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Sekhmet
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10-06-2007 06:59 PM
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Joined: 25 May 2007
Posts: 342
My Profile
| **** Updated July 2008 ****
RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS: - None is compulsory but the following are advisable:
Triple vaccine for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, (boosters every 10yrs) Most schoolchildren have this when 5 (pre-school booster) & about 15.
Typhoid (boosters every 3yrs) – this can be contracted even in Spain, Italy, Greece, etc.
& Hep A; boosters last up to 25 yrs after initial course (info correct as at Dec ’07 when I last had mine)
Some people have Hep B. (Hepatitis B is transmitted via blood & other body fluids. Contaminated needles & hospital equipment can serve as routes for transmission. Cuts and & lesions can also provide a portal of entry. It is also spread through s*xual contact and drug abuse).
MALARIA – not an issue unless you travel to the El Fayoum Oasis region, about 70km southwest of Cairo. Quote from: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationEgypt.aspx : Malaria risk area in Egypt: “Very limited risk in El Faiyûm area only. No risk in tourist areas, including Nile River cruises. Risk is very limited; therefore, prophylaxis is not recommended.”
More detailed information about the diseases mentioned above is available at the end of all the subjects.
VISAS: - Single entry visas are obtainable when you land in Sharm – usually £10 - £12 if you pay in sterling, although we haggled in Dec ’07 & paid only £8.50p each thru Thomson. You won't be holding everyone up - most people do it this way.
Join the queue on the far left, or far right, if you can, where it says $15 on the booth, not the Thomson queue - change is given in local currency if you hand over sterling.
You'll only need a visa if you intend to leave Sinai during your stay in Sharm – i.e. if you intend to visit Cairo, Luxor, & Ras Mohamed by boat, road or quad. No visa required for Mount Sinai & St. Catherine’s monastery, Tiran Island boat trip, desert quads or seascope trips. If not intending to leave Sinai, write “Sinai only” on the back of the landing card & proceed to passport control.
This waiver applies if you’re visiting Sinai for 15 days or less; any longer & you must buy a visa. (It’s a “throwback” from the Camp David Peace Treaty.)
Multiple entry visas are available at about £18 from the embassy in London, prior to travel.
If you decide that you want a visa part way thru your hol there was a provision for your rep to obtain one for you, but not at the discounted prices & they would expect about £3 handling fee too. Am unsure if this procedure is still available.
TOPLESS SUNBATHING & RECOMMENDED ATTIRE: – is actually illegal in Egypt, which is a predominantly Muslim country. I did specifically ask on our Dec ’07 trip (not cos I wanted to do it, just cos I wanted to know). It also states this in Lonely Planet Guide.
Hotel staff are all male & there are notices around several of the hotel’s pools requesting that you don’t sunbathe topless. I’ve read on the forum about some women going topless & the pool staff asking them to cover up. Even if they don’t (for fear of upsetting the guests….cos they want the tourists trade to grow!) it doesn’t make it any more legal & can only add fuel to the theory that some hold, which is that western women are “easy”. I asked if the tourist police enforce the law & was told that they try. I know that one restauranteur we spoke to about this says that when he goes to the beach, with his 2 young sons & politely asks tourists to cover up, he is usually met with abuse.
Be careful if you go out of resort on trips to wear 3/4 length trousers or jeans or a long skirt & cover chest, shoulders & at least upper arms. You’ll attract cat-calls & unfriendly stares from the women in Cairo, Alexandria etc, plus stares & comments from the men if you’re skimpily dressed by their standards! Some people are more affected than others by this type of attention.
Men will need shoulders & knees covered when visiting mosques. Comfortable footwear is essential in Cairo, Luxor or on trips where you will do a lot of walking / standing about.
Ladies of all ages will attract plenty of male attention, most of the time it's just a laugh & they don't cross the line but some will try. Be polite but firm & don’t give eye contact, wear shades!
People wear shorts & skimpy tops in the hotel grounds & around resort; this is expected but, again, that’s ok if you can deal with any resulting attention.
UPSET TUM:- This is an emotive subject as some people will say upset tummy is due to food-related problems, others will say it's dehydration & over indulgence of alcohol / food, while another group will say it's down to not being used to the climate. Some will also say that too cool air conditioning will send the body into a kind of thermal shock. Whatever reason you choose to prefer, it seems that a certain amount of luck also enters into the equation.
Swimming pools are often implicated in the manifestation of gastric ailments; particularly Cryptosporidium contamination; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-463170/Pools-swimming-30-types-bacteria.html
There are some basic tips which may help prevent it & they will also apply to anyone who is suffering from it as, whatever the cause, one still needs to rehydrate, “flush the system” & also have relief from some of the symptoms:
Take wipes or antibacterial handwash & carry them with you as the money is truly filthy. Some bugs are picked up from things / food when others haven’t washed their hands (enough said!)
There are many chemists in Sharm. The ones we've used seem very knowledgeable & helpful. We've (4 of us) never had a touch of the Pharaoh’s Revenge during our 4 visits but advice strongly suggests that at the 1st sign of the Cairo Quickstep, Sharm Shuffle, Luxor Limbo, Aswan Sand-dance, or any type of tummy trouble, go straight to the chemist - UK products are often ineffective! (Local drugs for local bugs principle) Ask for Antinal (antibiotic) at about 90p a packet in Dec ‘07. Antinal suspension is available for kids. (Web info says it’s also known as Ambatrol (nifuroxazide)Bacifurane, Nifrozid, Endiex.& Ercefuryl, but it’s Antinal in Egypt).
Antinal’s not licensed in the UK but can be prescribed on a named patient basis.
The drug we use in the UK as a prophylactic and treatment is ciprofloxacin, available from some GPs on private prescription.
N.B. You need to haggle re: the price of anything bought in chemists. If they charge more than about 10LE for Antinal, it’s a rip off. All goods have the price on, but (in my experience) in Arabic, so it’s hard to tell what it should be. If whatever you’re trying to buy seems expensive, barter hard or walk away; there are enough chemists around to find one who will play fair.
Local peppermint tea also helps with the digestion.
One tip from our UK chemist was to take Motilium pills with us, as they aid digestion & prevent anything lying heavily in the gut. It’s not a laxative but if you have something dodgy, it helps it to go thru (without making you rush to the loo.)
Maybe take rehydration sachets with you like Dioralyte, available in fruity flavours from Tesco, Boots etc.
Further tip from my friend who regularly travels to places like Tibet, India & Paraguay is to take Citricidal (Grape fruit seed extract) It’s available in Health Shops & there are several websites explaining that conventional antibiotics only kill bacteria. The grapefruit seed extract has been shown to inactivate viruses, yeasts, fungi, parasites and worms, as well as bacteria. It is therefore antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial. Recommended 1-3 tablets a day, with or without meals & it’s ideal for travelling to places where food or drink may be contaminated.
Lactobacillus acidophilus pre-biotic tablets may also help line your stomach in preparation for unfamiliar bacteria potentially found in the food out there. You can buy ones that don’t have to be kept in the fridge. When taking acidophilus do not drink or eat anything really hot immediately after as heat kills the good bacteria. These are far stronger than the commercialized drinks like yakult & actimel, which are dairy-based & not ideal for upset tums!
Lactobacillus is also good to take after any course of antibiotics since antibiotics strip the gut of good bacteria, as well as the bad.
You can buy Buscopan, over the counter here, which is great for gripes.
Freshly squeezed lemon & lime juice, sugar to taste, topped up with still mineral water is a good kidney / system flush. If that’s not available, then just freshly squeezed lemon is still good.
Aloe Vera is also a good & natural soother, for our inside as well as being a good topical aid for sunburn.
Magi Cool will help children (google it). It’s good for itching (incl. insect bites), prickly heat, sunburn / minor burns, heat exhaustion, hot flushes, first aid. You can get magi cool in most chemists, Boots etc; it’s about £4.50 a can (July ’08) & you can now get one that instantly removes the heat out of too much sunburn.
There are also cooling patches, with a soothing gel, that relieve headaches & fevers, which may be useful for children.
MOSQUITOES:- Take Vit B1 pills just before going & during - you won't taste nice to the mozzies then. Thiamine, found in B1 is an irritant to them. Be aware that prolonged use may upset your mineral balance. Vit B1’s effectiveness is lessened thru alcohol.
Holland & Barrett sell timed-release ones; our body doesn’t store if for long so you can begin them the day before the hols.
Some people say take yeast pills instead, or marmite!!! (Eeewww!). I acknowledge Vit B1 doesn’t work for everyone, but maybe it’s worth a try?
Take Avon Skin so Soft / Woodland Fresh as it's a great repellent. (Some specifically recommend the Avon skin so soft dry oil spray "soft & fresh"; you want the blue/green bottle as this variety has the citronella in it, it is not in the pink one "soft & sensual" I use the pink one tho. It’s available online.
Some say get DEET from Boots, Jungle Formula. Please note that whilst DEET is effective, it can be harmful & should be used with caution. DEET is known to cause neurological damage, & once it enters the bloodstream, (after being absorbed through the skin) it makes its way to the nervous system, where it is known to cause seizures & even deaths. It can be especially harmful to children, which is why its use should be strictly limited with children.
Take a room plug in. If a real mozzie problem occurs in your room, ask reception to spray it when cleaning.
You can also get wristbands from Mothercare against mozzies (approx £4 each).
Aspivenin gadget from Boots (about £20) or online- pocket sized mini pump that will suck out the poison from mozzie bites etc.
There's also something called a ''clickit' ; it gives small electric shocks to the bitten area, which is supposed to stop the itching.
PLUGS: - Voltage 220v & 2 pin, round plugs, European adapters.
IRONS & IRONING BOARDS:- Usually available from the hotel house-keeping / laundry room.
MONEY:- Some hotels have atm machines in the grounds; there are several atm’s around Na'ama.
Take a little local currency to tide you over, then the rest in sterling, & exchange there - better rate by about 10%, usually.
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.
One of the best ways to get money is to open a Nationwide Flexi Account. You get free ATM withdrawals anywhere in the world.
I’ve heard that the bank next to Ghazala Gdns, in Na’ama changes Scottish notes, but you will struggle to get them, & N. Irish ones, changed in general.
Don’t flash hard currency about; pay in local. If you use dollars or sterling, you leave yourself open to be ripped off re: exchange rates. They believe that all the tourists are rich & seeing hard currency in use only re-enforces this belief. They always ask you what currency you’re using, in the hope that you say “dollars” or “sterling”!
www.luxortraveltips.com has the rate updated every day ~ fellow poster Kazl – 6th April ‘08
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp locates atms for you.
Local currency is “Livres Egyptiennes”, or LE for short.
TIPPING:- People report differing experiences on the locals’ expectations of tips. I think the majority’s opinion would be: If you receive good service, then tip, if you don’t, then don’t tip. If you want to tip a little as you go along (to ensure good service) then do so; it’s up to you.
There have been debates on the forum about which currency to use for tipping. It’s another emotive subject so I will try to put forward what I’ve understood to be the majority’s point of view. Where possible, tip in local currency. They do accept dollar notes & £1 coins but will have to save them up & ask a tourist to exchange them for local notes, as they can’t get them changed any other way. The wages are low & £1 is quite a lot to them. This over-inflates their economy & makes a mockery of what a waiter will then have earned in comparison to a city Dr. or teacher, for e.g. It also increases the expectation of high tips.
Small denomination notes are hard to come by in Egypt so it may be that you feel obliged to tip the bell boys in another currency at the start of your hols. When you get some small notes; hang on to them! Generally, don’t tip if you don’t want to! The English are perceived as being softies.
MAP OF AREA: -http://sharm-el-sheikh.ovh.org/mapa_lewa_engl.html & http://sharm-el-sheikh.ovh.org/index_engl.php & http://www.recenzie-hotelov.sk/mapy/mapa_leva.jpg
TAXIS & TRANSFERS:-This is the latest info: The above maps will show you where your hotel is in relation to the airport & Na'ama bay etc.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/53487/1e93d1/9/ will tell you the government stated taxi prices around Sharm. You must haggle hard! Always agree a price before getting in & ensure that’s the total price, in LOCAL currency – don’t let them tell you, at the end of the journey that they meant sterling & don’t let them tell you it’s per passenger. You can always walk away & find another if you can’t agree beforehand. They have started to use metres again.
Here are alternative suggestions for an airport transfer:
*http://www.transfers.net
*www.hoteltransfer.com
*resorthoppa.com
*medhotels.com & a2btransfers.com are reasonable too
*Or you can contact your hotel & ask them how much they will charge to arrange one.
CAR RENTAL:- It is possible but the driving is rather erratic & it’s not uncommon to have taxi drivers around at night without headlamps on! I really wouldn’t advise renting a car, scooter etc! However, if you insist! http://allaboutsinai.com/directory/automotive.html
There is a new place that has just opened up at the new aqua park called New Castle car rental. They are hiring out cars, with a driver, for about 70 Euros a week. Email is newcastle2002@hotmail.com
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS & BARS:-
There is a wide variety of places to eat, with vegetarians well catered for too. There are Indian, Chinese, Lebanese, Thai, Italian, Egyptian, sea food, steak houses, as well as Pizza Hut, TGI, Hard Rock Café, MacDonald’s, Starbucks, Camel Bar & the Tavern Bar, which is a Brit-style pub that has karaoke nights (Weds & Sats). http://www.thetavernbar.com. Old Sharm & Na’ama Bay are the main places where people choose to eat.
“La Fleur” is a nice, rather romantic one, belonging to Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, on the prom in Na’ama; more expensive then most in Sharm, but cheap by UK prices.
“Dananeer” (nr Jolie Ville end of His Maj the King of Bahrain St) is a good steak house, the Indian in the Camel Bar complex, Indian at Sofitel, Sinai Star (fresh catch of the day fish restaurant) Old Sharm, “Viva”, on the prom, outside the Dive Centre, “Onions” steak house, the Thai & Chinese are good on the top floor of the shopping centre in Na’ama Bay (situated past the Camel Bar, with Camel on your right) “Bianco’s Bistro” is good for snacks, cappuccino’s mochas, lattes & pancakes. These are just a few; there are so many others.
FOOD ALLERGY ADVICE:- If you look at the English restaurant card you can work out which section to delete. http://foodallergyinitiative.com/section_home.cfm?section_id=5 & www.kidsaware.co.uk
NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT:- Most hotel entertainment is quite dire!
Many bars have big screens for the sports, incl. Camel, Tavern, Bianco’s.
TGI’s turns into a club after midnight.
“Fantasia”, (Alf Leila Wa Leila / 1001 Nights) towards Old Sharm – live shows incl. English speaking nights (Saturdays); bit cheesy by our standards but it’s nice to look round the place as there are shops & restaurants. http://www.pickalbatros.com/leilasharm.htm
It’s cheaper if you just pay on the door, rather than book thru a rep / local vendor.
There is also a big party in the rock on a Friday night as well that attracts about 4000 people (by 1001 Nights ) called Dolce Vita. There are beach parties at Terrazinna beach which is at Sharm El Mayo next to Iberotel Palace. They have DJ's on the beach in the afternoon and the parties start at sunset until early hours, normally on Tues and Fri. There is normally live music and fire shows as well.
Several hotel bars along the prom do at least 1 Happy Hour a day.
NA’AMA BAY
Pirates Bar at Hilton Fayrouz - diver bar, live music, bar snacks
Camel Bar - diver bar, live music on Thurs, big screen sports, food; His Majesty, the King of Bahrain St.
Camel Roof - chill out bar, DJ, shisha pipes, food
Lido - another chill out bar
Tavern – British style pub / bar, big screen sports, food, lively at the weekend; http://www.thetavernbar.com. (Karaoke on Wed & Sat eves)
Hard Rock - the international brand, lively late on.
Little Buddha - turns into a club later, more expensive.
Pacha - next door to Camel Bar, the international brand moved over from Ibiza, sponsored in Sharm by Ministry of Sound, regular guest DJs
UM EL SID AREA
Papas Tavern - favourite with the locals, packed with divers after 6pm especially on Fridays
T2 - relaxed local bar, big screen sports
El Fanar
Phoenix Bar - chill out roof bar, movie nights, live music.
This may be of interest as it has info & contact details for some of the above mentioned places:
http://www.goredsea.com/en_magazine-currentissue-article-guidetonightlifeinsharm-magazinearticle.aspx?monthid=february2008
& this too:
http://allaboutsinai.com/directory/night-life.html
There are plenty of bars at which to sit & “people watch”, there is a bowling alley in Na’ama; opens at 7pm. (see “Activities”) too.
ACTIVITIES IN RESORT: -
*Bowling Alley – Opens at 7pm. It’s on Abdullah Street; stand with your back to Hard Rock Café, look right & see the fork in the road. Take the left hand fork, past a perfume shop & Pioneer Property & go a little way up there; it’s on the right, past the Abdullah Supermarket.
*Concorde El Salam has ice skating.
*Magic Life, Concorde El Salam & Sofitel have stables. The horses are not in bad condition.
*Camel Rides & horse rides can also be arranged through local vendors but please be aware that the animals may not be in the condition / surroundings which you would hope them to enjoy in the UK.
* Paintballing in La Strada & children’s craft days on Saturdays afternoons. (Nana26)
KARTING:-
There is Ghibli karting track, between airport & Na'ama. A quick update on prices as at Dec '07: Various packages are available on the normal 4 stroke karts, e.g. 20 euros for 15 mins if you just turn up & pay (arrive & drive)or 15 euros for 10 mins. You can purchase 2 (or more) lots of 15 or 10 mins, but may have to wait a while in between goes. If you "prove" yourself on the normal karts, or hold a race license, you can go on the Rotax (0-60 in 3 secs, proper racing karts, 2 stroke) that's 120 euros for 30 mins & you must put either £400-£500 cash behind reception as insurance, in case you break the kart, or a credit card. Competition nights is Friday & that's 25 euros for 15 mins & 15 laps. Prizes for normal weekly competitions can be a meal for 2 at the raceway or a subsidised go in a Rotax, for e.g. They give good safety talks; our lads take their own safety gear & our personal health insurance covers them as opposed to travel insurance; plz ensure you have adequate insurance for risky sports. There is a good junior track there too & a comprehensive website. http://www.ghibliraceway.com/
There is also quad track at the KTM Enduro centre which is up a side road near the entrance road to Cleopark.
WATER SPORTS: - Are available at several places; here is an e.g. of the ones available from Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, on the prom in Na’ama.
Parasailing (single), Double - max 140kg - Treble - max 140kg, Sailing lessons, windsurfing lessons - different boat trips, Windsurfing - 1hr Sailing -1 hr or 2hr, hobie cat15, Pedalo - 1hr, Canoe single 1hr or 2hr, Canoe double - 1hr or 2hr, Snorkelling equip set rental, snorkelling item rental, Wetsuit / life jacket by the day or hr.
KITE SURFING, Nabq – Colona Sports
WATER SKIING - Aquatic Vibes based on Terrazina Beach.
Haven’t seen any jet skis; the marine life & coral are too important!
THE FISH:- You don’t have to go out very far before you are among the most beautiful fish; PLEASE DON’T FEED THEM! Either when in the water, from a boat or jetty. It not their natural food (can damage their liver) & upsets the eco-system of the marine life. Apart from being illegal, it also causes the fish to associate people with food & to start taking bites out of divers & swimmers.
PLEASE DON’T WALK ON THE CORAL OR TRY TO TAKE ANY! It’s illegal.
WATER PARKS:- There are 2 main ones; again, the search engine will connect you to old threads about them both:
CLEOPARK / WATERPARK - About 5mins from the centre of Na'ama, towards airport. Website is: www.cleoparkegypt.com. & http://www.cleoparkegypt.com/Aquamap.html
NEW AQUA PARK.
Its just called the Aqua Park and it is on El Khazan street in Hadaba. Papas tavern is right next to the entrance.
It opens from 10am till sunset everyday. There are 32 different slides, 9 pools and 1200 sunbeds. One of the pool areas is specifically for the younger ones with lots of activities around it. There is also a lazy river. There are changing rooms with safety deposit boxes as well as shopping arcade with restaurants & cafes. http://www.pickalbatros.com/aqua.htm
GOLF:- Available at Jolie Ville Golf Hotel. Competition days are Wednesdays & the entry fee is about $11. We always take 2 sets of golf clubs with us; they need booking separately on your flight about 3m beforehand. Most airlines will charge for that now. We leave the clubs at the hotel golf club for the duration of the hols, after the 1st visit. Handicap cards are not normally req’d.
Contact details of JV Golf Hotel:
Telephone: +20-69-3600635
Fax: +20-69-3603225
E-mail: golfclub@golf-joliemoven.com
Email: gmgolfsharm@hotmail.com
About the Course: 18 hole course, 6585 yards, par 72, 71 rating, four tees
Who can Play: Annual memberships, daily golf, tourist groups welcome
Golf Services: Pro Shop, caddies, carts, lighted driving range, club rental, tournaments, beverage and food service on the course
Learning to Play: Golf Pro, golf academy
www.jolieville-hotels.com
N.B. A new 18 hole course is being built in the Nabq area of Sharm.
MASSAGES, SPAS, HAIR & BEAUTY:- Please choose a masseur carefully. Some posters have reported being touched inappropriately by male masseurs, even when (in one case) a lady’s husband was sitting next to her. This was the hotel’s masseur! There are some who offer beach massages; it’s hard to know if they are qualified, as well as being difficult to regulate them. Several hotels offer the service, including Jolie Ville Resort; in Dec ’07 there were 2 Oriental ladies there. Didn’t have a session, so can’t comment. There is a spa & gym in Delta Sharm, with the gym being open for non-residents & this website will show you lots more addresses / details of spas & beauty treatments in Sharm: http://allaboutsinai.com/directory/body-beauty.html
SHOPPING, ENTRAPMENT PLOYS & POSSIBLE SCAMS:- The vendors can be a bit pushy - you must be prepared to haggle hard & try to look out for the "entrapment" ploys such as "Can I ask you a question?" "We've just opened a new shop & have a sale on, come & look". "Will you sign my guest book for other customers to read?" It's all harmless but you can get caught up for some time!
They'll want to offer you drinks like mint tea in many of the shops, if you seem genuinely interested, or go back for a 2nd look.
The restaurants will also hassle you for their custom as competition between all shops & bars is strong due to the similarity of many. Some people cope with this better than others but fore-warned is fore-armed.
If anyone feels threatened or intimidated, say that you will call the tourist police / report it to the rep / hotel….& MEAN it! They & the government is well aware that Egypt relies on tourism heavily, so please report anything untoward to them.
*Bargain for everything, haggle hard, including taxis - even to the point of pretending to walk away.
* Try to keep it light-hearted & have a joke if possible.
*Check your change thoroughly as there have been scams reported involving small denomination notes being switched for large one. There have also been comments about being careful when asked to change coins as the new 1LE coin looks like a Euro at 1st glance.
*The taxi scam has already been covered under the taxi section above; see link to thread.
*Some of the perfumes are fakes, as are some of the cigarettes.
*Timeshare scams! Yes, there are touts there now too, near Hard Rock Café.
*Possible airport scams: They will try & charge XS baggage; the scales may not be set to zero. They also try to separate husband / wife or bf / gf & take one away to extract money from an atm for supposed xs baggage; this goes straight into their pocket. Please try & be assertive (not easy, I know!) or be very noisy if they try this on with you.
*Jewellery: see jewellery section below.
It is worth making an official complaint when things go badly. Go to https://www.misr.gov.eg/english/services/tourism-secured/ and fill in the form.
SHOPPING:- This link may be of interest: http://allaboutsinai.com/leisure-time/shopping.html for info about La Strada, Na’ama Bay & Il Mercato, as well as Il Mercato’s site: http://www.ilmercatosharm.com/
There are countless shops selling similar things; some people will class much of it as tourist tat but that could be said of many resorts in the world. You will find lots of statues of the ancient Gods, papyrus (with pictures on or with signs of the zodiac & a space to have your name written in hieroglyphs) jewellery that depicts the Gods & amulets, perfume bottles, oils, decorated glass wear, crockery, ceramics, mugs, (often with the ancient Gods theme) leather goods, T-Shirts, spices, linen, pashminas (altho not real silk) shisha pipes & flavoured baccy, belly dancers’ scarves, Bedouin scarves suitable for quad biking.
Old Sharm is sometimes a bit cheaper than Na’ama. Apparently, Alexandria is a great city in which to shop!
Nabq is an up & coming area with shopping centres, Jasmine, Al Khan & La Strada; there is entertainment in La Strada in the eves. More shops / activity centres / developments are ongoing, including a new 18 hole golf course.
You will encounter more hassle if you go down the side streets or in the souks; stick to the larger streets. If anyone feels threatened or intimidated, say that you will call the tourist police / report it to the rep / hotel….& MEAN it! They & the government are well aware that Egypt relies on tourism heavily, so please report anything untoward to them. Name & shame on the forum too, so others are warned.
WARNING!!! The pavements have quite high kerbs in Na’ama &, both in Na’ama & Old Sharm, they can be uneven in places. The pavements in Old Sharm are also pretty covered in merchandise, so it can be difficult for wheelchair users, & parents with buggies, in some instances.
FAKE DESIGNER WEAR /SUNGLASSES / BAGS: - Plenty of shops in Na’ama & Old Sharm.
FIXED PRICE SHOPS:- There are 3, all called Aladdin’s Cave & all on the main street, where the Camel Bar is, i.e. His Majesty, the King of Bahrain Street. Stick to these & the supermarkets of you are intimidated by the hassle from vendors. Shops in Il Mercato are also fixed price. They sell international brands but won’t be as cheap as Na’ama & Old Sharm.
SUPERMARKETS: - These are also fixed price & sell a wide variety of souvenirs. The largest one in Na’ama is on Abdullah’s Street & is called Abdullah’s Supermarket. You stand with your back to Hard Rock Café, look right & see the fork in the road. Take the left hand fork, past a perfume shop & Pioneer Property & go a little way up there; it’s on your right. It’s not fixed price upstairs, but it’s less hassle then some shops.
Supermarkets do sell nappies & baby food but they won’t be the same brands as back home. Please note that suntan lotion & toiletries may be surprisingly expensive in Sharm.
JEWELLERY:- Some people will say not to buy as you can’t be too sure of what you’re purchasing & the hallmark system is “unknown territory”! Some people have definitely been the subject of a scam when buying an item with supposed real stones in it. I have bought several items. Although I’ve yet to have them valued, I’ve no reason to suspect that they’re “dodgy”. There are countless jewellery shops in Na’ama & Old Sharm. Cairo will be cheaper. Many of the shops sell similar items so, once again, you can afford to haggle hard as you will be able to find the same thing a little further along the street. I like the pieces that depict the ancient Gods, but there are all styles.
I'll explain where some of the places are that I've used:
1) "Giorgio", back of Dior Hotel, His Maj King of Bahrain St, Na'ama (that's the main shopping street in Na'ama; he sells only gold or white gold & even rang thru to Luxor to try & get me something I was asking for) If you stand with your back to the Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, at the top of the street, then go down about 5 shops on your left, he's there.
2) "Romeo" - again, stand with your back to Jolie Ville, at the top of the street, turn right (cos you'll be standing at a T-junction) & go along there a little way; "Romeo" is on the left, near a man selling spices & an opening to a shopping mall. Vendors are a bit pushy in that mall but Romeo's are very helpful. They made me an 18cwt gold bracelet, to my design, within 24hrs (9 gold charms linked together, £95, Dec ‘06). Bought some silver stuff there too.
3) "Amico" - Go down His Maj St, from the top; about half way down, the Camel Bar is on your right & almost opo them is Bianco's Bistro. Sit down here & rest your wallet. Have a great cappuccino, latte, mocha, pancake, fudge brownie. There is a jewellers right next to them. Looks good, but never used them. A little side street goes off here & right where it joins His Maj St, you'll see "Amico". Had several gold things from there. Good fun haggling here & at "Romeos".
4) Go further down His Maj, with Camel Bar & Bianco's behind you & you'll see 2 or 3 more shops on the left. They're a bit more expensive than some, for certain items, but I've still bought gold from one; think it's "Ciro" (?) Think there's one with a watery name, like "Triton" too.
5) On Sultan Qabas St, which runs down from the main rd thru Na’ama, down to where you’d end up with Hard Rock on your left. There is a shopping mall (Mina Mall) about half way down, behind the line of restaurants. Ground floor, on the left as you enter, is a Christian Egyptian family; shop is Santa Maria. Nice folk in there & struck a good bargain – twice, for some gold items. They have even more choice of some of the mythological based pieces than most & were actually cheaper than Romeo’s on some items.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR:- My family & I have only ever been to Sharm at Xmas & New Year. The weather is usually 21-25 in the day, with low humidity & sometimes a breeze; this is often welcome in the day but can be quite cool at night. The sun is warm enough to sunbathe by about 8.30am & goes in at 4pm. It’s dark by 5.30-6pm & then you need to start putting on 1 or 2 extra layers, depending how much you feel the cold. I do, so need 2 or layers by about 9pm, but eve temps can vary. We’ve known 13-19 degrees by about 9pm. In 4 trips we’ve had about 5 partially cloudy days in total; the rest has been wall to wall sunshine. It’s bikini weather in the day, most hotels have heated pools (although folk who go in ours seem to wince as they get in!) There are people in the sea & all trips are running as normal. The resort & hotels are all beautifully decorated in festive mode & they make much of 24th & 31st Dec with Gala Dinners / buffets in the hotels. Folk tend to dress up a bit for this; especially NY eve, when the hotels really go to town with the buffets. Local restaurants have special menus too. Hotels make more of an effort with the NY entertainment on this night; normally hotel entertainment is quite dire but it’s passable on NY eve in ours! Xmas day is quiet so we usually book a trip. For earlier in Dec or later in Jan, adjust the times I’ve given slightly & maybe even the temps by a degree or so.
DUTY FREE ALOWANCE & DUTY FREE SHOP:- The current allowance (July ’08) when returning to the UK is:
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250 gms of tobacco.
Alcoholic Drinks: 2 litres of still table wine.
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.
Perfume: 60cc/ml of perfume and 250cc/ml of toilet water.
Other Goods: Gifts and souvenirs to the value of £145.
The duty free shops in Na’ama & Old Sharm are quite basic, I’m told (not been, personally). Directions for the one in Na’ama are as follows: Find the street with the Camel Bar on it - everyone knows it, it's called His Maj the King of Bahrain St. Have the Camel Bar on your left & walk up the road. When you get to the T junction (you will have just come up the "stem", you'll be staring at the side wall of Jolie Ville Resort & Casino & their Italian restaurant, Zigolini's is upper level, with a jeweller, bank & perfume shop underneath. Turn left & keep looking left; past Romeo jewellers & a little further on, still on the left, is the Duty Free. It's barely 2mins from when you stand staring at Jolie Ville. You must take your passport & you have to go within 48hrs of arriving in Sharm.
LEGAL DRINKING AGE IS:- 21 (one poster did find a site that said 18 for beer & 21 for all other drinks but the link no longer works, so I can neither confirm nor deny this.)
MOBILES:- The cheapest way is to take an old, unlocked handset with you & buy an Egyptian sim card; my last one (April ’08) cost 20LE & I had 100LE credit. You can get credit at 25LE or 50LE as well. If you haven’t got an old spare handset, you can buy one out there. There are shops & booths all over the place! We ask people back home to text us on our UK one, so they aren’t paying any more than normal, then we reply on our Egyptian one, or phone them with that. Two shops in Na’ama are near the top end of His Maj the King of Bahrain Street, opo side to the Camel Bar & near the end where Jolie Ville Resort is. You may wish to check out these sites: www.mycherrymobile.com; check out the deals & prices or put in “global sim” on google, or www.gosim.com. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/experimentalists_Global-Roaming-Sim-Cards_W0QQfsubZ9901890QQfrsrcZ1
Carphone warehouse do a global sim too; it’s was free when you topped up with £10 airtime.
INTERNET CAFES:- There are several around Na’ama Bay & they’re far cheaper then the hotel facilities.
SECURITY & SAFETY:- Since the terrorist attacks in Aug ’05, security has been stepped up by the hotels. They have electric gates & taxis must drop people outside. Coaches are allowed in the grounds but only when they have shown their permits, which they leave at the gates & collect on the way out. Hotels also have the metal detector doorways & the security guards may ask to see inside your bags when you return to the hotel. This is usually done in a light-hearted manner.
Much of Na’ama Bay is pedestrianised now & there are guards at the ends of the roads to ensure that only bone fide coaches get thru to go to central hotel. There are more tourist police but it’s not intimidating. Many people say that they feel safer around Sharm than in their home towns, day or night. Our sons go out of resort, to the karting track, in the evening & we worry less about them than if they were in our local city.
EXCURSIONS & INSURANCE:- Please ensure that you’re aware of the suitable dress code when out of resort, plus comfortable footwear for places like Cairo & Luxor (uneven ground) or on trips where you may be doing quite a lot of walking:
Trips available are things like day trips to:
*Cairo~ http://www.touregyptphotos.com/showphoto.php?photo=2487 – pic of someone inside the 2nd pyramid. (Prices by Kazl – 5th April ’08) Giza Plateau 60le, Enter Great Pyramid 100le, Enter Second Pyramid 30le, Enter Third Pyramid 25le, Museum 60le, Mummy Rooms 100le. Cairo is about an hour from Sharm by plane or 6-7 hrs by coach. The Giza Plateau opens at 0800 and closes at 1700. Itinerary usually includes Giza Plateau, museum, mosque(s), Khan El Khalili Bazaar, papyrus & perfume factories, maybe a felucca ride on the Nile.
*Luxor – about 50 mins by plane. Collosi of Memnon, Hatchepsut’s Temple in the Valley of the Queens, nobles’ tombs, Valleys of Kings, Luxor & Karnak Temples, alabaster factory.
* Petra (in Jordan; obtain visa for Jordan when you land at their airport; it’s around £12 - £15) About an hour by plane.
*Jerusalem & The Dead Sea. (No visa req’d but border fees payable; $27 in Dec ’07)
These day trips are all long but brilliant.
* Some people choose to book thru their tour operator, at the Welcome meeting, for peace of mind, should anything go wrong, others book thru the hotel, on arrival, or there are plenty of tour operators in Sharm. The latter 2 alternatives are cheaper, but it's entirely up to you.
* Some people book the Cairo & Luxor trips before travelling to Sharm by using the Egyptair website. One should click on the Egyptian flag, thereby showing Egypt as your home country, as it will secure the best deal. Then you must arrange a guide. A recommended list can be found in the Cairo & Luxor forums.
* There are quad biking trips, i.e. quad biking at sunset, in the desert, or quad biking by day, incl. BBQ (buy a Bedouin scarf at the local supermarket to wrap round your mouth - very very dusty!) Wear older clothes for these trips & wrap up for the sunset trip in cooler months. They’ll sell you goggles at the venue. They’ll do a DVD of the trip, which you can buy after – ours (sunset trip) was excellent. Both are great trips; I'd never ridden a quad before. Thomson charge about £35 per person; posters on here, who've booked locally, have paid about £12 -£15 per person(as at Dec ’07). Thomson has an age limit of 16 but local vendors / hotels will allow younger children on board, alone or behind a parent. If the trip goes thru part of Ras Mohammed National Park, strictly speaking, you need a visa although they don’t always ask to see it.
* N.B. Make sure you have adequate insurance cover for “risky” sports; insuremore.co.uk do it, I believe, as well as www.travelinsuranceweb.com & Endsleigh ins.
*There's stargazing in the desert - looking at stars thru proper equipment, have a meal & listen to the local guide explain about the constellations. If you’re going in slightly cooler months, wrap up for that trip, or sunset quad trip as the desert gets very cool!!!
* There's seascope - half day trip in a boat which has a lower deck under water, & the walls are all see-thru', so you can see everything, close at hand. Ideal for children or those who don’t dive / snorkel.
*There’s a jeep safari – not done it, so can’t comment on it, except that, as with quads, ladies are advised to wear a sports bra!
* There's a long but good day trip to Mount Sinai, St Catherine's monastery (see the burning bush & cow carved in the rock, dating back to Moses's time) You’ll visit Dahab on the way back. This is also a diving resort & not as commercialized or large as Na’ama Bay. Be prepared to witness the poverty of the Bedouins. Children will beg for chocolate, pens, chewing gum & sweets in general.
* Climb Mount Sinai at night, so you can see the sunrise. Can be a bit cool, even in summer months & it’s a l..o..n..g hike; camels are available.
* There are boat trips to Ras Mohamed National park (visa req'd) & you can either soak up the sun or snorkel at the 3 stops. There’s another to Tiran Island; no visa required.
* Coloured Canyon is interesting, but not offered by the companies like Thomson as the ground is so uneven. It’s sort of like a mini Petra.
*Evening boat trips around the bay with a meal on board.
* Sand Buggies ~ New for 2008. Similar to quads; not many places offering as yet. Thomson do them & Longwoods have something similar called road buggies. Thomson are about £59 per person. If you wanted a buggy to yourself, it’s £69. They go at around same speed as quads. You have a full harness to strap you in. Longwood’s prices - 2hr desert trip - £39 adult, £26 child; Dec ‘07. Longwood Office is in shopping mall 8 (upstairs) in Na'ama Bay, next to Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, on the main rd thru Na'ama.
DOLPHINS: -
* Dolphins ~ Dolphinella in Sharm is not popular on the forum; this link will explain why: http://forum.holidaywatchdog.com/Sharm-El-Sheikh-Dolphinella-in-Sharm-Thread-8977.html
* Dolphin trip to Eilat, Israel – One can see / swim with dolphins in a more natural environment. Longwoods do this trip; they have a website & office in Na’ama Bay, upper floor, shopping mall 8.
People have been fortunate enough to see dolphins when out on boat trips; it’s not guaranteed though.
PETRA:- Please remember that Jordan is a Muslim country & suitable clothing should be worn. Petra is a long, tiring day, but awesome. Have been once off a cruise ship & once from Sharm, still want to go again. We went once in March (nice & warm) & once in Dec; rather cold & many of us bought extra layers at the 1st comfort stop!
You need a visa on arrival in Jordan; the Jordanian guide will sort that. They’re about £12 or so.
You will be collected early for a 6pm flight, then it's about 2.5 hr by coach to Petra, incl. a comfort stop or 2. There are a few shops which you get to see on the way out of Petra but there is probably time to grab a drink.
The walk into the heart of Petra is quite long...at least an hour or so; wear comfortable shoes. There are kaleshes (horse & carriage) & horses, but it's all a bit mad & rickety! In any case, you want to hear what the guide is saying on the way in & to look around / up.
The rocks get pinker as you get more towards the centre, where the Treasury is. It's absolutely amazing, as are the other ruined buildings in the vicinity, round to the right, which aren't ever mentioned, really.
You can't go far into the Treasury....it's not like in the Indiana Jones's film!
There are camels to sit on, if you want, just to have a photo taken.
You walk round to the right, to see the other parts, incl ancient theatre ruins & then have some Bedouin tea. Bedouin kids try to sell you stones / rocks. The guides will ask you to ignore them as they don't want the Bedouins, or anyone, continuously chipping away at the place.
I s'pose you could get a horse or carriage back if you wanted as you retrace your steps to exit the place.
After a look around the shops, you go for lunch (nice hotel, armed guards outside, but it's only for your own safety)
Quick drive round Aqaba, then flight home.
JERUSALEM: - No visa but border fees applicable. ($27 in Dec ’07) Start at about 1a.m., go thru all the day ahead & return at anything from 11pm that night to 1a.m the following day.
Please ensure that you have knees, shoulders & chest covered (males & females) for Holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem etc. Comfortable footwear is a good idea.
LADIES: - When leaving the Ladies' Western Wall, please be aware that it's respectful not to turn your back on the wall till you're a certain distance away. Take your cue from other ladies around you & back-track as far as possible.
FISHING:- Illegal in Sharm; you can go some way out, I believe, but it’s costly to do.
TATTOOS: - i.e. HENNA ONES ~ Be very careful!!! Posters on another forum have reported nasty skin reactions; some have been so serious that skin grafts were even considered for one child. The same can be said for the ones offered in Tunisia. It seems that most of the tattoos in hotels etc. are actually harcois rather than henna. Harcois last about 1-1.5 weeks and stays black, henna fades to a reddy-orange colour and lasts a lot longer (months).”
RAMADAN:- It doesn’t make any difference in resort for the tourists; life goes on as usual.
USEFUL CONTACTS: - http://allaboutsinai.com/directory/medical-dental.html Tourist Police: 0693660311, Ambulance: 0693600554/123, search and rescue 012 313 41 58.
It is worth making an official complaint when things go badly. Go to https://www.misr.gov.eg/english/services/tourism-secured/ & fill in the form.”
MISCELLANEOUS:- STA Travel sell and International Student Identification Card (ISIC). You get 50% off of most of the attractions in Cairo e.g. museum, pyramids etc. You can also get discounts in various other countries worldwide!
There is a new optician called Rodana in Na’ama Bay where you can get a full eye test with prescription for under a £10.
A new International used book shop has just opened at Gazia Mall Hadaba, under the Supermarket and next to the Stationers. They buy and sell used books so you could take your ones that you have read on hols and sell them or exchange for another one.
http://www.ask-aladdin.com/ferries.html - Egyptian ferries
There is a brand new scheme called IRIS available at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Basically to join all you need to do is go to the special rooms at the airport with your passport and boarding card and have a picture taken of your eye. You will then be able to avoid the queues at immigration - just walk straight through. Best of all it is free and takes about 5 minutes.
Visit www.iris.gov.uk for more info.
http://sinaiweekly.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
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My Latest Review: Apr 2008 Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship (9/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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10-06-2007 09:52 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2247
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| Great list of tips.....well done and thank you!
Just one thing I would amend is about the topless sunbathing. I've stayed at two hotels in Sharm and neither were bothered about topless sunbathing. Never saw any signs about topless at all....you must have stayed in very very posh hotels perhaps..hehe
Brilliant list of tips....thx
Iain
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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Sekhmet
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10-06-2007 11:07 PM
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Joined: 25 May 2007
Posts: 342
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| Hi Ian,
lol! Stayed at Movenpick Resort & Casino, Na'ama bay (3 times - love it) I know it goes on; those who do it must be prepared for possible unwelcome attention. I regularly post on TA & there are often threads about this. That's what prompted one poster to draw my attention to Lonley Planet's comments. Another poster said that at their hotel (sorry, can't remember which) a girl had dived into the pool, topless - there were gasps from the onlookers - Egyptian staff & tourists, & the staff asked that she quickly cover up. I expect many have tales to tell from one extreme to the other. My personal opinion is that people should respect the fact that it's a Muslim country & if they must sunbathe topless, be extremely discreet. One must consider, in a country where local women are so strict about their attire, what impression are westerners giving by going topless? I'm not saying topless is wrong - I just think the locals have more respect for those who consdier their customs - as we do those who consider ours : )
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My Latest Review: Apr 2008 Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship (9/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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11-06-2007 08:41 AM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2247
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| I agree...sunbathe topless by all means but when swimming, walking about..it is a must to put your top on.
It is all about respect but in the Falcon Hills and the Coral Sea Resort, women could sunbathe without fear of unwanted attention from the Egyptian men.
Don't worry about the extra i in Iain...it happens all the time. That why my name is Iaintwoeyes (i's)!!!
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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Filmishmish
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11-06-2007 05:01 PM
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Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 29
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| i wouldnt feel comfy in a muslim country, ok for the med, but i really couldnt stand having those slimy men looking at me that work on the beach or hotel. the last place i stayed there was these two russian birds who had their baps out all week (and they werent nothing to write home about, seen better cows udders) the men wouldnt leave them alone. But it didnt help that they wore the same bottoms all week wedgied up their backsides like a thong (i would have given them a quid for one if they asked) the worst was, they didnt shave and everytime they bent over, well, my hubby was totally put of his food, say no more. So the moral is - ladies, if you dont want the attention, dont go topless, simple as that.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2007 Ghazala Gardens Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (10/10)
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squishysgirl
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11-06-2007 05:47 PM
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Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 9
| Just came back from Sham last friday, and the thing with the airport is, there is no set ques to the left or anything when you get into the airport the places that offer money exchange we pt a 10 note in our passports and got 22le back, but there is lots of these offering visa's for 15$ just go and pay at any one, just dont join the reps que, your right about haggleing be strong and do walk away coz 9 times out of ten they will call you back if bnot the shop next door will sell the same thing.
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Andy Lincoln
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11-06-2007 05:50 PM
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Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
| Very Informative Thread thanks
Andy
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yummymummy21
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22-06-2007 07:10 PM
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Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 7
| I am thinking of booking a holiday to Sharm el Sheikh on 01 May 2008 for two weeks. I have researched it pretty well and felt quite confident about taking my three children who will be 11, 9 and 17 months but a friend said that it is probably too hot to take my youngest. In the brochure it says the temperature is about 33 but my friend thinks it is in fact hotter. Obviously I would be sensible about making sure they drink plenty of water and keeping them out of the sun during the middle of the day but I'm now concerned about taking them.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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iaintwoeyes
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22-06-2007 08:11 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2247
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| 33 degrees is probably about right for early May. But there is one major difference. There is little humidity. The heat in Sharm is usually a very dry heat compared to home or other European resorts.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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Finnsmummy
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23-06-2007 09:06 AM
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Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 49
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| We returned from Sharm on 5 June and can confirm that the weather was around the 33/35+ mark and due to the humidity and lovely sea breeze the heat was not a problem for us or our 7 year old - you notice a difference if you venture into old town where there is no sea breeze but even Cairo was cooler and bearable.
We have booked to return in July next year on the basis that the weather will be OK for the whole family - too nervous to go this time of year for our first visit but now happy.
Hope you book and have a wonderful time.
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My Latest Review: Aug 2008 Coral Sea Resort Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (9/10)
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Filmishmish
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12-07-2007 04:03 PM
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Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 29
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| it is always hot in sharm during the summer, so no need to worry, we also went in Jan, also had great weather then, came home nice and tanned.
But regarding topless sunbathing, at Ghazala Gardens, we had leaflets that stated 'Topless Sunbathing is forbidden and illegal' on arrival, there was not one topless lady there or on the beach. One girl tried it by the pool, but soon put her top back on when told off by the management, she didnt do it again either.
I think most other hotels put up with it as european owned, but Ghazala is Egy owned so will not tolerate it. The Egy men i know think it is disgusting and cannot understand why women disrespect themselves in this way (their words not mine), each to their own, but you cannot do it at Ghazala Gardens atall. This was the first time we have received leaflets like this though in Sharm.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2007 Ghazala Gardens Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (10/10)
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Haleema
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15-07-2007 08:40 PM
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Joined: 15 Jul 2007
Posts: 1
| Thanks for all your wonderful tips,do know a few,went to Luxor last Nov,going to the sea club resort Sharm this Oct. I must say in Luxor get alot of hassle,which made me feel uneasy as was on my own,I know they dont mean any harm etc,but hoping I wont get it in sea club,as private beach,going alone again,do you know whats it like at this hotel? I do cover up,but still got attention off the locals last year,is it better at this resort?What about at the airport is there alot of locals hanging about like at Luxor airport? I really loved it there,looking forward to going,only a little nervous incase I get the locals hassle me again,lovely friendly people but just makes me feel uneasy being alone. Was thinking of putting hijab on so they may think im muslim ha ha. Chrissy
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Filmishmish
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22-07-2007 11:01 AM
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Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 29
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| one last tip, avoid illegal taxi drivers, see this link and be very careful out there.
http://forum.holidaywatchdog.com/Sharm-El-Sheikh-Airport-transfers-in-Sharm-to-your-hotel-Thread-6771-Page-2.html
There are NO legal english taxi drivers in sharm, this is a fact based on research, they have to sit yearly exams and have still got to sit a test similar to the knowledge and they have to hold an egy licence. And i def wouldnt trust anyone who would blantently lie like that anyway.
Best advice is stick with an Egy legal taxi, they know the roads better than anyone. All the old blue/white cabs are being replaced with brand new cars as an intiative by the Egy governent, so by the end of the year, all cabs in sharm will be the same when upgraded, all will have seats belts and all mod cons.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2007 Ghazala Gardens Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (10/10)
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cevans1310
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12-09-2007 02:04 PM
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Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 8
| Do you need a visa for children?, if so is it the same price as Adults?
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Sekhmet
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13-09-2007 01:40 PM
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Joined: 25 May 2007
Posts: 342
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| If the children are on seperate passports from their parents, then they will have to have a seperate visa; it's the same price as an adult one.
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My Latest Review: Apr 2008 Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship (9/10)
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lesleyanne
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14-09-2007 09:24 AM
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Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 10
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| It is not necessary to purchase a visa at the Airport unless you are going to travel outside of the resort i.e ras mohamed, cairo you do need a Visa. Do not be pressurised to purchase a visa they will tell you that you have to have one but just write SINAI ONLY on the back of the visa application. A party were forced to purchase Visas that were not necessary and the tour rep was very unhelpful.
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My Latest Review: May 2008 Houda Golf & Beach Club Hotel, Skanes (5/10)
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Sekhmet
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14-09-2007 10:10 AM
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Joined: 25 May 2007
Posts: 342
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| Good point, have heard of this happening quite a lot; plz refer to the visa section on the top part of this post & it will explain how to get the best deal if you do want one. Some folk also pay in dollars, price as at Set '07 seems to be a steady $15 each.
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My Latest Review: Apr 2008 Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship (9/10)
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northern62
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25-09-2007 12:41 PM
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Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 163
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| Sekhemet
You mention wearing long trousers or 3/4 lengths, is this both men and women. A friend told me that men were not allowed to show their knees in restaurants including the hotel one and that this rule applied to all hotels in Egypt??????????????
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My Latest Review: Jul 2008 Three Corners Kiroseiz Resort Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh (5/10)
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Tips for 1st Timers
