Sharm el sheikh - have yo been? Would you go?

[twinsetandpearls]

We have been to the travel agents today and decidided to go to Sharm el Sheikh at the end of February.

Was happily flicking through hotel websites when I saw a reminder that it was bombed in July. THe advice from the foriegn office is that it is safe to go but I am not sure, particularly when I found out that this advice is not given by other european countries.

I asked in the estate agents if it was safe and they said it was, if it was just me and dp I might go but taking dd is making me worry.

Would you go?

bum

bump

anyone?

I met dh there

it was gorgeous but that was 10 years ago

I would still go but be nervous

do you dive? If you dont you wont be making the most of it - you must snorkel at least.

We were booking to go ther last July BUT didnt because my sis was theer when the hotel was bombed. she was in the hotel "next door".

This is what she said to us....

Its beautiful but I would never go back there again.
You need visas to leave your hotel complex and noone told them at the time of arrival that this has to be done at the airport before you haed off for your hotel. A whole day was spent sorting out visas and it was a PITA.
Every time they left the complex they were hassled to buy trinkets and no matter how many times you said no you were followed and hassled til you gave in. Pickpockets were everywhere so day trips were a constant battle to hold on to your personal possesions.
The hotels are out of this world and the food excellent. If you want to go and lie by the pool and do nothing all day and have no intention of leaving the complex then go for it....otherwise dont go.
Stock up with the immodium...all of her party had terrible upset tummies because of the intense heat and change of diet....my sis took them before the tummy upset had chance to hit her....better to be bunged up than not being able to leave your room because you needed to be near a loo.

Her photos are fantastic...she went diving and really enjoyed the holiday but would never go back especially since the bombing.

it was nothing like that when we went

you do need a visa if you are going into Egypt (we had to to dive at Ras Mohammed) but if you are staying in Sharm you do not need a visa.

and the food was great

sorry

just asked dh and he says yes you do need a visa but its quick if you get it from the airport

I went years ago on a diving holiday and fully intend to go back with the kids are older as it was lovely... great weather, fab beaches, warm sea, decent food etc... did not have the visa issue but not really a lot of fuss to sort out as long as you knwi in advance!! The stomach probs are the same as in any hot tropical country -- take care with water, and peeled fruit etc..

The diving is amazing and lets face it london and manchester and madrid and other cities have been bombed over the years and we don't worry about them... I don;t see the risk as being any higher for Sharm than any wher else...

I would absolutely love to go to Egypt. The shooting that happened at the pyramids a few years ago put me off, was just getting over that and starting to think about going when the bombing in Sharm el sheikh happened (DS1's teacher and her family were caught up in this and her story was in the local paper, it sounded pretty scary).

However I agree with mancmum that there are other places that have been bombed and because it has happened once doesn't mean it is going to happen again but I would still feel funny about going.

twinset, is the reference to the "estate agents" in your post a typo?

we went 4 yrs ago as part of our honeymoon, just after sept 11 when a lot of people were advising against it. We had a fab time and a lot of the locals were more than willing to help in anyway as they were suffering due to reduced tourism. Would definetly go agsain if i could afford it.

Enid, I think my sisi's probs re the visa was because they didnt know they needed one to leave the hotel....had they been told then they would have got one at the airport when they arrived and things would have been a lot easier.

In-laws went in May, loved it and are going back in a fortnight, regardless of the interim terrorist attack.

I guess that's a pretty hefty recommendation but they don't have young children with them. I guess it's very unlikely that the July attack will be repeated, especially in the low season, but it's your call.

Yes Mrs spoon it was a typo error- not thinking of moving there!

We are going to go diving, having spent years studying the Old Testement I am also keen to go to Sinai and the monastry.

We are going in a group, dp, myself, my sister, my mum and dd. This means dp and I can have a few days on our won to do the diving/ snorkeling etc.

I want to go, but as enid has said I am nervous and I don;t want to spend my holiday worrying.

It would be great if we could find somewhere that had entertainment for dd, as all our holidays in the past have been very much geared around her, this is the first time dp and I ahve gone where we want so I am worried she will be bored. A bored child can ruin a holiday!

I have read mixed reviews about the food. Would you go for an all inclusive or just pay for food when you are there?

Dd has just turned 4, she is quite grown up for her age so should be ok. One fo the hotels on our shortlist has a kids club which should keep her occupied for two hours a day. She is quite an inquisitive person so wondering around the markets and little shops will keep her happy. She is also very excited about seeing camels and the desert.

I am going with my Mum and sister as well as dp so we can take it in turns to have child free days.

Have to say that the foreign office advice doesn't make me want to book a flight right now. The Australian advice is also sobering (and has been updated recently)

Sharm El Sheikh was the only incident that had British fatalities I believe, but there have been a number of other incidents in the last year - in each case it is primarily foreign tourists that have been targeted.

I take the point that London has also had terrorist attacks recently, but I think that booking a holiday is different - especially as in Egypt it is specifically foreign tourists who are being targeted. Just my opinion, and I know the topic of how much risk we're prepared to take has been well debated. I'll leave my sleeping child asleep in the car here, but I wouldn't take them to Sharm El Sheikh this year, nor probably next.

We decided to go then the next day were the bombings so we went to Sorrento/Rome/Pompeii instead. I still wouldn't go now with the kids - don't think I would totally relax. Can't come up with any sensible alternatives for the time of yeat though - Caribbean?

I still haven't made up my mind, what has amazed me is that when I have discussed this in real life the only concern people have had has been about the food, everyone seems to think I am slightly neurotic for even thinking about terrorism.

I have some of your reservations Ladymuck as Egyptian terrorism - or terrorism in Egypt - does seem to target tourists.

I still haven't made up my mind, what has amazed me is that when I have discussed this in real life the only concern people have had has been about the food, everyone seems to think I am slightly neurotic for even thinking about terrorism.

I have some of your reservations Ladymuck as Egyptian terrorism - or terrorism in Egypt - does seem to target tourists.

We can't really afford the Carribean and my sister who is coming certainly can't.

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn