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 !

[Bluemonkeyspots]

I don't see the point in going if your not going to be able to be able to take a trip to the pyramids while you are there.

Egypt is filed under "holidays to do when dc are older" so that we can do everything we want to in that country then tick it of our list.

Until then it's Disney/camping/euro beach holidays for us.

[Fairylea]

I wouldn't go. I don't think I'd feel safe and why chance it when there are other beautiful and safer places to go?

Also I had a friend who went there with his 3 year old dd. They had a lovely time at the hotel etc but during the second week his dd became ill with a urine infection and they had to visit the hospital and he said the hospital was absolutely awful and dirty and they had no understanding of childrens nervousness at all. His dd was quite traumatised by it all, so much so they came home early.

I know I'm extreme but for this reason only I'd never travel to any country where the health standard is at least equal to our own. But that's just me.

[ifancyashandy]

One experience of 6 months travelling. With no theft, bodily harm or threat.

[MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill]

I would not take young children to that hotel. My friend went with her little boy a few years ago. He's now got permanent kidney damage from contracting e.coli when they were staying there.

[bbface]

Five month long visits to Johannesburg. No theft, bodily harm or threat.

However, i think you will agree Johannesburg is not a safe place (or you would have had you head in the sand if you think otherwise). My husband is South African and is alarmed by how relaxed holiday makers are in SA.

On the sixth visit, we were broken into and literally anything and everything of any value was swiped. We got off lightly though, there was a car hijack outside the house that Very same day.

You simply cannot extrapolate the safety of a country from one extended holiday!

[CloudsAndTrees]

I go to Sharm most years, sometimes more than once, it is very safe and because I know it, I'd have no reservations about taking my children.

The heat in Feb is a non issue, it really won't be that hot at all.

There is a lot of security in Sharm, and the Hilton is a nice hotel.

All of the trouble that has happened in Egypt is miles away from Sharm, just look at a map! It's on the tip of the Sinai peninsula, a long way away from the problems.

The Egyptians are wonderful people, they are not stupid enough to wilfully damage their main tourist destination. They rely on it.

[bbface]

Some are daft enough. Remember the horrific bombing in sharm?

[CloudsAndTrees]

The security has improved massively in the area where that bomb went off. Cars are not allowed in that area any more unless they have special permission.

[ifancyashandy]

There was a bombing in Dahab. Didn't stop me. Bombings happen in the UK...

[bbface]

in 2005, bombs in Sharm el-Sheikh killed 88 people and left 150 more wounded.

[bbface]

To be clear, I am not saying that I would go.

I am simply trying to offer a balanced argument.

As I have said previously, every year I go to SA. One of the most dangerous countries in the world. The key is, I know that fact and behave and prepare accordingly.

When you have children, it is your responsibility to research and know the score. When you do know the score, you can make an informed decision.

[dreamingbohemian]

Have you ever taken all four kids travelling before?

If not, I think I'd want something a bit easier for the first time out.

In any case, if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Your husband is a grownup, surely he understands that?

[MmeLindor]

I wouldn't go.

People on here have dismissed security concerned based on anecdotal 'evidence' of their own experience in Egypt.

The FOC doesn't issue warnings lightly, which means there is a risk. It is only 'safe' because of the heightened security, not because the FOC is overreacting.

For me the questions to ask are

• would you be able to relax?

• would it limit your enjoyment of the area

• would you feel caged in?

I was in Kenya last year, which is considered reasonably safe in the parts of the country we were visiting.

The hotel and shopping centres were protected by armed guards. Our bags were checked when we entered the hotel. We were warned not to leave the hotel on foot at night and only take hotel sanctioned taxis.

This didn't make me feel safer, it caused me quite some anxiety. I was there on business. I would not have taken a holiday there and certainly not with kids because of this (and because of the extreme poverty but that is another issue entirely)

[dreamingbohemian]

The Sinai is incredibly unstable right now -- it's not true that all the violence is in Cairo, there are jihadists and traffickers setting up all over the peninsula. There is a lot of pressure on Israel at the moment to modify its peace treaty with Egypt so that they can send in more troops, it's quite lawless at the moment.

That said, the security at Sharm will no doubt be top notch. But while it's true that most Egyptians would not want their main tourist site attacked, some jihadists would consider it a prime target.

If it were just me, I would go I've been to plenty of crazy places. But with a 7 month old, no, probably not there are plenty of similar places to go that have no threat of violence at all, so why Sharm?

[lottiegarbanzo]

For February, places that might be warm, lovely and interesting, with great beaches, include Morocco, Turkey, the Canaries and Cyprus. I've been to all but Canaries at Christmas time, was mostly but needed a jumper and thought they'd all be perfect in Spring, too hot in Summer, so check temperatures but could be nice in Feb.

I once went to Andalucia in November once and it was quite cold. I don't think France or Spain would be warm enough in Feb.

[cantspel]

Sharm is very safe and not really Egypt at all. It is more like Benidom but with young egyptian men hassling you to go in their shop and buy some made in china statue of Basset.

But the Hilton is in Sharks Bay which is outside of Naama bay and a lot quieter. The area between Naama and Sharks is a bit of a wasteland but you the hotel is ok as long as you dont expect european Hilton standards.

Egypt is fine for young children. I took mine for years and the worst thing that ever happened to them is one scraped his knee getting out the pool.

The Hilton is an all inclusiive hotel so once you get their you wont need to spend a lot as long as you can drink their somewhat rough spirits and gassey beer as it wont include imported drinks. Wine is ok but dont drink the white as it is awful but the rose is ok. Plenty of soft drinks, pepsi, juices (the mango is lovely) and drink plenty of water. make sure it comes from a sealed bottle. Ice is ok to use as they make it with bottled water and they wash the salads with it as well so you can eat them with out to much worry. but i wouldn't risk it outside the hotel.

[Nancy66]

I'd save the money and put it towards an amazing holiday in the summer - I thought Sharm El Sheikh was a soul-less shit hole

[Fluffy1234]

Could you not hang on until Easter for your holiday and go somewhere like The Canaries? I went to Makadi Bay, near Hurghada when my boys were 9 and 11 and was so glad I waited as they were old enough to snorkel. Plus we did some amazing trips such as a day trip by plane to visit the Cairo and Egyptian museum and went into the desert in a jeep and watched the sunset. If you do go make sure the pools are heated as otherwise you may find they are almost unusable.

[cantspel]

I love makadi bay. It is much nicer than sharm and the ideal place for a beach holiday. Great snorkeling from the house reef at the fort arabesque.
Fluffy is right the pools will be freezing in feb but the sea will be warm enough
but i would still take rash vest or wet suits if you plan on doing any diving or snorkeling.

The only area i would avoid is Taba although the diving and snorkling there is some of the best in egypt.

[Fluffy1234]

I went to Fort Arabesque xxx

[FatimaLovesBread]

Just wondering cantspel why would you avoid Taba?

[cantspel]

Taba is right on the boarder of Israel and right on the edge of the sinai.
An ideal place for the nutty types to launch rocket attacks over the boarder.

I was there a couple of years ago when things were a lot more stable and even then you could hear the helicopters at night that patroled the sinai and the odd round of gun fire.

There is only 2 hotels there The movenpick and Taba Hilton, both lovely hotels next door to each other and you can walk trough the movenpick into the Hilton but the Hilton has the boarder the other side of it.

Great place to stay if you want to go to Jordan as you are right on the bay of Aqaba and you can see Jordan in the distance across the sea.

[cantspel]

oh and Taba airport is a hell hole and you need another holiday just to get over the experience of flying home.