dahab or el gouna??

[verybadhairdoo]

am thinking of going to Egypt just after easter. we will do a family tour for a few days, pyramids etc and then for the final week am considering a crash and splash type week. DS1 is 4 and DS2 2. Not sure what the beaches are like, obviously we prefer sandy & safe given ages of the DC. But also dont really want a overly touristy type place. Keen on self catering appartments really but again, as we dont know what the beach as would be like, it may be a bit risky going to an appartment - typcially no pool!. If DS1 is not keen on the beach, he is a bit of a pain and wont go in...so rocks, too big waves etc realy freak him out.

anyhow have heard that dahab is not very touristy as compared to some other places, but also heard el gouna is good too. Any suggestions ??? OUr inital tour wound end in Luxor so I guess el gouna would be closer but if its a rubbish place then i'd prefer to travel elsewhere.......
your thoughts folks??

Hi

We have been to El Gouna (the Movenpick hotel) twice, the last time when DD was 13 months.

El Gouna is a privately owned town - so very safe, no hasslers in the town at all (but maybe a bit too safe if you like a bit of atmosphere).

The hotel and town its built around lagoons, but in the hotel they had a sandy shore to the lagoons, but they were more like builders sand, a bit fake and not soft to your toes. On the Red Sea shore itself it did get very windy (lots of kite surfers) and so the water might be a bit choppy. The hotel had lots of different pools though.

We are off to Luxor with the kids in April (DD is now 4 and Ds 17 months), hoping for a similar hotel experience with a bit more Egyptian atmosphere!

Have a great time wherever you go.

I used to love Dahab. There used to be a bedouin run beach with cheap flop houses. Now the hotels have moved in. The beaches are variable along that stretch as I recall and you may find the best bits are owned by hotels (some flat rock in some parts but waves not too big - depth cuts away suddenly though so watch out for that). Some nice beaches with shallow water around Nuweiba. Hotels do tend to snap up the very best spots though.

It's still less touristy and you can go up the coast a little to Tarabeen - which is now the bedouin run beach with flop houses for independent travellers and beach cafes with floor couches and cheap Stellas. Very popular coast with Isrealis tourists. Found this:

www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/685651/Egypt/East-coast-north-of-Dahab/Nuweiba-pp--./Tarabeen

Sounds like the place has seen tough times. But just throwing it out there to consider if you're looking for some local colour. The Bedouin run a tight ship and don't like hassle. That's one of the better things about the Sinai.

I'm not a big fan of El Gouna (or Hurghada for that matter) compared to the Sinai - it's OK if you just want a nice hotel complex (which I love for about 2 days, but then what?).

hmmm what to do, what to do....thanks guys...some points to consider.

thanks for the link acinonyx, v. interesting. Sounds just up my alley pre DC's!!!!

You got me looking into it. I found some nice apartments in Dahab - and Dahab still has some local charm and flavour without being as flophousy which is possibly not so child friendly (sadly) on holidaylettings.co.uk.

I have a 5 yr-old and I'm tempted by the Dahab apartments. I'm not totally sure about the beaches though - I think wherever you go in Egypt, you will end up paying for a day pass to a hotel with a pool/beach. That's a reasonable option though and then have a more independent local main stay. Egyptians are VERY child-friendly.

I agree - I wouldn't actually stay in Tarabeen with dd - but I would visit.

I used to live in Egypt - I love it. We went back to Cairo with dd two years ago and I'd like to go to the Sinai next year.

wow you used to live in egypt....how interesting!
We've never been before, somewhere i've wanted to go for years!

I was in Dahab ly for 3 weeks as DH trains divers. No real beach, no sand, the desert literally goes into the sea (you are across the water from Saudi) and this isn't a sandy desert it is red dirty rock. Not too child friendly it is a Goa style place, divers and hippies.

Hurghada is full of Russian mafia, but the beaches are ok, but fake obviously. Sharm beaches are gritty but better, but then of course these are false too.

Have you looked into Taba Heights?

Or, go off the track and get to Alexandria, very lovely seaside town for wealthy egyptians.

I am an Egyptologist so have travelled the country quite a bit, and the red sea isn't famous for sandy beaches as it isn't a strong tidal coast. Alexandria Ison the med I think, and really lovely, and also under populated by tourists.

Acinonyx I agree, ly was my 11 th trip, you either love it fondly for what it is, or hate it on site. Luckily dh and I love it.

I still think the desert is breathtaking at sunrise/sunset. The people I meet are always so funny warm and welcoming.

If you need dive recommendations op then pm me and I will get my dh on it!

well clearly now its all going off, I dont think we'll be going at all