sharm el sheikh...need help
Sep 12th, 2009, 01:27 PM
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sharm el sheikh...need help
My husband and I are going to be in sharm el sheikh 2.5 days. We will be doing at least one full day of diving.
Questions:
1. Where to stay? We would love a very nice hotel with fabulous service, location, beach etc. We were just recently in the Maldives and Thailand and will compare most things to that...to give you a frame of mind.
2. Would you do a overnight live aboard? If so, where would you go?
3. Where would you eat? We really love all food...just needs to be safe
Would appreciate any info!!
Thanks!
Questions:
1. Where to stay? We would love a very nice hotel with fabulous service, location, beach etc. We were just recently in the Maldives and Thailand and will compare most things to that...to give you a frame of mind.
2. Would you do a overnight live aboard? If so, where would you go?
3. Where would you eat? We really love all food...just needs to be safe
Would appreciate any info!!
Thanks!
Sep 12th, 2009, 01:47 PM
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Can't offer any advice on the overnights. The people I knew who did it were all guys....so their standards weren't necessarily mine!!!
I've stayed at the Hyatt and at the Movenpick Golf. Both were quite nice, altho the Hyatt had a lot of steps to navigate across the property. Friends have stayed at the Sheraton and at the Four Seasons - both with rave reviews.
Just keep in mind that the "beach" in Sharm is not what most people are used to. The reef comes right up to the shoreline, so there is no wide, sandy beach. The Sheraton (and maybe others by now) have "created" a beach - but it's just something to keep in mind.
The Hyatt has a wonderful Thai restaurant. The name is escaping me right now...(Bua Khoa??)....but I would recommend reservations as it was quite booked up whenever we went. Down at the boardwalk (Na'ama Bay) there is a Hard Rock Cafe and several other restaurants. We have eaten at many of them and they were quite good. Just depends on what you are interested in eating.
I've stayed at the Hyatt and at the Movenpick Golf. Both were quite nice, altho the Hyatt had a lot of steps to navigate across the property. Friends have stayed at the Sheraton and at the Four Seasons - both with rave reviews.
Just keep in mind that the "beach" in Sharm is not what most people are used to. The reef comes right up to the shoreline, so there is no wide, sandy beach. The Sheraton (and maybe others by now) have "created" a beach - but it's just something to keep in mind.
The Hyatt has a wonderful Thai restaurant. The name is escaping me right now...(Bua Khoa??)....but I would recommend reservations as it was quite booked up whenever we went. Down at the boardwalk (Na'ama Bay) there is a Hard Rock Cafe and several other restaurants. We have eaten at many of them and they were quite good. Just depends on what you are interested in eating.
Sep 12th, 2009, 02:36 PM
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We got a day pass at the Hyatt but didn't stay overnight. There's a huge--I'm guessing 5-star--PADI dive shop there, run mostly by Brits. (Some divers--not from the Hyatt--were recently abandoned in the ocean there--if memory serves, some died--so be careful of what dive outfit you choose in Sharm.)
The Hyatt is a huge luxury playground-type resort with multiple swimming pools, waterfalls, lagoons and such, a sizeable spa and multiple restaurants. There's a great snorkeling reef just steps off the beach.
There were lots of sunburned Russians (a group the staff doesn't favor) on cheap package tours in Sharm when we were there in early May, but it was apparently the end of the "season" for them. Then the Brits show up. Just FYI.
The Hyatt is a huge luxury playground-type resort with multiple swimming pools, waterfalls, lagoons and such, a sizeable spa and multiple restaurants. There's a great snorkeling reef just steps off the beach.
There were lots of sunburned Russians (a group the staff doesn't favor) on cheap package tours in Sharm when we were there in early May, but it was apparently the end of the "season" for them. Then the Brits show up. Just FYI.
Sep 13th, 2009, 12:05 AM
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LAleslie - can you cite more information about this dive accident/inncident you talk about? It sounds more like the movie Deep than I want to think about, and I don't want to get rumors started about Sharm Dive companies if it turns out it is just a rumor and made up by some Egyptian to screw up the business of another company. That happens a lot around here.
If you can give us some links to newspaper stories or something, that would be extremely helpful.
If you can give us some links to newspaper stories or something, that would be extremely helpful.
Sep 13th, 2009, 02:12 PM
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We stayed at the Hilton Waterfalls Resort in the Ras Umm Sid area of Sharm El Sheikh, one of several Hilotns scattered around Sharm. The hotel was perfectly nice but we did not choose it because of its surface charms but because of its location, location, location on Ras Umm Sid. After much research, we thought that Ras Umm Sid might be one of the best places for snorkeling in the Sharm area(our other choice would have been Ras Nasrani, which the local dive shops also confirmed is supposed to be quite good).
Our guess about the snorkeling off Ras Umm Sid turned out to be correct (if you go to the Hilton Waterfalls, look for the lionfish lurking upside down under the pontoon jetty). There was a lot more, including many of the northern Red Sea endemics you probably want to see like masked butterflyfish, Red Sea raccoons, Klunzinger's wrasse, broomtail wrasse, Sohal tangs, etc....
The situation in Sharm is very interesting. So much of the topography is steep walls versus lagoons or slopes. We would often be snorkeling along the walls and see large groups of divers only 20 - 30 feet beneath us (there is LOT of traffic in Sharm). It was hard to imagine that they were seeing anything that substantially different from what we were seeing at the surface.
We took a day trip out to the Straits of Tiran - the snorkeling off Jackson Reef is impressive - head toward the steeper wall (as if you you were swimming toward Tiran Island itself.) Jackson Reek gets a lot of hype but in this case, it is deserved. I'm overjoyed just to see the corals healthy but many of these were also spectacularly colored.
We also had an unexpected opportunity (long story) to snorkel in the Marsa El Aat section of Naama Bay. This part of Naama Bay is NOT superb like the walls. It is very shallow, more or less flat sand interspersed with clumps of what would be called coral "bommies" in other parts of the world. Considering the amount of pressure (zillions of swimmers plus boat moorings), it is not in as horrible shape as I expected. And since it is of course a different ecosystem, you will see a different set of inhabitants (some of which like the Red Sea Picasso trigger are endemics). But if you only have 2 days in Sharm, I would not bother with this area, as it will disappoint you if you are expecting the "typical" Red Sea underwater look and experience.
Even if you don't stay at a hotel in Ras Umm Sid, you can still snorkel there by taking a taxi to the El Fanar Restaurant, which has shore facilities (beach umbrellas, lounges, towels.) For a fee of about 50 LE/person or so, you can claim a becah umbrella and lounges, stay all day and snorkel (head north along the wall for those quintessential Red Sea views of clouds of anthias swarming the steep walls, plus a lot more).
Just be aware that as you round the cape going north, there is a rather strong current that will not let you progress. Don't try to fight it - just turn back.
The El Masrein Grill Restaurant in "Old Sharm" serves excellent Egyptian and Saudi food at reasonable prices. The grilled lamb shanks we had were superb, some of the best lamb I have eaten anywhere. Just be sure to come ravenous because like most Egyptian restaurants, they serve everything in huge portions. There are also many other restaurants of various types in this old market area, including seafood. The "Old Market" is a fun area - many tourist shops but also regular shops selling everyday items, and so a mix of locals and tourists. Pleasant to wander around after dinner in the cool of the evening. The vibe is bit more laid back than in the Khan in Cairo and in Luxor (but then that can be said of Sharm in general. "Old Sharm" can easily be reached by a taxi ride from the main hotel areas.
Our guess about the snorkeling off Ras Umm Sid turned out to be correct (if you go to the Hilton Waterfalls, look for the lionfish lurking upside down under the pontoon jetty). There was a lot more, including many of the northern Red Sea endemics you probably want to see like masked butterflyfish, Red Sea raccoons, Klunzinger's wrasse, broomtail wrasse, Sohal tangs, etc....
The situation in Sharm is very interesting. So much of the topography is steep walls versus lagoons or slopes. We would often be snorkeling along the walls and see large groups of divers only 20 - 30 feet beneath us (there is LOT of traffic in Sharm). It was hard to imagine that they were seeing anything that substantially different from what we were seeing at the surface.
We took a day trip out to the Straits of Tiran - the snorkeling off Jackson Reef is impressive - head toward the steeper wall (as if you you were swimming toward Tiran Island itself.) Jackson Reek gets a lot of hype but in this case, it is deserved. I'm overjoyed just to see the corals healthy but many of these were also spectacularly colored.
We also had an unexpected opportunity (long story) to snorkel in the Marsa El Aat section of Naama Bay. This part of Naama Bay is NOT superb like the walls. It is very shallow, more or less flat sand interspersed with clumps of what would be called coral "bommies" in other parts of the world. Considering the amount of pressure (zillions of swimmers plus boat moorings), it is not in as horrible shape as I expected. And since it is of course a different ecosystem, you will see a different set of inhabitants (some of which like the Red Sea Picasso trigger are endemics). But if you only have 2 days in Sharm, I would not bother with this area, as it will disappoint you if you are expecting the "typical" Red Sea underwater look and experience.
Even if you don't stay at a hotel in Ras Umm Sid, you can still snorkel there by taking a taxi to the El Fanar Restaurant, which has shore facilities (beach umbrellas, lounges, towels.) For a fee of about 50 LE/person or so, you can claim a becah umbrella and lounges, stay all day and snorkel (head north along the wall for those quintessential Red Sea views of clouds of anthias swarming the steep walls, plus a lot more).
Just be aware that as you round the cape going north, there is a rather strong current that will not let you progress. Don't try to fight it - just turn back.
The El Masrein Grill Restaurant in "Old Sharm" serves excellent Egyptian and Saudi food at reasonable prices. The grilled lamb shanks we had were superb, some of the best lamb I have eaten anywhere. Just be sure to come ravenous because like most Egyptian restaurants, they serve everything in huge portions. There are also many other restaurants of various types in this old market area, including seafood. The "Old Market" is a fun area - many tourist shops but also regular shops selling everyday items, and so a mix of locals and tourists. Pleasant to wander around after dinner in the cool of the evening. The vibe is bit more laid back than in the Khan in Cairo and in Luxor (but then that can be said of Sharm in general. "Old Sharm" can easily be reached by a taxi ride from the main hotel areas.
Sep 14th, 2009, 09:44 AM
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This info is FABULOUS! Between the Hilton, Four Seasons and Hyatt...which would you stay in if money wasn't a consideration? Looking for the best room/pool beach area for the price. (Meaning...of you could get an awesome beach front room at the Hyatt for the price of a regular room at the Four Seasons...I would choose the Hyatt.)
I will keep researching and come back with more questions.
I will keep researching and come back with more questions.
Sep 14th, 2009, 02:44 PM
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Debbie, the news story was in Undercurrent, a dive newsletter/magazine. My husband subscribes and he told me about it, but he's not here right now and since I'm not a member I can't log on to their Web site. I'll ask when he gets back in a few days.
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