hi all going on thursday to hv just wondering is there water available with the evening meal
or is it just at breakfast

I will post a review as soon as i get back, i have also noticed that alot of people with illness went and ate outside the complex, Mcdonalds and still were poorly, it is a bit harsh to soley blame the hotel. I also think if it was salmonella the HV would be closed and first choice would be writing to us all, and it would be all over the newspaper and tv,

Some of the photos make it look like paradise , as you say first choice are maintaining a silence, i think also out of the 1000 people there each week , the odd bad review is nothing, if it was wide spread the media would have a say, and you always get the opposite ends with reviews, either extremely good or extremely bad.

The restaurants close at 10pm but there might be some snacks for late arrivals.

Hello all, i am sorry for asking again but i have not had any replies...

Does anyone know if there are two controllers in kids den for playstation 2. I know it's only a silly thing but i would hate to get there and my 8 & 9 year old have only got the one controller between them.

Also does anyone know what trips are on offer from first choice when you get there. I know there is a snorkelling trip but not sure what other trips on offer. 5 weeks and counting, god it's going slow...

hi rob
just to be on the safe side i would pack an extra controller as i would be very surprised if they had two and as you say the last thing you need are the boys quarrelling over a controller. i will be asking my son to pack a couple of his favourite games as i have read somewhere on here that there is a very limited stock at the hv reception.
happy hols
john

I would check on compatability on PS games before packing them as their system may be USA based and European games don't play on it.

Mark

Re the stomach upsets - is it just me or do all the reviews with stomach upsets all mention that they went out to McDonalds across the road to eat ?? Maybe and I say maybe that it might not be the hotel and might be the fast food outlets outside.............. Just a thought, as I'm trying to look at it from all angles

RUNMEG: We went to Mcdonalds and we were all fine. We weren't ill at all whilst out there, We all took the Acidophilus tablets though.

Hi peeps
we travel to HV in less than 10 weeks, I have spoken to FC today who state that they know nothing about the stomach bugs nor salmonella
Unsure what to do for the best hope people who are going very soon come back and praise the place.

Kazee

This is the email I sent to HV and the reply

Good evening

I do hope you are able to help with a few queries that I have regarding our forthcoming Holiday:

1. Do you wash your Salads in Bottled Water?

2. Is your Ice made from Bottled Water?

3. Could you please confirm whether Children under 12 are now allowed in the Swim Up Rooms?

As you may have gatherd from my questions I have been reading up on the reviews on Holiday Truths and Trip Advisor and although I do not take very much notice of the reviews regarding silly things like whether the Hair Dryer works or whether rooms could have been painted better, I am concerned when it comes to Health issues.

I look forward to your reply.

Good Afternoon

First we would like to thank you for choosing the Holiday Village Resort for your holiday destination , please find below our answers regarding to your inquiries :-

- At the final stage, we wash the Salads by Gallons water and in the process we add "SANITISING TABLETS -END BAC-" .

- Ice cubes machines are connected to the city water pipes , the city water supplied to the hotel meets the international health regulation and we are checking the chlorine content three times per day , also by using chlorine injection pump we are increasing the water chlorine Content when needed to be always in the recommended range. Moreover, there are water filters installed to each machine

- SGS ( Hygiene auditing company ) always inspecting and do the required laboratory tests to check that our city water are meeting the international health standard.

- As of first of May 2008 , first choice lifted the age restriction on swim ups

- For hairdryers we are already in the process of replacing all hairdryers in all rooms and until then, it's available for loan through Guest Service Center 24 hours.

If we can be of any further assistance please contact us

Looking forward to welcome you

Thank you

Hotel Management

Now looking forward to our Hols in Sept

Linda

Thanks John, see you there.
Happy Hols

We arrived back Tuesday 24th June from HV - 2 adults and 2 children aged 17 months and 4 years. all suffered from sickness and diarrhoea after 4 days of landing. holiday turned into nightmare - spending money went on medication, nappies and baby wipes!!!! couldn't venture out of resort due to illness. food undercooked, nothing for children to eat - meatballs undercooked - breakfast cereals not covered and full of flies - when told staff about this they just changed cereal but still did not cover. we were told to use a la carte restaurant but even then we were given undercooked meat. we went to supermarket and bought bread etc. so at least children could try to eat something. agree that the resort is really lovely and rooms were kept clean but that doesn't compensate for my babies crying with stomach pains and the sickness we all suffered. my baby even saw the doctor for free as she could not even take a sip of water without filling her nappy. as for being dehydrated due to heat etc. we did as we should have - drank plenty bottled water.
for the first few days my children ate the ice cream but on finding out that the freezers had been left open by children (self serve) which allowed the ice cream to melt and instead of taking it out the staff just refroze it my kids didn't eat it again.
we too suffered the incidents of brown floaters in the pool which the staff just fished out and threw in a bit of chemical.
we saved hard for this holiday - our first as a family - and were really looking foward to it but came back disappointed that it was ruined by illness. we have been to doctors since our return and are awaiting the results of tests carried out on specimens sent to the hospital.
I can only say to people who consider us to be 'moaners' I hope they don't suffer as we have and as FC seem to be fobbing us 'moaners' off with the heat is to blame for our sickness I shall be seeking advice from a solicitor in the hope of some compensation for what should have been a happy family holiday!!!!
All you out there considering a holiday at the HV beware - you have been warned.
Hopefully things could have changed since our return as many people suffered the same during the 2 weeks we were there and complaints were registered with the Rep.

Hi Louise
Sorry to hear that you were all so ill, hope things have started to get better since your return home. I am just wondering whether you took acidophilus tablets before and during the time you were there?

Hi there again, i have been thinking , how is a doctor in the UK able to condemn a swimming pool in Egypt, saying that is the source of people being ill, without sampling the swimming pool water? Just a thought

Hi Louise, your holiday sounds a nightmare you must be so disappointed!
Can I ask, did the reps in the resort acknowledge the problems with the food and pool at all ? Or did they just try to fob you off. I'm interested to know what's being done about all these problems, if anything!!
Up to now I believe they keep blaming heat, dehydration etc. It sounds as if your problems were worse than that and did they acknowledge that fact ?
I am still undecided as whether to change my booking for myself, husband and 2 boys in Sept.
Hope you're all better soon, there's nothing worse than being ill on holiday!

Re acidopholous tablets ~ we shouldn't have to do this should we?

I phoned First Choice, the girl at the other end of the phone said she phoned Egypt and spoke to the FC team out there. The info I was given is that the baby was taken to hospital because she wasn't given enough to drink.

I don't know what to think, we are off on the 11th Sept.
Justine x

*edit* Just to add ~ to anyone who has been, this sounds trivial really under the circumstances, but do they do a quiz every night? I am a quizaholic on holiday you see, sad I know lol

I totally agree Father Xmas we shouldnt have to but you have to remember that it is Egypt and its better to be safe that sorry. My friend swears by acidophilus in England when she takes a course antibiotics because (not to be too graphic) it prevents thrush!

I dont know if this will put anyone's mind at rest, but my hubby is an Army Survival Instructor, and after just reading the very recent posts of today, he's just told me that in the heat of Egypt in the summer months, an adult should be drinking between 6 and 10 litres of water a day, You really shouldnt drink any alcohol in these temperatures, and obviously stay out of the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm. I knew that last bit, but actually didnt know an adult should drink THAT much water!! He said the main symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke are vomiting, stomach cramps, and the runs!!
I did actually look quizically at him and say "really are they?" and he said "yes". I still have huge sympathy for all those who have fallen ill whilst at the HV, as its not fun being sick on holiday, but there is obviously some truth when the reps etc tell you the reason for your illness is the heat and lack of fluids etc. we visit for 2 weeks of the year, they work there all year round. I'm hoping this means they are a little more clued up about it than us.

He also mentioned that all it takes to get ill from dirty money or handling something covered in germs, is to just brush your hand across you face near your mouth and you can get ill! So anti-bac gel is a very good idea. I'll be taking about 6 bottles!!

Like most people say - just be sensible and keep up the fluids, and stay out the hot hot sun and hopefully we'll all have a fab holiday