Egypt holiday

[Lilxa89]

Has anyone been on holiday to Egypt? What are your views? We have booked to go to hurghada in may and have heard mixed reviews. Me personally,wasn't my first choice but going with lots of family members who chose there.since being poorly I struggle really bad in the heat and have bad anxiety over thinking things so at the minute I'm finding it hard to be excited and also questioning wether to change to elsewhere

Amazing place, lovely resorts and friendly Egyptian people. Just go prepared to have an upset stomach whilst there.

I’ve been to Sharm el sheikh twice (last year the last time) and on a Nile cruise many years ago. It was really good. I did have a bad tummy there but they sold something called stoparrhea which sorted it out.

My DH was hospitalised with food poisoning there. The culture is awful and the men are predatory to women, especially if you are blonde. The way they treat animals is appalling and very upsetting to see

I wouldn't choose to go somewhere people expect to be unwell. It's not my idea of a holiday!

I went to Hurghada years ago and had an amazing time! We also visited Luxor which was very interesting. I've also done a Nile cruise and that was great too. Just don't drink any tap water!

I’ve been to Egypt twice , got horrendous diarrhoea both times , it was incredibly hot , hottest place I’ve ever been but I wouldn’t return purely because of the 💩

Been 3 times to Eqypt but wouldn’t go again

first time was lovely, second and third I got an upset stomach but my advice would be to immediately go to the pharmacy when it happens as they have medication. I don’t know what it is but it works fantastically.

men are creeps, going out in the evening is un pleasant. For me it’s a stay in the hotel kind of holiday

Sorry to say it’s the one place I’ve been that you couldn’t pay me to go back to. Was really ill with stomach issues which also lasted for a couple of weeks after we returned. Everyone we met on that holiday said the same regardless of hotel they stayed at.

There are so many wonderful places to go on holiday where one wouldn't expect to get the shits or be harassed......sorry but Egypt would never be an option for me. The heat is ridiculous too

We went on a family holiday there last year, to el gouna (near hurghada) and visited Luxor. It was fantastic, weather was perfect, no one had an upset stomach and no harassment towards me or my DDs. I've previously visited Sharm and hated that because of the harassment but our experience this time was totally different.

I haven't been to Hurghada because, as far I understand, it's a resort with nothing much there apart from loads of big hotels and that's not my kind of holiday.

But I have been to Egypt a couple of times as part of a longer holiday (once combining it with Israel and Jordan, the other time with Ethiopia and Sudan).

We went to places like Cairo, Abu Simbel and Luxor which were really interesting. Stayed in cheap hotels and ate at basic, local restaurants without getting ill. Hot but not unbearable. No hassle.

I probably won't go back but only because I've seen the places that I want to see. I really enjoyed both holidays.

We went to a Hurghada resort in April this year and had a lovely holiday. The resort was described as 5 star - although it wasn’t really by European standards it was still very nice. Rooms were clean and well maintained. All the staff were extremely polite and professional. We followed the advice of avoiding tap water, salads and ice in drinks, and no one got ill. I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time!

It’s interesting to see people say how great Egypt is outside the main tourist hubs, although I’m glad and not surprised. I went to Hurghada a couple of years ago with my family, including a blonde then-11-year-old girl. The hassle we got, even in the hotel, was exhausting and stressful. My daughter in particular found it very hard, and the attention she attracted was, while not exactly sexual, somehow….charged. We weren’t ill, and I’d been a couple of times as a younger person, but I won’t go back (as a sun holiday anyway, maybe to see the sights). As a PP says, there are so many other places you can go!

Dh is Egyptian and I have lived in Egypt. I always tell people to go to El Gouna, not Hurghada but they never listen! I know some people people who have gone to Hurghada have had a great time but it seems that’s because they have been happy to stay in their all inclusive hotels.

@cariadlet If you haven't done the Lake Nasser area, it's definitely worth it. Smaller ruins in the main, but more intimate and "fresher", some even with the original paint in them. You are right to an extent aboutr the Red Sea area, although it does have a different ambience - I prefer Makhadi Bay area - but the monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul are utterly amazing, and I enjoyed the Ras Mohammed National Park.

OP I often read about how awful Egypt is. It isn't something I recognise at all. Rarely been hassled, and never been ill. In terms of illness I have travelled all over for decades, so that may be partly that my body is used to different climes and conditions - more often than not illness is more a case of unfamiliarity with water and foods. If you go don't get meds in the UK - every single hotel will have or direct you to a pharmacy and the meds you can buy there for pennies are far more effective than anything you will take from the UK.

If you go expecting it to be the UK and familiar then you will hate it. You would hate just about anywhere! Suspend your judgement, relax, and take sensible sun protections including covering clothing for arms and legs. If someone did hassle you you simply say no firmly and don't engage.

I have been to Hurghada. I wouldn’t go again. Our hotel was fine and clean, food bladder than bland as was catered for the Russian guests. The staff were absolutely lovely. It had a water park on site so the kids were happy. It was a cheap winter holiday, wouldn’t book it as my main holiday.
we went into Hurgahada town one evening, it was awful, people pawing at you trying to sell you stuff. My son is blond haired people were wanting to touch his hair, he was petrified.
we did a day trip to Luxor and Valley of the kings which was fantastic and made the trip worthwhile overall.
The constant harassment though was really off putting and is the main reason I would not go back.

We went to Egypt a few years ago. No tummy troubles for any of us and no hassle from men for me or for my DD. It was very hot during the day, but we planned around it. Stayed near Hurghada but also went to Cairo, Luxor etc. It was fabulous!

Just came back from Egypt. We did Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada (last stop). We had stomach issues frequently but it didn’t stop us from cracking on and doing stuff. You do need to get the meds from pharmacy at start of trip and also a supply for coming home (just in case). Stopprhea is more suitable than immodium. We also got some other med that apparently kills the local bacteria.

The resort we stayed at was fine and it was busy. August heat there was much cooler (30-34) than Luxor/Cairo (tail end of July 40+). And we just left Hurghada as the frequent strong winds started last week. If we were to visit again, we would do Easter holidays.

We heard el ghouna is also meant to be nicer but may depend on your budget.

Egypt is a mixed bag. Everything is fine in the hotel. . With heat you just stay in the pool/sea a lot and your room has air con.

My OH is Egyptian, so surprisingly we felt we were bugged more than ppl following tours since we did trips on our own. It worked for and against us in a lot of instances.

We will probably visit again since we want the kids to have more appreciation of their background but it’s not my personal first place of choice (only took us 20+ years to get our act together to go). I enjoyed Jordan more as it was more chilled in attitudes.

My god went to Egypt beginning of this year. It was a 5* hotel. Not cheap. It was honestly awful, food was diabolical, we spent 3 days in bed with food poisoning. Watched the grill chef clean the grill with pool water, asked to change bedrooms as we got two singles and paid for a king room, took them 3 days to do anything about it and when I complained I was completely dismissed. They wouldn't look me in the eye as they are hugely sexist out there and would only speak to my partner. Complained to TUI and the hotel denied everything. I will never be going back.

Hmmm. We’re hoping to go to Egypt in March or April next year or 2027.

I have heard about the potential to be hassled which sounds a bit off putting. However I’m really keen to see the sights. Plan is to stay in Aswan / Luxor / Cairo with an overnight on a felucca. No resorts or buffet food so fingers crossed.

Bear in mind that everywhere you go in the world has different local conditions which you aren't used to, so just because you are ill doesn't necessarily mean that something was done wrong. Even in countries where water is routinely "cleaned" you can get ill from the water if it isn't the water you are used to. Staying away from resorts - look for places that Egyptians eat. The food will be better and if it has a reputation for food that makes you ill there won't be any Egyptians in there 😉And make your first stop an Egyptian pharmacy for pills for the runs - they work so much better than anything you will buy in the UK.

It baffles me anyone would go somewhere where you have to prepare yourself by going to a pharmacy or following a list of rules to keep physically well or safe.

There are so many nicer places in the world where you don't have to worry about any of this.

People say 'but it's fantastic we had a great time etc'. Yep, and you can have a fantastic time in literally thousands of other holiday locations, without having to worry about this stuff.

Went to share with the kids on AI a few years ago, the snorkelling straight off the beach was amazing, shark was OK, did a trip into the dessert to see stars that was fantastic. Husband got ill but that was mostly heat stroke.

did a Nile cruise that was incredible, visited Cairo on our own at same time, loved all of that, it was just amazing, friendly, interesting, fascinating in fact. We also tagged 4 days in hurghada on to snorkel but the weather didn’t play ball. Found it fairly dull to be honest. It was out of season and not that warm!

but didn’t find it scarey or leery and we didn’t get sick.

I think "what", probably.

You can and do get sick in lots of places - including in the UK. Where are these mythical "nicer places" where nobody ever gets sick? I have travelled the world and been to Egypt multiple times and never once got sick. Only time I have ever had the runs was from a nice restaurant in Manchester (the one in the UK). And you may not have noticed but there are lots of rules in the UK that need to be followed to keep you safe.

Oddly, people often travel to these places because they are broad-minded, and want to experience the unique cultures and histories. There are a limited number of places that have, for example, pharoahs tombs and pyramids. These are diffent places, yes, but if one goes with the flow and doesn't judge them by one set of very narrow standards then you will learn and experience so much.

I’ve been once, no upset stomach, no harassment, amazing excursions and weather (Easter).