hi Gina, we where in block 7! We over looked the main pool and the beach, it was fab.
The room we had did have a seperate room as it was a kids den, which we paid extra for....

Hi doepsmc, loved it there. We spent our first week around the heated pool and 2nd week near the slides.
We want to go back next year too, we never go back to the same place as we like different places but it was so nice.
I thought everyone was friendly and the kids loved it!

Hi, not going until summer but not sure if I read in one review that you have to pay for wine in the a la cartes? Also do you suggest wearing water shoes even if just bobbing about in the sea and not actually snorkeling near the coral, do most people wear them? Thanks

Hi janalice

I think if you want wine by the bottle you may have to pay for it in the a la cartes. But I had 3 glasses of the house rose in the Chinese that I assume is the same as you get in the buffet and it was free.

I really wouldn't bother buying wine by the bottle in Egypt unless you know what you are doing you can pay a lot for some pretty average stuff. A friend payed 46 pounds for a bottle of something that costs us 5 or 6 quid here. Boy was she mad they got mixed up and thought it was £4.60 lol. (this wasn't in the Holiday Village though)

I would take water shoes as its a bit reedy and rocky if you enter the sea fron the beach rather than the jetty, I stubbed my toe and it really hurt.

Doe

Thanks doepsmc, by the glass house wine is fine by me..... I'm no expert and don't expect anything posh! We will take water shoes with us just to be on the safe side. If you go to the end of the jetty is the water fairly clear here? As I know we're going to be baking hot I'm thinking if we're not in our swim up pool we'll definately be in the sea a lot

Yes, it is clear at the end of the jetty. I think that is how they have decided where the end the jetty, so that when people go in off the end of it they have sand underfoot. It was just that me and my kids fancied a wade out into the water. It's OK to wade as there is no Coral to worry about.

I didn't see any fish at the end of the Holiday Village jetty though, but I think if you swim (or wade) across to the tropicanas jetty which goes out a lot further than the HV one you can see fish.
Sounds confusing when you haven't been, but it will be obvious once you are there.

Must admit we only spent one day on the beach as the heated pool was very near our room, wish we had spent more time on the beach really as it's much less crowded than the pool terraces, although you will be fine with the swim up rooms/pool as they look fab.

Doe

Hi Doe,I cant believe you are back already!
I hope you had a good holiday.I would go back tomorrow,but only if I got a good deal.

Hi Jay

Yes it was a good holiday. We would also go back as well, but it is extremely popluar and I think that means they are racking up the prices. Dread to think what it will cost in 2010.

The thing I was worried about most was the food what with all the reports of sickness early on, but in the main we were fine, never had to visit a chemist or doctor. I felt a bit dodgy after having a cream desert, but it was probably my own fault as it was the last piece and had probably been sitting about ( i couldn't resist it ) and hubbie and son felt odd after eating meatballs at lunch once and that was it really. Not bad considering the hotel was full so the potential for sickness must be high with all those people on site at once.

After I put up my review I was reading through the old ones and I read yours and noticed you lived on the Sea Bass as well. I must have had it 4 or 5 times.

I want to go back and stay in a swim up room.

Doe

I cant believe when we there there in November 2007 we met people who had paid £365 for 2 weeks.£411 for swim up rooms!
I saw these prices 5 days after I booked and paid brochure price.It was still cheap compared to the prices now.
I will keep looking out for a good price for this winter.Hope they are still serving sea bass.

Hi all,

Only a few days to go now for our 1st trip to Egypt

Can anyone please tell me if the HV change sterling into local currency as we are taking English with us but also have Nationwide card if needed. If not where would we be best to change it please.

Thank you.

Deb.

Hi Deb i read in a post further back that english was best to take as the exchange rate was better in sharm, and also there is a bank outside the complex which gives the best rate - this is what i read enjoy your selves post lots of pictures and a good review when you get back

Hi Deb

I think they will change it for you at the hotel. But if you come out of the main entrance to the hotel turn right (no need to cross the main road) walk past the entrance to the Laguna Vista hotel next door and then set back are a row of banks. We went into one of the Arab banks, but if you walk further down there is a big HSBC.

They are very modern and the one we went in had brilliant airconditioning and no queues when we were there. We just took in £200 cash and they changed it to LE at a rate of 8.2 to the pound which we thought was pretty good. They have all the rates on an electronic board like we do here.

There are also cash points outside a few of these banks were we drew some LE out one night when the banks were closed.

Cant beleive you are going so soon the time has gone quickly.

Doe

Hi gina m & Doe,

Thank you both for your help, yes I had read that the rate is better out there, although we have a bit on Egyptian money to take to start us off.

Will have a wander to the banks then Doe, seems the best thing.

It has gone so quick & cant believe you've been & come back Doe Hope you had a great time.

We are both looking forward to it now, really need some sunshine!

Thanks again for your help, will report back when we come home.

Deb.

hi those that have been, what are the shops like? is it worth going into town to go shopping?

we have 29 sleeps left

hello anyone know how much upgrades are from standard rooms to kids dens or jaquzzi suites and which ones are better situated for kids

anyone know much about the kids clubs? are twins will be 6 when we are there. they used the kids club when we went to the HV in turkey & loved it so thought they would go in it this time during the afternoons to give them a break from the heat. also so we can chill for a little while by the pool.

also do they do any clubs in the evening?

I went into firstchoice & they just said wait & see when you get there??

Stumpy,There are kids dens in the centre 2 1st floor rooms in block 6.
This is a great block as it looks over the shallow end of the main pool and a view of the sea.
The bunks in the kids dens are probably suitable for under 12s depending on the childrens height.
They also have a play station in the kids den.

Twinton. When we were there the kids clubs were on all day and evening every day the evening one was 8-10pm which we found handy for a relax in the adult only bar. We went August 2008, enjoy
ps we didnt exchange any sterling into egyptian, just spent the sterling

the kids club was 10-1130. 230-4pm, 430-6 and 8-11 if i remember the right times, i miss egypt

Hi,
does anyone know how much a late checkout is direct with the hotel?