Following developments throughout the day and this evening, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has now updated advice for travellers to Egypt, specifically Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez at this time:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/egypt

David

We're off to Sharm again next week as we had a great holiday last year staying in the Jaz Mirabel Beach and we will be staying there again. The 'icing on the cake' was a day visit by air to Cairo - fantastic! We were hoping to visit Luxor and the valley of the Kings etc on this visit. However, with the recent riots and civil disturbances this and other excursions are cancelled. Seems that our holiday is literally going to be stuck in the hotel for the whole week, not really what I want out of travelling all the way to Egypt. Added to this I just wonder if the curfew will include where we are?

Although the FCO advise against travel to the cities where there is trouble they seem to think that its okay to go to Sharm. I kind of do not agree with their assessment of the situation and who really knows how the trouble could spread? Furthermore I would have been far happier to have been given the option of being offered an alternative holiday or a full refund from the travel company. I would never have considered going to Egypt had I realised that there might be trouble and a couple of weeks ago before anything kicked off, I tried to change the destination and pay the cost of this change only to be told by Thomson that this was not possible!

We have toyed with the idea of not going and write off the cost. We've never been depressed about going on holiday before and we're certainly not looking forward to this one. No matter what we are told it can't change the way we feel and I really don't think anyone can reassure us!

I wonder if there's anybody else going shortly, who are concerned as we are? I think you might not be surprised that going to Egypt or Tunisia will be very low on our holiday destination choices in the future!

Trev

Hi Trev,

I know you aren't looking forward to this holiday by what you say but I'm sure all will be fine in Sharm and you'll have a lovely time. Probably not the type of holiday you anticipated if you like getting out and about away from Sharm.

I think the TOs should offer a full refund especially if you've prebooked excursions to Cairo and the like and they've been cancelled -imo you can't have the holiday you'd planned because the excursions would have played a large part in your week's holiday.

Have you seen the latest advice on the fco website. There was/is a Nationwide curfew in the evenings but I'm reading it as just for 28th Jan (yesterday) because it says on 28th rather than from 28th.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/egypt
Hope you enjoy!

This is the latest information form Thomson / First Choice, Thomas Cook and Cosmos.

Thomson

Thomas Cook

Cosmos

Please follow the latest up to date advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office HERE

Graham

Hi folks,

Thanks for your replies and kind concern. I guess we'll try to make the best of this holiday. Shirley you hit the nail on the head so to speak when you said that it wasn't the kind of holiday we were anticipating, since you are correct that the excursions would have formed the major reason for us going. Besides Luxor we had hoped to fit in a visit to the Holy Land as well since although we like nice sunny weather we don't really enjoy lying in it all day as do a lot of other people. As it is there's not much else on offer at the Jaz but this is not a criticism of this hotel.

I guess we'll have make the most of it and put it behind us when we return.

Oops - just heard an Egypt bound plane with over 200 passengers has had to make an emergency landing at Athens Airport because someone found a note with the word BOMB on it!

Trev

Oh no. Where did yu find out about that? It was probably some stupid prankster but I suppose in light of the situation they have to think 'worst case scenario'.

Hi Shirley,

It was on the Uk site of the BBC's Ceefax this morning.

Once again I agree its probably some idiot that's left that note. I guess therefore in the light of this, security on our flight ougt to be quite good,

Trev

We go to Sharm El Sheikh a week tomorrow, as things are completely out of our hands I am not too worried whether we go or not. Have already done the trips around Cairo, Pyramids etc so again the warnings not to travel there will not affect me. Whatever the FCO advises will be good enough for me, but in all honesty, my sympathies go out to those who have lost their lives trying to get a better standard of living, if our holiday is cancelled at least we will be able to book somewhere else.

I think the reason they say sharm and red sea resorts are ok to travel to is because they are made for the tourists and local egyptions are not allowed there unless they work in the area.therefore they dont expect any demonstrations etc..

Hi Folks,

Just to let you know about reports we have heard about Sharm el Sheikh with road blocks, lack of provisions, tourists being escorted to restaurants etc and added to this their really is a curfew in operation!! Also my wife said that she has heard reports that Mubarak has fled to his holiday home in Sharm!

Needless to say whatever the decision we're definitely NOT travelling to this potential civil war zone. We hope either to be offered another destination or a refund from Thomson, but if we have to forfeit the £2000 we have paid for this holiday I'd rather do that than risk our lives. This has really done it for us and we will NEVER visit Egypt again!!!!

Trev

Can you show me evidence of your statement regarding guests at hotels being escorted to dinner and Mubarak actually having a hoiday home in the resort, please?

The distance between Cairo and Sharm is about the same as from here to Belgium, with the Red Sea in between.

Nothing is going to happen to any guests inside the hotel complexes. And if it does I will quit my job as a travel agent.

Mmmm. Been off the forum for a few days and not seen the news so didnt know anything about this. Im due to go out there - well Sharm, not Cairo - in the Spring, but I am not sure I can be bothered worrying about it just yet. I guess I will have to see how it develops. It always seem as safe as anywhere else to me. Although I was in an aircraft going home the day the bomb went off in Dahab.

Can you show me evidence of your statement regarding guests at hotels being escorted to dinner and Mubarak actually having a hoiday home in the resort, please?

I caught the end part of an interview with a couple on the the BBC news site this morning that said something had happened in Naama bay last night to tell guests to go back to their hotels and apparently all lights were turned out . Also because of road blocks etc supplies are not getting through as they should be

This seemed to be a incident in NB and if true I'm assuming it was effecting those hotels there and not along the coast . Maybe just a precaution .

I'm not particularly concerned at the moment but there must be some knock on effect .

Dear AgentQ,

If you spend some time sitting in front of the TV watching BBC news as it comes in you might get the evidence you asking me about! Other than that where on Earth do you think we are hearing all this from? I've just heard also that there are now military vehicles on the streets in Sharm!

So since you are assuring folks that nothing will happen to them in the complexes then its ok to go? I think AgentQ you have missed the point - with the trouble escalating NOBODY knows how this crisis will develop and I for one would never accept your opinion. Furthermore I have heard that supplies are likely to start running out that there's a curfew in place so as far as I'm concerned it's a no no for us. Oh and if any Brits do get robbed, molested, murdered, injured, or badly treated in any way in Sharm then I hope you will keep your word and resign!

Trev

Lets please try and keep to known and confirmed facts, with the very dynamic and changing situation at the moment in Egypt it is very easy to get information from various scources which may or not be 100% accurate.

I understand that this is an emotional and stressful time for many however please don't get involved or roped in to personal or any other form of attacks or slagging on these forums.

Keep it friendly
Graham

I think the President does have a place in Sharm. It's in the Maritm Golf Resort - goodness knows how come I have that piece of info in my brain, probably because I was thinking of staying there at some point and someone mentioned it to me as a kind of indcation of how great the hotel was.

Yes it 's one of those close to Sharks bay . The reps on the drop off coaches always tell you he spends most of his time there . For some reason I thought the four seasons but you could be right Chris . It's certainly one of those in that section.

On two occasions, possibly 3 we have been held up on the runway or at the departure gate at sharm waiting for the presidents plane to take off or land.

Mubarak does indeed have a home in Sharm probably one of the reasons the peace conferences in the area are held there.

Ive just read on another forum that someone has had a text from her daughter who is staying in Makadi bay and there are demonstrations outside the hotel.
I know I wouldnt want to be in the position that many folk are finding themselves,waiting for the FO to say the whole of Egypt is not safe,before they can cancel.
Denmark,Belgium and Turkey have already declared Egypt a no go area.
It doesnt surprise me that the UK FO are dithering over making a decision as BA were flying passengers into Tunisia 3 days after Thomson and Thomas Cook were flying theirs home.