Thanks again Myriam! This sounds like the perfect choice for me. And, it is all inclusive, so I don't even have to worry about finding and getting to eating venues on my own. I don't have to worry about the stairs except for possible getting heat exhaustion from climbing them at that time of year. Teriffic. Do you know if it is a full service hotel that will be able to book excursions for me?

Now I just have to hope that the air deviation comes through for me.

Happy, I was very fortunate and got my room at the Ritz for only US$95 per night. And even though it was pretty big, the staff all recognized me & gave me great attention. So, the size is not necessarily an indicator of impersonality.

Sunshine, I checked back and found a rate for 125 US, which isn't bad at all, but the reviews on Trip Advisor are less than wonderful. Guests did not seem very enamored of the service or food, and said that the hotel was not up to the standards of the typical Ritz. There were also complaints about the beach. When did you go -recently?

Happy, do realize that Club Fanara is only a 4* hotel (Egyptian 4* which is different from European 4*) whereas the Hyatt is 5* Egyptian, so is the Ritz Carlton.

Myriam, thanks for the warning, but a 4 star is just fine. I have done quite a bit of world travel and have stayed at a range of accommodations -2*-6* I also enjoy camping, so I choose accommodation according to whatever fits the activity, place, or budget for a particular vacation. I think Club Fanara looks charming. And, as I said, I will enjoy the more intimate atmosphere and the fact that I won't have to go off property to eat.

BTW, do you know if they will book day excursions, or will I have to go to Na'ama to do it?

Myriam, thanks again- you have been so wonderful to share your time and expertise.

I was there two years ago. The staff left flowers on my bed on Valentine's Day (I was there by myself) and when I left the breakfast buffet didn't charge me for the meal. The bartender had studied to be a lawyer and was appropriately chatty to me. I think I went to the beach once and liked it because it had small inlets so you weren't in the middle of a crowd.

Happy, I don't know if the hotel can arrange excursions for you. All these hotels are typical package hotels for Europeans, so the various tour operators arrange the excursions. Maybe you can join one of these tours. Although it may be more economical to book them in town.

Thanks again for the feedback Sunshine and Myriam.

Sunshine, when you were at the Ritz, where did you eat? Did you find the food at the Ritz to be a good value- good food reasonably priced- or did you go off property?

Did you feel that the standards lived up to a Ritz Carlton, or not really? I just don't want to think that I'm getting a good deal on the room, and then find out that the food and/or transportation to off property restaurants makes the stay much more expensive than I had planned.

Also, dis you feel safe and comfortable taking taxis into town by yourself?

Thanks again sunshine- I truly appreciate your input.

Hi

I just wanted to update the status of my trip. Thanks again to both Myriam and Sunshine- your advice was very helpful.

I was able to receive an air deviation and extended my stay for 4 nights. I will spend 3 nights in Sharm El Sheik at the Hyatt, and then fly back to Cairo early the next morning and spend that day with a private guide seeing the sights that I was unable to see during my tour.

Debbie Senters had been highly rcommended as a guide, and she has been great in getting back to me with helpful info. I really wanted another day in Sharm, but the flight out of Cairo heading to the U.S. leaves at 10 AM. I didn't want to take any chances about missing my flight out of Cairo so I opted to fly in the day before.

I'll have almost 3 full days in Sharm El Sheik since I'll be flying in the first morning at about 8:30AM. I hope that will be enough time. I really only wanted to go snorkeling and to visit St. Catherine's Monestery so it might feel a bit rushed, but at least I'll have the opportunity to do it.

Thanks again everyone.

Hi happy2travel,

I'm glad you were able to work out the air deviation and will get to Sharm El Sheik, but can you tell me how you convinced OAT to do it? I asked twice, once in an email and once on the phone and got "Breakaway travel is not allowed on the Egypt tour" both times.

Thanks and I hope you have a wonderful vacation.