Hi flem. Just outside your hotel is Soho Square where there are shops, ice rink, ice bar, restaurants, and an English pub. There is a supermarket, and some other smaller shops selling handbags etc in another small strip of shops across the road frmo your hotel. Basically where you are is right on the sea front in a row of hotels with the Conrad, Hilton and Savoy. You will be able to get a bus or taxi into Naama bay if you want more action, but Soho Square is nice for a walk around after dinner. I was in the Sunrise Island View in November and am going to the Hilton Sharks Bay on Thursday, so if you have any questions please just ask.

Thanks for that much appreciated, my first time to Egypt but have heard a lot of good things, the fact that you are returning to the Sharks Bay area can only be a good thing. Anoter little question though, is it easy enough to get a sunbed by the pool (September) and do you get a lot of hassle from the shopkeepers/bar owners (the one thing that puts me off ever going back to Gran Canaria)

Hi flem - I hated that in Gran Canaria and will never return for that very reason! Egyptians will try to get you into shops, (including the shops within the hotel) but I found the guys at the little shops on the other side of the road from your hotel fine. "No thanks" was accepted - they would have a bit of banter and I personally didn't find it a problem and I didn't feel at all intimidated, even when my husband wasn't with me. Soho Square is really smart - there is no-one hassling you to go in shops there I found.

Sharks Bay is basically just the hotels and Soho Square though - it's not a "resort" in the terms you would think of in other countries. I personally love it - I go for the snorkelling and the climate, and being AI means you don't have to venture out if you don't want to. I really wasn't interested in going somewhere busier. I have only been in the English pub in Soho Square once - will probably go back there again, but I haven't been in any other restaurants or bars.

At the Sunrise Island View in November we didn't have a problem getting a sunbed by any of the four pools, but it may be different in September. You can always tip one of the pool guys to reserve beds for you though if you want!

This will be my 4th time in 14 months in Sharks Bay and I expect it won't be the last!

Thanks again, sounds like just what I am after

Another wee question, why is it called "SHARKS BAY", not for the obvious reason I hope.

ahhh .Someone told me the answer to this once but for the life of me I can't remember .

I can tell you though It definately wasnt the obvious .

Just had a google and I'm fairly certain this story of fisherman is what I was told .

http://www.egyptvoyager.com/towns_divinginegypt_02.htm

LOL Sharks Bay isn't named so because it has Sharks in

from Egypt Voyager

Sharks Bay: Unlike its name, sharks are not often found in this area. Most probably it was called the Sharks Bay because fishermen used to unload the sharks they caught on this bay

There maybe the occassional reef shark (black tip reefers) seen but they are far more scared of you than you would be if you saw them

If there are bigger sharks there is a huge buzz of people (like me) wanting to see them so you would know pretty quick.

just booked sunrise island gardens also and like you wondered whats available, but bit the bullet and went ahead with booking due to good reports. just hope its not to far away from everything

sharks bay is a good half hour away in a taxi from naama bay, we stayed at the sol sharm and there was nothing in walking distance from our hotel