Sensational Sharm!

Shop around for your flights. Flights aren't as cheap as they were but there are bargains to be had! We once paid just 99 UK pounds each to fly from London Gatwick to Sharm. Bargain!
TIP: Save money by checking in EARLY and you will probably be able to request an extra leg room seat, a window seat and seats together at no extra charge. All these cost extra if you want to guarantee them at the time of booking. Those extra pennies will eneble you to have more fun when you arrive in Sharm.

On our first visit to Sharm, we stayed at the Hilton Waterfalls near the old town in Sharm. Fantastic hotel, great location, lovely room with sea view, great diving and a great price - just 339 UK pounds for a weeks B&B accomodation for the two of us.
TIP: We paid for a standard non-sea view room, but we were given a fantastic room with a great sea view just by emailing the hotel manager and requesting a sea view before we arrived. If you don't ask, you don't get!
We saved over 400 UK pounds by booking our flight & hotel independently as opposed to booking a package deal.

There are plenty of taxis in Sharm, but for a stress free transfer from the airport to your hotel, why not arrange a transfer in advance with your hotel?
We booked a "limousine" from the airport and were met by a lovely English speaking driver in an air conditioned car and all for just $20!
This may be more expensive than a local taxi, but the last thing you want to do after a long flight is stand and haggle over prices, so treat yourself to some luxury. There will be plenty of opportunities for haggling later!!

Hardly anything in Sharm will have a fixed price so expect to haggle for everything!
For a rough guide, check out a local supermarket on your first day. This will give you an idea of what you should be paying for bottled water, snacks, clothing and souveniers.
For example, I bought some Tahini (sesame seed paste) in a local supermarket for 10 Egyptian pounds. A few days later I asked the price of exactly the same product in a shop with no prices and was told DOUBLE the price! I told the shop keeper I had paid just 10 a few days before and he then dropped the price to 10!

The Old Market in Sharm is more "Egyptian" and has more character than the commercial Namma Bay. It still has all the tourist shops and souveniers but it also has REAL Egyptian shops and prices are cheaper than Namma Bay.
As you enter the Old Market at night, look for the cliff face and waterfall on you right hand side that will be lit up with spot lights.
Cut through the shops and you will find a clearing with a seating area.
Sit and drink some tea or smoke a shisha pipe in the cafe area below the waterfall and you will be entertained by belly dancers and Egyptian Tanoura dancers (like whirling dervishes!) -Its an amazing sight! Make sure you give them a tip when they finish.

Walking along the streets of Namma Bay or the old town, you will be stopped and invited into many shops. Once in the shop feel free to browse, but remember you dont have to buy anything.
If you really aren't interested, a polite, "No thankyou." or "Maybe tomorrow" should do the trick and keep walking.
Expect to haggle for everything. This may not come easily, but it is expected and you soon get into the spirit of it. It can be a prolonged affair and dont be afraid to walk out of the shop if the vendor won't come down to your desired price.
One common ploy by shop keepers is to insist that you buy something as you are their first customer of the day and it is bad luck if you don't buy anything.
You may be offered tea and even food, but you are not obliged to buy, however pressured you may feel.
Turn the tables:
We confused persistant shop keepers by saying that we had bought something from their shop a few days before and acting offended that they didn't remember us! The confusion will give you enough time to escape!
Seriously though, don't let the hassle worry you. The traders are just trying to earn a living! Be firm but polite and you won't go wrong!

When in Egypt try some authentic Egyptian food - it is delicious!
Falafels are burgers made from chick peas, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, parlsey etc.
There were falafels on offer at the breakfast buffet at our hotel - I ate them some mornings stufffed in a pitta bread with tomatoes & green salad - delicious & very healthy!
If you go into the old town - ask anyone for the shop that sells falafel - I think its called "Sheck" (sp?) - everyone know it anyway! It's a national chain apparently.
Ten freshly cooked falafels cost just one UK pound! Bargain!
Apparently Egyptian people regularly eat falafel for breakfast.

We also ate "Koshari" - it's what most Egyptian people eat as their main meal - cheap & cheerful. You can get takeaway in a tub or eat in at a cafe.
Koshari is a mix of pasta, rice, lentils, onion, garlic, chilli, tomatoes. You will also be given a dish (or for takeaway a bag!) of hot tomato chilli sauce or lemon juice to add as you wish. Its delicious & filling.
All the staff at our hotel ate Koshari everyday. I think they liked it that we ate simple food like them.
We enjoyed it anyway and I have even made it at home since we got back!! Great if you are a veggie like me.

If you eat at any Lebanese place you will find falafel on the menu, also try houmous (garlic dip) and tahini (sesame dip) with lots of salad & pitta bread. Really cheap & tasty - just what you want in the hot weather!
Hibiscus tea - or "Karkady" is a traditional egyptian herbal tea and is refreshing served hot or cold.


Tip: If you are eating out & about, take some anti bacterial hand gel with you and use it before you eat. Egyptian money is very dirty and you will probably reduce the chances of getting a tummy bug if you use the gel before eating.

If you find a taxi driver you feel safe with - get his number! Many local taxis drivers are crazy and they drive really fast! We used the hotel taxi driver for most of our trips - he was slightly more expensive, but he was a safe driver and his car had seat belts. We felt it was worth an extra pound or two!
If you walk anywhere, you will probably have local taxi drivers slow down and beep their horn at you and ask if you want a lift. Just keep on walking or say "No thankyou" and they should get the message! If you take a local taxi, agree a price before you get in and stick to it!

Make time to speak to some Egyptian people and learn about their way of life. Egyptian people are very friendly, intelligent, helpful and hardworking. Most of the staff in the hotels & shops seem to be men. Their families are usually in Cairo or Luxor etc and they may only get to go home for one week every month or so.
We made good friends with the staff at the Hilton Waterfalls and it was really interesting to discuss our different cultures and share a joke or two.
I went to Sharm with my boyfriend, but I went on a day trip alone and felt perfectly safe. So don't worry if you are travelling alone... you will be made very welcome!

Learn some basic Arabic! the local people will be very pleased that you have made an effort!
Salaam Alicum - "good day/ peace be with you."
"Shukran" - "Thank you"
"Af wan" - "You are welcome."

Egypt's only national park - Ras Mohamed is magnificent! Amazing clear sea, fantastic coral, beautiful fish. Only 30 minutes from Sharm old town by road. If you only do one trip during your holiday - then choose this one! Take an underwater camera to capture the amazing underwater landscapes.
Tip: Go by tour bus or taxi rather than boat and you will get to visit the beautiful beaches, the magic lake, earthquake site, mangroves, visitor centre etc.
Boat trips are great for snorkeling, but you do not get to go on land.

Buy your currency when you arrive in Egypt (better exchange rate) Banks will often give you large denomination notes... try to change these at your hotel for smaller notes - useful for tips and purchasing small items.

The weather is hot and it's easy to get dehydrated. Avoid the midday sun, wear a hat and use a high SPF sun tan lotion!
Drink lots of bottled water and take some sachets of electrolyte (rehydration) powder. If you get an upset tummy, these will help to replace lost fluids.
Take some anti-bacterial hand gel and carry with you when out and about. Egyptian currency is very dirty, so use the gel before you eat and this will help reduce the transfer of germs.

The weather is hot, got, hot!! Get up early and enjoy the morning sun and then retire to your hotel room for a seista around midday. All the local shops, markets and restaraunts are open late so you will still have all evening and night to enjoy yourselves.
Tip: Check out the Panorama Bar in Naama Bay at night. The view is fantastic!

There is so much to do, you are spoilt for choice!
Visit Cairo & the pyramids by plane (bus is a nine hour long trip!), go on a glass bottom Boat, visit Tiran Island, Ras Mohamed, St Catherines Monastery, Mount Sinai, Quad biking in the desert etc!

TIP: Shop around and be sure to agree with the tour operator exactly what is included in the price. For example we booked a trip to Ras Mohamed National Park with one company for 20 UK Pounds each. We were told it included all drinks etc. En route to the park, the guides took us to a local diving shop and tried to make us pay an extra 20 pounds for a wet suit, snorkel & flippers even though we said we were happy just to use or own snorkel. We insisted we didn't need the extra kit (they were just looking to make extra money) and we stood our ground and did the trip independently instead!

... but it's the hospitality of the Egyptian people who will make your vacation outstanding!
Whether you are looking for a romantic relaxing trip or a fun filled adventure holiday - you will love Sharm El Sheikh! Enjoy!