OFT Red Sea holiday

It looks like we're probably off to there in November for a spot of
sun, sea and alcohol so has anyone got any suggestions as to where to
go and where to avoid?

The early plan is to go all inclusive to ensure maximum free alcohol
intake and to indulge in a bit of snorkeling once I've drunk as much
as I can so somewhere with decent shallow water would be nice and I'm
not keen on having to get a courtesy bus to get to the beach.

If anyone has got a couple of sets of snorkeling kit they'd be willing
to loan us in return for a bottle of decent duty free booze on our
return it'd be much appreciated. Failing that is it possible to hire
the stuff over there on a weekly basis without incurring heavy cash
penalties? I've got open water diving qualifications but Adie hasn't
so I doubt if we'll be doing any proper diving but it's not completely
out of the question.

 

I went to Taba Heights in Egypt a couple of years ago. The diving was
great, though I thought the snorkelling was more enjoyable as all the
interesting stuff is pretty close to the surface. There's a reef just
next to where the hotels are, it's really convenient.

However, there's nothing there apart from the 4 hotels, so you don't
get to see any local culture etc, but if you're just up for a beach
holiday it hits the spot. The Hyatt is the best hotel there. Mind the
bombs though - the Hilton along the road was blown up a couple of weeks
after we got back.

 

Pyramisa Resort, Sharm el Sheik but there are a lot of steps. There's
another hotel just up the beach that has a better beach but the name
escapes me.

Work in Progress visited the area more recently than I so probably has
better advice.

Open water diving, much like riding a motorcycle, is classed as a
hazardous activity - make sure it's covered as a top up under your
insurance policy as it will not be permitted as standard.

 

We both went to Hurgurda at Christmas - in terms of diving it was
rather good. I did a couple of scuba drops, warm water, clear and all
that. Depending on the people you book with you can either sail out
from the beach or take a bus to the docks. The hotels are in a line
along the beach, so stroll out of room, on to beach and swim.

Go outside the hotel and it's all a bit different. Andy has worked in
all sorts of places with gun toating people wandering about the place,
so may not be bothered. Walking about seeing a plethora of armed guards
everywhere was somewhat disconcerting, seeing not a single Egyptian
woman anywhere was also disconcerting. Trying to get an honest answer
out of anyone was an exercise in futility. Everyone speaks in whispers,
afraid to voice dissent too loud. Possibly afraid to be overheard by
the many, many security personnel walking about very conspicuously in
uniform - or the many who are trying to be inconspicuous in plain
clothes.

If you want hot, beach, diving and drinking then go - if you want
anything more than that, I'd find somewhere else.

 

Yes I have.
But then you've kill filed me so you'll never know.


--

Big Dave

B12 : CB250RSA : Z250A1
OMF#4