Egypt Discussion Forum

Discussions regarding holidays in Egypt.
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Thanks Tallulahjemima, would never have thought to drink so much water, must be hard to get babies and small children to take on any fluids let alone litres of it!
Will make sure we drink plenty when we get there, still can't wait, despite the few bad reviews :sun2

:tup
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Hi Tallulahjemima, totally agree with you, but my worry is the water supply, the hotel have stated that it is basically tap water that meets their standards, and the fact that it seems to be a sharm problem as opposed to a HV one makes me think its def something in the water, il be rather worried about drinking litres of it :que
Quote -"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"
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Fluids don't have to be water ~ try diet coke / fanta etc for the kids some of the time, to avoid boredom. We can buy bottled water I suppose ~ don't they supply bottled water at the tables at mealtimes? They do at HV Turkey. I used to take a couple away after each meal.
I like a beer or wine at lunch, so I really hope the temp has come down.

We are used to temps of 33 - 35 degrees on hols, Turkey, Crete etc but this 45 sounds as though I won't be able to move!
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We last went to Egypt August 06 the temp was 50 degrees in the afternoon, we are going (at the mo) to the HV 14th August from Manchester. (6 weeks today Katiesmum :sun2 )

ps temps on weather sites and forecasts are in the shade add 10 degrees for more of a realistic temp :D :D
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Hi,
We're off to the HV on 1st September and can't wait.

We will be taking acidophilus from 2 weeks before we go and while we're there. Went to CSR last year, our first time to Egypt. I always get a funny tummy on holiday, doesn't matter where it is we go. Last year was the first time I didn't, and niether did my husband or 3 kids. We put it down to being sensible, drinking loads, always cleaning hands, took antibacterial wipes and hand gel.

I always go extra prepared and also took buscopan incase anyone had stomach cramps, calpol, ibuprofen syrup and dried antibiotics for the kids incase of ear infections.

There are thousands of people who have been to the HV and haven't been ill and had a great holiday. We only ever get to hear the worst horror stories imaginable.

So we'll go with an open mind and a full medical box. 8 weeks on monday for us.

Emma
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Martyn, thats exactly what i said to my husband when he quoted how much water we should be drinking! how on earth will i get my three year old to drink 8 litres??? its hard enough to get her to finish a beakerful at lunch time!! with our kids, we're just going to get them to drink AS MUCH as they can.. obviously alot more than they do in the UK, and it all counts, coke, milk, orange etc
I think we'll just fill our mini fridge with the water bottles grabbed at breakfast, and buy bottled water at the supermarket too. Then just use this supply each day. as i'm sure we'll be going back to the room during the hot part of the day, and can replenish water supplies then!! because of the history of "dodgy" water in egypt, we're not even going to use the bowsers in and around the complex.

As for the ice situ, we're going to get a cheapie bucket and fill that with ice in the day time, and just stand our glasses in the bucket to cool the drinks, rather than add ice to the drinks. then in the evening we're going to avoid ice in the drinks altogether..

Father Xmas, i dont know if there is a quiz daily, i'm hoping there is :cheers as i'm a superfan of quizzes too!! (maybe we'll have to form a team!)
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Hi All

I have been reading all of the post on both this site and the CSR with interest.

We will be returning to Egypt for the 4th summer holiday again this August. We have 2 children who now are 11 and 15, we have always travelled in August (mad dogs and Englishmen and all that!!).

The first year we visited we really struggled to cope with the heat, all of the family apart from myself were ill at some point, however we visited the chemists and made sure we drank and drank and drank plenty of water.

Us adults limited the amount of alcohol we drank and we all varied the food we ate, we tried to keep away from the really rich gravy dishes at dinner time every night as we would not eat like that at home, its hard when its all laid out in front of you and you've paid for all inclusive.

We have always stayed at the CSR and will be returning again this year.

Yes we have had the odd upset but I always take bottles of squash with me to encourage the kids to drink, we eat well but don't overdo things (except my hubby who has 4 breakfasts and then suffers the consequences), we try and make sure we don't overdo the sun in the first week and drink litres and litres of water every day.

Fingers cross and touch wood we have a great holiday which is why we are going back again.

I am not saying that there isn't a problem at the HV as I have never stayed there, yes the CSR had its teething problems the first year it opened and yes there have been the odd floater in the pool, but when I see people queuing from the moment the bar opens at the pool I do wonder how long it will take before the dreaded 'squits' get them and often overhear them subsequently discussing their toilet problems within a few days.

All I can recommend is that (particularily at this time of year) you drink drink drink the water (bottled), the ice and salad had never affected us, if anything its the sun, the amount of food consumed (what goes in must come out), alcohol during the day and not drinking enough. They do not limit the numbers of bottles of water you can have so take full advantage of this and if you do have a tipple or two or ten drink plenty of water.

Some days in August the temperature can reach the mid fiftees so be very careful.

Sorry to all of you who have had problems and I really hope you don't find this a preaching message just a stay safe one.

Take care and enjoy your holiday but most of all drink drink drink water. :tongue
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Hello All

I travelled with my family 4 adults and 2 children aged 12 + 10 from 16th June till 30th June.

This was the 3rd Holiday Village i have been to after Costa Del Sol and Dominican Republic and it is good as them 2 if not better.

After reading quite a few bad reviews on here as well as Tripadvisor i travelled with a bit of apprehension but i need not have bothered worrying yes we all had a bit of tummy trouble but get some antinal from the mini market and that should sort you out it should cost between 20 and 25 egyptian pounds. £2.00 - £2.50

The complex is fantastic, immaculate as cleaners are on the go all day and night. We stayed in 2 standard rooms with interconnecting doors and the rooms are huge. The hairdryers don`t work in the bathroom but if you ring guest services they will bring 1 up straight away. Entertainment was excellent including the 2 outside shows Zac Bowman and Gareth Oliver. The food was excellent plenty of choice. We never had a problem getting sunbeds even though we down to the main pool after 10.00 the pool boys will always find you a spare sunbed. If i any complaints it would be about the drinks being served out of bottles so they tend to be warm and flat i was baffled as to why they don`t use the drinks machines they have at the bars but i never seen them used. I would go back like a shot but maybe when it is a little bit cooler as even at 9pm it is still over 30 degrees and the price for next year has gone up by over £1000.

For those people who are going have a great time and don`t worry it is a great place
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we were there last sept on 11/9/08 and the weather was lovely and hot 30 + degrees but the breeze was very welcoming.
With regards to tummy upset, is there water butts around the village if so this could be the culprit, if people are filling their bottles and placing the tap inside the bottle, if someone has done that and got the 'squits' coming on at its early stages then the germs are already around the end of the tap.

Seriously considered changing but hey peeps we are holding on in there, went to CSR last year and had a look around the HV and felt it had more to offer. Unless we are advised to change we are going out from Manchester on 8/9/08. See you there peeps :hols

Kazee
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hello Matt720 -
do you work for First Choice????
you must do seeing you can afford to go to HV again in September!!!!
I am disgusted with some of your comments made against the couple on gmtv- did you go alone or as a family with children? I assume the former because if you were with children you would have been concerned with the standards of hygiene in the restaurants - flies do carry two million bacteria on their little bodies spreading diarrhoea and dysentery (facts from an health expert) and if you are not blind you could not have missed them everywhere on the uncovered food in the buffet restaurant.
we have pictures of uncooked meat i.e. chicken, turkey, etc. which was served to us in the a la carte restaurant - and uncooked meatballs were on offer for our children to eat.
members seem to think that sickness is caused through stuffing yourselves with food and alchohlic drink - not true!!! we did neither and still suffered.
we were there with 2 small children and I can assure everyone that we looked after them explicitly (as I am sure other parents did with their kids) - they were kept well hydrated and did not suffer from any sunburn etc. but they still became ill and were so after a week of getting home.
your comments against the family are out of order - maybe they did look like they were enjoying themselves - we probably did when around the pool - but you have to make the best out of a bad situation because we are on holiday
after all and have spent a lot of money getting there - do you want us to spend all the two weeks in our rooms????
we are probably one of the 'jump on the band wagon' bunch you are taking about but hey we have paid for an all inclusive holiday (recommended by FC) and believe me we did not benefit from it.
no-one is trying to stamp anyone into the ground - First Choice should ensure that the places they send their customers to comply with all health and hygiene standards.
maybe if when you go back you suffer with some of what we did you may understand other peoples feelings!!!!!
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Louise I must ask about your comments

louise myler wrote:

we have pictures of uncooked meat i.e. chicken, turkey, pork etc. which was served to us in the a la carte restaurant - and uncooked meatballs were on offer for our children to eat.


I have no doubt of what you saw if you have evidence -- but must ask what did you do whilst you were there if you saw such practises ???

Did you make a written complaint ???
If you or your children were ill did you consult a local doctor??

louise myler wrote:

First Choice should ensure that the places they send their customers to comply with all health and hygiene standards.


Yes but WHOSE Health and Hygiene Standards ??? remember You travelled outside of the EU -- but then again EU standards vary from EU country to country yet are supposed to be identical

I would like to know because from your post you may have had a very reasonable gound for complaint but of course the UK law requires you to inform the TOC whilst you are in resort.

IF you have any problem you SHOULD ALWAYS complain IN WRITING then FC would have to respond in writing -- OK sometimes it takes them ages to respond but they have to in UK law

BTW
this is something that EVERYONE should know and do -- we do when needed (we did at the RIU Merengue in DR very effectively)

I must point out that I do not work for any travel company, I am a Nurse who works part-time nights in a Care home, yet we take as many holidays as we can afford. So far this year we have been on vacation for 35 days (28 of them outside of the UK) and have another 35 nights minimum planned (7 in the UK) not counting 14 nights in March in Egypt. I must also point out that neither of us have been ill this year, our first year in Egypt I was but the doctor soon remedied that and very cheaply too.
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Hi can anyone tell me if the theme for the children here is Crows Feet Island. :que
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We go on 29th Sept and are still very worried about the bad reports, particularly food hygiene and stomach upsets.
We only have a holiday every other year so it's taken us 2 years to save for this one, we would be devastated for it to be ruined.
When we booked it earlier in the year all the reports were very good, hence the reason for booking!
I have e-mailed FC and am awaiting a reply, hope they don't try to FOB me off but i'll let you all know what they have to say!
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Hi Dolly, i'm sure you will be fine ;) , the recent reviews have been good, slight stomach upset but not on the scale of Mid June, i think they may have addressed the problem whatever it was, we are going in just under 3 weeks and we are all really looking forward to it, will just be very cautious. :sun2
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We go in just under 6 weeks, and I think that any problems there were should have been sorted especially with the `publicity FC got on GMTV` (even though I didn`t see it) they couldn`t ignor it.
We are really looking forward to our holiday.
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We also haven't had a holiday for 2 years and have been a bit gutted by all the bad reports however I am hoping that by the time september comes all the problems would have been sorted. I'm just taking all the advice on board that others have given and am going to be very sensible whilst there.

In regards to not recommending young children going there I can understand your point however we are taking a 12 month old with us and will be making sure he is drinking constantly and not out in the sun all day. We are also taking packet food with us so that he can mostly eat his own stuff and not in the restaurants all the time. We have a swim up room too which will be good for him in regards to naps and going inside for a bit during the day and if one of us does get ill then this will be a godsend! We also picked mid september to go as I know that it is not going to be as hot then.

I'm sure everyone will have a great time just try not to worry. There are thousand that don't write reviews on their holidays and i'm sure not all of them have been ill over there.
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natalieo9 that is a really good idea i no when my kids were young we had to sort out who were going in for naps and at what time.the hotel is really nice we did walk round the swim up rooms and they seemed really quiet in aug.i go in 4 weeks i will stop reading reviews think they drive you mad in the end.heard horror stories about turkey hv and it was fantastic think that was on gm tv as well!some people expect perfection.hope you have a great time take care.will write again when i get back in aug.
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Hi sueger21
I was starting to wonder if it was a good idea taking a baby somewhere like egypt but it's booked now and i'm sure we'll be fine. The bad reviews really do drive you mad and I think it is time to stop reading them!

Let us know what it's like when you get back! Hope you have a good holiday.

Natalie.
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