Has anybody been to Sharm el Sheikh?

Has anybody been to Sharm el Sheikh?

Author
Discussion

TimmyHolland

Original Poster:

661 posts

209 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
If so, I am going for a week soon and would like to know what most people have used for currency as I have heard almost any currency goes? Were you able to get good rates while out there?

Cheers, T.

dnomyar

367 posts

202 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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Hi, fortunate enough to go on a regular basis, Egyptian Pounds, local is fine, just be careful of cross contamination, the locals tend to keep their money in their underwear, not nice vomit

MacGee

2,513 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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when we went there we used alcohol hand gel to clean after handling notes...info given by thomas cook rep...worked well.

havoc

31,711 posts

249 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
MacGee said:
when we went there we used alcohol hand gel to clean after handling notes...info given by thomas cook rep...worked well.
yes

alcohol hand-gel is a must-take. We were there for a week, were very careful about hygiene, and came away without ANY stomach upsets, which I'm told is unusual. Use it:-
- after handling money
- after shaking their hands* (albeit discreetly!!!)
- before food
- any other time you think you might need to!

Take Egyptian Pounds.
Go to the Camel Bar (lunch outside or pre/after-dinner drinks on the rooftop)
Enjoy the water
Ignore the 'in your face' locals (some are fantastic, some are truly obnoxious and will try anything to part you and your money...)


* Not being racist or anything...but THEY handle their money, and god knows what else, and hygiene over there ISN'T the same as here...plus they've got antibodies for all of the local bugs...

TimmyHolland

Original Poster:

661 posts

209 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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Are you two serious? That is grim.

MrV

2,748 posts

242 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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Don't bother taking anything from the UK to treat the the galloping sts you may or may not get over there smile immodium doesnt even touch it ,

Plus side the local stuff is a quarter of the price and works thumbup

There is no rhyme or reason whether you will get Delhi belly out there or not I had it last year swmbo and the small child didn't despite us eating,drinking pretty the same and using the antiseptic washes.

MacGee

2,513 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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TimmyHolland said:
Are you two serious? That is grim.
TOTALLY.......
not grim..just take precautions..Diving/snorkelling excellent.

spandexx

944 posts

290 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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Some good advice in here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I will also say that two paracetamol and two imodium max is all you need to stop any bum rushes or stomach cramps.

snuffle

1,587 posts

196 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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TimmyHolland said:
Are you two serious? That is grim.
Agreed the money can be filthy especially the lower amounts,as regard to the food/water, out of 6 visits ive only been ill once,although it normally takes me 24 hours to aclimatise.
I normally use tap water for teeth brushing, and have never avoided the ice in drinks.
The weather is great and the people are some of the friendliest ive met, they can be a bit pushy in the market areas but if you are firm,not rude then all is fine.
Learn some basic language before you go, although most Egyptians speak about 5 languages anyway,and they dont seem to like Russians.

PS Where abouts in Sharm are you going?

TimmyHolland

Original Poster:

661 posts

209 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
snuffle said:
TimmyHolland said:
Are you two serious? That is grim.
Agreed the money can be filthy especially the lower amounts,as regard to the food/water, out of 6 visits ive only been ill once,although it normally takes me 24 hours to aclimatise.
I normally use tap water for teeth brushing, and have never avoided the ice in drinks.
The weather is great and the people are some of the friendliest ive met, they can be a bit pushy in the market areas but if you are firm,not rude then all is fine.
Learn some basic language before you go, although most Egyptians speak about 5 languages anyway,and they dont seem to like Russians.

PS Where abouts in Sharm are you going?
I am heading to Naama Bay on Monday with 5 mates. I have 200 egyptian pounds(£30 i think) for now and will get my currency out there on the first day I think. The family lived there for two years while i was very yound so know a couple of words. Markets will be a bit of fun. Is there much pickpocketing?

snuffle

1,587 posts

196 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
Havent heard of much crime being commited by locals, although we were warned that gangs opperate and target tourists , but I was more cautious around the Russians to be honest, if you have any Tattoos and you are with a group then be ready for Russian mafia wannabes to have a go.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

269 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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TimmyHolland said:
If so, I am going for a week soon and would like to know what most people have used for currency surviving the squits
Edited for more pressing matters...

My daughter spent the whole of the return flight on the thunder box...

HTH...

cs02rm0

13,814 posts

205 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
I'd take the precautions with using bottled water for everything and avoiding ice, it's not much hassle. I wouldn't worry about it too much though, you'll probably be fin.

The people selling stuff are really persistent and prey on people who are too polite to ignore them. Close any conversation that starts with asking where you're from very quickly! We were hassled by them relentlessly even by the hotel pool.

Great place for snorkelling though, the weather must be scorching at the moment. We enjoyed a day trip to Cairo but if you're going with a group of mates I guess you may not be interested.

havoc

31,711 posts

249 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
quotequote all
Agree with cs02rm0.

For sharm-belly...get a private prescription for ciprofloxacin before you go - if the immodium doesn't touch it, this will - it's an antibiotic specifically for food poisoning...will clear you up within 24hrs!

Merp

2,258 posts

266 months

Saturday 20th June 2009
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I flew back from sharm and landed yesterday morning at 3am [Not pleasant having 2 hours sleep and straight to silverstone] but anyway back on topic,

Went for 2 weeks with the GF stayed in Nabq Bay, was fantastic, we had a large [500m] jetty on the beach which at the end has some awesome corals and fish and we saw so much more at the beach than we did in the VIP cruise that thomson offered. Whish stopped off at the 3 protected national park areas.

Also big thumbs up for hand gel, neither of us got the belly, although for a few days i just couldnt seem to eat more than a bread roll but felt fine!

MacGee

2,513 posts

244 months

Sunday 21st June 2009
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alcoho; very expensive...£90.00 for crap wine with meal at hotel...ritz carlton. So when you arrive go to tourist duty free down main street in Naama Bay and buy loads...must bring passport/flight tickets

TimmyHolland

Original Poster:

661 posts

209 months

Sunday 21st June 2009
quotequote all
I am reading quite a lot of reviews on my hotel, sadly not all amazing(Eep!). It seems the case that theres an issue with Russians? I couldn't make clear whether this is a gang problem or that it is a popular resort for Russian tourists who don't know how to behave. Can somebody shed some light?

paoloh

8,617 posts

218 months

Sunday 21st June 2009
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Russian's in hotel restaurants are fking unreal, they have absolutely no manners and will push in, scream shout etc etc but on the plus side, the young russian ladies wear dental floss as swimwear. The biggest issue is that the older Russian women wear dental floss as swimwear too...........

Lucie W

3,473 posts

196 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
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Everyone has a different experience,obviously, but I think alcohol hand gel is a bit OTT. You're only likely to get ill from eating food and drinking water. Just the obvious, don't drink the tap water, make sure the bottled water is sealed, and be careful about what you eat. We didn't have any problems, but took some some meds just in case. Have a good time, Naama bay is good at night, and the sea is awesome.

havoc

31,711 posts

249 months

Monday 22nd June 2009
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Lucie, the money is well known to carry LOTS of germs (and you probably don't want to know where the germs originate...)! Hand-gel is a VERY good idea...