Egypt or Cape Verde

Hoppinggreen · 20/05/2022 12:07

Never been to Egypt and don’t fancy it but we loved Cape Verde
not much to do outside the hotel but we did venture out a few times and it was great. We felt very safe, even with a blonde 16 year old daughter

MzHz · 20/05/2022 12:12

Hoppinggreen · 20/05/2022 12:07

Never been to Egypt and don’t fancy it but we loved Cape Verde
not much to do outside the hotel but we did venture out a few times and it was great. We felt very safe, even with a blonde 16 year old daughter

Which would be absolutely impossible in egypt. Even IN the hotel you’d have issues

and probably stomach bugs because they don’t do hygiene/food safety

I used to live in that god forsaken hole of a country. Anywhere but egypt.

well actually anywhere in that region is a hard hell no.

Cape Verde - my oh had been, for work/location purposes, he said it was great.

Original poster

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 12:15

Ah it's great to hear nice feedback about Cape Verde. I don't know anybody who has been so have nobody to ask for feedback on it. I must admit, if the cost difference wasn't so significant, Cape Verde would be my immediate choice. Though if we do opt for that, we'll just tighten our belts.

I went to Egypt 10 years ago now and had a great time and didn't have any issues with the food but I know plenty who have! So I think I did just get lucky there.

OP posts:

hellrabbitishere · 20/05/2022 12:18

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 12:04

Has anybody been to Egypt recently? How did it feel in terms of safety?

Looking on the gov.uk website, both Sharm and Hurghada are Green, but the general warnings around Egypt have made me question safety. The hotels we've looked at look wonderful with plenty to do in the resort, but obviously, safety is my key consideration and I'd be interested to hear from anybody who has been recently on how it felt.

If we choose not to go to Egypt, I've been pricing up Cape Verde. Has anybody been, and have any feedback on there?

Thank you x

iv never been to to either but in jan one of the young sat staff from my shop went with her friend to egypt they are both early 20s id say and they had a great time no probs at all , they stayed in cairo , did luxor and the red sea bit , loved it she said , i also worked a few years ago now with someone who went to cape verde with her husband they were then both in their 50s and she said it was shit , the hotel was fine , but venturing outside it was a no go really , she showed me the pics they took of when they did and its obvious widespread poverty , nowt much to do , for some bizzare reason her hubby had taken a pic of a child lying in the street covered with flies , 🙄she had no clue why he took that pic either , but she said they were disapointed with it . its a holiday where you just lounge around at your resort all day , whereas egypt is famous for having a ton of thing s to do and see

Original poster

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 12:22

@hellrabbitishere - I've read that before re: Cape Verde, that the resort outside of the hotel is quite under developed. That's another thing to consider, as there doesn't seem to be a huge lot of activities in the hotels aimed at children and DS will be 3.5 by then.

I'm so torn, because I truly did love Egypt and I had such a fantastic time, with plenty of excursions and fun quad biking etc when I went many years ago, but I'm just worried that the terror risk has changed significantly since then and whilst I'd probably not bat an eyelid going alone, I have some reservations on whether I'd take DS.

I'd be happy with mainland Spain to be perfectly honest. I'm only looking further afield as we'll be going in December so I'm looking for winter sun resorts.

OP posts:

hellrabbitishere · 20/05/2022 12:49

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 12:22

@hellrabbitishere - I've read that before re: Cape Verde, that the resort outside of the hotel is quite under developed. That's another thing to consider, as there doesn't seem to be a huge lot of activities in the hotels aimed at children and DS will be 3.5 by then.

I'm so torn, because I truly did love Egypt and I had such a fantastic time, with plenty of excursions and fun quad biking etc when I went many years ago, but I'm just worried that the terror risk has changed significantly since then and whilst I'd probably not bat an eyelid going alone, I have some reservations on whether I'd take DS.

I'd be happy with mainland Spain to be perfectly honest. I'm only looking further afield as we'll be going in December so I'm looking for winter sun resorts.

i know its hard when its your kids to consider as well , if i had the money id love to do egypt , but iv got a 14 yr old daughter and yes its different when its not just your safety its theirs as well , i just know id stear clear of cape verde , honestly i still remember the crappy photos that my workmate showed me , only the resort looked remotely inspiring , i think id rather spend a week in east ham as opposed to cape verde . neither of us could get over the child and flies photo , when i asked her what on earth he was thinking when he photographed this poor kid she just said she thought he seemed like he was shocked so took a pic 😂

i was wondering why on earth not go to spain rather than cape verde but of course the time of year when you want go creates an issue

the only plus point i can see is that there havent been any reports for a long time now about terrorist attacks in egypt

springsmiles · 20/05/2022 12:52

Been to Egypt pre Covid with children. Stayed in hugara. It was a great hotel and kids loved it. The snorkelling was their favourite thing in the world and that and the pool kept them amused the whole 10 days.

We only ventured out of the resort once and prob would not feel confortable with the children venturing out.

Food wise we had no problems and no stomach bugs.

nearlyspringyay · 20/05/2022 12:55

Cape Verde. Kids don't need much more than a pool / beach at that age

Hoppinggreen · 20/05/2022 13:00

We did 2 excursions on Cape Verde and we didn’t see anything that was distressing at all. There is poverty of course and it’s a poor country in general but no children covered in flies or anything like that

BlueKaftan · 20/05/2022 13:06

What about Gardaland in Italy. It’s got a Legoland water park. Right by Lake Garda.

ILikeCrapTelly · 20/05/2022 13:09

Never been to Egypt.

Have been to CV, hotel was lovely and staff couldn't have been nicer, although there was nothing much outside of the resort. However, I got the most horrendous food poisoning/gastroenteritis, the symptoms of which lasted for 2 months after the first awful fortnight.

mintich · 20/05/2022 14:33

As @hoppinggreen said I didn't feel safe even in the hotel as the men were leery and made disgusting comments. I also got food poisoning.
Cape Verde was lovely though!

RoyKentsChestHair · 20/05/2022 14:39

I’ve been to both. Cape Verde was definitely my favourite of the two. The snorkelling in Egypt was amazing, whereas the sea at CV was a bit wild, but we went quad biking over the sand dunes to a totally undeveloped beach and it was unforgettable. This was a few years back so I’m hoping it hasn’t all been built on now, but I would go back in a heartbeat, whereas Egypt I could take or leave. We found the staff in the 5* hotels to be chalk and cheese too. CV couldn’t do enough for us, Egypt were surly and unhelpful. We don’t drink alcohol so were ordering the occasional mocktail at the AI resort and they seemed really pissed off at us every time, so it’s not like we were drunk and disorderly or anything.

When we complained we were told it’s Ramadan so they’re probably hungry, but that’s not ok when someone is paying thousands to stay at a nice hotel!

wwyd2021medicine · 20/05/2022 15:15

Not been to Cape Verdi but can confirm what MzHz said re 16 yo DD in Egypt Mine was 12-13 yo blonde and wouldn't go anywhere in the complex alone due to being ogled by the workmen on site. She was so put off by it, she wouldn't even look at the waiters in the restaurants by the end of the last holiday there. She was groped on the way up to the slide which I didn't know until after we were home.

wwyd2021medicine · 20/05/2022 15:16

Wouldn't go anywhere on her own - to clarify- eg to the other parts of the big pool we were sat around

timestheyarechanging · 20/05/2022 15:21

Don't go to Egypt - worst holiday ever!

Purpleavocado · 20/05/2022 15:22

I went to Egypt about 7 years ago and pretty much hated it. We didn't feel safe when we weren't on the resort, and even on the resort it wasn't that great. One waiter tried to get us to buy him an iphone. There was a waterpark on the complex and the sites of women on slides in head to toe non swimwear outfits trying to swim and not get tangled up made me feel angry. The food wasn't great and the site of guard with guns everywhere was not relaxing. We regularly go to Turkey and I have never felt like that there.

motogirl · 20/05/2022 15:24

With that age I would suggest the canaries, it won't be as warm - it was 22 when I was there last year, but it's safe and there's good provision for little ones, the hotel we stayed at had a kids club for 3-6 year olds and there's a zoo that's apparently good. Lots of little ones in term time

AgentProvocateur · 20/05/2022 15:32

Cape Verde is the most boring place on earth. You’d be better going to fuertaventura or Abu Dhabi if you don’t fancy Egypt (which I enjoyed but I was there for work with an Egyptian colleague)

Original poster

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 17:20

Thank you for all of the feedback. I'm so glad I asked, as it's really given me food for thought.

We usually do go to the Canaries; but this year it's DP's 40th so I was looking for somewhere a little different to take him.

Alas, I think I have just had a BFP on a test, so I think it'll be Blackpool for us as I'll be too far to fly by then 😂

OP posts:

Roastonsun8 · 20/05/2022 17:27

Congratulations 🎊 OP.

I haven't been to Egypt but I would though. There's some popular parts and it's more expensive than Turkey so that's the only reason I haven't booked Egypt and went with Turkey for next year.

I usually follow the Facebook groups of the hotel I'm interested in and read reviews from the people that are staying in the hotel.

Hoppinggreen · 20/05/2022 17:41

AgentProvocateur · 20/05/2022 15:32

Cape Verde is the most boring place on earth. You’d be better going to fuertaventura or Abu Dhabi if you don’t fancy Egypt (which I enjoyed but I was there for work with an Egyptian colleague)

Everyone likes different things on holiday I know but we were never bored on Cape Verde

ProfessorLayton1 · 20/05/2022 20:22

Just been to Egypt last month. There is a lot of security but nothing to worry about.
We travelled to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and spent few days in Hurghada. No problem at all with Red Sea resorts.
If you don't want to venture out of resorts, it really does not matter where you go but if you also want to see some fab historical sites then Egypt is a good place.

hellrabbitishere · 20/05/2022 20:24

TokenGinger · 20/05/2022 17:20

Thank you for all of the feedback. I'm so glad I asked, as it's really given me food for thought.

We usually do go to the Canaries; but this year it's DP's 40th so I was looking for somewhere a little different to take him.

Alas, I think I have just had a BFP on a test, so I think it'll be Blackpool for us as I'll be too far to fly by then 😂

well thats marvellous op , no more worrying about egypt or cape verde then 😂
but i have been to blackpool quite a few years ago now mind when i was still in my late twenties and i can say its great , a lot to do ,i would image kids love it and in dec you have those illumination things on which are meant to be really nice as well

HappyGoDucky · 20/05/2022 20:34

BlueKaftan · 20/05/2022 13:06

What about Gardaland in Italy. It’s got a Legoland water park. Right by Lake Garda.

In December? Way too cold.