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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my parents shouldn't go to Egypt?

40 replies

sevendwarves · 04/02/2011 13:35

My parents are supposed to be going to Sharm el Sheikh in 5 weeks time on holiday. I know the area is currently unaffected but i'm worried and personally I wouldn't go, and think to do so would be stupid.

I should point out that they have booked this holiday using their Tesco vouchers so it hasn't really cost them anything.

AIBU to not want them to go, and should I express my concerns or accept it's up to them?

OP posts:
Blu · 04/02/2011 13:39

YABU.
They don't need to decide yet. It will be much clearer in 4.9 weeks whether it is safe to go to Sharm el Sheikh or not.

FabbyChic · 04/02/2011 13:42

I think it is too early to decide whether or not to cancel, things will change dramatically once the president stands down which he intends to do.

CaveMum · 04/02/2011 13:44

Sharm is not covered by the Foreign Office advice at the moment. If your parents were to cancel they would not be eligible for a refund.

YANBU to worry about your parents, but there has been no trouble in S.E.S to date.

Malificence · 04/02/2011 13:44

If it's deemed safe to go by the FO then they should go, I would.
There are millions of what if's, if the situation worsens and extends to Sharm, they will have the holiday cancelled or they will be be flown home, the resort is 10 minutes from the Airport.
I feel far safer in Egypt than I do in London.
The people in Sharm depend on tourism, there is no other industry.

Iwantscallops · 04/02/2011 13:45

YABU. Accept it and don't voice your concerns. They are old enough to make their own minds up. Besides, the Foreign Office would not let them go if the situation changes.

MmeLindt · 04/02/2011 13:46

Friends of ours just came back from the tourist area around Luxor and said that they only saw reports on TV. They said that they did not feel threatened at all, although there was obviously some tension in the air.

Fabby
It is not yet clear when (and if) Mubarak will stand down. As the saying goes: it is not over till the fat lady sings.

strandednomore · 04/02/2011 13:50

Just make sure they keep an eye on FCO advice (and the Foreign Office can't stop anyone going anywhere if they want to!) - and be aware that their travel insurance won't cover them if the FCO advices against travel somewhere and they still go.

But Sharm is a long way from Cairo and as someone else says, they rely on tourism so will probably go out of their way to make your parents feel extra specially welcome. They will need all the good publicity they can get. Your parents will probably have a lovely time. I hope they are going diving!

trixie123 · 04/02/2011 13:51

Absolutely at present they should assume they are going. It is a completely different part of the country and even much closer to the action people are not reporting problems. We get a VERY distorted view on the news and tend to forget the size of countries. If there were street riots in Bradford you wouldn't advise someone against travelling to Cornwall. Wait until nearer the time

thenightsky · 04/02/2011 13:54

Sharm is in Sinai. People cannot travel from Sinai to Egypt without a visa, plus there are loads of checkpoints between there and Egypt, plus it's about an 8 hour journey. So I don't think the rioters in Cairo are just going to drop into Sharm with ease.

I'd be quite happy to go.

Malificence · 04/02/2011 13:54

It's the Russians you have to be wary of in Sharm, not the Egyptians. Wink

Miserable, arrogant fuckers who push and shove, eat everything in sight and tip your stuff off sunbeds if they want your spot.

WotzNotNot · 04/02/2011 13:55

Possibly follow forums on Tripadvisor which my give you more of a wider spread of comments from those just back. TBH things could change quite quickly from now to 5 weeks time..
www.tripadvisor.co.uk, Discussion - Anyonejustreturned-SharmElSheikh?

I would look at the latest comments and work backwards. Also if your parents aren't concerned, then go with what they want.

Sharm relies heavily on tourism so do the hotel staff and employees. It is a long way from the conflicts. The FCO advice (today) is unchanged, "According to latest information, the Red Sea Resorts, including Sharm el Sheikh, remain calm. However, the situation across Egypt is unpredictable and may change quickly. You should stay in touch with your tour operator."

Tourism in Cancun Mexico took ages to get back to normal after all the media hype in 2009 when it was hit by swine flu. Media hype, wade through it.

LittleMissHissyFit · 04/02/2011 13:59

I know people in Luxor, and there have been demonstrations and groups of men with sticks, depends which side of the river you are I suppose.

Sharm? hmm, jury's out, 5 weeks could be a totally different story. As has been said, there is no FCO advice for this area, but of course it will be being monitored.

My suggestion is for anyone with a trip planned to keep an eye on the situation and make a decision the week before. As it stands today, in Sharm it ought to be OK from a personal security perspective.

Food stocks in the major cities are however under grave pressure, I'm not sure where Sharm gets it's food from, but the unrest may affect the area in time.

DH was due to fly back home last Friday, to Alex. He has been warned to stay away for the time being, until the situation is more clear.

I would talk to them if they were my parents, and suggest they pay close attention to the situation and FCO advice.

This is not just a ruck, this is not just a naughty man with a thick accent, this is a desperate dictator. I lived in that country for 3 years. I would literally believe anything can happen, but I would also always expect STILL to be shocked off my feet. Normal rules don't apply to that place.

I bloody hope that it's all safe and done and dusted in 5wks, I really do, I want H to go home, he is doing my head in.

radiohelen · 04/02/2011 14:06

I thought the food shortages were part of the Mubarak smokescreen?

I think YABU. They don't have to decide yet and when the time does come, I'd say unless there is fighting in the streets in Sharm I'd still go. Sharm is a tourist resort. It's a 6 hour bus ride or a 45 minute plane hop to Cairo. That's a long way for trouble to travel. Most hotels there are individual complexes with big distances between them. Most of the Egyptians in Sharm are in the tourist industry. They aren't going to let this harm their business if they can help it.
Yes things can change and if it does then it's fine to point it out. Keep an eye on the FCO advice and make sure they have adequate travel insurance/emergency get home money - but at the minute I'd say they should carry on as planned and you should keep schtum.

jendot · 04/02/2011 14:08

Sharm is pretty ok at the moment...and quite possibly totally back to normal in 5 weeks...!! If the FCO aren't advising against travel then it will be fine to go!

We are meant to be flying to Cairo on the 16th Feb....4 adults and 5 children obv if it continues as it is we won't be able to go but if it calms down we haven't totally ruled it out yet!! AIBU? lol

Bear in mind they aren't covered by travel insurance if its to do with 'civil unrest' so unless its a package which gets cancelled they won't get a refund if they choose not to go.

curlymama · 04/02/2011 14:30

Sharm has lots of checkpoints and is safe, you are over reacting. If things start to get bad there, they can change their minds closer to the time. It would be silly for them to say they are not going when it's that far away.

I have friends that live in Sharm, Dahab and Hurghada, they are all fine. I have another friend that went on holiday to Sharm on Tuesday, she has been on facebook saying she's having a wonderful time and that it's exactly the same as normal out there.

Sharm El Sheikh is a long way from Cairo, stop worrying.

Original poster
sevendwarves · 04/02/2011 14:41

Thanks for your replies, I'll stop worrying (for now)!

OP posts:
GloriaSmut · 04/02/2011 14:44

I wouldn't want to go to Sharm regardless of the political situation. But that's irrelevant.

However, I think YABU because
(a) this is a decision for your parents to make but
(b) it won't be down to your parents to decide if the FO issues the sort of advice that prevents tour companies sending tourists.

LittleMissHissyFit · 04/02/2011 21:20

Jendot, My 'H' would eventually end up in Alex, he is being advised NOT to go at all for now. The roads are not safe, there is no police force. AFAIK there are no internal flights at the moment either. At one point there were no buses or even trains, though I think that may have been to attempt to hamper the Million Man March.

Supply of all goods is restricted and has gone up immensely for ordinary egyptians. Anything that would have cost 5LE is now 20LE, and anything that would have cost 20LE is now 100LE.

If H is, destination Alexandria, the 2nd city, smaller scale protests, being told to stay where he is, and he has real business/stuff to do there, then a holiday to one of the most populous cities on earth in termoil. With no end in sight for the President, with literally barbaric attempts for him to cling to that power, IMHO you really ought to not go.

Egypt, Cairo is hard enough going at the best of times, Please, 5 DC in a coutry in turmoil? PLEASE consider another destination. You ought to get a refund for your flights, there is time to rethink, please do so.

Takeresponsibility · 04/02/2011 21:27

Asolutely agree with LittleMiss.

Why would anyone put themselves and their loved ones into danger in a political hotspot for a HOLIDAY?

LittleMissHissyFit · 04/02/2011 21:39

I have had messages from my friend, who LIVES in Alex all year around.

On the 12th floor, in a fabulous flat.

She got back (via Dubai) in the last day or so.

She is still in shock, still terrified at the things she has seen. She has 2 DC and has brought them home to her parents at probably huge expense.

Our old shopping mall, huge sprawling thing, our hypermarket, all burnt out. vigilantes in the streets, machine guns and tanks all over.

A holiday is not a good enough reason to go there.

StataLover · 04/02/2011 21:42

Sharm is fine. It's far away from everything! If things got really bad, it's only a few hours drive to Israel and there's an international airport in Eilat.

altinkum · 04/02/2011 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bubblewrapped · 04/02/2011 21:45

Sharm is currently deemed safe, and there is no reason to assume otherwise. If the situation changes then I am sure your parents would be offered an alternative.

cantspel · 04/02/2011 21:48

only if the border is open and it could be shut at anytime if Israel feels threatened.

i would wait and see as the way things are going whole country could still decend into a whole scale civil war.

MmeLindt · 04/02/2011 21:55

I read that the Foreign Office will not advise against travel unless things are really bad. This is for a simple reason - if they officially issue a travel warning then they have to help UK citizens in Egypt to return home, if need be with the assistance of the armed forces.