Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 7
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I've been to Sharm many times in recent years - I love the place. I've stayed at the Hyatt Regency, Hilton Waterfalls, Renaissance Golden Beach Resort, and Crowne Plaza.
If you can afford it, or get offered a good deal on it, then it has to be the Hyatt Regency everytime. It is locally regarded as the best hotel in Sharm, and it has won awards to that effect. Beautiful hotel, and genuine 5 star service - they can't do enough for you in my experience. They also offer the option of upgrading to the "Regency Club". Again, a little bit pricier still, but it gives you better rooms and exclusive access to private beach, private pool, pool butler. Also access to the club house by the pool, that offers free refreshments & nibbles all day, and cocktails and canapes for a couple of hours every evening. I only ever got a deal on the Club rooms once, using a company called Longwood Holidays, who I would recommend, the only trouble being they don't offer a wide selection of departure airports.
I was also very impressed with the Renaissance Golden Beach Resort. Not quite in the same league as the Hyatt, but very very good, and usually considerably cheaper. I have a friend who now goes here twice a year after discovering it, and won't even consider anywhere else, at any price. The hotel does offer an all-inclusive option, however I never took it as I like to venture into town at night.
Hilton Waterfalls I found very nice also, but I haven't been for several years. Next door to the Reneissance, and definitely worth checking out or getting more opinions on.
Crown Plaza - offered by a lot of companies, and usually attractively priced. However, whilst I didn't have any bad experiences here, I couldn't recommend it knowing how good the above competion is.
Other tips that are worth knowing before you go:-
Egypt Visas - you will be handed a form on the plane, then be faced with a huge que and a £15 or £20 per person (approx) at the airport to get one. If you on plan to stay in the general Sharm area (Sinai), then simply take the visa form, and scratch "Sinai Only" across it and head straight for passport control. If on the other hand you fancy doing Cairo or Luxor, then you're going to have to stand in line I'm affraid! If you're not sure, I believe you have the option of not buying one on arrival and then getting it later if needed, but please check up on this as I haven't done it personally.
Duty Free (arrival) - Sharm has two duty free shops (old town and in tourist resort). You can actually visit these within 48hrs of your arrival, and the allowances are very genrous, and the prices are fantastic. Mother-in-law was amazed to buy 200 cigaretes for £5! Booze well priced too, and the only real option if you want a little something for the room. You need to take your passport with you, and payment can be made anyway you like, as long as it isn't Egyptian Pounds! (alll to do with being a Muslim country?)
Transfers - If you want to wait in line and be hearded like sheep onto the transfer bus, with all the hastle of baggage, fighting for seats, multiple stops, etc then that's fine - I've been there and done that myself. However, by calling or emailing your hotel, they will gladly arrange to have a taxi waiting who will whisk you off to your hotel, door to door, with minimal time & hastle. Expect to pay between £7 and £12 for this, depending on your hotels location. Well worth it in my book. Alternatively try an airport taxi, but they obviously over inflate the prices a bit. Of course you can haggle, it's expected, but I promise they are better at it than you are!
Beaches - Some hotels do not have any beaches as such - just rocks. All of the above have lovely beaches (the Hyatt especially), but be aware that whilst the sea shore may have a lovely beach, it's not the kind that you can simply wander out and wade into the open sea. Any hotel I have ever stayed at there has a small shallow sandy beach, which soon turns into jaggy rocks & coral the further you go out. If you want to get beyond this to experience the reel wall and the open sea, then all of the above hotels have floating pontoons that you can walk along to get there. All of the above hotels have their own diving operations on site, with diving literally on your doorstep.
Naama Bay is a nice place to stroll through at night, to have a meal or a few drinks. I've heard of people complaining about the hastle you get from street sellers or shop owners during the day to buy their wares, however I can't comment as I've only ever been at night (who wants to shop when you can swim, snorkle or sunbathe?). There is an element of this at night time also, but its generally busier and the number of people mean you are less likely to get picked on! However, it is hard to escape the madness of the taxi rank when going back to the hotel at the end of the evening. People will be trying to hustle you anywhere within 200yards of the taxi rank. Just give them a firm but flat no thankyou. Pretend you're staying in one of the neighbourhood hotels if it helps. When you do get to the front of the que, please haggle and agree your price before steping inside. The que of cars doesn't seem to mean anything, as there will be plenty of people trying to drag you up the street and into their friends cars (usually for a kick-back). Just stick with the front of line and get the best price you can - you will soon learn what an appropriate price is.
Exiting Egypt (airport) - there are (passport?) controls when exiting, prior to going through to departures. You will be handed another form, so please have a pen ready - so many times I've seen people running about looking for pens, and no-one helps them! Once the form is complete, put the pen away, or you will loose it! There will be a guard just after the exit control, who thinks it is his duty to confiscate any pens on show! It can be quite funny to watch, and by all means let him have your cheap BIC pen if you like, but don't try walking through with a nice Parker in your shirt pocket!
Duty Free (departures) - Be aware that if you're planning on stocking up before leaving, or are trying to get rid of your remaining Egyptian pounds, that they don't actually take them! All payment has to be in dollars, or sterling. From memory they take credit cards, but I'm only 90% sure on this - best to ask someone.
Anything else I can help with then feel free to ask. You'll love it!.
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