Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh vacation
The purpose of this post is to give honest feedback about Sharm el Sheikh and my experiences in Sharm el Sheikh. I just got back from vacation, actually my honeymoon in Sharm el Sheikh. Sharm el Sheikh is an Egyptian tourist resort on the Red Sea. I choose Sharm el Sheikh because I got one of those cheap last minute deals as we had no time to plan for anything but our wedding. Our honeymoon was great because we are a happy easy going couple, but our time in Sharm el was very unexpected.
Sharm el Sheikh hotels
In theory Sharm el Sheikh is a nice place to go for vacation. We booked a four star hotel vacation package in Sharm el Sheikh from Kraków, Poland. When we arrived we were redirected to another 4 star hotel than we paid for because of ‘overbooking’. The hotel like all four star hotels in Sharm el Sheikh is really what I should call a 3 star or even a 2 star. The standard is not American or European but rather an arbitrary 4 star. So beware of this.
Sharm el Sheikh tourist trap
Sharm el Sheikh is nothing but a pure tourist spot. There is nothing there except tourist hotels, hundreds of them. Mostly peaceful Russians coming there to sit on the beach. I spoke Polish while I was there for obvious reason, English outside your 5 star hotel lobby gets a lot of attention. Sharm el Sheikh or really Egypt is trying to get all of Europe there, but it is being built so tacky, and boring it’s not for my taste. I like the beach but to sit on a beach, I would prefer Greece or a place that has something interesting around it not dusty dirty littered desert. When I am on vacation I want something stimulating not a matrix of tourist shops built with the sole propose to get money from me.
Sharm el Sheikh hotel construction
Sharm el Sheikh the hotels are being build by almost slave labor, hard working Arab/Egytian boys, young men and children. I image that their ancestors built the pyramids. All around is dust and construction. I do not know why the children are not in school. It hurts my heart they they are being denied on their youth. The workers in the hotels more often than not make no salary and just make tips. Some are very nice and you are thankful for meeting one that is not aggressively trying to get money from you or making rude comments to your girlfriend. When I complained to the hotel they said aha you do not know Egyptian men, this is they way they behave. I was surprised as I thought it was a respectful society and one of my friends are part Egyptian in the States and he was a nice guy, but in Sharm el Sheikh is was out of control and you have to be prepared to be very aggressive back to get any respect. But like I said a couple men in Sharm el Sheikh
were nice.
Sharm el Sheikh men
In Sharm el Sheikh like most of Egypt then men are very aggressive towards women. They will approach them even if they are with a boyfriend or husband, which was my case, and they will flirt with them and touch them. I got in a few minor fights with men who tried to put their hands on my wife on our honeymoon. If you do not get the direct passes you will get many stares from men.
No women in Sharm el Sheikh
I think part of the problem is there are no visible women in Sharm el Sheikh as it is 100% a tourist spot where only boys and men come to work from all over Egypt and leave their women at home. The men live in desert work camps outside the hotel groups that most tourists do not see and when they see western girls at the hotel or walking down the street or on the beach, they behave inappropriate.
Sharm el Sheikh shopping
Sharm el Sheikh shops have no prices. Even if you want to buy water you must negotiate hard. If you are the type of person that likes to do that then Sharm el Sheikh
Is the place for you. But if I want water or bread or anything, I like to see a price and not have to argue over every little thing.
Sharm el Sheikh money
Sharm el Sheikh and cash, no problem they take US dollars, but if you use Egyptian Pounds you will get a better price and can negotiate in smaller denominations. I used the bank machines with no problem.
Sharm el Sheikh beaches
Sharm el Sheikh swimming was great. The water was warm, but there are no sandy beaches, only coral and stone so you can not ride the surf if you like body surfing. But the fishes are fun to look at.
Sharm el Sheikh day trips
The best thing about Sharm el Sheikh is leaving for the day to go to see the Pyramids. Which are some one commercial in themselves but nice, however, it’s a nine hour bus ride from Sharm el Sheikh.
Sharm el Sheikh and Israel
Yes this made everything worth it. We went on a day trip to Israel with the most amazing tour guide, Mirosłow. He was passionate about giving us a tour of the holy land, and I can only image it was kind of a calling for him. Going to the holy land was something I can recommend, even if you are religious or not. That alone saved our honeymoon and more.
Tags: Egypt, Egypt vacation, Egyptian vacation, Sharm, Sharm el Sheik, Sharm el Sheikh, vacation in Egypt
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November 16, 2007at 8:38 am
This information is entirely incorrect.
November 16, 2007at 9:00 am
@Raymond, Why would I say something that is not true, if anything the information is toned down as not to offend anyone. Be specific about what you think is not true about Sharm el Sheik. The reality is if you are a women in Egypt from the west, or worst a blond, you will get men putting your hands all over your body on as you walk down the street, lay on the beach and even in the hotel you are staying at, this was our groups exprience and when we got back to Europe other people confirmed this. Polish women all say this universally. If you are older than you may not have experienced this. Sharm el Sheikh is a desert. There is nothing to do. Its 9 hours on a bus to Cairo. Sharm el Sheikh is being built up by UK developers trying to speculate on the hotel business and the government of Egypt. But, its very boring. Maybe a few lame bellydance shows at night that are tourst traps but there is nothing to do. And the its very stressful living day to day as everyone will try to get money from you. The Westerns that I know that live in Sharm el Shiek do not leave their houses after 5 pm and have a bodyguard. I wonder why this is?
May 13, 2008at 10:54 am
Sharm El Sheikh is not that much BAD PLACE as u mentioned above…
the only thing i will tell u… that… TRY TO GO TO SHARM WITH SOME FRINDS FROM EGYPT… we will let u see the real of sharm el sheikh … forget about the putting over bodies of women.,.. in every place in this world.. u will find bad and good ppl… not all bad.. not all good… i am egyptian.. and never ever try to annoy in tourist in sharm whe i went there.. or even put my hand on her body !!!!!…. maybe some ppl do so.. but not all…!!!!!
Try to go again THE DESERT u mentiones above.. but really try to search about safaris… going to Saint Catherine Mountian….Get a short trip to RAS MOHAMED and the Valley of TIRAN…. and at sun rise.. going to Safaris by jeeps or Beach Buggies… Dont say sharm is bad unless u get the real sharm
May 13, 2008at 2:14 pm
@Ahmed Your right. In fact I have thought about revising my post about Sharm el Sheikh. See the think is if you take a trip to an average tourist hotel I think you are not treated with respect, especially if you are a women. However, the people in Egypt are very sweet if you get to know them. This was my experience in Morocco also. However, if you are coming over as a tourist and you are a women with blond hair or just from Europe you will have guys all over you, touching you, even if you are with your husband. This is what I did not like about it. Also the quality of the tour guides were very poor, they were the worst, however, these were not Egyptian tour guides but foreign guides living in Egypt. And were so bad because they have bus loads of tourists everyday, so no one is an individual, they just try to rip you off like everyone else there. Also the hotels were not super, at least the one I stayed in and what my friends stayed also. But again this could vary from hotel to hotel. So to be fair Sharm el Sheikh has the potential to be very good, if you know Egyptians. Because some of the Egyptians I talked to were really kind and interesting people.
May 14, 2008at 5:16 am
Instead of going to Sharm el Sheikh I recommend Crimea. Crimea is sub tropical, lots of history, as people have lived there over 10,000 years including an amazing Greek civilization, there is hiking, warm water with healthy benefits and the main thing is the people leave you alone and are respectful. Plus it is about 1/4 the price and not touristy yet.
May 22, 2008at 5:30 pm
Hi
I was really shocked with what you wrote about sharm. in fact I’m writing now from sharm and it’s really a nice place. every place has its good and bad points and depends on the things you experiance.
My experiance and my foreign friends’ ones are really great from enjoying the sun, the sea, the diving, snorkling, activities, the cafes, the paintball, the clubs, the safaris.. total change and as stated priviously, you can take short trips to other places if you get bored.
As for the bad point about tour guides or egyptians hitting o u..well it’s everywhere and also others have part in guilt
as they tend to hang out with them.. not just saying firmly No.. so encourage them more .
I’ve been to ober 35+ countries even to french riviera and I assure you.. Sharm is one of the most fascinating places..
Come next time and let me know in advance
cheers
May 23, 2008at 2:46 am
@Ramsis, If I go again I will call on you.
And I am very sorry to offend you regarding this. It was just my experience. This was my point of view and everyone is different. For me on a holiday it is really important to relax and not have to worry about negotiating over a simple bottle of water in a shop every time I want to drink water. Or hearing ‘hey sweety’ - ‘hey baby come here’ - in every direction. Even after a firm no and I complained to the hotel. The hotel man said, aha I guess you have never been to Egypt before. This was every time I walk down the street or through the hotel (4 star hotel) with my wife. Or every time I was laying on the beach guys would come up to you and hover over you. Are you saying this is not the true? I just want to relax as I work very hard for my vacation. I might go on a vacation once a year and do not want to be stressed out. I am not worried about the attacks, that only happens once every couple years in Sharm el Sheikh and they have found most of the mines in the desert. I am talking about the way people bother you all the time. I talk to other people they said it was the same about Sharm el Sheikh. Sharm el Sheikh. Sharm el Sheikh has sun but somewhat stressful. I think there are much better places to relax, than Sharm, where the people leave you alone and respect you.I recommend Crimea for exotic and very cheap and Spain maybe for normal. However, like I said the Egyptian people I know in the USA are very nice. So this is not a reflection on Egyptian people. I just can not recommend Sharm el Sheikh for a holiday.
June 1, 2008at 1:53 pm
I feel so sorry for those that see Sharm as a bad place with guys that give you grief. you have not experienced or learned about the people, the culture or their life. I am going back a third time. I have met the honest and lovely people there. The Egyptians work incredibly hard and even though there are some who will ‘try it on’, it is no worse than any where else in Europe. If taxi drivers push their luck when trying to get you to use the taxi,just laugh it off, they will go away. I have even been out on my own as a female. I now know how some can be, but it not serious, so I tell them not to\push it, they laugh and go on their way. Those of you who cannot learn about locals in any country should not travel abroad. It is not Britain, it is a new experience. Get to know those who work so hard in Sharm, treat them with respect and you will have an experience you will want to repeat. You will will make lasting friendships. The majority are some of the best people you will ever know. It is you\in their country, culture and religion that have to adapt.
June 1, 2008at 2:43 pm
@Christine, I have traveled all over the world and this is my experience. I am a seasoned traveler, Africa, Asia, South America etc. I love all people and respect all people as Ghandi said you are your religion. And it pains me to even write this about Sharm el Sheikh, as I do not want to write anything negative about anyone.
But in Sharm if you are over 40 and a women then you have nothing to worry about, but every girl without exception I know was bother very strongly there. I am talking everyone out of dozens. Men are very aggressive and you have to fight them off if you are a guy. Its funny you never see the women there, they are at home, while there married men bother foreign women, while their wives are at home. Also there are no prices in the shops and they will milk you for every dollar. I recommend many other places besides Egypt, which is the biggest tourist trap in the world. Take time to get to know the people? The people who attack you? I have know idea what you are saying.
Plus there are bombs that go off all the time in Sharm, almost every year. You can not walk in the desert as there are mines still 100,000s uncovered, per our guide. This is Sharm el Sheikh.
I went to Crimea and it was beautiful, no one bothers you its exotic cheap, ruins from ancient Greece, you can hike in the moutains, then got to the beach etc. Its sub tropical.
Egypt is just being built up by English investors and Egyptians and they have no respect what so ever for any tourist. If you go to Sharm, you are meat. You are a nothing but meat for birds of prey in Sharm. Really they will be all over ever girl under 40. If you think this is not true let me know. But I can not recommend Sharm el Sheikh.
July 5, 2008at 3:11 pm
I can see where you are coming from with your point to men learing at women, but as not mentioned before you have to understand how western women are portrayed to other countries…. films showing westeren women in next to nothing jumping into bed with men….. then when women like myself from western countries go to these places they have to understand that this is how they will be perceived…. then when they go around with next to nothing on this only hightens what people think….
I’m noy saying this is fair or right but in Egypt the women they respect conduct themselves with a different kind of dignaty to some western women…. the english I’m afraid to say it are the worst, I am allowed to say this as I myself am English… alot (not all) english women will drink and become quite rude and disrespectfull or even lead these men on… again for alot of egyptian men this only confirms how the media portray us!
I was lucky enough to meet some true egptian gentlemen whilt in Sharm they showed us around the “real” sharm and were never pushy and were only too happy to help…. Another thing that i found is that there seemed to be two kinds of Egyptian men those who were used to tourists and treated them with respect and did not try to harrass us then those who did not appear to know how to treat tourists these were the people who came out with “Hi cheeky girls” “nice lady, you wanna marry” etc etc….. It is theese people who i actually feel sorry for because if they turned round and treated you like the other respectfull egyptian men then sharm would not be receiving bad reviws like this…..
If you actually go to the old town and get out of Naama bay area then there is so much to see and do. I found the Egyptian sense of humour brilliant and eating at a local egyptian restaurant in the old towm was great…. Yes naama is touristy, but that is what it is being built for so the people there can make a living….
We went as 5 females together and attracted attention from men but if you joke back with them they will often leave you alone… I understand your situation might of been worse as you were together in a couple…. But i can honestly say that I beleive Sharm is not a bad place… in fact I met an egytian family whilst out there and have just booked flight for Oct this year, I am going out there on my own and the family have offer to put me up in there home….. I am going for longer this time as I want to go to Cairo and see more of Egypt…. I think it is a magical place esp if you get to meet the right sort of people…. I feel sorry for you that you did not have a completly enjoyable honeymoon….
July 6, 2008at 3:28 am
@Helen Rene Descarte said every generalization is a distortion of the truth. So you are right, its not fair to generalizes and I do not want to about anyone. But I am conveying my experiences. That is as a women they were harassed none stop and as a man to buy even water you have to stand there and negotiate and many other stressful things. Not to mention its not the safest place because of the bombings. Further, Polish people and Polish girls are very modest and humble and go there with their boyfriends and husbands usually. So I can not speak about UK girls but I would say that Polish girls behave very well and polite and modest and do nothing to encourage any disrespect. Universally from travelers I have herd Sharm el Sheikh is a tourist trap. However, other places like Montenegro, Croatia, Lithuania etc is cheap, and people treat you with respect. I went to Sharm el Sheikh with an open mind as I love the history and respect all people and cultures. But you can find more history of Egypt, unfortunately in the British or other museums around the world, rather than in Sharm el Sheikh. And for vacation, in Sharm el Sheikh you feel like a trapped tourist being used and taken advantage of.