AIBU to rain on dh's parade about taking 4 dc 's to Egypt for half term ?

[FOURBOYSUNDER6]

Dh made Last minute decision to book Hilton sharks bay resort in sharm el sheikh. Has anyone been recently? We have young boys is it ok for younger ones etc? Dc's aged 6, 5, 3 and 7 mths.... He is mega excited and wants to book but i am not sure .... Can't really afford it, I have irrational fears about dc 's getting shot, trafficked , food poisoned , too long travelling from uk..... I would love a holiday in the sun and we need one as it is long long overdue... But AIBU to just want to chill at a villa in south if France or Spain in summer where it feels so much more sensible with young children or am I being ignorant and unreasonable ? He fancies Hilton sharks bay. Budget can't stretch to mark Warner !!!! Has anyone been to Hilton and is it good or poor mans Egypt ... Why am I posting this at this time instead of sleeping !

[lottiegarbanzo]

Egypt has been quite unstable recently, have you checked the current Foreign Office advice? Sharm el sheikh is probably well away from most trouble but what are you hoping to do there? I know nothing of the resort except that a friend went there for the diving and couldn't understand anyone going and not diving as, in her view, there was nothing else to do.

[Living]

My understanding is Sharm el Sheikh is pretty safe at the moment but if you can't afford it you can't afford it. My main concern would be risk of instability in the rest of Egypt hitting Sharm but it's fairly heavily protected.

Personally, there are other countries where you can go and lie on a beach and why not go to one of those at the moment (am guessing Sharm's cheap at the moment because of that).

I sincerely doubt the Hilton is 'poor man's Egypt' but then my definition of 'poor man's Egypt' is probably quite different to yours.

[NarcolepsyQueen]

Hep jabs :-(

[LtEveDallas]

The trouble in Egypt is mostly centred around Cairo ATM. Cairo is about 8 hours from Sharm. Hurghada is about 9 hours from Sharm.

The Hilton is likely to be a huge gated complex with armed guards, as all the resorts are over there. Feb half term is a great time to go as its not too hot, but a darn sight warmer than the UK. You wouldn't be lying in the sun in France or Spain at half term

We are going back to Egypt this year and I can't wait!

[Callthemidlife]

Depends on the season you book for, of course, but the heat I think is too much or young kids. 30 degrees is one thing, 35-40 quite another. Without the diving I really can't see why you'd bother going there (ive been there lads of times but not since having kids) Try mousses (see mn reviews) or even camping in France instead - much more fun for kids I think.

[Callthemidlife]

But if you're going in feb then of course heat not a problem.

[Eastpoint]

I think the only problem is that it might actually be too cold. Don't know if they have any heated pools but if they don't, you might want to take your baby a little wetsuit. If you have towelling tops for them to wear on the beach in the UK I'd take them. It isn't a very long flight & the time difference isn't too big either and the children will wake up later than normal.

Watch out for the porters at the airport charging you English pounds for the trolleys not Egyptian!

[ScaredySquirrel]

You'll be fine - we were in Egypt at October half term and we were ok - we were in Cairo too!

We met a family at the airport who had 5 boys who'd been in Sharm el Sheikh or somewhere there and they'd had a fab time.

i personally can't understand why you'd go to Egypt, or any country and stay in a gated complex - you could be on any beach - but i think your dcs will have a lovely time and won't be shot. (my baby was 5 months old when we went in October)

[malteserzz]

I've never fancied Egypt because of the unrest there, if you are worried you're not going to relax. I'd tell him you would rather go to the canaries or somewhere or wait till the summer when there will be a lot more choice of warm countries to visit

[Alligatorpie]

I live in Egypt and I think Sharm is very safe right now.
I haven't stayed in that Hilton, but have stayed in the Hilton Fayouz in Sharm. It was ok, good value, the food was a bit samey, but you often get that in hotels.

[Trazzletoes]

My Aunt-in-law has been to Sharm several times in the past year - it's perfectly safe. You can always check the FCO website to put your mind at ease.

[Trazzletoes]

She doesn't dive

[ifancyashandy]

Went further up the coast to Dahab in Feb last year. The weather was lovely and it's more 'Egtptian' than a bland gated and armed resort in Sharm. More laid back and chilled - lots of independant travellers. Lovely people and very friendly. Not a hint of any troubles.

[chipsandpeas]

i was there in september - i was in the complex by the beach so cant comment on the complex thats on the other side as i never bothered going over - plenty of resturants food was good (didnt get ill) pool was clean and had a swim up bar
theres a spa on site if you wanted a rest lol there is stuff for kids to do but exactly what i dont know
hotel is right beside soho square that has more resturants and bars if you fancy getting out at the evening and they also run a bus to naama bay that costed something like 1.50 each
if you were wanting more info let me know cos i still have all the welcome stuff and will look it out tonight when i get home from work

[diddl]

Well for me it would depend on if you want to see any more of the country that a hotel complex/the nearest pool/beach.

If not, then I´d take the shortest flight possible tbh!

[forevergreek]

Hmm I'm not sure. I have been to Egypt several times but the unrest doesn't feel right to me in terms of taking children

I haven't stayed at the Hilton. But travel advice is currently don't leave the resort. That means as tourists no camels visits in Sinai, no visiting pyramids in Cairo as that area def isn't recommended. No visiting any areas basically in a tour book. It also recommends you aren't out if you do go out after dark ( 6pm, which is when everything opens as everyone sleeps half the afternoon due to heat)



Can you transfer trip elsewhere?

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Sharm is terrific, great for a relaxing holiday with kids. It's remote from where the issues are and a long way away.
At the moment for obvious reasons a lot of the trips to Cairo etc aren't running so if you did want to do some of that you couldn't.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

You can go out in Sharm after 6pm forevergreek.

[whats4teamum]

I think the key from your post OP is "Can't really afford it". Not going to be much of a holiday if you are stressing about how much it costs.

[bbface]

i personally can't understand why you'd go to Egypt, or any country and stay in a gated complex - you could be on any beach - but i think your dcs will have a lovely time and won't be shot. (my baby was 5 months old when we went in October)

Because often quite dangerous and unstable countries have sensationally beautiful beaches, but are not set up nor safe for a two week visitor with no experience of their country. Egypt a case in point, The Caribbean another one.

[Pricklypickup]

I seem to be going against the grain but my worse holiday was in Sharm. My teenage dd was harrassed continuously, my ds who was pushchair age was forever having soveniers thrust in his hands by vendors then getting very confused when I was taking them out of his hands and the vendors would then shout at me about being bad mother. Whenever my dh got out his camera to take pictures, locals would swarm to try and get the camera off us and take pictures for money.

It was a very stressful holiday.

[Dexidoo]

I've been to Hilton Sharks Bay twice in March '09 and Feb '11 and had a lovely time. I went with a friend and so didn't really take in kids activities, just avoided the family bar!

Accommodation and food are good and weather was high 20's. We almost cancelled in 2011 due to the political instability but there were no problems, the complex is close to airport & very secure.

PM me if you have any queries

[MrsMushroom]

I am like you OP and would worry about Egypt as a destination. But don't worry about the heat as someone mentioned...we've just spent Christmas in Oz and my 8 year old and 4 year old never bothered about the 40 degree days.

[ifancyashandy]

I've traveled round the Caribbean on my own. It was very safe. Hotel propaganda suggests otherwise.

And it's a vast swathe of countries that you're dismissing as 'unsafe' there! Normal people actually live and go about their business in these places. With kids and everything!

[bbface]

I've traveled round the Caribbean on my own. It was very safe. Hotel propaganda suggests otherwise.



You are dismissing vast swathes of a country as 'very safe' based on one experience! Go on the foreign office website. They will give you the low down.