Hurghada - Egypt 2004

Some thoughts about my trip to Hurghada, Egypt.

The destination
the trip is worth it because the Red Sea is beautiful, calm (no waves), crystal clean water and full of fish.

The Hotel
I stayed in the Hotel “Le Meridien”, 5 stars, wich i recommend. These 5 stars correspond to 4 stars european hotel, but it was good, no doubt about it.

I suggest you book your reservation with the option “all included” other than “full board”. This way you´ll only have to pay some of the drinks, being all meals and most of the beverage free (included).

People
Be prepared to talk monosyllabic english: yes, no, how much, thank you, Stella (beer brand), Siwa water (water brand) etc., because the hotel emplyoees don´t understand much more.
They are nice folks but always chassing a tip.

Trip to the center of Hurghada
Don´t go. In the old part of Hurghada (where you have shops) you´ll only see a dirty village with people trying desperatly to sell you anything. The new part of the city is nicer with coffee shops all around and even a McDonald´s! But in overall the city is confusing specially if you have a beautiful girlfriend (because all egyptian seemed sexual degenerated always ofering 1000 camels for your woman).

Snorkelling
One of the things you should really do!
What is snorkelling? Take a look at this picture:

For 25 euros i spent all day snorkelling and went to a beautiful island: Paradise Island.
Totally recommended! Even for people who - like me - don´t swim very well!

Trip to Luxor
I recommend that you make the trip on a MiniBus (Toyota Hiace 12 seats), because its cheaper than bus (45 euros) and with 5 people so that you can lay down on the evening return to the hotel.
When you pay for the trip ask for a good guide! Don´t choose this guy: Alibaba, Mido or Mohamed was a terrible guide!

Safaga
Our MiniBus driver (that talked better english than our guide) took us to Safaga city in the way home from Luxor. Safaga seemed a very nice city, organised and relatively clean where we bought lot of egyptian objects.

International Airport of Hurghada
Be very careful in the Restaurant of the Airport of Hurghada! I took a meal there and they wanted 23 euros for it. I asked for “la carte” and confirmed the prices. In egyptian pounds should be 115 (1 euro >> 7,5 EP) so i should only pay 15 euros!! I talked to the restaurant manager and he said: “its the system here. 1 euro 5 EP”. I shouted with the man and asked my money back, went to bank on the airport and exchanged 15 euros for 115 ep that i used to pay in the restaurant. They were stealing me 8 euros!! A portuguese friend i met in the trip said to all the restaurant staff: “We are tourists, not stupid.”

Money
I used euros all the trip and, exception made for the restaurant on Hurghada airport´s, i had no problems. My advice is for you to have small coins, 5,10,20 cents to use in the toilets; and also check the rate of exchange 1 euro >> 7,5 egyptian pounds.

Photos
I took 300 photos, printed only 58. Some will be posted on my photolog. If you want or have photos from your Egypt vacations let me know. Questions, doubts and comments about the trip can be made to my email.