Taking a 5 years old and 2 yr old to Egypt?

Sniksnaksnoram · 2024-03-23T17:53:45+00:00

Would you do it? seen some lovely deals in October half term. Under 2k, Hilton, movenpick hotels, but Egypt? I went and hated it, although I left the hotel grounds which we wouldn’t be doing. But I got a dodgy tum too BUT this was 15 years ago? what say you MN?

MackerelTales · 10/05/2024 10:32

We went to Makadi Bay recently, adults only, and have now booked to go back to the same area (different hotel though) with the DC in October, really looking forward to it.

We booked this hotel through a booking website, with Easyjet flights separately, and saved £2000 compared to getting it as a package! With private airport transfer with the same company we used last time.

The JAZ hotels include free water park passes too.

Makadi Bay is a pretty sleepy little area, with a nice winding walk to the beach. You can sit on the pier and look at the tropical fish even if you don’t want to snorkel.

We took travel probiotics for a week before going last time and always do the same for Turkey, and stick to bottled water for teeth brushing and putting in kettle etc. Touch wood, none of the family have got ill for years while away.

welshweasel · 23/03/2024 19:00

We go fairly frequently. Started taking kids from a year old, they're now 5 and 8. Always had a brilliant time, usually pick a hotel with water park, kids club etc. We like to scuba dive and the kids go snorkelling.

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:44

Oganesson118 · 23/03/2024 18:43

I’d do it. You’re not guaranteed the same good weather in Spain or even Turkey that time of year. I’ve never had a bad tummy and I’ve been 4 times. Don’t pay attention to people criticising you for staying in the hotel, your kids aren’t going to be interested in sightseeing yet and many hotels in Egypt are a cut above for the money.

And this is a movenpick on Red Sea (not hurgurda or sharm though) and it does look lovely

OP posts:

SpicyNoodleSoup · 23/03/2024 18:43

We have just come back with our 4 year old. Granted we didn't leave the resort but had a lovely time and felt very safe.
Just don't drink the tap water and you should be fine.
None of our group got ill and that was with brushing our teeth with the tap water as my husband thought that was what the holiday rep said while I was dealing with a very tired child

Oganesson118 · 23/03/2024 18:43

I’d do it. You’re not guaranteed the same good weather in Spain or even Turkey that time of year. I’ve never had a bad tummy and I’ve been 4 times. Don’t pay attention to people criticising you for staying in the hotel, your kids aren’t going to be interested in sightseeing yet and many hotels in Egypt are a cut above for the money.

CorvusPurpureus · 23/03/2024 18:42

I live in Cairo.

Egypt is fine.

Some dodgy all inclusive hotels in Sharm (which is, to be blunt, Egypt's Blackpool) might be a bit grotty.

As they would be anywhere that's hot & full of pissed tourists grubbing at the All-You-Can-Eat-All-Day trough, sorry, buffet, tbh.

Having said that, I've lived here a decade & used to regularly do the whole naff Hurghada/Sharm aqua park thing for weekends when the dc were small - we used to have fun & no one was ever ill.

Would suggest avoiding buffet salads/rice if you're worried about the food, but that's not an Egypt thing, it's a common sense thing.

KateMiskin · 23/03/2024 18:39

I have been 3 times. As a teen and as an adult. And taken the DC as teens. They loved it. No bad stomachs or feeling unsafe.

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:37

RunningFromInsanity · 23/03/2024 18:35

I don’t think a 2 year old cares much for history yet.

Show quote history

Yeah he’s not fussed on the pyramids, he’s more into cake right now.

pyramids et al is an adult holiday. I cant imagine I’d have been that fussed as a teen

OP posts:

KateMiskin · 23/03/2024 18:36

Correct. So I wouldn't bother. Though not because of a bad stomach.

Medicinalfriedchicken · 23/03/2024 18:36

Nowanextraone · 23/03/2024 17:55

Oh god no. We went 2 years ago and genuinely hardly left our hotel room as we were all so ill.

As a child, we did a day trip to Egypt (I am sure we were in Cyprus but that can't be right 🤨) and everyone who went, came back ill too

I did the day trip to Egypt from Cyprus as a teen in the early 00s, so you're probably right! A fascinating day and memories, though we did come back with dodgy tums, too. I wonder if that excursion is still going!

RunningFromInsanity · 23/03/2024 18:35

KateMiskin · 23/03/2024 18:34

What's the point in going to Egypt if you don't leave the hotel? There's so much incredible history there. I wouldn't bother for a beach trip.

I don’t think a 2 year old cares much for history yet.

RunningFromInsanity · 23/03/2024 18:35

Also, I’ve been to Egypt over 20 times from teenager to now. Never had a bad stomach.
Don't brush teeth using tap, don’t ask for ice in drink, ask for meat to be cooked extra on the grill.

KateMiskin · 23/03/2024 18:34

What's the point in going to Egypt if you don't leave the hotel? There's so much incredible history there. I wouldn't bother for a beach trip.

Gophering · 23/03/2024 18:34

We went recently and also a few times in the past. Always to very good hotels and never had any problems with sickness. One time we went the DC were young. No issues at all.

RunningFromInsanity · 23/03/2024 18:33

An all inclusive kid friendly hotel in Tunisia or Egypt is great. Nice weather, beach, pool, cheap.

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:32

Newnamedillydally · 23/03/2024 18:31

Absolutely not, went with just husband when we were younger and both really ill. We were ill for quite some time after returning too. Anecdotally everyone I know who’s been has been ill regardless of where they stayed. You couldn’t pay me to go back, so no way would I risk my children becoming ill.

That’s the thing, it’s the dodgy Tums. Looks like it’s still the same in that regard

OP posts:

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:31

mitogoshi · 23/03/2024 18:29

To eaches own. I wouldn't go somewhere if I didn't feel safe to leave the hotel. I'd stick to Spain or perhaps look at Morocco, we went last year and they were so friendly, souk was fun.

So I didn’t feel safe as an older teen (16), in a market in sharm in a mini skirt and t shirt wandering alone.

OP posts:

Newnamedillydally · 23/03/2024 18:31

Absolutely not, went with just husband when we were younger and both really ill. We were ill for quite some time after returning too. Anecdotally everyone I know who’s been has been ill regardless of where they stayed. You couldn’t pay me to go back, so no way would I risk my children becoming ill.

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:30

WhateverMate · 23/03/2024 18:23

If you're not leaving the hotel, why not choose somewhere with a shorter flight and more for the kids to do?

Flight doesn’t bother me, it’s price. These specific hotels have lots, kids play area, beach, pool, AI. That did my kids nicely in antalya, we made plans to leave the hotel but we never really needed to. They’d spend all day on the beach, or in the pool.

one of the hotels has a water park too

OP posts:

mitogoshi · 23/03/2024 18:29

To eaches own. I wouldn't go somewhere if I didn't feel safe to leave the hotel. I'd stick to Spain or perhaps look at Morocco, we went last year and they were so friendly, souk was fun.

Original poster

Sniksnaksnoram · 23/03/2024 18:28

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 23/03/2024 18:17

Egypt was my dd's 2nd holiday, she was 2.
This was 20+ years ago, we all loved it.

The area we were in has changed so much now - of course it has, and there are now lots and lots of hotels in the area. Makadi Bay area.

We went through Kuoni and it was a ' nice ' holiday.

The nearest town was Hurghada and we went into ' town ' often, sometimes on the hotel free shuttle bus, sometimes by taxi. I see Google maps now call Hurghada a city.

We also went on a trip into the desert, and visited a Bedouin camp.

Took dd back ( when she was 10 ) to Egypt to Cairo and did all the major sights including the Pyramids. Pretty sure it was a Movenpick hotel then.

One day we will do a Nile cruise and visit the Valley of the Kings etc.

but if you have been before, hated it, got upset tummy etc. and never left the hotel - why repeat the experience ?

I did leave the hotel before, it was sharm and outside the hotels is god awful. I felt unsafe. But that was 15 years ago

this time, if we went we’d be doing a kid beach pool hotel holiday, you know the kind that could be transplanted anywhere

OP posts:

reelcat · 23/03/2024 18:27

No way

JSMill · 23/03/2024 18:26

I used to live in Egypt and have been to a few Movenpicks. They are very family friendly. I would highly recommend them. The best is in El Gouna, which is close to Hurghada but far superior.

WhateverMate · 23/03/2024 18:23

If you're not leaving the hotel, why not choose somewhere with a shorter flight and more for the kids to do?

InterestedinEfteling · 23/03/2024 18:22

God no! I feel the same about Turkey and Tunisia too. Sorry.