Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

All inclusive - Egypt vs Turkey?

28 replies

dottyaboutstripes · 31/07/2021 21:24

I was wondering if there's anyone who has done both and preferred one over the other? Or maybe loved a hotel they Booked? Dh has decided he wants to book something for next year (we usually rent a gite in France!) and he's driving me crazy looking at 5* AI hotels in Egypt and Turkey.
I'm the world's most indecisive person so I can't help 😆

OP posts:
Yafilthyanimal · 31/07/2021 21:25

I wouldn't recommend either unfortunately.

Original poster
dottyaboutstripes · 31/07/2021 21:25

Ok, but why not? That doesn't help!

OP posts:
justtryingtogeton · 31/07/2021 21:41

Depends what you enjoy about holidays.

I've not been to Egypt I've heard you're trapped to the hotel complex.

Turkey -I didn't have a great experience. Sunbed wars at 6am, again encouraged to stay in the hotel. Lots of selfish impolite people, but I think AI encourages that mindset sometimes.

I have enjoyed all inclusive's in Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cyprus and Greece. Primarily the hotels we chose were either 4/5 star, I felt safe exploring and we hired a car.

But I like a sunshine pool holiday, I like an evening wander and a nice evening meal.

I guess work out what you want and go from there.

Indoctro · 31/07/2021 21:46

Egypt isn't a particularly safe country. I wouldn't holiday there in this day and age personally.

ISeeTheLight · 31/07/2021 21:49

We did Egypt; Sharm el Sheik (TUI Magic Life) a few years ago pre-kids. It was great actually, although we went in February and not during half term so it wasn't particularly busy. We DID get out of the hotel and did a lot - snorkeling in the red sea, we climbed Mount Sinai overnight (amazing view but tiring, worth it though - I was also pregnant at the time but didn't know it yet and couldn't figure out why I found it so hard), and we even did a 24hr excursion to Petra in Jordan. Was a great holiday; I think we were quite unusual with all the stuff we did - from the reaction of most of the waiters anyway.

ISeeTheLight · 31/07/2021 21:50

That said I'm not sure I'd risk Egypt right now; not particularly safe - even when we went a few years ago there was a lot of military presence.

FawnFrenchieMum · 31/07/2021 21:51

Following with interest. We’ve done Turkey but seen a few places in Egypt I’d like to try.

I do think both places are like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.

CorvusPurpureus · 31/07/2021 21:52

I live in Egypt. It's perfectly safe!

If you're just after an all-inclusive resort, you'll come to no harm in Hurghada, although you might be quite bored.

Cocomade · 31/07/2021 21:56

Egypt has been our favourite holiday we've had.
Amazing hotels, lots to do, we were able to go out etc.
Couldn't fault it.
Stayed at Jaz Mirabel Park

HereWeGoAgainRoundAndRound · 31/07/2021 22:03

We have been to both places all exclusive, hurghada in Egypt is nice far enough away from the main parts but still lots to do, the hotels there are very big and have everything you would do on holiday.. nice beaches.. day trips.. swimming pools snorkeling boat trips or the big ones like pyramids tombs markets etc and has a nice town with restaurants fast food, clothing. We went March and April and the weather was really lovely and missed all the rush of school holidays and prices going up.

Turkey we went to olu deniz stayed in the resort AL. We didn't leave much only once to visit a town and different beach the resort was huge it had over 12+ pools water park entertainment, activities on beach so can imagine the size... it is also a very mountainy place and have to get taxi or hire a car to go to places further out.

HereWeGoAgainRoundAndRound · 31/07/2021 22:05

@CorvusPurpureus

I live in Egypt. It's perfectly safe!

If you're just after an all-inclusive resort, you'll come to no harm in Hurghada, although you might be quite bored.

Totally agree! I wish I could live in hurghada.
addictedtotheflats · 31/07/2021 22:17

I havent been to Egypt but I loved Turkey. I felt very safe there. I have friends who visit Egypt every year and they love it. Turkey is so cheap I wouldnt bother with all inclusive there are so many nice restaurants. We got a 3 course meals with copious amounts of alcohol and struggled to spend £40 between us

MyGrassIsBrowner · 31/07/2021 22:17

Turkey is wonderful. Stayed in Hisaronu many times but always had a private villa. You can visit Ovacik, Fethiye and Olu Deniz (just jump on the Dolmus or taxi). The boat trips from Fethiye harbour are always fun! Lots to do and lots of excursions available. Would highly recommend!

CorvusPurpureus · 31/07/2021 22:18

Hurghada would definitely be my choice over Sharm if I was looking for a lazy AI 5*.

I live in Cairo, & when the kids were younger we'd quite often take the overnight bus down & have a lovely lazy AI waterpark weekend (we get residents' rates so about a third of tourist prices).

They're both definitely geared to foreign hotel tourism - Cairenes go to Gouna if they want posh hotels - but nice for a beach break.

Hurghada is a bit less mass tourism grotty than Sharm.

(We'll be happily osnorkelling in lovely Dahab, mind you, which is hasn't attracted the big hotel chains yet hamdullah Wink)

Girlmum2020 · 31/07/2021 22:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at poster's request due to concerns.

Dexy1957 · 01/08/2021 07:48

Been to Turkey many many times and huGarda in Egypt. Absolutely love Side And the best hotel we have ever stayed in was cennat and acanthus

Stillgoings · 01/08/2021 08:00

I've been to Hurghada in Egypt and Icmeler in Turkey. We loved the snorkeling in Egypt but that was all. I would pick Turkey for the greenness and mountains and turquoise sea. If I could stay in any hotel inTurkey I would pick Club Letoonia ...haven't been...just think it looks beautiful.

Jerseygirl12 · 01/08/2021 17:31

I’ve stayed five different areas in Turkey and one all inclusive hotel in Egypt and then did excursions to various places including flying to Cairo and really enjoyed both countries.

Hersetta427 · 04/08/2021 20:23

Have done both numerous times. 5Star hotels in Turkey Barr far far better than similar standards in Egypt.

Hersetta427 · 04/08/2021 20:24

We have been to some fab hotels in Turkey (branded drinks, unlimited alma cartes etc). Let me know if you want some recommendations.

DrDresaid · 04/08/2021 20:25

Depends what area? I've been to 5* all inc in Lara Beach, Turkey and Hurghada, Egypt and would pick Lara Beach everytime

PerryS22 · 17/07/2023 21:18

So you’ve not been to Egypt yet you slag it off. You have been too Turkey yet you was ‘encouraged’ to stay in your hotel. Sounds like a load of bollocks if you ask me lmao. I’ve been too both & they’re both amazing places & no, you’re not encouraged to stay in your hotel in either. Not sure what kind of fragile bubble you live in but if you’re scared and don’t feel safe in countries outside of Europe, maybe you should just stay at home 🤣

Justcallmebebes · 17/07/2023 21:57

Not sure where you were in Turkey that you were encouraged to stay in your hotel 🤔

Soapyspuds · 17/07/2023 22:03

I would go for a 3 or 4 star in Greece or Spain over 5 star in Egypt or Turkey.

GoneSeaFishing · 17/07/2023 22:13

Been to both. Egypt was our favourite family holiday, lots of things to do in the hotel brilliant water parks and lots and lots of day trips to pick from.

Turkey wasn’t for us we’ve tried it twice and both times really didn’t enjoy it, it’s the loud obnoxious British tourists that ruined it both times, the second time we stayed in a Tui Blue Family Hotel and it was full of load drunken idiots. Two British men got into a fight at the airport and it delayed our return flight by hours and then had to wait on the tarmac uk side while the one on our plane was detained, never ever again.