Sharm el Sheikh recommendations please
Discussion
Thinking of heading that way with my OHcrazy little monkey baby in October/November time, primarily for a bit of winter sun but also for some diving. I have never dived but my OHcrazy little monkey baby has done some pool dives but never got around to finishing her open water stuff. I assume there must be resorts with PADI instructors on site? How long do you think it would take to qualify, bearing in mind we do not want to dive everyday?
I appreciate that there are a wide range of resorts and it is a popular (read busy) resort, particularly at that time of year, but if anyone has any recommendations around the £1000-1500 each mark I would appreciate it, rather than just picking one at random. Been looking on Google Earth and the Baron Palms resort looks ok, right next to a reef. Anyone been?
Also, I hear there is a good kart track there, so somewhere close would be a bonus (but don't tell her that).
Cheers
Edited to keep the OH happy
I appreciate that there are a wide range of resorts and it is a popular (read busy) resort, particularly at that time of year, but if anyone has any recommendations around the £1000-1500 each mark I would appreciate it, rather than just picking one at random. Been looking on Google Earth and the Baron Palms resort looks ok, right next to a reef. Anyone been?
Also, I hear there is a good kart track there, so somewhere close would be a bonus (but don't tell her that).
Cheers
Edited to keep the OH happy
Edited by LD1Racing on Monday 20th April 18:29
Edited by LD1Racing on Monday 20th April 18:29
It depends what sort of person you are but I'd avoid Sharm and head to Dahab just up the coast. It has a more villagey feel to it, is quieter and literally hugs the coastline.
Here's a link to various hotels. http://www.dahab.net/english/Hotels/Dahab_Hotels.h...
We stayed in the Nesima, which is second bottom on that link. That was a few years ago but it had clean rooms with funky domed ceilings, great food and a good pool.
The PADI takes about 4 days. Generally theory in the morning and diving in the afternoon. It was quite tiring actually but we did go in July and the heat was intense!
Here's a link to various hotels. http://www.dahab.net/english/Hotels/Dahab_Hotels.h...
We stayed in the Nesima, which is second bottom on that link. That was a few years ago but it had clean rooms with funky domed ceilings, great food and a good pool.
The PADI takes about 4 days. Generally theory in the morning and diving in the afternoon. It was quite tiring actually but we did go in July and the heat was intense!
To Open Water standard, 4 days usually. Another two days for Advanced Open Water which, despite the name, isn't that advanced but teaches some more skills and gives you range down to 30m.
Or do it in the UK over two weekends and enjoy the diving there, without wasting time in a pool or classroom on holiday.
Or do it in the UK over two weekends and enjoy the diving there, without wasting time in a pool or classroom on holiday.
If you go to Sharm then Camel divers are the people to go with, dived with them twice and they're very good but more importantly are professional and not a fly by night outfit....some great diving to be had.
The 1 thing i learnt is that you need a good hotel, Hyatt is superb as is the 3 seasons but the rest are just large butlins type places and to be avoided if possible....
The 1 thing i learnt is that you need a good hotel, Hyatt is superb as is the 3 seasons but the rest are just large butlins type places and to be avoided if possible....
I went to Na'ama Bay last summer. The reviews on trip advisor include gems such as;
'Blackpool with heat'.
'Egypt's answer to Benidorm'.
'Like a pikey fairground'.
They aren't too far from the truth but for £500 for a week, including flights and an all inclusive hotel, it was good value.
Our hotel was about five minutes from the beach and the £3 snorkel sets we all purchased allowed us to find Nemo, annoy a puffer fish and nearly swim into a lion fish. We paid abotu £15 for a day long boat trip to an old wreck, a deserted beach and some coral that my friends reckoned was more vivid, in clearer water and with a wider variety of marine life than that of the area they had dived on The Great Barrier Reef.
That probably wasn't much of a recommendation was it? Our group of twenty-something lads had fun though.
'Blackpool with heat'.
'Egypt's answer to Benidorm'.
'Like a pikey fairground'.
They aren't too far from the truth but for £500 for a week, including flights and an all inclusive hotel, it was good value.
Our hotel was about five minutes from the beach and the £3 snorkel sets we all purchased allowed us to find Nemo, annoy a puffer fish and nearly swim into a lion fish. We paid abotu £15 for a day long boat trip to an old wreck, a deserted beach and some coral that my friends reckoned was more vivid, in clearer water and with a wider variety of marine life than that of the area they had dived on The Great Barrier Reef.
That probably wasn't much of a recommendation was it? Our group of twenty-something lads had fun though.
Personally I wasn't mad on SES, but we paid £500 for a week away in Egypt in May all inclusive. Don't get me wrong, we had a lovely holiday, but the resort just wasn't us and I very much doubt we'll ever go back there.
1. The resort of Sharm El Sheikh is a work in progress. It is littered with building sites and the cliffs are full of cranes banging away all day long. Unless they have magically done years worth of work since May 2007 it is far from a polished resort. Apart from the reefs, the beach is virtually non existant and there is no real coastline view to note.
2. Whoever thought to put what they are trying to sell as a 5 star resort that close to an airport? We could see the runway from the back of the sister hotel we stayed at. Naama bay is also directly under the landing path....
3. Naama Bay is a mix of rude and overzealous Egypians selling tat and American chains. I found Naama Bay to be a not a very pleasant place to spend an evening out as you were hassled every 5 metres by people who wouldn't take no for an answer. Families with kids were having their children manhandled into shops against the wishes of their parents. The Mackenzie wearing brigade were everywhere along with their loud and northern families. Definately Benidorm for the slightly wealthier chav.
4. The resort of SES is miles away from anywhere. SES is basically a massive complex of luxury hotels and a beach, surrounded by baron desert litered with building debris. No town. No Egyptian culture. I think there was one shop at the main entrance to the resort. Nothing to do of an evening apart from try and enjoy the nasty local spirits at your hotel or head out to Naama Bay (see above...)
5. The proceedure at the airport was possibly the worst I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. Disorganised and slow is being nice about it.
On the plus side, it was about 45-50 celsius most days in May (56 celsius one day, ouch that was hot!), the food was very good even if it made me ill for a day or so, I couldn't fault the hotel (Concorde El Salam) but I did feel sorry for the people that were sold the El Salam and then herded into the sister hotel behind which was rubbish and next to the runway...
I simply don't see SES as a fair reflection of what Egypt has to offer. It is a westernised resort plonked straight in the middle of a very traditional area in the persuit of tourism and it doesn't work IMO.
1. The resort of Sharm El Sheikh is a work in progress. It is littered with building sites and the cliffs are full of cranes banging away all day long. Unless they have magically done years worth of work since May 2007 it is far from a polished resort. Apart from the reefs, the beach is virtually non existant and there is no real coastline view to note.
2. Whoever thought to put what they are trying to sell as a 5 star resort that close to an airport? We could see the runway from the back of the sister hotel we stayed at. Naama bay is also directly under the landing path....
3. Naama Bay is a mix of rude and overzealous Egypians selling tat and American chains. I found Naama Bay to be a not a very pleasant place to spend an evening out as you were hassled every 5 metres by people who wouldn't take no for an answer. Families with kids were having their children manhandled into shops against the wishes of their parents. The Mackenzie wearing brigade were everywhere along with their loud and northern families. Definately Benidorm for the slightly wealthier chav.
4. The resort of SES is miles away from anywhere. SES is basically a massive complex of luxury hotels and a beach, surrounded by baron desert litered with building debris. No town. No Egyptian culture. I think there was one shop at the main entrance to the resort. Nothing to do of an evening apart from try and enjoy the nasty local spirits at your hotel or head out to Naama Bay (see above...)
5. The proceedure at the airport was possibly the worst I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. Disorganised and slow is being nice about it.
On the plus side, it was about 45-50 celsius most days in May (56 celsius one day, ouch that was hot!), the food was very good even if it made me ill for a day or so, I couldn't fault the hotel (Concorde El Salam) but I did feel sorry for the people that were sold the El Salam and then herded into the sister hotel behind which was rubbish and next to the runway...
I simply don't see SES as a fair reflection of what Egypt has to offer. It is a westernised resort plonked straight in the middle of a very traditional area in the persuit of tourism and it doesn't work IMO.
The best recommendation I can give if you visit SES is to make sure you have lots of moist loo roll in the fridge. Guaranteed, your ring piece will look like a blood orange at sometime during your stay.
On a diving front, we have used Emperor Divers a couple of times & they are excellent.
On a diving front, we have used Emperor Divers a couple of times & they are excellent.
Only been there as part of a the last night of a week diving liveaboard.
Probably OK for a week stay with the mrs, but go diving. If you ahvent dived befpre then you will miss out on one of the greatest dives out there ( if not the world, certainly in one of my top 5) the Thistlegorm.
Otherwise its chain hotels, Hard Rock Cafe etc etc.
given the choice I wouldnt want to sopend a week or so there as it would get dull v quickly but its a great place to let off steam for a night having been in the Red Sea for a week, so bear in mind the bars may fill up at the weekends with lots of divers fresh back from a week at sea!
Probably OK for a week stay with the mrs, but go diving. If you ahvent dived befpre then you will miss out on one of the greatest dives out there ( if not the world, certainly in one of my top 5) the Thistlegorm.
Otherwise its chain hotels, Hard Rock Cafe etc etc.
given the choice I wouldnt want to sopend a week or so there as it would get dull v quickly but its a great place to let off steam for a night having been in the Red Sea for a week, so bear in mind the bars may fill up at the weekends with lots of divers fresh back from a week at sea!
CamelDive! Simply amazing experiences with them!
We stayed at Laguna Vista Gardens. Very quiet but twinned with the Laguna Vista hotel which was busier. Good for kids I imagine. Depends what you are going for really.
Go scuba diving though. For the amount it with cost it is a must! No question.
We stayed at Laguna Vista Gardens. Very quiet but twinned with the Laguna Vista hotel which was busier. Good for kids I imagine. Depends what you are going for really.
Go scuba diving though. For the amount it with cost it is a must! No question.
Definately the best thing to do is do the training in the UK either your local PDI or BSAC club. Get up to Advanced / Sports standard so that you can go to the Thistlegorm - 1942 mechant vessel with most of the cargo still on board - army trucks / motorbikes / etc. Otherwise you will be doing dives in the hotel pool and spending time doing theory for most of the holiday.
We (10 of our local BSAC club) went March 08 and enjoyed the experience - enough variety in the food and drink stakes - only one of our party had a dicky tummy one night. I would not treat it as a shopping holiday - you will be dissapointed.
We (10 of our local BSAC club) went March 08 and enjoyed the experience - enough variety in the food and drink stakes - only one of our party had a dicky tummy one night. I would not treat it as a shopping holiday - you will be dissapointed.
I would advise El Gouna , a bit quieter less tacky
http://www.elgouna.com/Home~SectionID~17.html
, good diving , Go Kart track , good restaurants , Airport Hurghada 20km
Hotels were excellent good Golf course ......
having a Villa built at the moment rent out in 2011
edit to add take the cruiser to the Abu tig Marina
http://www.elgouna.com/Home~SectionID~17.html
, good diving , Go Kart track , good restaurants , Airport Hurghada 20km
Hotels were excellent good Golf course ......
having a Villa built at the moment rent out in 2011
edit to add take the cruiser to the Abu tig Marina
Edited by DBSV8 on Sunday 26th April 06:30
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