El Gouna, Hurghada & Marsa Alam area.
Soma Bay & Abu Soma..about 45 minutes south of the resort of Hurghada. Soma Bay is situated on a peninsula and is home to an 18-hole Championship golf course and one of the largest spas in the region. Abu Soma is about a 10 minute drive south of Soma Bay and is on the coast. Neither has a resort centre and so this area is ideal for people looking for a secluded feel and staying in upmarket hotels. The area has great dive sites with hard and soft corals. Port Ghalib..this is a new and exciting area just a few miles north of the region of Marsa Alam and is home to a stunning new marina development. It features a small selection of shops, boutiques, bars, cafes and restaurants and also features an Egyptian Souk market. However, new outlets are opening rapidly and I expect there will be a much greater selection shortly. The hotels were stunning and I would recommend this area to those wishing for exclusive hotels in an upmarket area and also diving and snorkelling enthusiasts.
Hurghada..now one of the biggest resorts on the Red Sea. This huge resort is very commercialised with a huge selection of bars, shops, restaurants and discos but has no real centre. The main area is situated to the south of the resort where most of the mainstream international hotel chains can be found. Once again the area is a mecca for more experienced divers looking for deeper waters.
El Gouna..built around a series of man-made lagoons and islands. This was my favourite resort as it had everything I was looking for in a beach holiday. Warm water, relaxed atmosphere, a good variety of bars, restaurants, shops etc but without the hassle you sometimes get from traders in other Arab resorts. Sometimes called the ‘Venice of the Red Sea’ it is about 30 minutes north of Hurghada and is expanding continuously but with a great attention to detail and none of the eye-sore construction sites you typically see. It also operates a ‘dine-around’ scheme which allows guests on a Half Board basis or above to experience the different restaurants in El Gouna. I have sent many clients to this resort and everyone of them has raved about it..now I know why!
Excursions
Mahmya Island..a great day trip to a desert island. It takes about 45 minutes from Hughada marina to the beautiful clear aquamarine waters surrounding this pristine private island. The excursion includes lunch and the atmosphere is very relaxed and chilled.
Badawya Desert Adventure..for the adrenaline junkies. This excursion drove us out into the desert where we first of all were offered a light buffet lunch. Then we were taken to begin our afternoon of fun. It included camel rides and horse rides for a bit of gentle fun to start with (all optional). Then the real fun began. We were kitted up and put on our own Quad Bikes and then lead on a 30 minute expedition into the desert. Driving towards the setting sun across an almost lunar landscape was an experience that will last with me forever. Finally, we were put into small teams and each team given its own Dune Buggy. With spot lights and head lights on full beam we raced off into the once again into the desert like a scene out of Mad Max. We all returned safely with back to camp with huge grins and dusty faces.
I think a lot of people have preconceptions about what an Egyptian holiday will be like i.e. substandard hotels, bad food, upset stomachs, poor service and hassle from traders. After my third visit to Egypt I can honestly say that what I experienced on my trip was the very opposite. The Egyptians are extremely friendly and welcoming and the standards were excellent, in fact I put a few pounds during the week I was away as the food was fantastic.
I will definitely return to El Gouna soon for my own holiday as I thought it was ideal for my own needs. But I think Egypt has something to offer everyone..just give it a try!