Sharm El Sheikh
Discussion
Looking at going for a week in October, having never been before, have been looking at hotels and there seem to be quite a few nice places, looking for some personal recommendations, has to be 5 star, all inclusive would be nice i suppose and a budget of 900 per person max, help me out guys...
Avoid the Pyramisa, nice hotel, food appalling and full of the foulest, rudest Russians you'll ever have the dis-pleasure to meet.
Sharm itself much the same, never met such awefull folk.
Been to Sharm 3 times, first was brilliant, friendly fun place. (Russians were fine too).
2nd not so good but thought maybe just a glitch, 3rd visit no way ever again.
Trying Hurghada this time apparently it's a bit nicer.
Unfortunately as Egypt is cheap it attract the wrong sort of folk.
Sharm itself much the same, never met such awefull folk.
Been to Sharm 3 times, first was brilliant, friendly fun place. (Russians were fine too).
2nd not so good but thought maybe just a glitch, 3rd visit no way ever again.
Trying Hurghada this time apparently it's a bit nicer.
Unfortunately as Egypt is cheap it attract the wrong sort of folk.
Its a few years since I was there but we stayed in the Sierra resort - its owned by the Savoy group and is just accross the road from the Savoy itself.
So as part of the all inclusive deal at the Sierra you can use the Savoys private beach and pools as well as eating at the restaurants etc over there. (Not included in the AI)
The Sierra itself was nice too - but again quite a few Russian - and this was 3 years ago.
Time before I went was right back in about 2001 / 2002 - stayed at the Hilton Sharks Bay - again All inclusive and very ncie - but this is 8 years ago - I see from googling that they have had a refurb and an extra area built as well so may be worth looking at.
Both of these options are out towards the airport so you have to get a taxi or use the hotel bus services to get into Sharm itself - which in my opinion is a good thing.
So as part of the all inclusive deal at the Sierra you can use the Savoys private beach and pools as well as eating at the restaurants etc over there. (Not included in the AI)
The Sierra itself was nice too - but again quite a few Russian - and this was 3 years ago.
Time before I went was right back in about 2001 / 2002 - stayed at the Hilton Sharks Bay - again All inclusive and very ncie - but this is 8 years ago - I see from googling that they have had a refurb and an extra area built as well so may be worth looking at.
Both of these options are out towards the airport so you have to get a taxi or use the hotel bus services to get into Sharm itself - which in my opinion is a good thing.
The_Burg said:
...the foulest, rudest Russians you'll ever have the dis-pleasure to meet.
Russians! :shudder:At both Sharm and Jumeirah Beach (Dubai) we had the misfortune of encountering these people. At both places they were quite loud, rude and a little aggressive towards anyone who was working. Their language has a great term - nekulturny ("uncultured", albeit it's stronger than that in Russian), and it seems to describe them on holiday perfectly!
Can't help with a hotel (we did the Marriott, which was allegedly 4* but probably 3.5 - good snorkelling there though), but can suggest drinks on the roof of the Camel Bar...very cool! Their dive-centre has one of the better reputations too.
reckless st said:
hilton sharks bay 5* all inclusive
was there last year great, own beach good room try to stay on the beach side of complex
found the new side too sterile
more atmosphere on our side
good service good staff (was for us anyway)
Another vote for the Hilton, we stayed on the newer side, the hotel and rooms were spotlessly clean but I liked that.was there last year great, own beach good room try to stay on the beach side of complex
found the new side too sterile
more atmosphere on our side
good service good staff (was for us anyway)
There's a fabulous pool on the new side which I believe is the largest in Sharm.
Whichever side you stay on, you can use the amenities on both sides, it's a 5-10 min walk between the two or you can catch the bus that flits between them.
DBSV8 said:
The_Burg said:
Avoid the Pyramisa, nice hotel, food appalling and full of the foulest, rudest Russians you'll ever have the dis-pleasure to meet.
Sharm itself much the same, never met such awefull folk.
Been to Sharm 3 times, first was brilliant, friendly fun place. (Russians were fine too).
2nd not so good but thought maybe just a glitch, 3rd visit no way ever again.
Trying Hurghada this time apparently it's a bit nicer.
Unfortunately as Egypt is cheap it attract the wrong sort of folk.
instead of Hurghada go to El Gouna next door its only 20km away and has a more relaxed atmosphere , Sharm itself much the same, never met such awefull folk.
Been to Sharm 3 times, first was brilliant, friendly fun place. (Russians were fine too).
2nd not so good but thought maybe just a glitch, 3rd visit no way ever again.
Trying Hurghada this time apparently it's a bit nicer.
Unfortunately as Egypt is cheap it attract the wrong sort of folk.
Got back from Sharm yesterday, would go back but wouldn't recommend the Coral hills resort. Many of the comments regarding the Russians are true, they are the rudest people I have yet to come across. If you are going to be going to any shops, I hope that you can haggle!
I wouldn't bother with day trips TBH (someone will invariably try to flog you some), if you are staying at some of the nicer hotels you will be able to go snorkelling from the beach (not sandy beaches). I wish that I had done a PADI before I went, I think that I would have preferred diving to snorkelling.
ETA
I wouldn't bother with day trips TBH (someone will invariably try to flog you some), if you are staying at some of the nicer hotels you will be able to go snorkelling from the beach (not sandy beaches). I wish that I had done a PADI before I went, I think that I would have preferred diving to snorkelling.
ETA
Edited by Office_Monkey on Sunday 31st January 16:26
Hi,
I have been on liveabords in Sharm three times, but want to get away with the family later this month and Sharm looks like the option as I want to go diving and fly from bristol.
Im aware that soem of the hotels are really the western equivalent of 3 star, however any guidance on the following would be gratefully received.
Im looking for the nicest hotel i can find which is all inc but also has its own house reef and dive center( not one thats a 10 min walk away which I knwo is the case with some of these hotels.) The diving aspect fo the holiday is very important to me.
Ideally it shold also have a spa ( for the mrs!) and a selection of good restaurants. I dont mind not being directly in Sharm or Naama bay as lons as its reasonably close to both and the airport.
I will have lok at Trip Advisor but any personal experiences from here would be appreciated.
Thanks
I have been on liveabords in Sharm three times, but want to get away with the family later this month and Sharm looks like the option as I want to go diving and fly from bristol.
Im aware that soem of the hotels are really the western equivalent of 3 star, however any guidance on the following would be gratefully received.
Im looking for the nicest hotel i can find which is all inc but also has its own house reef and dive center( not one thats a 10 min walk away which I knwo is the case with some of these hotels.) The diving aspect fo the holiday is very important to me.
Ideally it shold also have a spa ( for the mrs!) and a selection of good restaurants. I dont mind not being directly in Sharm or Naama bay as lons as its reasonably close to both and the airport.
I will have lok at Trip Advisor but any personal experiences from here would be appreciated.
Thanks
This question has been asked before many times with much good info and advice.
Search it. Without being rude I can't be bothered to go through my views again as my feedback was lengthly. Lets just say I wasn't massively impressed with a hotel bound complex in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by constant noise and building work.
Search it. Without being rude I can't be bothered to go through my views again as my feedback was lengthly. Lets just say I wasn't massively impressed with a hotel bound complex in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by constant noise and building work.
Sharm is a complete dump.
I went just before christmas. The weather was fantastic, and the hotels spotless.
However...
-The russians are everywhere and they are foul.
-The resort of sharm is horrible, completely unfinished and does not feel safe.
-Everyeone everywhere expects a tip, some bloke would not let me lift my case out of the bus, then demanded a tip for doing it.
-You get pestered everywhere you go, essentially you cant leave the hotel.
Go to El Gouna, I know loads of people have been to both sharm and el gouna, they would never go back to sharm but have been back to el gouna several times.
For me I much prefer walking along a nice sea front on an evening taking in the smells and bars, somewhere like playa blanca in lanzarote. Sharm is just not like that and a complete culture shock for me.
I went just before christmas. The weather was fantastic, and the hotels spotless.
However...
-The russians are everywhere and they are foul.
-The resort of sharm is horrible, completely unfinished and does not feel safe.
-Everyeone everywhere expects a tip, some bloke would not let me lift my case out of the bus, then demanded a tip for doing it.
-You get pestered everywhere you go, essentially you cant leave the hotel.
Go to El Gouna, I know loads of people have been to both sharm and el gouna, they would never go back to sharm but have been back to el gouna several times.
For me I much prefer walking along a nice sea front on an evening taking in the smells and bars, somewhere like playa blanca in lanzarote. Sharm is just not like that and a complete culture shock for me.
Shaolin said:
Reef Oasis has the best house reef in Sharm we stayed there a few years ago, several restaurants and all inclusive.
Sharm is great for diving, I would never go there apart from the diving. As a resort somewhere hot there are better places go.
I stayed in the Jaz Mirabel Beach, There is maybe 500m of knee deep water before you get to the drop off point. Once at the drop off point there is a MASSIVE cargo ship wrecked, there was a piston the size of a car.Sharm is great for diving, I would never go there apart from the diving. As a resort somewhere hot there are better places go.
This was the best bit about the holiday for me, the snorkeling. Also I would recommend the hotel but I wouldn't leave it.
We went in December for 1 week. The Jaz Mirabel Beach is a 5star Platinum with Thomson and I think it cost us £480 all inclusive.
Temperatures were between 26c and 30c
We stayed at the ?3 ponds? I think it was. Hotel fine food fine but we all got CHRONIC diahorrea (as you will) so be warned.
They are particularly prepared for this at the departure toilets at the airport whereby all toilet paper has been removed and you have to buy a square at 1 euro each from a person sat on the sinks (their average weekly wage when I went was £20 so you can imagine the profiteering).
As a group of females we got pestered continuously.
Diving / scuba is great which is why we went.
Don't take Egyptian currency take US $. You will be expected to tip constantly so $1 bills are useful.
They are particularly prepared for this at the departure toilets at the airport whereby all toilet paper has been removed and you have to buy a square at 1 euro each from a person sat on the sinks (their average weekly wage when I went was £20 so you can imagine the profiteering).
As a group of females we got pestered continuously.
Diving / scuba is great which is why we went.
Don't take Egyptian currency take US $. You will be expected to tip constantly so $1 bills are useful.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff