We are hoping to go away for a week at the end of September, we had hoped to have a two weeker in Thailand but unfortunately the cost of animal holiday care has but the kibosh on that :( Anyway, we want to go somewhere a bit different  (not greece/spain/canaries) and of course we want sun but also want to do a bit of exploring and sight seeing.  We have knocked it down to Tunisia - so we can go on a safari on the saharha desert or egypt so we can go to the pyraminds and the red sea.  Has anyone any experience of these places ? can anyone recommend a good place to stay in Egypt which is near some pyramids and the red sea?  we are both reasonably young - well he will be 30 when we go so we want to stay somewhere with a bit of life - a few bars and stuff, we dont do nightclubs (cant dance :( )

Any suggestions of decent holiday websites would be appreciated too (dont want much do I ;)  )

cheers

Claire

Hi ClaireyS

I haven't been to either Tunisia, or Egypt, but my sister has been to Egypt, she said they had be escorted by armed guards to see the pyramids, and the people who live there will do anything to get some money, from begging, to stealing it from you. Also when we booked this years holiday we looked into Tunisia, I dont think it is the place for everyone, people who I know have been have either really loved it, or really hated it. We stuck to good old Corfu in the end :D

Have you thought about places like Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey? They are very hot, but a little less adventerous.

I hope somebody comes along now and tells you different, I feel like I have just p*ssed on your cornflakes :D

>just p*ssed on your cornflakes 

LOL  I havent heard that one before :D :D

I too have heard horror stories about Egypt, I heard once that a little girl was snatched from her fathers arms by a local and he had to give money to get her back

I have spent time in Africa so am used to that type of culture, doesnt stop me wanting to go im afraid, I just really want to see the pyramids and go snorkelling in the red sea :D :D

Of course child snatching does not occur in the UK :rolleyes:..........

I wasnt talking about the UK.

Afraid I can't give any first hand experience of either of these but I do know many people who have been to Tunisia who have said that while they liked the place, they found it difficult to leave the hotel complexes as the locals were quite intimidating towards tourists. I know a couple who are in Egypt at present so will hopefully get their opinion when they return at the weekend.

I was thinking along the same lines as Natalie (and I love Corfu too, but not the bigger resorts) I've been to Turkey and have a friend who lives there now so will be visiting often. There are some lovely villages away from the bigger resorts and some really fantastic sites. The ancient city of Ephesus is fascinating and the mud baths at Dalyan are an experience. Or what about Croatia?

Don't know what I'm giving advice for, though as I always ignore what people tell me in favour of doing my own thing. I guess people always want different things from a holiday. Hope you have a great one, anyway, wherever it might be :)

My OH has already been to Turkey this year so thats out.  I do have a brochure for Croatia at home but didnt really like the look of it. It doesnt bother me really being harrassed because im a bit of a hard b#tch and rarely give to beggars :p

Have noticed that there are some great deals for Egypt. I'm a compulsive travel-agents-window-gazer (and bargain hunter in general) and saw just yesterday that there were some really good offers for Sharm El Sheik and I know my friends who are in Egypt at the minute paid loads more (almost double, if memory serves). Happy holiday hunting :)

Any ideas where I cant find out what the weather is like there for september / October ?

Egypt is one of the few ME countries I have not visited personally, having lived there for 15 years however it is a very popular destination with very friendly people most of whom speak English ( a legacy of British Colonial times).

Sharm El Sheik on the Red Sea is reknowned the world over for its diving/snorkelling facilities etc.  There are regular tours to Abu Simbel, Pyramids, Luxor etc.

The tourist police are very keen that people are not bothered by over zealous kids looking for "baksheesh" or gung ho salesmen.

Tunisia has many resorts that are also very popular with many desert excursions; although french is their second language again most people will speak english.

HTH

Tohme, I wasn't trying to put ClaireyS off, I was just saying what I knew about both destinations, hence why I felt bad. Yes you are right child snatching does happen in the UK, and all over the world, but this thread is not about that.

ClaireyS, I am glad I didn't put you off, from all accounts my sister did really enjoy the pyramids! The main thing that put us off Tunisia, was all of the insects, I am afraid I am a big wuss when it comes to creepy crawlies, the ones in Corfu, and everywhere else we have been were bad enough - or should I say big enough!!!

Insects dont really bother me, I had a hissing cocroache in my sleeping bag when I was in Africa

Thanks Thome, thats a great help I will have a search on the net for Sharm El Sheik :)

I've been to Sharm El Sheik many times, principly fro the diving,although its on the other side of the Red sea from the pyramids you can buy excursions to the pyramids flying out from the local airport.

Our friends have just come back form a Nile cruise and it was so hot that they had to go sight seeing at 4am , even then it was only bearable. they had to stay inside on the boat the whole toime and came back white. We had been to border union the same time and were really brown. Watch what time you go.

I have been trying to find a website which shows average weather for egypt, obvioulsy we want it to be nice but not too hot :)

Are the excursions to see the pyramids expensive ?

Egypt weather.
:)

thanks JG I will have a look when I get home as my works firewall is stopping that site for some reason :rolleyes:

I've been to Egypt once, I went on a Meditterranean cruise with my school back in 2000.  The Egypt trip was only for a day, but it was actually the only reason I went on the whole trip!

The locals will definitely do damn near anything for money, but if you're very firm you should be able to shake them off.  Be careful if you go, if you want to buy a camel toy - smell it first! I know it sounds odd, but many, many of the camel toy souvenirs are actually stuffed with camel dung :p

We didn't have an armed guard for the pyramids, and I went inside the smallest one - Cheops' pyramid I *think*, tho I'm a bit rusty on egyptology these days.  Very hot and stuffy, but worth a look.  Actually made the outside seem cool, breezy!

The British Museum out there is worth a look too - they have all the stuff from Tutenkhamun's tomb there, it is fantastic.  I did take photos but in typical me stylee I haven't developed them yet!!

One of our doctors went to Egypt last year and he said that it was brilliant.  One of my Consultant's is Egyptian I could have a word with him and see what he recommends?

That would be great thanks, it would be nice to have some inside information ;)

I went to Tunisia for a week about 2 yrs ago and wish I'd gone for two, all I would say is book a good grade hotel as our hotel although ok was a long way from perfect, we'd upgrade if we went back.  The locals can be a bit intimidating and I was often called a 'communist' when I wouldn't give money!  Aside from that a beautiful country, very hot (we went in May half term) Port El Kantoui (sp?) is beautiful and so long as you don't mind haggling you'll be fine in the shops.  It's a closed currency so you can't take any in or bring any out, just change it when you're there and the daily exchange rate is set by the government each day so therefore, wherever you change your money you will always get the same exchange rate which I liked.  Our concierge at the hotel was lovely and very friendly who spoke broken english and at the end of the holiday we gave him 20 dinar about 10 pounds and the poor bloke cried!  I'll never forget him, never could say his name so we called him Buttons and he loved it!

Spoke to my consultant and he said that October, March and April are the best times to go to Egypt.  He said that there are flights from Manchester to Luxor with a nile cruise included for around £400 in October.  October's the best time he said

wow, thanks, that sounds good I will have to look into it.  I was hoping you would say October because thats the only time I havent got any shows ;) 

We went to Tunisia a few years ago on an 'allocated on arrival' last minute booking and had such a fabulous hotel we thought they must have got it wrong :D it was the Skanes el Hana in Monastir, about 5mins from the airport but not noisy or anything. We looked out over a sandy area occupied by camels and it backs onto a beautiful beach of white sand,which was raked and levelled every day by men on horses with rakes in tow. We bought fresh baked pittas from the 'garden cook' who baked them for the restaurant every day and we ate buffet style breakfasts with a 3 course evening meal later in the day. We took a few tours,but unfortunately not the safari, we went on a traditional tunisian night with snake charmers and dancing girls,magicians and authentic african feast!
We travelled into the local souks(?sp) to browse for bargains,you need to be prepared to barter!!  and we visited lots of marble temples and ruins with very interesting guides!
It is a holiday I enjoyed, although the hotels are all geared up for the tourists the locals are relatively poor by comparison which is quite hard to comprehend.Everyone we met was friendly and we felt quite comfortable and at ease. You just need to be firm when the local tradesmen offer to 'show you their wares'. Taxis are cheap but local trains looked overcrowded and not too safe! although we did use the noddy trains to Port El Kantoui on one day trip.
Eygpt is on my 'places to visit' list but friends have come back with greatly differing reports so it's not too high up the list :D
Jacqueline :)

On a second thought what about Cyprus? the weather is brilliant they have good clean beaches,you can do a 2/3 or4 day excursion to the pyramids from Cyprus.
We went in the spring when all the blooms were out, fabulous sights and scents! We went up into the Troodos mountains and had snowball fights then swam in the sea in the afternoon sun.
There are loads of places to eat out and there is entertainment to suit most ages/tastes! We stayed at the Damon Apartments in Paphos. Friendly hotel,you can go B&B or self cater. Easy cheap car hire available, tombs of the kings within walking distance steeped in history, lovely harbour area that gets busier as the evening approaches. Boat trips, diving sightseeing and off road safaris.

I should have been a travel agent :D :D
Jacqueline :)

I've been to that hotel in Tunisia - small world!!  We went there a year last February for a week.  We had a good time but the weather wasn't great, but then it was to be expected for that time of the year.  Our hotel was also allocation on arrival.