To wonder why the fuck anyone would want to go to Sharm El Shek anyway?

[GlitteryRollerGirl]

Just that really.

That part of the world is incrediably volatile at the moment, even more so since the terrorist attack in Tunisia. The foreign office advised against travelling there after that. I've always wanted to go to and see the pyramids but accept its not going to happen for the foreseeable future, it's not worth the risk . Now this terrible incident with the plane, clearly there is intelligence telling the government that it's just not safe to fly to or from there at the moment.

Aside from that, I've known loads of people who've been there and none have liked it. Huge purpose built resorts with gates and armed guards on them?! No thanks! I'd never be able to relax.

If you want some winter sun what's wrong with the good old Canaries?

Ok, well I don't have any interest in diving so that doesn't appeal at all. And yes I know the Pyramids are miles away, but I'm not prepared to risk going there at the moment. Maybe one day though.

I suppose the resort has just never really appealed to me, and the stories I've heard about food poisoning picked up whilst there would turn your stomach.

Sharm is a lovely holiday destination - it's a beautiful part of the world. It's also been deemed by the gvt as perfectly safe to travel to up until this tragic event. It's much, much more than a collection of resort hotels. It also relies almost exclusively on tourism to survive so the people there will be going through a very worrying time at the moment. Enormous sweeping and inaccurate generalisations like yours are not exactly going to help things.

Slightly off topic but cannot help noticing lots of school age UK children 'trapped' at airport. Half term not over then.

It's not somewhere I'd fancy, ditto Dubai. Someone from our office has just been there and was raving about it, and I just couldn't see the attraction at all. Mind you we were also left somewhat nonplussed by Orlando.

I try not to criticize other people's choice of holiday destinations on prinicple as I know it stings when people slag of Center Parcs or Tenerife, both of which I enjoy immensely.

But I would be wary of going anywhere with current civil unrest.

I went to Turkey a few times when younger and whilst it was enjoyable there was a bit of an undercurrent - never saw any females out working and most of the waiters etc. had different jobs out of tourist season such as doctors or farmers, and a rather unpleasant view of the holiday makers, which may or may not have been well-founded.

Like many I'd absolutely love to see the Pyramids and the Cairo museums at some stage, but the plans are on hold for now.

Correct, some places are still on half term (not many, but I can see why those who are would take advantage of an off-peak week).

I went 8 or 9 years ago, I loved it...we went to Cairo from there to see the pyramids and the Egyptian museum. We went to Mt Sinai and visited the monastery, we had a camel ride into the desert and ate a (supposedly) Bedouin meal and when it got dark there were telescopes and an astronomer telling us what things were while we looked at them and spent hours paddling with sea urchins and loads of fish at the beach, it was great.

I don't know why anyone would go there and not leave the resort though, but then I wouldn't do that no matter where I went.

OP the vast majority of people who get ill in Egypt aren't getting food poisoning, they're picking up germs from the frankly filthy money. Anyone with any sense would see how dirty the money is and make sure they wash hands and use anti-bac, but they don't bother then moan about getting food poisoning.

We went for our honeymoon. Not my idea of the best holiday ever, but we could afford a more upmarket all inclusive resort there, and we went with our toddler so we really only wanted a nursery, some sun and someone to bring us a few drinks

I'm sad for the men and women of Sharm who'll be affected by this in the long term.

It's all about the diving. I love it there. The people are lovely, I feel completely safe walking round Sharm alone, and as long as you're polite and firm with people trying to sell you stuff, it's no problem at all. I can't get worked up about people just trying to provide for their families.

I've been to Egypt, including Sharm several times. I imagine people go for the usual reasons. Fabulous weather, diving and snorkelling, excellent food, culture (not Sharm). Amazed at the snobby reporting in the media about people risking their lives for a cheap holiday. The foreign office hasn't advised against travel until now and there are some beautiful and pretty expensive hotels in Egypt.

I've ever been to Sharm but did Egypt in a day from Cyprus about 7 years ago. It was awful, i would never go again. We visited the pyramids, et al but it was over run with people pestering you for money. Children becoming incredibly aggressive if you didn't give them money when they asked. It was intimidating and awful. We asked to get back on the bus early. Despite being very careful, I also got such bad D&V that my hotel in Cyprus had to call a Dr out for me and they very nearly didn't let me fly home to the UK. The museum was fascinating but it didn't make up for the rest of the trip.
Although I did get a confidence boost when some men at the airport tried to haggle a price to buy me. I think it got up to 4 camels.

Out of interest, for those who have been to Sharm. Was the airport not really hot on security?

We went to Turkey in July & I can't see how anyone could possibly have got a bomb on a plane at Dalaman. Even the airport staff were being scanned.

Sorry, just to clarify we went to Cairo.

A relative of mine married a Bedouin guy and they run a dive centre at Dahab. The business suffered after the Dahab bombing, and I can only imagine they will go through the same thing now.

(Not to take ANYTHING away from those killed, and their relatives.)

Diving, Diving, Diving.

My son was taught out there (SEN)
I'm very good friends with the young men that taught him and were patient, respectful and accommodating to his needs. They were wonderful and always made us feel very special- we've gone out into the Sinai desert to dine with their family members. I send stuff out to their mums/dads (their wages are shit) and send little treats to the boys. I'm very saddened at the recent news and the impact it will have on the locals.

Because its hot and relatively cheap, I guess. I know lots of people who have been on package holidays there as recently as this summer. Some of them had police escorts to their resort from the airport .

Not my cuppa. If I were to go to Egypt (which I wouldn't in the current climate) it would be to see the pyramids, not sunbathe.

Never been but that and turkey cheaper than European similar all inclusive type hol. If you are not leaving resort then it makes no difference. Several of dd's friends been for summer holidays. I'd assume a lot trapped now we're on half term hols due to fly back on Saturday/Sunday/Monday inset day and now stuck. Wonder if la will stick to zero tolerance and fine them and if any parents will challenge in court.

"Out of interest, for those who have been to Sharm. Was the airport not really hot on security?"

Not when I was there, no, but that wasn't recently.

It's worth remembering this is half term holidays, and a lot of people book a looonnnnggg time in advance, we actually looked at Sharm for this half term, we were planning this before last Easter, so long time before the Tunisa attacks and at the time, no reason to think it would be very unsafe. (we'd considered it as DS's school had inset days at the start of this week so we could do a Monday - Monday rather than Sat-Sat or Sun-Sun and get a cheaper deal). The Canaries were a lot more expensive. As it was, DH couldn't get all of the half term off work, so we didn't go away this time round.

While after Tunisa attacks I wouldn't have booked anywhere in the region, if I'd already booked it, attacks hadn't happened in that country, and the Foreign office wasn't advising not to travel, then I'd probably still go. Most people would risk it if they'd already paid out.

Our reasons for wanting to go was somewhere hot for a pool and beach style holiday, AI, not a 'doing stuff' holiday, and relatively cheap. If you are looking for something like that, then Sharm is pretty much perfect in October.

For about £350 last Jan we got to stay at a hotel that bad 4 pools, right on the beach and was all inclusive. I don't even drink but even soft drinks add up on Holiday.

We just wanted a week chilling and got it.

The food was lovely, fresh stone baked pizzas, Fresh breads yum.

I've worked in Spain in resorts and these hotels in sharm are a step up as they are newer and be had kg staff wages they can just employ a lot more people.

Friends went to Egypt earlier this year, pyramids then flew to Sharm. All independently organised. They said the pyramids were fantastic and the place was almost deserted. They took local trains and did all sorts of things.

They had a mixed time at Sharm not really their thing.

We took the DH's kids to Sharm as it was hot, DH and DSS could dive and me and the other kids could snorkel which was incredible. Big resort hotels aren't my thing but it did the job. Didn't like not really leaving the hotel though. But I can see why some people love it.

Turkey (which other people have mentioned above) - I went travelling round it independently with a friend - oh my god what an amazing country. We had an fantastic time, the food, the countryside, the history - loved it. Will be devastated if it goes the way of other countries that you can't safely travel round.

The airport at Sharm is diabolical, so stressful and crammed at the best of times, so I really feel for the tourists stuck there.
I went to Egypt & Jordan on a cruise for our honeymoon, visited the pyramids, Cairo, Petra etc, but would never go back.
The poverty is awful to witness, and whilst I'm glad I've seen it, but would never fancy returning.

I really feel for the holidaymakers there, must be awful to be stuck there not knowing what's going on. Apparently the Egyptian authorities aren't going to let some Easyjet flights land to bring the Brits home.

I feel for the locals too who will suffer due to a loss in the tourism industry.

I holidayed in Sharm a few years ago and would never go back. It's a hole. I'd rather stay home than holiday there.

Yep, diving. Wouldn't go at the moment though tbh.

I go to Turkey several times a year (my ddil is Turkish) and I am flying to Istanbul on Thursday. I feel more nervous going to London (apart from the flying). I would avoid Eastern and Southern Turkey at the moment but the rest of the country is as safe as most places in out present unsettled world.
At the moment I would avoid Egypt and Tunisia along with anywhere on the Syrian /Afghan borders.