Hi gillt,
Do you mind me asking where you got your villa from?I have booked my parents into the movenpick for 2 weeks and we would have loved to have been able to have shared a villa as we have done in florida.
Mel

Just back from our third visit to El Gouna! You have made a great choice! Its a fabulous resort, a little gem - a hassle free resort literally. I am not sure what kind of info you would like but I shall try to give a brief outline!

I would say drink prices are about the same as Britain. Eating out, La Scala in the Marina lasagne was delicious and priced at around £4, bill was approx £30 for four, for four mains and four alcoholic drinks and large bottle of water. Dunes and Jobos downtown very reasonable, as is the White Elephant Thai. Lots more, depends on taste, budget, etc.

Taxis cost £1.50 anywhere you go in El Gouna, tuk tuks either 50p per person [up to 3 people] or 80p for a new rival company per tuk tuk. You can buy a weekly bus/sea taxi ticket for £2 which run approx every half hour.

Entertainment going on most nights in the street, Tamr Henna, Downtown or Marina, all around twice per week - worth having a look at, having a stroll in the evenings after eating is very pleasant.

We did a quad bike safari which was brilliant, through Canyon Safari. It was around £22 per head if I remember rightly, it left around 4.30, came back at 8.30, visited bedouin family etc, sun set...

Also did a day trip to Tawila island, three stops, brilliant snorkelling, brilliant coral etc, and had a school of dolphins follow the boat for around half hour! This cost around £25 per head, including lunch.

Beaches - there is Zeytona island which you can get a sea taxi to from downtown [part of bus ticket deal], but I reckon that Mangroovy beach is nicer, you can get there by tuk tuk or taxi, or getting a bus to downtown bus station and changing bus there. From downtown its around 10 min journey.

If you would like any other info please ask! Wish it was me returning soon!!

Hi Mel

This site has a small selection of villas and apartments at quite reasonable prices

http://www.villa-vacation.com/Vacation-Rentals/Egypt.htm#Vacation-Rentals-in-El%20Gouna

There is nothing nicer than having your own space and privacy on holiday . Total relaxation

I was supposed to go last Dec and we had paid for a week in the Movenpick hotel, my friend ended up going with her brother as my dog had eaten my passport up 2 days before.
She had a lovely time and said that she had no hassle from men like you do in Sharm and it was a little gem.

I passed this onto my friends who then booked an appartment from a friend of mine who owns one out there, a large group of girls who had a fab time and never got any hassle.

I am so wanting to go now after hearing all the rave reviews and that being only a short flight from the UK for some much needed hot weather and relaxation.

You can go into any of the hotels in the area and pay for the facilities like the spa in the Movenpick and also eat in any of the restaurants.

Its going to be very hot in August but hey you have the wind there as its famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing, so hopefully the breeze should cool things down a bit for you.

Have an awesome time and post on here when you get back to say what you think and how you found it.

Thanks everyone - you have been really helpful. We booked out villa direct with the owners through holiday lettings website. Great bargain: 3 beds and baths, own pool and gorgeous views - £600 per week. If anyone interested just send me a PM and I'll pass on the email details.

Hey all, tagging on this one.

Is there any snorkelling opportunities in El Gouna?

There is a very long jetty from the beach at Zeytouna in the resort which is fine for snorkelling - hoewever much better to join one of the specific snorkelling trips (2 hrs - full day) that are run from hotels and the dive schools

There is also an excellent spot off Mangroovy beach too... we were at the Steigenberger/Three Corners bit of the beach - just ask the kitesurfer guys to point you in the right direction. Fish seen here were as good as the spot that we went to on organised trips. I do recommend an organised trip too, the two hour ones are just enough I reckon.