Derwentrocker,

You must be going the same time as me, i fly out with my hubby on June 4th !! Will it be really hot?? I hope so!! Will try and bypass a visa, we are not planning to leave Sinai whatsoever.

I went last May for two weeks, and yes there was the part where you fil in the form, then we went thru another room where a man jumped on everyone to go left to the visa queue. I did notice people bypassing him to go right into the queue where they check visas. Even when my husband bought stamps to go in his passport, when checked the security staff pulled him up and said they were fake I said if they were, he got them from your desk!!!

I am only going for a week this time, as when i get back, i am off on my travels again on July 15th on another holiday.

I leave NEMA on the 5th June.

I returned from my first visit in Sharm 3 weeks ago and had such a whale!!

I think, the amount of money you'll spend depends on what you want to do. I very happily spent quite an extensive amount in two weeks (by myself) but I did a lot of diving, as well taking an advanced divers course. That is a bit expensive but ultimately completely worth it!! Diving is amazing in Sharm and I hope you don't miss it. I felt like swimming through an aquarium.

I never got locked into any shop, but of course you can't just stand and look at things without people coming towards you to try and sell you something (anything!!!). Of course everyone offers the "best prices" (Ha - I was in haggling paradise ) and informs you that "looking doesn't cost anything" . Often used is the question: "where are you from?" usually followed by one sentence in your language (in my case german, or, due to my friends, spanish). So we always got " Darf ich eine Frage bitte?" (May I ask a question please) or " Ola, ola Coca Cola" "¦It's fun, as long as you don't allow yourself be bothered by it. Just accept it as it is, don't get annoyed - be friendly, smile and have fun !!!!

I hope you have a great time in Sharm - I really enjoyed my time there and would love to go back.

Biene

after reading the whole threat to this topic I wanted to add.

I took 50£ cash and my Visa Card. We had a Cash Point at the Hotel (Hilton Waterfalls) and I happily pay the 2.50£ charge per transaction if it keeps me from hauling around a ton of cash or travellers cheques. Got my Visa card bill last week - everything was displayed correctly. So no probs.
I love Sharm airport!!!!!!!!!! Even though I might be the only one"¦"¦"¦it is so joyously unorganized !!! People are shouting all over the show and most of the time I had no idea what they were saying. Since my suitcase has wheels I didn't need a trolley and therefore didn't have to pay anyone - Our tour operator put the luggage on our little bus - no one asked me for money and left it to me to tip or not. I wasn't hassled for money once!

The tour operators have representatives right at the passport controll entrance, who point you into the right direction for Visas. It's really easy. If you want to stay at the resort only though, then of course you don't need it.
Like you, I was quite excited before I went - as always when you go somewhere for the first time - but all was well and no hassle at all - no bad experiences at all... Sorry for the novel

Have a lovely, warm, sunny, happy holiday !!!!

did anyone see that holiday programme last night on BBC1 (like Watchdog) on security, they said they are doing a report on sharm to be shown next week, hope it is nothing too negative!!! It has that knob on there fromm DIY SOS and Ceebrity Fame academy, he was the tosser who actually thought he could sing!! These people wanted there money back cause of the Dehab bomb but holiday company refused.