I've had Egypt in my mind for our Easter break next year and having done loads of research I'm not sure whether to take the next step and book. What's putting me off is the numerous reports of 'delhi belly' in most of the hotels.
I've been looking at various hotels and their reviews for at least a month now and having found an hotel where there was no mention of bad stomach upsets, I was all set to book until a new review came on this weekend complaining of severe 'delhi belly'. The hotel is St Georges 3 corners, sharm and although it's only 3 star the reviews up until yesterday were all reasonable to good. As a result I thought I'd price up a 5 star (thought it would be a safer bet).
I found three 5 star hotels that looked really good but their food and upset stomach reports were a lot worse than the 3 star I'm now wondering whether it's worth taking the risk. I've had diarrhoea on the occasional day on holiday but it's the stories of people being severely unwell with stomach cramps that's putting me off. Hubby experienced this in the Dom Rep in the summer and it wasn't a nice sight, seeing him writhing in pain in bed.
How can you experienced Egypt travellers put my mind at rest? Are you ill at all whilst in Egypt?
Thanks.
We have done the Nile cruise and stayed in Luxor a few times and also stayed at the Sonesta Beach Resort in Sharm and can honestly say that we have never had a problem, I do suffer a bit with IBS (playing up right now in fact ) and I can honestly say that I have always been fine out in Egypt.
A few simple precautions can help, there is a lot of good information in this topic http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=23153
I wouldn't let it worry you too much
Graham
If you do get a bad tum, I believe it is a straightforward matter to get sorted out at the pharmacy/doctor. I wouldn't let it put you off going - I wish I had started going there years ago.
Having said that I was really ill last year when we went to a different hotel from that we normally go to and it taught me a valuable lesson .My story can be found on the how to avoid tummy upsets sticky. From somebody that doesnt normally suffer with anything like that I have never been so ill in all my life and the topic around the poolside every day was always along the lines of who the lastest was to go down with it . It hasnt put me off but I dont take hotel chances there any more now and stick with our favourite hotel where I've never had problems and dont overhear people discussing members of their party laid up in bed.
Unfortunately it is a fact though that some people do get it .My friends son has been suffering badly since he returned from the Hauza 3 weeks ago ,even spending a night in hospital last week on a drip. I really don't know why so many suffer in Egypt .Yes it's very hot but I go to hotter over the summer in turkey, do everything the same and don't have a problem. I would read carefully the reviews from over the easter period carefully and just follow the precautions in the sticky , book your holiday and enjoy .
I think I'm going to stick with it, given that there aren't any bad reports regarding Easter time. Just waiting for the right price now. There don't seem to be any discount codes around at the moment.
Thanks again
I do agree with Lyn that you willl find lots more reports in the height of summer.
I did find the hygeine very poor last November (so I would never recommend the Sunrise Island View), and I am sure that this contributed to his illness: birds all around the food, tables not cleared and glasses not looking very clean etc.
I must have a good constitution - I eat icecream, have ice in my drinks and eat salad.
Which area of Sharm are you looking at Shirley?
We went on a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan this easter. The boat's food was fantastic and nobody had a bad stomach upset. The boat was RAII and the dining room manager would prepare food specially if you wanted somthing different e.g. he made a vegetarian version of the main meal each day - all you had to do was ask for it. They had a lemon drink for all passengers each day which is supposed to help the stomach. I know it wasn't the height of summer but they had a heat wave and temperatures of 100-114 degrees F for 4 of the 7 day cruise. At the hotel in Sharm a week later it was a different story and I wouldn't go to that hotel again.
Located in Um el Sid, 3km from Old Sharm el Sheikh and the hotel's private beach (courtesy shuttle bus available), and 5km from the resort centre of Naama Bay.
I'm not really bothered about it not being central, it's more important to me that the food is edible and the hotel is clean. We're not big fans of the sea or shopping, so we'll manage. All we need is 7 days of sunshine in a nice hotel with a nice pool
I would say if you take a few sensible precautions you will be ok..
I also found drinking the odd Sprite rather than bottled water helpful..
When I first started to research a trip I thought going to Sharm El Sheikh meant going to a resort called just that, rather than going to a place which has different areas and resorts within it
We go to Sharks Bay, where there are hotels right on the sea and not a great deal else. We are not interested in shopping etc, and are happy to mooch around the hotel and relax. Naama Bay doesn't appeal at all - too busy and too much hassle.
I think I appear about page 20/21 on that sticky Shirley .It was April 09 at the sonesta beach resort and whilst we were there it was a huge topic of conversation around the pool . That alone should have set alarm bells ringing for me .
I enjoy salads, rice , fruit salad etc and don't wont to worry about eating these things.
Hubby and I have been to Sharm, Taba and Hurghada and have never been ill. Hubby was once but nothing to do with food, he'd had too much sunshine after playing water polo for 2 hours in the heat of the day, with no hat on his head I wouldn't let it put you off Shirley, hubby and I love Egypt and have thoroughly enjoyed every time we've been! Just take a hand sanitizer with you everywhere you go, and give your hands a spray after touching their money, before eating e.t.c. Also in the restaurants, don't eat the food right at the front, dig a little deeper as there'll be less chance that flies e.t.c have landed on it!!
No matter where you go on holiday. If you don't take precautions, the inevitable will happen.
Book up soon and enjoy the experience.
Been 3 times and hoping to return in Jan.
I've asked my local TA to price match for me and if they don't ring me back in the next 30 mins, I will be booking on-line this evening
We love it and have already booked for next year. Going to the sensatori.
As has been said just take the necessary precautions and you should be fine.
Garry
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/JSWalker61/TabaEgypt2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKnhsvnSn-SdLw&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/JSWalker61/EgyptAndTheNile?feat=directlink
Go for it girl. You wont regret it. (unless you get deli belly) only kiddin
The above links are of our trips to Egypt just to wet your appetite.
Jim
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/JSWalker61/EgyptAndTheNile?feat=directlink
Go for it girl. You wont regret it. (unless you get deli belly) only kiddin
The above links are of our trips to Egypt just to wet your appetite.
Jim
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