A favourite of ours is El GOuna... have been to Luxor and Sharm too. El Gouna is a hassle free resort, and each hotel has its own lagoon beach, and almost always has a bus going to a 'sea beach'. The lagoon beach is sea water which you can bathe in, and its a lot calmer and hotter generally than the 'sea'. It is very pretty resort and nice to walk about in the evening. This year we were at the Three Corners Rhiana All Inc and the beach it sat on was lovely, with beautiful nubian style villas set around the lagoon. You can get a taxi anywhere in El Gouna for a set fee of £2, or a tuk tuk for 50p per person [you must try this at least once!!]. I havent heard any bad reports on any of the hotels there.... Egytians are excellent hosts and shall go out of their way to make sure your holiday is second to none. You also have the Marina area as well as Downtown El Gouna, pretty up-market! You can take a trip overland to Luxor which takes around four and a half hours. They also do trips to Cairo by either plane or land, although I think by land its a pretty tedious journey.

Mahmeya beach is a super day out from El Gouna/Hurghada, a paradise island with coral ankle deep in parts with fab fish - ideal for non swimmers and reluctant snorkellers. This trip includes lunch, which is very organised, nice boats take you there. We booked this through our rep at the hotel and a bus picked us up from there.

Hurghada is fast and furious, much more hassle there whilst shopping etc.

I would say that Sharm's waters are clearer for snorkelling, but we went on some super two hour trips through the TCR and saw LOADS of fish we havent seen before. If you want to snorkel I would recommend that you take your own mask as the ones you hire you tend to spend a lot of time emptying it of water, by that time your eyes are stinging like mad with the salt [Red Sea is very salty].

Hope this helps... wish this was me planning my return again!!!!!

click here for an idea of cost of trips.

Hi ElleDee

I have been looking into El Gouna and TCR. I read on another forum that the family rooms were really small - there will be 4 of us sharing, so was wondering how you found the room?

Also, did you find the food ok at the hotel?

Many thanks

Starry... we were three to a room - the room seemed enormous as it had this dome shaped ceiling, with tiny little windows either side with let a slither of light in, one window on one wall, another on another wall plus door which led to balcony. Not sure if they could have fitted a fourth bed into that partiuclar room. The bathroom was roomy with plenty space for toiletries. The room itself had a sink, kitchen worktop, cupboards above and below which meant you didnt have anything lying about at all in the room - a place for everything so to speak!! We were very pleased with it.

Regarding the food, we planned to eat out every second night or so as generally I hate the AI dining in evening, however never ate out once as the food was soooo good! There is actually a dine around programme which you can participate in, and get a voucher from the hotel I think to use in many places as credit towards a meal, but as I say we enjoyed it so much we didnt venture outside to eat. I preferred dining outdoors in the evening, it was a really nice atmosphere and that was July and not too hot at all. I would say though if its busy to tip the waiter on the first night and you will be sure that he will jump to find you a table when you return. We did venture out in the evenings though, so cant comment on enterainment, although one night I had a peek before we went out and saw someone on the stage 'playing' a cardboard guitar so made a quick exit!

I am sure you will love it - is it your first trip to El GOuna?
Elle

Thanks for all the info Elle.

Yes, it would be our first visit to El Gouna. Been to Sharm, CSR and looking for somewhere for next Easter. TTC Rhiana sounds good

Was speaking to a couple last week on holiday who had been to El Gouna and they were saying how good it was.

Think I would have made a quick exit as well with the cardboard guitar

Another one to add to my ever growing list there. Will you all stop doing this to me . I cant afford any more holidays

I know the feeling Lyn!

Funnily enough the CSR was our first trip to the Red Sea... the second week that it had opened! To be honest prefer El Gouna, but TCR quite different and I prefer the lagoon beach here. You also have the choice of a sea beach which a bus runs to each hour [beach bar and food here which is AI], and Zeytona island too [not affiliated], a short journey in a taxi or tuk tuk - personal favourite!

Thank you for ideas.

I'm really tempted with the new Louis Tiran Hotel, being built in Sharm for April 08.

I'm thinking of booking it for late June 08, do you think it will be finished on time?

Its a 5 star premier & the artists drawings look fab & people on Tripadviser say the location is fabulas. We could do Cairo from there. Then go to Hurghada or Marsa Alam next time for Luxor & Aswan.