Tips for 1st Timers

by **Finnsmummy** on Sun Nov 25, 2007 13:44 pm

Has anyone visited the new AQUA park?

How far is Hadaba from Sharm?

We'll be staying at the Coral Sea so not sure if a trip is possible?

Are any of the tour operators offering trips?

FC offered ticket only to Cleopark this year so had to book own taxi etc so didn't bother after a couple of let downs/run ins with taxi drivers and got refunds on our tickets

We loved Egypt so much we are returning with extended family and waterparks appeal to the whole family so would love to have opinions on which is best to visit etc?

Thanks in advance

by **Sekhmet** on Sun Nov 25, 2007 19:10 pm

Habada / Ras Um Sid is Old Sharm.
Try http://sharm-el-sheikh.ovh.org/index_engl.php to see where it is in relation to hotels etc.

by **packy114** on Sun Nov 25, 2007 19:10 pm

can you give me any information on a trip to st catherines monistary cost, travel time, and any other info on trip

by **Sekhmet** on Sun Nov 25, 2007 23:01 pm

It's 3 yrs since we went, so can't remember times very specifically. other than to say we got up fairly early but not as early as going to Cairo, Luxor or Paetra! Have just checked on Longwood's site re: costs which will be similar to Thomson & other tour ops. They are charging $64 per person; (you don't have to pay in dollars) itinerary is like the one we did:
"St Catherine's Monastery
The 1 day tour crosses the Sinai Desert through some of the most amazing desert scenery, passing small Bedouin tents and villages to the Monastery of Santa Katarina - the oldest Christian monastery in existence and the smallest diocese in the world, where you will see the chapel and famous Chamber of the Skulls with explanations from your guide."

You also see the burning bush (!) & the cow carved in the rocks from Moses time. Bediouns will try to sell you geodes at very reasonable prices, scarves & other items. The ground is quite rough & some surfaces are also slippery. We found the place fascinating & would have liked to stay longer but most itinaraies go one with this next bit:

"During the trip back to Sharm stop for lunch at Dahab, an old Bedouin town on the Sinai shore, rich in local atmosphere and a shopper's paradise, before returning late afternoon."

Here the local bedouin kids will ask for chocs, sweets, pens. To be honest, I must have had an "apprecation by-pass" that day, as I found Dahab to be a charmless place & have no desire to return.

Local tour ops or your hotel may offer a slightly different prog altho when we enquired of one local tour op they still wanted to include Dahab!

It is a good day & I'm glad we did it, even tho the monastery was quite crowded; I just love all the history.

by **Sekhmet** on Tue Nov 27, 2007 16:58 pm

Plz see:

http://forum.holidaywatchdog.com/Egypt- ... -9796.html
for info about Xmas / New Year, Dec & Jan weather

by **daverave** on Tue Dec 11, 2007 18:38 pm

Great informative forum - going to Sharm for the first time.Going alone and over xmas this year and would love to meet anyone who wants to join me for a trip to Cairo or Petra - I wouldnt pay the holifday reps price , will shop around at the airport/in town,

Dave

by **sarahbee** on Thu Jan 10, 2008 21:35 pm

Hi Sekhmet,
Your tips are going to be of great help on my first trip to Egypt.
I plan to arrive in Sharm in early March in search of sun and new experiences. I have visited Tunisia before and imagine them to be similar.
I was thinking of staying at the Novotel Hotel and wondered if you knew anything about it?
I would also like to visit Cairo and am a bit apprehensive of booking it locally but I get the impression that I could save a substancial amount doing so. Do you have an idea about the cost of flights? I assume I will need to get a taxi to and from the hotel and from Cairo airport to the pyramids as well....
I have no idea if eating/drinking outside the hotel is cheaper or more expensive compared to the UK and would like to know so I can budget accurately :-)

I love bazaar's and markets so can you point me in the direction of any you would particularily recommend.
Many thanks.

by **sarahbee** on Thu Jan 10, 2008 21:41 pm

Sorry, I forgot to ask.... which currency is best to use? The sterling/us dollar rate is good at the moment or is it better to use sterling.
:-)

by **HW iaintwoeyes** on Thu Jan 10, 2008 21:57 pm

As Sekhmet says "Take sterling, or sterling travellers cheques & exchange there - better rate. Visa, Visa Electron, Plus Card, MasterCard, Maestro, and Cirrus are all acceptable in almost all ATM's in Egypt. In addition, all cards carrying "123" or "NAPS" ATM network logos are also acceptable.
Thomas Cook exchange at the Jolie Ville end of His Maj The King of Bahrain St (the main shopping street)."

I have only ever taken �� notes and never had a problem. Everyone accepts �� and you wil get a better exchange rate.

HW Iain

by **sarahbee** on Fri Jan 11, 2008 15:13 pm

Thanks Iaintwoeyes for the info on the currency exchange. I'll just use my card locally and withdraw dollars.

I went online and looked at Egpyt Air for flights to Cairo and I could have booked return flights for �72.59 for two passengers which seems increadably cheap! That just leaves me with the hurdle of how to book a guide for Cairo as we want to go to the Pyramids...any ideas of how i go about getting a guide?