Egyption break

[itsmefolks]

My wife and I are looking for a break in Egypt next year. We have talked to many people who have come up with lots of suggestion. However, I still feel we are not hitting the spot so to speak. I wonder if any of you good people could assist?
We are looking for a nice hotel on the beach with snorkelling facilities ie coral! Also, somewhere to shop, and also have a drink at night. This should be within walking distance of the hotel. I understand there are shuttle services to and from hotels, but this is not our thing really. We recently went to Tunisia, (Sousse) and found the constant hastle from shopkeepers a bother. So somewhere not too commercial I guess. Thanks for any help in advance.

[mrs_overall]

I've been to Sharm and Hurgada. Both are good, but I preferred Hurgada. What time of year are you planning on going? I usually go Feb/March as the temperature is perfect. The summers are savage (50 degrees)

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure you'll get much coral at Hurgada I don't recall any when I was diving there (2001). It's also one of the biggest developments on the Red Sea so I don't think it'll meet your "not too comercial" requirement.

My memories of Egypt are thar pretty much everywhere is quite a lot of hassle and bustle - We really enjoyed the antiquities but if you're not so much into that I would tink twice about Egypt myself

[thugulike]

I've stayed at the Nuweiba Hilton. It's quiet and pleasant and there is an excellent site which you can reach from the beach a little further up the coast. Snorkelling was superb and very few waves when we were there.

[naomi24]

I like Sharm. I haven't been for a couple of years, and I hear it's grown a bit, but although there's not much in the way of 'history', the hotels are generally within walking distance of the beach, there are plenty of restaurants and shops, and the diving is excellent - and if you don't dive but only snorkel, you're likely to see almost as much. Do take shoes to go into the sea with though - the seabed is pretty much all dead coral and very sharp. (Incidentally, Sharm is nothing like Tunisia - no hassle from shopkeepers there).

Didn't know you were a diver too, Jake. :o)

[Memore]

Sharm is an absolute toilet I hated it you have to go to Dahab it is quite hippy very laid back and feels like you are in Egypt it is about 40 miles from Sharm airport but most hotels do transfers.

There is a Hilton there and lots of the nicer hotels but they are a bit out of the main part of town down by Lagouna beach about 20 minutes from the main drag - I stayed where the mosque is which is nearer to the sea side restaurants etc that bit is less hassle than the newer part where you will get a bit of hassle.= Dahab is also much much cheaper than Sharm - I have been twice in the past 2 months and you can eat a great meal with a drink for about £5. It is less hassle than Tunisia but I think you will get a little bit of that wherever you go to be honest. If you are a light sleeper the mosque starts up at about 4.30am and is behind the part where all the shops and stalls are so in that case you should go to the Lagouna beach end of town

[itsmefolks]

Many many thanks everyone for your input. Some food for thought there. xxx