Ther are many people on here who are more experienced at this than me (where are you carrot, swiss, everest etc)

But in the interim I'll have a go.

Cairo appears to be approximately 500 miles from Sharm and is best reached by plane to see the pyramids (costs alot ).

Sharm itself is a bit like any other large tourist destination, and you would probably be very unlucky to be involved in a terrorist incident.

On the value for money side, you seem to get 5* hotels for what you would pay a 3* in places like Cyprus, Algarve, Spain etc. With the proviso that the buildings and facilities are 5* but occassionally the service doesn't match up (probably due to lack of investment in staff training, and the fact they all have to work about 18 hours a day )

The only way you are really gonna know if you like it is trying it, perhaps go for 7 days rather than a fortnight. If you go AI it probably doesn't matter where you go, but if you go B&B and eat out you need to be close to Namma Bay really.
The snorkelings good if thats your thing, and the tour ops organise trips if you get bored with your hotel.

Good Luck.

I was worried about the terroism when I decided to go to Egypt last November.However both my son and daughter live in the greater London area and work and visit central London,and to me London is a greater risk.I loved Sharm and although there is a police presence I think it was increased when we were there because Blair and the French prime minister were there.I felt very safe there and I am sure you will enjoy it.Bombings dont put me off but I can understand your anxiety when you have children.I visited Icmeler just a few weeks after the Marmaris bombings.

I totally agree with the previous message, I now live in essex, travel into London and experienced the July bombings I actually travelled into Liverpool St on that day @ 09:20, I walk up Houndsdith and past Aldgate so I really just missed it (thank goodness). I was very scared but I also remember the bombings in Egypt. In Sharm, all main roads have "check points" (which is very reassuring), even for the every day "tourist bus".

At Sharm this year we felt absolutley safe. The place is absolutely vibrant, no matter what age you are. The Egyptians are such friendly people. We thoroughly enjoyed Sharm/Naama Bay, fantastic place, people, (just be aware with taxi driver "touts", when you want to go back to your hotel. Do NOT deal with the "touts" as they ask for money up front (for example they say £3, and then when you all get to thet taxi the tout gives the driver £2 without you knowing, so the taxi driver asks for more, not the taxi drivers' fautl). Just speak to taxi drivers direct (we got ripped off twice!!). We are back next year, and can't wait and now experienced.

A word of advice, if you go on a quad trip, get yourself a face/head scarf or else they will try and charge you £10 (which silly us, we paid, live and learn), maybe a sarong will do. You need something to cover your mouth/nose for the desert. We already have our head scarfs !!

Enjoy

Dawntra

Bombs, terrorists, yes, Egypt has had its share of both, but can't that be said about almost any country in the world these days, including ours?

Egypt values it's tourism very much indeed and they certainly make a concerted effort to keep their visitors as safe as possible. There are checkpoints along main routes but they don't hold up genuine tourists very much and are quite confidence boosting really. They have a special police force devoted entirely to tourists which is also a very visible presence almost everywhere you go.

All the large hotels take security quite seriously, but again, this doesn't intrude on your holiday.

At the end of the day, going or not is a very personal decision, but you will miss a very special and magical country if you decide against it!

All the major tour companies will offer you excursions to Cairo to see the pyramids. This link has some useful info on trips etc.
http://holidayforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=36307&highlight=pyramids

I feel that even Guernsey, where I was born and brought up, is much more unsafe than Egypt with too many robberies, punch ups and that, ( including at least one fatal stabbing ), this year - and it is much safer than most places in the UK !

I have to agree with Swiss. Yes, Sharm has had it's problems, but the presence of the tourist police with some of them being armed should not put you off.
I'm sure you will have a great holiday and your kids will enjoy it. It is well worth taking the trip to the Pyramids - they are breathtaking. There are 2 main ways to get there, with your tour operator who will offer a bus journey of about 6 hours, or a plane up to Cairo.

I was just the same as you before we went this year - you worry for your kids, if the decision was just for you it would be ok. But we honestly had a great time - lovely people and beautiful surroundings. Yes, the security is there, but after a while you really don't notice it - and after all, it is for your benefit. Go, relax and enjoy!

We missed the Sharm bombings by less than 24 hours last year, and we still said we would go back nevertheless. We did, but to a different resort this year, not because of the bombings in Sharm but we wanted to experience another resort in the wonderful Egypt! Sorry, but this wont keep me away - we are booked to go back again next year in peak season.

In Edinburgh or Glasgow I certainly wouldnt go to a cashline in town, on my own in the evening to withdraw cash, but did so in El Gouna this year and didnt give it a moments thought.

Its like London, there were bombings there, but people still visit... I think if people worry about the unforeseeable they wouldnt venture out, and what a dull life that would be!

Again though, it is a matter of personal choice, and if this sort of thing does worry someone then better steering clear - but in saying that, see how many european countries have been targeted too. I remember my neighbour had booked for Salou some years ago, and six months before she was due to go there was a bombing there and she immediately cancelled as she couldnt look forward to her holiday - which after all is a BIG part of going on holiday, is the looking forward to it!!