Hi great news that the hotels are available again - pity its after you booked but at least you know you have got your hols sorted and have had the pleasure of looking forward to them longer.... (looking for the positives here, lol). And theres always next year...

I noticed there is a new hotel, the Grand Marina (4* AI) being built next to the Grand Hotel in Hurghada. I'll try to check it out when I'm in Hurghada next month. Although I normally prefer to go B&B or half board rather than all inclusive, all inclusive seems so much more attractive with the low exchange rate!

Hi Chelsea1

Ive tried googling ETI but cant seem to bring up any tour operators. Have you got the full name of the company ?

Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm probably not doing it properly.

Quite liked the look of the Grand in Sharm it was near another hotel I stayed in and we drove past it a few times to get to Namma bay. It looked lush.

Doe

Hi Doe, sorry to jump into Chelea's question but I suspect that Express Travel International (UK) Ltd is probably the UK arm of ETI (Express Travel International), a German travel agency well represented in Egypt. I don't know, but would guess that, it may have been set up to market the Red Sea Hotels that were dropped by Thomas Cook when they took over Mytravel. If you follow Chelsea's link to Redseaholidays.co.uk you will see that the company is registered in the UK and the ATOL number is given.

I was looking at the reviews on the Grand, Sharm only last night and they look really good,,,

Hi caro

I'm sure Chelsea wont mind you answering the question. Thanks very much for the information. I know there are a few fans of the redsea group of hotels on holidaytruths so it's good that there is now someone to book through.

Yes the hotel looked lovely when we used to drive by it at night all light up. I had not seen it in any brochures at tha point though, so dont know if Thomas Cook used to do it and dropped it when they gave up on redsea hotels, or if they never did this particular one in the first place.

Thanks again, Doe

Hi Doe, I think the Grand opened recently so wouldn't have been offered by Mytravel, though their other hotels in Sharm, Ghazala Gardens (completely rebuilt after bombing) and Ghazala Beach on the promenade were. Have you seen the pictures on the redseahotels.com website? It looks absoluely lovely and I think I read somewhere that the snorkelling is good too.

Just received the 2009/2010 brochure. Looks great

Hi, two weeks on and still waiting for mine , good thing I booked anyway .

For anyone looking at the prices in the brochure its worth phoning the company direct to check if they have any promotions running.

So glad to see they are back on market to late for me this year though have booked to go to makadi bay to the fort arabesque in the summer our third trip to egypt in 3 years but so far grand has been our favourite

HI Denise,
Yes its great these hotels are available from Gatwick or Manchester again! I'm really looking forward to another holiday at the Grand Resort in July (although have to say am looking forward to Marriott Hurghada on 3rd March first - three weeks today, some hot sunshine at last :)). Fort Arabesque has had some good reviews though especially regarding the beach and the snorkelling which is meant to be fabulous. Enjoy your time there and let us know what its like when you get back!

hi caro, yes the fort does seem to have good reviews it was the snorkeling that done it for us,originaly we had booked to go to dominican this year but when we got back from Hurghada in the summer we went and changed it for egypt again what is it about the country it seems to have cast a spell over us, have a great time in march

Well there must be something about the place apart from the relatively short flight, good hotels, friendly service, guaranteed sunshine and fabulous snorkelling that keeps us going back for more