Hi I've booked to stay at the Conrad in March and have booked a Superior room with a jacuzzi. I beleive these will be in the new block that are still being built. Can anyone please tell me how far these have come along? I'm worried that they won't be ready in time!! Also I heard that these were being built right next to the disco, is this still there?

Many thanks,

Jemma

Hi Jemma

I was at the Conrad in the summer and I'd be very surprised if your room isn't completed on time. If you look through my photographs HERE you'll see a pic of the rooms under construction, these were taken at the beginning of August.

They are next to the disco.

Enjoy your stay, it's a great hotel!

Pippy

1) Thinking of taking the family to this hotel in December for snorkelling of the beach. Is it a good time or should we wait until next summer? ( I don't like cold water)

2) If we go, we will also take the 9 month old grandson with us, so is that a good idea to this hotel/area? (plane trip, hot water, nappy provisions etc ie normal baby stuff)

3) If we go (for a week) we are seriously thinking of a trip to the pyramids, but the coach trip itinary I read was for a 2 day trip with a hotel stay, however we would want to actually spend time at the pyramids so any suggestions, even if "don't bother"?

Thanks

Stevebell001

Hi
I took my 2 year old in September - It was extremely hot then - in the 40'o. I was quite concerned with how little ones would react to the heat. But I had nothing to worry about.

The standard rooms do not have tea/coffee making facilities - so unless you wish to opt for a superior room take a travel kettle to boil water for making up milk/bottles. Alternatively you can rent these from reception for £3 a day ( a travel kettle only costs £6 in Argos and comes with all the necessary adaptors)
Mothercare also have a travel sterileliser bag - all you need to do is fill the plastic bag up with the TAP water and it neutralises the foreign water and sterlises at the same time ( approx £7 for 7 bags, but well worth it) There is a chemist along at the Baron hotel - that will have all the necessary medications you may need aswell as a tiny supermarket to buy disposable nappies.

I took an ample supply of Calpol and high factor sun cream and Diorolyte for rehydration. ( children under 6yrs cannot take Imodium and such like) The diorolyte also came in very handy for us adults - so definately stock up on these!

Personally, I wouldnt take an infant on the trip. It can be as much as 10'o hotter in Cairo as it is in Sharm. Part of our group did the trip and said it is definately not the place to take kids. But definately something to see if you do not have the little ones with you.

All in all, you should go an escape the cold english winter with some very warm egyptian sun. You wont regret it.

Also, I would recommend taking jars of baby food with you. ( When our little one was 11 months we went to Cuba and took a mega stash of Heinz Jars) You have just got to be careful and remember, just because you are staying in a high class hotel, doesnt mean that the people handling your food are as hygenic as you would like and children under the age of two are not able to have the pre-holiday 'holiday jabs' to help stop infections.

I hope this helps and doesnt put you off - We would definately go back to this hotel - If I can help anymore let me know!!

Right - we've booked this hotel. At about £270 for a weeks A/I seemed to good to refuse. Now we will need all the tips, like how to contact the hotel, better uptairs than down etc. we haven't got premier rooms or sea view for that price but we do have a balcony or terrace. Are the stairs easy with a buggy/pram.

There are no lifts in the hotel at all - so getting around with a buggy can be quite an effort especially when the evening 'entertainment' and all the bars are upstairs. There are loads of steps if you want to carry the buggy to get to the bar quicker otherwise you will have to go round a few long 'curly wurly' slopes which lead you to the 'booze' We had a pool room (2613) which opened straight out onto the pool via your terrace. The good thing about this hotel is the way it is laid out. You do not have any rooms above you, they are all single story on lots of levels ( reached by slopes and steps - if that makes sense!!)

For a week I dont think you will be disappointed. Also, dont bother taking buckets, spades etc. On the beach there is a play house for the kids and a large box filled with approx 30 bucket/spade/sieves etc which get used by the hotel guests and put back every night ( quite a nice touch, I thought and frees up some space in your suitcase)

The hotel staff are also good with the minibar - by letting you move the contents in order to put bottles in there to keep cold. Carton milk is also available in the bars. In the evening, they would ask me if I would like some milk for my little one and if they should warm it or not!. The Egptians were very attentive to all the children, especially the little boys

Sounds like a mega bargain - I bet you couldnt stay in England for a price like that!!

Steve,Where did you get that offer from?.I am looking for something for the end of November/begining of December.

Hello Jay Trip

Tonight I booked the Conrad going first week in Jan 06 flying from Manchester. I have been on loads of holiday sites looking for a good deal.

Noticed a lot of people on Holiday Truths mentioning Eclypse Holidays so gave it a try, some say they were cheaper than First Choice.

I actually booked with Ecylpse 1 week all incl, but I did say no to inflight meals and prebookable seats, it brought the price down. I was happy with the price as much cheaper than others. Paid the money.

Then curiosity got the better of me!! First Choice exactly £100 pounds per couple cheaper. Same Hotel,flights ect. Thats what I get for being nosey!!
But could go on & on... At least its done.

Went to Nabq Bay area Sharm 2 years ago in January weather wonderful. Stayed at the Hostmark Oriental-I think most refer to it as The Oriental..dreadful hotel, but thats another long story.

Hope you get a good deal.

You'll generally find http://www.eclipsedirect.co.uk are cheaper than http://www.firstchoice.co.uk but not always. They were considerably cheaper when we booked last year for this summer.

Pippy

Sorry, I don't check this at night as the dial up is too slow.

We booked through eclipsedirect and kept our eye on the prices which fluctuate. I was looking last weekend and it was showing 310 ish but then while the 5th stayed high, the 8th December dropped significantly in price.

As far as I can tell the First choice and eclipse prices were the same, but see below for why we chose eclipse.
Spotted a strange anomally on the website, booking a large party gave a higher price than the individual rooms.
I raised this with the chatline on the website after I had made the booking and they investigated and confirmed my findings so reduced the price again for me. I do not have holiday insurance factored in to these prices though.
I also got a £50 discount as it was the second eclipse holiday so it is getting cheaper by the day!

I appear to have been lucky as we have always had excellent help from the TO

Forgot to add that if you book late, it appears that the eclipse/first choice computer instructs itself to contact the bank to authorise the large payment. Being a computer it can't do this and so fails the booking without telling you why. As you haven't gone past that stage there is no booking reference and so it depends on who answers the phone as to whether they can sort it out. I was passed through to the web team who sorted it but they stated that the operator should have been able to.
all they need is the name date of departure and where you are going. (supposedly).

I have just got a quote from Fasttrack cruise for one week on the Spirit and the second week at the Nubian village which has bad reviews(£649)from Newcastle on Dec 1st.My husband is not keen to do the cruise but I want to visit Petra.I have also been offered the cruise from Hurgada and the a week at the Meridien which has poor reviews so I think I will contact First choice and see what they have for these dates.I think only Thomas cook and Thompson go from Newcastle in the winter but Manchester is OK.

Ive just checked First Choice site for date I want to go £797 for 2 for 2weeks!.Eclipse price for same date is £824!.Ive now got to convince husband.

Hi Jay Trip

Hope you have sucess convincing your hubby. If you manage to get there before Jan 5th next year will you post a reveiw. We have booked and paid the money so we go with an open mind determined to enjoy.

A lot of the reveiws on this site have been quite positive especially Pippys. But to be honest I did check out Holidays Uncovered and reading them makes me wonder 'Is this the same hotel'. Only time will tell.
Regards
Fran

I am going to book the Conrad for october next year through eclipse.I am tempted to book the room decribed as 'premium' at about £140 more for 2 week stay.On the website for the conrad there is a photo gallery showing room types.Does anyone know if the picture showing a suite is the same as the premium room on eclipse.I suspect not as it looks fantastic.
cheers

Hi

No, the premium room isn't a suite, at least our premium room booked with Eclipse wasn't. I would definitely book one again though, the view was fantastic! You can see pics of the room and the view in the Egypt photo album(link to album in one of my posts above).

We were a party of six and stayed in rooms 3131 and 3132, try and book one of those if you can. If you contact the hotel they may be able to arrange this.

Pippy

Actually I've just remembered, our room was described as a superior, not premium room when we booked early last year. I don't know if they are one and the same. Eclipse should be able to tell you though.

Pippy
I've found an old eclipse brochure, is the picture in it the standard room or is it the upgraded one that you booked? I think its last years brochure so its probably the one you booked from. I'm trying to book somewhere for next April.

Hi Pippy,

We are 2 couples going first week in January. As we have just booked, I presume standard rooms. I would be interested to know the layout. For instance would we be better off on the top floor.

Dont wish to offend, but I dont particularly want to hear high heels clip clopping above me or chairs being dragged around. Im sure I not the only one who feels like this.

Fran

Oooo, I can't remember what pic was in the brochure.......sorry!

Pics of our rooms and the hotel and grounds HERE

No need to worry about hearing heels overhead, the way the hotel is designed means nobody has a room directly above them!

Pippy