Well having read as much as I can about this hotel we thought that we can only look forward and trust that as we're going to be among the first to stay there the Hotel staff would be falling over themselves to get things right !!!

We are off on 23rd July - so we'll keep you informed just in time for you to go !

Taffycat And boozeyboo, myself and Mrs E will see you out there. We arrive on Aug 25 for 2 weeks (if you're still going that is).

boozey (do you drink a lot? ) are you qualified as a diver. I am, but still a novice. I want to get a few dives in while there, possibly with Emporer at Swisssinai's hotel (about 8 or 9 miles away I think). Will definately go to see him in any case.

hi everest, my husband did an open water diving course in grancanaria last summer but is nervous about diving again as hasnt dived since..we both feel quite nervous now since the sharm bombings about venturing out of the hotel but i am trying to convince him that there are diving facilities in nuweiba which isnt so far away..we have had to think long and hard about going because we are taking our 4 year old little girl but we also feel very strongly that we cannot allow terrorists to win. i am trying to find out what security measures are in place for this hotel such as do they have security gates and also feel very anxious about the airport and hotel transfers...
sorrry to moan on but i so want to look forward to this and not feel full of fear..
dcticker posted saying he was off on the 23rd so hopefully if they went ahead then they can answer alot of my questions when they return....
otherwise see you and boozy there!!

Taffy... if you're hubby is not experienced the he ll enjoy the diving in Nuweiba and it will be an excellent start to exploring the Red Sea.

Swiss - how far away are these guys?

Taffy - if he hasn't dived since last year he may have to do a Scuba review before diving, so don't worry they remind you of all the forgotten bits. There should be diving in Taba Heights too, if you don't want to ride down to Nuweiba. But, if it's not too far Emperor Divers may arrange to fetch you to Nuweiba. Check out [/url]http://www.emperordivers.com/[url]. E-mail them and ask.

I got next years Portland brochure through the door a day or two ago. It has the Holiday Inn at Taba Heights - reads well, though mentions two sittings for dinner; is the restaurant not big enough for all their guests?

Alan, the HI Taba is not actually in Taba Heights as far as I can make out. We think the HI is south of there. Maybe wrong, but I don't think so.

The Portland brochure shows it amongst all the other TH hotels - but Monsieur Swiss posted that it's 12km north of Nuweiba in the 'attacks on Sharm' thread...

Hiya

I went to Taba a few years ago, but stayed at the Hyatt. We had a great holiday. It is very very hot in August with temps well over 40. The hotels are slightly isolated but there is still an awful lot of things to do. The diving/snorkling is great just be careful getting inot the sea as you hit coral straight away. My friend cut her legs on the coral as she panicked as she is not a great swimmer. There were loads of families at the hotel and loads of kids too, so I think your daughter will have a great time, just slap on the factor 60. Goto http://www.tripadvisor.com for loads of reviews on the hotel!!! (they all looked pretty good to me!!)

The HI is much closer to Nuweiba than Taba Heights so best would be to go to one of the dive centres in Nuweiba.

Thanks for confirming that Alvin. Is it where the golf course is being, or meant to be built? Wendy thinks so, but I can't remember anything about it.

hi all this is dave not toni. first time i have had a chance to ask some queastions for myself due to work. i dived as toni said last year in grand canaria which was really good, but because i was concentrating on training for half marathons did not get involved with anything in local area to boost diving skills or experience. toni has recently bought me some new fins and a mask, but i was was wondering if it is worth buying a new wet suit to take or do most people at this early stage just hire all the gear. as toni likes to lie and fry in the sun but i am not that good at just laying in the sun myself, and i have wrecked my knees a bit with all the running last year and have also taken to having the odd ciggy which doesn't go down too well with the running. though i expect i will probably still want to have a few runs in the cooler parts of the day. i do want to dive but i am a bit anxious especially having seen the bit on holidays from hell where the divers drifted having left the confines of a reef. as i hate using the computer as much as toni forgive me if i have comitted any faux pau.if any one who can give me any advice about diving and any gear i should take with me i would be really greatful. i went down to the local dive shop to try and get a few sessions in but i am still waiting for them to get back intouch that was a month ago, and i have been unable to sort out my registering with padi website though i have tried several times. i am really looking forward to going to egypt and if it wasnt for taking the little one toni and i would probably want to be doing a lot more.
i am not sure if i am on the right thread or following the topic but it seems relevant too me as we are going to the holiday inn swiss everest and alan wall have been really helpful but any more guidance and advice would be appreciated. i really want to dive .thanks dave

Full equipment hire is about Eur25 per day (Emperor Nuweiba price).
Divng then costs about Eur40 per day (for two dives, and includes air and weights).
If you havn't dived for a full year any dive centre is likely to ask you to do a Scuba review - cost about Eur80.
All these figures are on the web and you can email the dive centres for advice/details...

http://www.emperordivers.com/

Really shouldn't miss the chance to see the coral and fish if you can dive already - even if only for a day or two.

alan thanks will look at emperor site.may be im just looking for an excuse to buy a wet suit. Is nuweiba about 8km from holiday inn,

Hi There -we have just returned from Holiday Inn Taba and as promised I logged on to report as soon as we got home.

You will have a GREAT time !!!

Yes hotel is out in the sticks but for a relaxing holiday this is the place.

We stayed at a 5* hotel in Sharm last year and thought that was good - that was until the Holiday Inn Taba !

Staff are the best - so friendly - even the gardeners tried to help me when I wanted to know the names of some of the plants.

The hotel is still learning and there are a few things they need to improve on - ice cream for the children is not included and if you have picky eaters then the burgers and chips have to be paid for (E£3 I think) - there are children on site who seem to be having a good time and don't appear to be going hungry at all - It didn't effect us at all but be careful of late night drinks -everything after 11pm is charged and a few people got caught with some pretty large bar tabs as they are expensive.

Pool is great and there isn't a shortage of sunbeds or shade - childrens pool is completely shaded which I thought was good.

You've just GOT to have a massage as well !!!!

Sea is absolutely wonderful and if you like snorkeling you can see great fish and coral off the reef - we even saw 2 huge turtles during our stay - the shame is that people are walking on the reef and if this isn't stopped soon then it won't be there in a few years time.

Usual trips are available - Cairo, Petra (was excellent but a long hot day with a lot of walking) but if you get the chance go on the day trip to Elat and swim with the dolphins !!! don't rush to book anything with your tour rep before checking out the prices with Nature Tours who have a table in the lobby by the Bank - they are a lot cheaper !

Not going to tell you any more - go and have the fun of finding out for yourself - but if you've got any room in your bags for me I would quite happily return tomorrow !!!!

Thank you dc. How much did you pay for the Eilat trip and the diving with the dolphins? We did the trip earlier in the year from Nuweiba and the snorkelling, but I want to do the dive this time.

We did the trip via the Peltours Rep but I think it would have been cheaper via Nature Tours but we didn't know this when we booked.

I think the trip to Elat was $90 with an extra $50 to snorkle with the dolphins and $65 if you wanted to dive. - plus the costs for the visas to cross the boarders (about £14 per person)

I would recommend snorkeling as 4 of us went out with a traininer but the ones going diving went out in a group of 20 - 30 also the dolphins appeared to be swimming nearer to the surface.

Thanks dc,
sounds just what we are after! not much room left in our luggage though
how did you find the exchange rate in the hotel bank. we are just planning to take some egyptian money and the rest in british sterling..
and i guess from the sound of your review that you had no concerns about security...
i think i am over most of my anxieties now and am just really excited....can't wait to go.
the more i hear and read the more i like
so glad you enjoyed yourselves we were thinking of you as if i remember correctly you must have left the same day as the sharm bombings...well done and thanks again for your prompt review..talk soon,

Yes = we left the day after the bombing - The local people are really suffering badly- hotel staff have been laid off - restaurants are empty - literally - we went to a local village and we were the only people there for the whole evening in a beautiful bedouin restaurant overlooking the bay and the mountains of Saudi Arabia.

- don't be afraid of security - hotels have guards and all bags etc are checked - guards are provided for trips - personally I find it all very sad that the world has come to this ! On our return from Petra our bus broke down in the middle of nowhere - we had an armed escort with us = with mobile phones going like crazy - within 30 minutes we were on a replacement coach and on our way back to the hotel - somehow I don't think National Coaches would be so efficient !

You will have the best time ever - little tip - you might not agree with it but give the staff a little tip at the start of your holiday = they rely on tips and it means so much to them - apart from that for a few pence you will get served before you even realise you want anything !!

There is a young lad in the main lobby - with a smile as wide as the Red Sea - you cant miss him as his shoes are about 3 sizes too big - give him a 50p tip and his smile and laughter for the duration of your holiday will make it worthwhile !

Sorry forgot the exchange rate question
This has to be the easiest hotel I have ever stayed at to exchange money - bank in the lobby is open until 8pm - no passport required and you can change sterling as and when you want to - rate was just over 10 Egyption pounds to our pound.