. I stuck to the food at the hotel, avoided all seafood and never, ever got sick. The Spa treatments were cheap for the quality and the nightlife was decent. The weather, for a two week tan, is unbeatable at that time of the year imho

Don't let me put you off, I have not been in over ten years, places change and it would be good to hear back on your own experiences.

[Condi]

How adventurous are you? What sort of thing/quality do you expect when on holiday?

Hurghada itself is pretty uninteresting, it's just a place where people live and holiday makers go to all inclusives. If you want the local experience then fill your boots - the white minibuses are great fun and super super cheap (<10p in GBP), taxi's are not much more (£1 ish). Use Uber and pay in cash (the app will allow you to change to "pay cash"), but don't expect it to be anything luxurious. If you go into the modern malls then prices might be displayed, in any other shop expect to haggle which is a pain in the arse tbh. There is an Egyptian Museum which might be finished by the time you go, it has some interesting bits in for the entry price of a few quid. If you want to eat I like Moby Dicks, there is a place call Luca's down in the marina which is British and seems to rate highly on Google/Tripadvisor, IMO it was st.

Otherwise, go and spend a day or 2 in Luxor if you want some history/culture. There are plenty of organised trips or a Go Bus is $8 one way. Luxor (formally Thebes) was the capital of the Old Kingdom and is known as the worlds biggest open air museum. If you do visit then a drink in the bar at the Winter Hotel is recommended, and sunset over the Nile from the garden/pool at Iberotel. Eat in a place just over the road from the Winter Hotel down on the river-front, El-Kababgy.

Also, take £ or Euros. Officially you'll get maybe 38 Egyptian £ to the GBP£, but if paying for goods you should be able to get 50 Egyptian. It's still useful to have some local currency, but if you change your £/€ with locals rather than getting cash out the bank it is significantly better.

Edited by Condi on Tuesday 6th February 00:05

[GT03ROB]

Carl_VivaEspana said:

I used to be a regular at the Steinberger Al Dau Beach (the hotel and diving centre are excellent) for around ten years (i can't remember the year it was built) but quit going when it got a bit dodgy around 2014. There was also an increasing amount of lion fish and stone fish towards the tail end of my visits there, spotting sharks and wreck diving was fun until the tiger shark attack and I quit diving there after that.

I started going in 2004 & used to stay next door at what was then the Intercon. I'd go about 4 times a year, but my last visit was in 2009.

I think Hurghada has grown significantly since then so I'm probably not best placed to comment. I also used to dive most of the time I was there so really didn;t explore much of Hurghada. The main downside was the infestation of obnoxious Russians, doubt that has changed. Egyptians were happy to take their money but couldn't stand them.

A trip over to Luxor is certainly possible as is a trip up to Cairo if you want a long day.

My wifes uncle had a villa in El Gouna, so we would go up there sometimes. El Gouna is quieter & frankly more pleasent. Less touristy.

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Hi all

Thanks again for all the really helpful comments and experiences. Just a couple of quick questions (possibly the first of many)

1. How easy is it to get a local Sim out there? Should I even bother if the hotel has wi fi?

2. Should I get the visa beforehand or when we land at the airport?

3. How likely is "delhi belly"?

[Ultuous]

Countdown said:

1. How easy is it to get a local Sim out there? Should I even bother if the hotel has wi fi?

Very easy - lots of Vodaphone/ WE (their local network) shops everywhere, inc. Senzo Mall and around/ behind the Marina

Countdown said:

2. Should I get the visa beforehand or when we land at the airport?

At the airport - go straight to one of the kiosks with sterling (or US dollars if you have them)... DON'T fall for being hassled by one of the guys offering to sort it for you.

Countdown said:

3. How likely is "delhi belly"?

I've had it once in half a dozen trips, just wash your hands after handling the money and avoid salads etc. (my downfall was risking a beef carpaccio and slightly undercooked salmon)... Ask the local pharmacy for medication if you get it, they've got their own thing that's the only thing that's effective apparently!

[2HFL]

I’m heading to Sharm mid-March, got my visa online and it was straightforward. Have been there a few times before and recall there’s always a bit of a scrum on arrival so thought I’d avoid it this time.

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Cheers Ultuous

Re: the Visa - any reason why I shouldnt just get it online beforehand?

Also our flight is getting in fairly late so will the Sim shops be open? is it possible to get sims beforehand?

[Countdown]

2HFL said:

I’m heading to Sharm mid-March, got my visa online and it was straightforward. Have been there a few times before and recall there’s always a bit of a scrum on arrival so thought I’d avoid it this time.

That's exactly what I was thinking - 200+ people on our flight x god knows how many other flights......

Which website did you use?

[Condi]

Countdown said:

1. How easy is it to get a local Sim out there? Should I even bother if the hotel has wi fi?

2. Should I get the visa beforehand or when we land at the airport?

3. How likely is "delhi belly"?

Super easy. £10 at the airport for 60GB, if you use Vodafone. There are 2 others there, from memory We (a local network) and Orange. You'll find them as you leave, after luggage collection. Or there are shops all over the place, just pop in with your passport.

It's the same price either way, but if you pay on arrival you need $25 in cash. Online is easier, IMO.

So/so. Alcohol spray is very cheap from the pharmacy, just spray your hands before eating and you'll likely be fine. Otherwise, as above, there is some local stuff which nukes it.

[2HFL]

Countdown said:

2HFL said:

I’m heading to Sharm mid-March, got my visa online and it was straightforward. Have been there a few times before and recall there’s always a bit of a scrum on arrival so thought I’d avoid it this time.

That's exactly what I was thinking - 200+ people on our flight x god knows how many other flights......

Which website did you use?

Won’t link for some reason but I used visa2egypt.gov.eg

[Ultuous]

Countdown said:

Re: the Visa - any reason why I shouldn't just get it online beforehand?

TBH I'm erring towards online next time thinking about it - the queue itself isn't very long, but on the last couple of occasions it's resulted in everyone leapfrogging ahead to immigration and then having to wait 20 minutes as a result!

[popeyewhite]

Hurghada isn't particularly nice. The hotels are OK, food is OK. Beaches are man-made. Snorkelling is good if you find a hotel with a house reef. Unless you take yourself off to Luxor for at least two days there's not really any point...and it's quite a trip across the desert. I'd just chill and enjoy the break.

[Countdown]

Thanks again - that's clarified visas and sim cards.

Immunisations?

[Radec]

On the visas at the airport there's only one proper place to get it from which is the bank kiosk on the left before the immigration desks.

There will also be a row of little official looking kiosks lined up there as well with airlines banners like Jet2 etc. on them.
If you go to these guys for a visa they will charge more than the official $25, they will be calling you over trying to act legit, ignore and walk past them to the immigration desks behind them.

The last time I went, last summer, I did the visa online, although it was fine, the website is dogst and it struggles with certain characters if they are in your address, they came through in about a week once approved.

If you do get a visa online beforehand, make sure you pick up and complete a passenger information card first before going to the immigration arrival desk. They will send you to the back of the queue if you don't have this completed before getting to that desk.
They didn't hand them out on my flight but you can always ask the hostess in the plane if they have some.
It's the same thing with departure as well so fill one out before even going to the departure gate.

Don't let anyone help you carry your luggage either as they will ask for money and try to rip you off as well.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

Countdown said:

Thanks again - that's clarified visas and sim cards.

Immunisations?

I never had any and I never caught anything in ten years of trips but the recommendations can change, I would check FCO page.

My pal caught the flu (diagnosed by a GP) at the end of the last holiday but it was likely that the 12 days of all day drinking and 2 days of sun stroke were contributing factors

In terms of Delhi belly or 'pharoah's revenge' I had one bout in 10 years and that was via a very well known seafood cafe in Sharm. I rolled the dice (you should avoid seafood out there) and lost.

If you stick to a general rule of thumb and stick to the hotel food or, well known non-seafood resturant's you should be fine.

[popeyewhite]

The poorly stomach and squits that is often a factor in Red Sea holidays is caused by water based bacteria. All water including water you wash your hands in should come from a bottle. Avoid salads. Take some immodium (though it won't make much difference) and buscopan (for the cramps) and pray that if you do get the bad stomach it's left your system before the flight home lol.

[mooseracer]

popeyewhite said:

The poorly stomach and squits that is often a factor in Red Sea holidays is caused by water based bacteria. All water including water you wash your hands in should come from a bottle. Avoid salads. Take some immodium (though it won't make much difference) and buscopan (for the cramps) and pray that if you do get the bad stomach it's left your system before the flight home lol.

Also ice in drinks - which can be a problem if it is roasting.