Egypt - Wedding Forum

Teresa · #1 (**permalink**) 19-01-2005, 10:34 AM

We are hoping to go to Egypt on holiday this year. We fancy going diving in the Red Sea at Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada.

We have a budget of about £2000 for 2 weeks as we got holiday vouchers for our wedding presents otherwise we wouldn't be going anywhere.

Just wondered if anyone has been. I know you have Laurie, and can offer any advice. We are thinking of maybe June or October so was wondering what the weather is like.

Also if you can recommend any places to stay or things to do while we're there other than the diving that would be great.

We were also wondering whether to do a week in the Red Sea to go diving and a week doing the touristy things like the pyramids. What do you think.

We quite liked the look of this one and can go at the beginning of October for about 800 quid each all inclusive

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/sharm_el_sheikh/

Just wondered what its like at the Red Sea as I don't know anyone who's been so would be good to get an idea.

Also with the terrorist threat in October, do you think its a good idea to go there??

Thanks everyone.

Teresa xx

Kezzer · #2 (**permalink**) 19-01-2005, 11:37 AM

Everyone I know who's been has had a fab time

Apparently Sharm el Sheikh is a lot nicer than Hurghada.

Laurie · #3 (**permalink**) 19-01-2005, 01:02 PM

The Red Sea is totally incredible!! The diving is meant to be some of the best in the world.

Definitely go to Sharm. Although I didn't get to go (I'm meant to be there right now if we hadn't cancelled

), it's meant to be a lot nicer with more to do than Hurghada.

Don't worry about a week in the city, they do excursions from the Red Sea resorts giving you the best of both worlds. Plus to be honest, I think a week there would be too much.

I've only been mid-Summer, in August, and it was bloody hot so June or October should be fabulous.

£2000 is ample budget but you can get great last minute deals on www.teletextholidays.co.uk as Al and I went for just over £600 each, all inclusive, in a 5-star hotel. We would have been staying here if we had gone on Sunday as planned http://www.medhotels.co.uk/book/hote...393675&Lang=EN and I booked it through Imperial Travel so got all sorts of flight upgrades too. I found them on the teletext site.

Go for it Teresa, although you may never want to dive anywhere else. If you do the Thistlegorm, you must tell me what it's like.

Teresa · #4 (**permalink**) 20-01-2005, 04:48 AM

Thanks Laurie it sounds fab. I think we might wait and get a last minute deal but not sure yet. We've divied in Australia and the Maldives too and both were fantastic so hopefully this will be fab too.

Kas · #5 (**permalink**) 20-01-2005, 04:57 AM

Hi Teresa
We went to Egypt in June about three years ago - it was totally amazing and definitely somewhere I want to get back to one day. June was hot although not too hot, i.e the visits to temples etc were done in the morning with the afternoon to relax/sunbathe (sometimes in the shade as it apparently did reach 40 degrees one day).
We did the Nile Cruise the first week and stayed at the Movenpick in El Gouna on the Red Sea the second week. Both were amazing. The Nile cruise was great in that we got to see so many temples etc although not the pyramids as Cairo is so far away, we did do a day trip from the Red Sea up to Cairo as we felt that as we were in the country we had to see the pyramids.
Apparently (hubby dives, I don't) the coral is more colourful/alive in Egypt than the Maldives but the fish are more colourful in the Maldives - hope i have got that round the right way. If you like I can ask hubby for info about the diving....
Don't hesitate to let me know if you want any more info, or pics - haven't looked at them for a while!
K x

Dawnie · #6 (**permalink**) 20-01-2005, 08:07 AM

If it helps T, i'm going to Sharm at the end of March.

I'll have a good look round and take photo's of the local diving facilities and fun houses for your perusal luv!

Dawnie · #7 (**permalink**) 20-01-2005, 08:15 AM

Also, if I were you, instead of Cairo and the pyramids, i'd give somewhere like Luxor or Aswan a go. There will be much more to do there if you're spending a second week in Egypt.

Cairo's only really worth a day's visit in my honest opinion. The pyramids are beautiful and the Sphynx is amazing but in a couple of hours it's all done and Cairo is a sh*t tip!

Luxor's beautiful with loads of temples - great bars, the option of buggering off into the desert on camels, monestaries in the middle of nowhere, the Temple of Philae, the unfinished obelisk, the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Queen Hatchepsut etc etc......and you've got reasonably easy access by small plane to places like the Temple of Ramses II which I have been endeavouring to visit for years (this year will be the one) and i'm assured is awesome!!!

There are some pictures here....
Egypt pictures - and there are loads of them!!!!

Oh, and as for the terrorist threat I think i'm probably just a bit blase and don't for one minute blame people for worrying but my philosophy is very much that I could get run over by a bus in Devon next year so go where you want to go and enjoy!

Kas · #8 (**permalink**) 20-01-2005, 08:22 AM

Ooh Philae is absolutely beautiful!