Tips for 1st Timers

by **HW iaintwoeyes** on Thu Aug 14, 2008 19:39 pm

The word "your" is being used in a general term and not a personal attack on you. Sorry if it came across like that.

I'm pleased you're off to Madeira again. A place I have vowed to visit one day and I only want to go so I can slide down all those steps in a basket!

by **getawaychick** on Thu Aug 14, 2008 20:02 pm

Lol! Thanks for the reasurrance - believe me it was the worst experience of my life!

You are refering to the Monte experience in Madeira? It certainly is an experience. I've never done it (25 euros each!) but have watched people turn from a lovely tan colour to green as they are literally hurled down the cobbled streets!

It's a lovely place. I'm only 29 and my partner 32 (on Weds) and we love the peace, tranquility and the fact it is not comercialised. We go for the relaxation, the levada walks and the people.

We have a timeshare apartment with Porto Mare Residence; funnily enough we 'bought' our week the same holiday I became ill.

I do agree with you entirely - you can't be put off going somewhere because of a few complaints. I've just been on cruise.co.uk and tried to persuade someone (first time cruisers) not to be put off cruising because they had a bad experience with one ship, on one holiday with one cruise line. Can't live your life by other people's opinions!

Sue

by **Rickiebear** on Thu Aug 14, 2008 20:52 pm

My wife and I spent a lovely week in January 07. The hotel was outside of Sharm in Sharks Bay. We had a lovely hotel, good food and good service. None of the problems some have had. I have to accept we did not think much of Sharm itself, and we did not go for the shops. But for a good modern hotel on the beach in the sun it was great. You need to rember that you do need to tip, £E10 about £1 goes a long way, tip from the start of the holiday, and you will get very good service, and those staff will both look after you and 'keep' other staff away from their clients.

by **cojo** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:23 pm

sophie stick to ayia napa or ibiza you seem more suited to that ,when you grow up you may enjoy it more

by **cojo** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:40 pm

sophie , the locals in sharm do treat people with respect , unless something is done to offend them of course ,which strangely enough us English do quite a bit.Im not saying act like the locals before anyone has a go at me but remember they have a different way of life.Barmen were shocked when we ordered a pop and a beer at lunchtime ,well 11am, but 1pm English time so justified and the beer was for me and the pop for my partner.Its the same in any muslim country men are men and women are women and thats the way you act.any difference in that is strange whether in sharm , turkey,kenya to the men there.why is it also people go away and blame the stomach bugs on the food etc.if people acted as they did at home many bugs would be avoided.How many people do you see on holiday knocking back mountains of fresh juice at breakfast would you do it at home ??no , people also drink litres of water when away because the rep has told them to.drink if you are thirsty not to excess ,if its in your body and you dont need it of course its going to come out somewhere.
well us 5 that went had a great time only 1 had a stomach gripe but thats because he insisted on drinking 4 litres of water a day !!! once he stopped that act surprise surprise he was ok.

by **sophie321** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 13:44 pm

COJO!!!!!
Are you talking out of your A**E again. Why dont you grow up, and if you dont like what I say about Sharm then dont bloody reply.

by **N62** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 14:11 pm

sophie321

Why are you so aggressive? If you don't like the replies, then surely it should be you who needs to grow up and stop posting. There is no need to swear - you sound like a teenager having a tantrum.

Sorry, had to be said.

by **London-Muffin** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 14:21 pm

This thread is fantastic! Great entertainment value guys! With a tip being "don't go" It just makes me want to rebel and go even more!

17 more sleeps to go now and nothing anyone says is going to put me off!

by **sophie321** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 14:22 pm

Whose swearing, bloody is not a swear word. am I meant to say what a lovely place sharm is? As for growing up, maybe it is the fact that Im about 50 years younger than the lot of you! Why should I like the replies, I have only told the truth. At least I know not to go back there again, and then I dont have to put up with Dirt, gross food, horrible people, and ponds of urine when walking about. Just shows what sort of people go to Egypt if they love it so much.

Ta Ta

by **wfcmoog** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 16:07 pm

I'm with you Muffin. I value my holiday time too much waste it somewhere I'm not enjoying. I work my butt off all year for the pleasure of the two week break somewhere. If I booked a hotel in advance (which I never do) and it was in a horrible place, I'd rather pay more money and move somewere else.

I had terrible food poisoning in Goa a couple of years ago, not just a bit of trots, but serious poisoning which had me laid low for 3 days until the doc sorted me out. Still loved the rest of the trip and like Iain, am planning to go back, possibly for the NY.

I've got a bit of a dodgy stomach today as it happens. Possibly because London is a filthy hellhole whichs should be avoided like the plague, or possibly because I had 8 pints last night. I'm not a doctor, but my advice is don't go to London. It's a dump.