Not sure how widespread the problem is? We have been twice, both times with 2 kids & never experienced this. We went twice but only for 7 nights in 5* B&B hotels both times.

With B&B plus eating out you are at the mercy of loads of different kitchens rather than just the one kitchen you would get in an AI, which would make you think we would have been more at risk of dodgy belly.

My experience with young kids is that when they choose from a buffet they are very conservative in their choices of foods anyway, choosing stuff they recognise. Bread, chips, Pizza etc which I think of as low risk foods. It's adults who are more adventurous and try out local food and lots of mixtures.

Most folk say Imodium dosen't work, and you need to get the industrial strength stuff from the local chemists, which does the trick in 24 hours.

Good luck whatever you decide. Doe

Hi we went last year and are going again next year, the tummy bug is just down to the change in climate and diet etc not dodgy food me n hubi went with 3 young children and I was the only one who got it for about 3 days but it didnt stop me from enjoying my holiday and iv also had it in greece so dont worry about it, try to drink plenty and a good thing to avoid is ice cold drinks tummies dont like the massive drop in temperature from the air temperature to the temp of icey drinks.

I just returned from Egypt and had the bug for a couple of days. Like someone mentioned before it's down to the temperature variations (between air conditioned environments and blistering heat) - not the food. Also dehydration can bring it on so drink absolutely loads of water (i ordred water with every beer). Imodium was completely useless. I was recommended something called Antinol (from their Pharmacy) - best stuff ever. I even bought some extra to bring back home. Really good stuff!!

It won't spoil your holiday even if you do get a bit of a dodgy tum and neither my wife nor my 4 and year old got anything.

Six of us went to Sharm in 2005, four of us came down with the funny tummy. It only lasted about twenty four hours and the meds from the local pharmacy helped.

Wouldn't stop me going again though, will be returning to the same hotel four weeks tomorrow.

Pippy

Thanks for all the fast replies!!!

Will definately keep it in mind for next year now especially as the prices look good for next year at the moment!

Thanks again

fatcodycat

To be honest, you could pick up a horrid tummy bug where ever you go in the world - you just need to be a bit cautious when choosing which places to eat at.

Apparently Egyptians love children too, so that's another bonus!
I'm going in just over three weeks time (crikey, where has the time gone?!) with my husband and our two children, aged one year and six years. I must say that although I absolutely CAN'T WAIT, I'm starting to get a bit nervous about the heat. I have visions of stepping off the plane and thinking "what have we done?"!!! Still, I think you have to try things out in life and learn from your experiences. Happy holidays whatever your decision!

You will probably step off the plane and think 'This is HOT, HOT, HOT!'
I did when I went in 2005 and that was at about 8pm!
Obviously I already knew it was going to be very hot but as I'd never experienced those temps before I was amazed!

Plenty of water, sun cream, hats, shade and dips in the pool/sea and you'll be fine

Pippy

When we went two years ago the adults got a bit of a funny tummy, but the children did not.

But for a couple of days it was just a case of - i have to go and i have to go now. We did not feel ill or sick, or have to go any more often.

my kids loved egypt ,i had the bad tummy , but were going again in 4 weeks thats how much we loved it

The first time we went to Egypt my husband was very ill with stomach upset and projectile vomitting so vowed never to go back and I don't think he ever will.

Got back from my 6th visit to Hurghada this Saturday and for the first time in Egypt suffered a bad stomach. I thought it might be something I'd picked up in Cairo but others in the hotel were suffering too, even if they had not eaten elsewhere. Despite starting antinal straight away it still lasted about 3 days - the first day I was confined to the room but after that it was a case of always knowing there was a decent loo nearby. There was no way that I could have coped with the trip to Cairo or the boat trip we did with this situation so I was really grateful it occurred after our excursions - it would have been a lot of money to lose!

As well as antinal I used the rehydration sachets (you can buy the equivalent of dioralyte there but they are quite expensive). These are particularly important for children as they can get dehydrated so very quickly. The locals also recommend fresh mint in boiling water with honey and lemon (both natural antiseptics) and brown bread.

Despite the bad tummy sure I'll go back sometime!

Hi

We went in October and none of us (2 adults 1 child) got a bad stomach. The food at the hotel was great and never gave us any concern. We went all inclusive at the Coral Sea Resort.
We didnt eat anywhere else but the resort.

Like some of the others have said i think the heat can play a big part in tummy upsets rather than the food.

We are off again in just over a weeks time, we loved Egypt that much we just had to go again

we go 2 weeks tomorrow taking our 6 and 9 year old with us, have read lots of reviews so we are all taking hats and will make sure they drinks lots, hopefully we wont come down with the stomach bug, but as people have said you can get it anywhere, I got it in Ibiza and was laid up for 3 days my son got it as well he was only 4 but only had it for 1 day.

Hi All,
We were at the csr last Aug with our children 8 and 7 yrs,Only I got the tummy bug and had only been there 24 hrs I blamed the water coolers!! I was obsessed with drinking water and was filling my empty bottle up from them as were other people ( who were also a little delecate)This is a very fast way of spreading things around,If the neck of the bottle touches the cooler .I got antinal from chemist and was fine within hours.From then on we only drank bottles of water and were all fine the kids had a fantastic time. This was only what I thought though.

Thanks again for all the replies

One of the hotels i was looking at was the coral sea resort so its reassuring to hear from those of you that have stayed there and had no problems!!

Hi Fatcodycat,
The csr is a super choice with kids ours really had a ball we never used the kids club/creche and didn`t really see many using it I think the children were well entertained by the towel guys around the pool!!
I can honestly say the food was really excellant the pizza`s fresh and a children`s buffet There could never be a child as fussy as my son and he ate very well at all meal times and even in between.
Hope you book it and enjoy like we did.
Mel.

I take it antinal can only be purchased in Egypt? Can anyone recommend any 'must haves' for the first aid bag?

You may find THIS THREAD I started before my first holiday to Sharm in 2005 useful

Pippy

Fab! Thanks so much, pippy. xx