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?

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It is a difficult one. When I thought about it I guess I equated it to the risk involved in choosing to take my family on the London Underground say 3 or 4 times a day for a fortnight. Even though the attacks in London were some months ago, and it hasn't stopped me using the Underground where necessary, I wouldn't deliberately go on it with my family if it wasn't absolutely necessary.

Statistically you'll be fine, but it is one of those things where if you are caught up then it is likely to be tragic.

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Or be in need of amputation.

Not surprised that the travel agents aren't saying anything about it tbh.

You're much more likely to get a dodgy tummy, though.

We went to Sharm with the children in August just after the bombings. We stayed at the LTI Grand Azure which is about 15 minutes drive from the town of Naama Bay where the bombs went off. If Jayzmummy's sister was staying in the hotel next door to the one where the bomb exploded then she would have been staying right in the town, not at a beach location. Consequently as soon as she left her hotel she would have been walking right past shops and restaurants and it's true that you are pestered continuously by the owners to come and buy or eat - but it's like that in Turkey and other places too.

You do NOT need a visa to leave your hotel. You can travel anywhere within the Sinai region without a visa except to Ras Mohammed National Park. We travelled to Mount Sinai aand St Catherines Monastery without visas and that was a three hour coach journey from Sharm.

We felt safe at all times during our two week holiday. The hotel had security staff and concrete blockades outside the reception lobby. We only went to Naama Bay once and decided not to return because it was too hot to window shop (still in the 40s in the evening) and the locals, although friendly, were very persistent and tiresome.

DH did a 3 day diving course which was excellent but other than that we didn't really venture too far from the hotel as everything we needed was on site.

If Sharm is somewhere that you particularly want to visit then I would still go. Even so soon after the bombings our flight was completely full both ways and there were plently of English families with young children at our hotel.

Hope you make a decision you are happy with and enjoy your holiday wherever you decide to go.

Thanks for that, we are hoping for a beach location rather than town as we are going for the diving. As it is the diving we are going for it was Sharm we wanted to go to rather than just any beach holiday.

I know that we will be pestered when we go into town, dp has been to |Egypt before so he has warned us.

Did you husband do any diving training here before he left? We are thinking of doing a course here so we can make the most of our time there.

Yes and no! DH had previously done a 2 day diving course when we were in the Dominican Republic for Christmas two years ago. His course was run by Aquarius Diving from the hotel next door to the Grand Azure which, if I recall correctly, was called the Coral Sea Resort. Which hotel are you considering booking for your holiday?

twinsetandpearls, I would do the theory/swimming pool part of the course here, then do your open water bit when you get to Sharm. Better to spend your time out of a classroom on holiday.
I did my advanced course in Sharm 8 years ago. It was a lovely place with some amazing hotels. The diving was good, although they were early starts and a boat journey to get to the dive sites. You generally do 2 dives, one morning dive and one afternoon dive. Some folk even stayed on and did a 3rd night dive. The dive boats are comfortable, and the captain and crew cook lunch for you. There is always someone there to sort out your tank and assist you in setting up your dive gear.
I wish I was coming with you.

THanks gingerbear

and copycat!