Alternative to Egypt

[Jocelynjustwantsachance]

I booked a week’s holiday for 2 teens and 2 adults to Sharm El Sheik for beginning of August. The family is now panicking about all the stories of food poisoning/ getting ill etc. I’m under pressure to change the holiday to something else. Any suggestions welcome please!

Malta is lovely, with lots of historical sites. But I would reconsider your plans to rebook from Egypt. We’ve been in the height of the summer many times and although it does get to over 40 degrees in August, it’s a very dry heat which we’ve always found much more bearable than 30 degrees somewhere like Greece or Spain. There really is no need to worry about stomach upsets if you’re sensible. In all the times we’ve been to Egypt, including my daughter living in Cairo for a year, none of us has ever had a seriously upset stomach. You need to do the obvious things like avoiding any fruit or vegetables that may have been washed in tap water, avoiding ice, avoiding buffets where the food has been standing for ages, and checking that the seal on bottled water is intact. But the most important thing is to use hand sanitiser every time you touch money without exception - Egyptian money is filthy and carries more germs than any food or water. I’ve never been to sharm el sheikh but have always found the local restaurants and cafes in Luxor are wonderful and the food is usually of a really good standard once you’re away from the main tourist areas.

it seems such a shame to miss out on a trip to some of the most wonderful sites in the world because of worries about illness which can usually be avoided.

It was the Nile cruises which has the bad reputations for bouts of norovirus a few years ago. We went to Sharm, admittedly a few years ago now, and had no issues with hotel hygiene or food illnesses.

I enjoyed Sicily for culture, food, museums, Agrigento etc. We went in Nov and it was perfect weather. I wouldn't go anywhere in Southern Europe in Aug, but if the heat isn't the issue, go on your planned holiday.

We went to Sharm last September and we were all fine. No ice in drinks and no salads 🤷‍♀️

This is reassuring, thank you! I have been looking forward to visiting Egypt and this is making me think I can still convince my family we should still go.

Thank you, that’s good to hear!