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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

288 replies

GlitteryRollerGirl · 06/11/2015 13:45

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?

OP posts:
Salene · 07/11/2015 06:16

After what happened in Tunisa you couldn't pay me to go to a Muslim country at the moment let alone holiday there. I know it's a shame as its not there fault but no way I could relax so defeats the purpose of going on holiday

To me it's not if there's is another attack but when.

Sansoora · 07/11/2015 06:41

**Airport security will always be a joke there because of
Inshallah

get that into your heads folks*

You don't actually have the interpretaion of 'Inshalla' and others things written in the Quran correct.

Leelu6 · 07/11/2015 07:00

flixybelle loved your response to ihaveacold!

'Yes I watch the news but I am certain it didn't predict a plane crash.'

Differentnamesameface · 07/11/2015 07:02

I have only ever heard one person say they liked Sharm (to be fair she is incredibly well travelled) and she goes once a year - in winter. She does stay in one of the best hotels though.

Other than that I've heard everything from "it's ok" to "it's a complete shithole" (more often the latter and this includes someone who is married to an Egyptian)

It's not somewhere I'm in a hurry to visit.

Hoppinggreen · 07/11/2015 08:11

Egypt certainly wouldn't be somewhere I would have wanted to go even before this latest trouble but the other people wouldn't want to go on holiday either.
However, I'm amazed by people who just keep saying that the FO hasn't issued a warning - use some bloomin common sense. Anyone doing a bit of research or looking at a map could See that Egypt wasn't a good idea.
Some people think that as Tourists we are somehow untouchable and the number of times I have read ( even on here) someone saying that the trouble isn't near the tourist areas, if a terrorist is approaching you with a gun quoting the latest FO advice at them will do no good whatsoever.
Yes there have been terrorist attacks in Londonand New York and travelling always carries a small risk but some places are more risky - even if they have year round sunshine and cheap flights there!!

Lauren15 · 07/11/2015 08:15

The tail of the plane was damaged several years ago. It's unlikely to be linked. I totally agree about flying crappy airlines. British Airways every time for me.

SistersOfPercy · 07/11/2015 08:32

charley
Here is a view of that beautiful architectural site today.

To wonder why the fuck anyone would want to go to Sharm El Shek anyway?
Ifiwasabadger · 07/11/2015 08:40

I love in the Middle East and have visited sharm many times, once for a friend's wedding. I had a wonderful time and really liked it. Stayed in a fabulous hotel. Egypt is a wonderful country with great people. It is a real shame how unsettled it is at the moment, expedially for sharm which relies so much on tourists.

Only1scoop · 07/11/2015 08:50

I don't think aviation experts are thinking it was mechanical or technical failure.

They believe it was more likely a bomb.

Yes it previously had a tail strike.
They don't believe it to be linked.

ProfessorPreciseaBug · 07/11/2015 09:02

Its a Muslim country. I would not want to go to any Muslim country on account of the institutionalised discrimination against women.

I accept that in the tourist resorts, they would tolerate my wife in a swimsuit, but underneath Islam still discriminates against women and I don't want to go somewhere that discriminates against my wife.

Bambambini · 07/11/2015 09:10

"flixybelle loved your response to ihaveacold!

'Yes I watch the news but I am certain it didn't predict a plane crash.'"

Me neither, i thought it would be like all the other attacks the area is famous for on tourists. In their hotels, resorts, bus transfers, touring the bcient sites.

chochomorello · 07/11/2015 09:14

Sharm is lovely, amazing people and have always had an incredible time. Would go tomorrow I'f I could.

People always worry about the obscure and unlikely events and ignore the real killers. The air quality in London is killing 20'000 people a year and all the shit people put in their bodies that his legally sold is killing and inflicting a low quality of life on millions, but hardly anyone worry's about them.

ForalltheSaints · 07/11/2015 09:31

Its warmer than here, perhaps that is one reason? Not in the Eurozone so cheaper than the Canary Islands?

KenDoddsDadsDog · 07/11/2015 10:24

Do you include Latin American countries in your treatment of women crusade Professor ? Or perhaps some US states where women gave few rights ? Do you not visit any of Africa due to genital mutilation , payment only in food for women etc. Or maybe the Far East ? Or do you just discriminate against Muslim countries ?

2rebecca · 07/11/2015 10:31

I'd only go there if I was diving. For sun I'd go to the Canaries. I hate feeling trapped in resorts and hate being hassled. I disliked Jamaica for the hassle factor too. I'd like to visit the ancient Egypt sites though but as others have said they're in a completely different location.
I did like Turkey when I visited and was surprised by how secular many Turks are.

MorrisZapp · 07/11/2015 10:35

I wouldn't go to any of the countries you list Ken Dodd. Holidays are for relaxing, not feeling shit.

Ifiwasabadger · 07/11/2015 10:41

Morris why couldn't you relax in Africa? In Zanzibar and on safari on the Masai Maria I was so relaxed I was horizontal!

TalkinPeas · 07/11/2015 10:43

Flight Voice recorders have been reviewed.
It was a Bomb, probably in the hold.

2rebecca · 07/11/2015 10:49

I feel uncomfortable in countries where the locals have an obviously different standard of living to the tourists. I've been to Malawi and S Africa and India and although it was interesting seeing them and the way of life I was constantly aware of how they saw me and I disliked just being seen as a source of money.
I'm much more comfortable and relaxed walking and cycling round countries with a similar standard of living to the UK where the locals ignore you and get on with their lives.

SplatterMustard · 07/11/2015 10:52

"Or they go to sharm because that's where the package holidays go and it's easier and cheaper with DC"

and because they don't actually know where it is? I'd love to ask people on the plane to point out where they are going to on a map, I bet a lot of people couldn't. They just book their package in the sun and don't stop to think about what is nearby in terms of the risk.

MorrisZapp · 07/11/2015 10:53

I've got friends who have been to zanzibar and loved it, but the airport they went through (can't remember which one) was experiencing civil unrest and was v scary. Events can develop quickly. I wouldn't want to be stuck somewhere with no free health service, scary prison, dodgy civil liberties etc.

I'm the most boring traveller in the world. I won't even go back to Italy, despite it being gorgeous and cultured. I just wasn't confident there, I felt I wasn't 'good enough'.

CurrerBellend · 07/11/2015 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DrasticAction · 07/11/2015 11:12

People always worry about the obscure and unlikely events and ignore the real killers

Hmm this comes as a thompson jet narrowly missed a missile coming from sharm the week before the russian jet was downed!

DrasticAction · 07/11/2015 11:12

Or they go to sharm because that's where the package holidays go and it's easier and cheaper with DC

This is the thing, i dont belive it is easier and cheaper.

tabulahrasa · 07/11/2015 11:13

"and because they don't actually know where it is? I'd love to ask people on the plane to point out where they are going to on a map"

Well I was talking about me, lol, so yeah I knew exactly where it was, and so I knew it wasn't exactly handy for Giza and the Egyptian museum, but it's a lot closer than from here Grin

I also really wanted to see Mt Sinai and St Katherine's, which it was handy for.

My DP only goes on holiday so he has time off work and they can't contact him, he'd pick any random place and sit on the beach...I get bored and I see it as a complete waste of time to be in a different country and see nothing.

So a package holiday where he can do a bit of that and I've picked a country I really want to see is an easy cheapish (it wasn't that cheap tbh, just cheaper than getting flights and a hotel elsewhere in Egypt) way to manage that.

I always see a resort as your base where you know there's food and facilities available if you want it, but you can go off and do other things.