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My friend saw a "great deal" for the Grand Hotel, Hurghada. Firstly what is this hotel like? is the location good? would we walk around everywhere?
I have never been to Hurghada and she has never been to Egypt.
I've been to Luxor, Cairo and Nile Cruises.
I cant swim or dive, have no interest in any watersports and I'm not a sunbather.
I dont think it has any tombs or temples. Is it purpose built for tourists? would my friend see how real Egyptians live? see the real Egypt?
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Wisewoman.... Grand Hotel is a very nice hotel.. located fairly centrally in Hurghada. There is a small parade of shops and restaurants within walking distance. If you want to get to sekala, which is the town centre, you can get on a bus outside the hotel, and town centre is max. 10 minutes away. Buses run about every 1 minute, and cost max 2 Egp. There are no tombs or temples in Hurghada.... 20 years ago it was nothing except a small fishing village, until tourism arrived. If you want to see'real Egypt' you can wander around the back of the town, away from the tourist areas, where children and goats run around the streets together, but, if you're not accustomed to seeing'shanty towns' where people live in makeshift huts, maybe you shouldnt. It can often be dirty and chaotic, although safe to wander.. its not where the tourists usually go! However, children will look at you with curiosity and say a freindly 'hello!', then run away giggling!! This is REAL Hurghada. Tourist Hurghada consists of hundreds of shops, restaurants(maybe I can reccommend some)coffee shops,bars, diving, snorkelling, beaches, and the most beautiful coloured sea you will see anywhere in the world!! If you're not a swimmer or sunbather, maybe you can rent a bike and go off around the town.. but be careful... drivers are maniacs!! I often use my bike as a mode of transport, and I'm still alive, alhamdulillah!! You can also go on a jeep safari into the desert, see a bedouin village, and ride a camel!! Or.. if you're more adventurous.. a quad bike safari.. not for the fain-hearted!! But.. best to do this in the afternoon.. you can watch the sun setting over the mountains...Hurghada has awesome sunsets!!! People-watching from coffee shops is also a very amusing activity here!!! Downtown, which tour guides call the "old town centre"is always worth a visit too... shops are more "Egyptian" than Sekalla. Incidentally, if your tour guide reccommends any particular shop. restaurant or bar, avoid it!! it will probably not be the best, just the place where this guy is getting commission for sending you!!! hope this helps a bit!!!
[This message has been edited by Samia (edited 17 March 2005).]
quote:Originally posted by wise_woman: My friend saw a "great deal" for the Grand Hotel, Hurghada. Firstly what is this hotel like? is the location good? would we walk around everywhere?
Hi, Wisewoman, I have been to the Grand Hotel last year and wasn't too happy. The rooms are very simple and older. They do have some newer buildings and nicer-looking rooms but they were fully-booked while we were staying there.
The only good thing is that the Grand Hotel is located straight on the water and you will be surrounded by many shops and restaurants within walking distance.
I recommend you find a good deal at the Grand Resort Hotel which is just over the street. Its a much nicer impressive hotel complex and the rooms are great.
The service in the Grand Resort is much better than in the Grand Hotel, food in both places are about the same.
I definitely vote for Grand Resort but the main pool and the kids pool could use definitely a painting. If you are a guest at the Grand Resort you can use the beach at the Grand Hotel for free.
Anyway, Hurghada is worth a visit, its a total touristic area with many things to do, you will definitely not get bored. Unfortunately no historical sights around but also you can take the speed boat to Sharm El Sheikh if you like (just a suggestion). Have fun!
[This message has been edited by Tigerlily (edited 17 March 2005).]
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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I hate to burst your bubble about the Grand package, but if you are a wise woman, you should stay away from both the Grand Hotel and Grand Resort.
You get what you pay for with these hotels. The Grand's rooms are outdated, service is bad and the food is horrible. Grand Resort looks nice from the outside but management, service and food are all BAD.
As far as I'm concerned Hurghada has nothing to offer unless you are into water sports, a disco bunny or old woman looking for a young boy. What would you do with your time there ? Get hassled, that would be about it.
Posts: 84 | From: Gherkin Land | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Maybe the Grand is not the top of the range..people I know that have stayed at the Grand Resort, across the road from the Grand have been full of praise!! I have never been to a disco.. or picked up a young boy!! But I am never bored with Hurghada, and I live here all the time!!! Posts: 4238 | From: USA | Registered: Jul 2004
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`Hey you two, can I be included in this rocking party?
Re the hotels, there is a very true saying, what's one man's meat is another man's poison! No hotel can ever hope to please all the people all the time.
Now being in the business of dealing with guest complaints, English, French, German & Dutch for my company, neither of these hotels gets a lot of complaints.
I think I'll forget about the Grand Hotel in Hurghada. She said it was a good deal but I found out it was £420 1 week half board flying from UK.
We're not old, we're not looking for toyboys, we're not into discos, we're not swimmers or sunbathers. I think we'd get bored easily.
I told her we'd have to fly from Glasgow to another UK airport then fly to Hurghada. That put her off.
She's now interested in going to Tunisia I think because there's a direct flight from Glasgow. She's only ever been to Spain because it flies directly from Glasgow.
I couldnt book a holiday based on where it flew from, okay it costs more and a bit of hassle to fly to another UK airport but it's the only way of seeing the world.
I wish I could persuade her to try Luxor or Nile Cruise.
Here's a question - have you ever heard of someone that didnt like being on a Nile Cruise?
quote:Originally posted by wise_woman: Here's a question - have you ever heard of someone that didnt like being on a Nile Cruise?
Absolutely! Nile cruises can be terribly boring if you don't end up on one with a group you enjoy being around. The first one I ever took was with my sister and I thought I was going to die of boredom. For a long time I never recommended them. Then the next one I organized for a larger group of friends and had a ball. Now I find if there is a hand selected group of people I know will be on board I enjoy them immensely, but otherwise, if the basic group doesn't have similar interests as me, I'd rather be home than sitting with a book all day to entertain myself.
I thought just about everyone enjoyed the Nile Cruises. I've never thought about the other people in the group, they seem to stick to their own couples and families. Never socialised with them.
My first Nile Cruise 7 years ago, I was on my own and it stayed that way, everyone was 25 to 40 years older than me and being a single traveller is like being a leper, people dont want to make small talk for fear that you may cling to them for the duration of the holiday. Then I had the usual trouble of the English tourists not understanding my Scottish accent when seated around the table for 3 meals a day.
When it comes to excursions and relaxation on board, I think most people enjoy that. I never tire of watching life go by as i cruise down the Nile.
Trying to persuade my friend to go on cruise and tell her that its value for money. She's interested in just going to Luxor but wants to do excursions, that all adds up plus paying for lunch and dinner. I thought in the long run we may be better off with a Nile Cruise. Now I'm not so sure.
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to the people living in the environs of Luxor, Hurgarda represents a building site in the desert next to the sea! And full of Tourists, mostly Russian.
Posts: 707 | Registered: Dec 2004
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quote:Originally posted by wise_woman: Thanks for the advice.
Here's a question - have you ever heard of someone that didnt like being on a Nile Cruise?
hi WW. yes my partner and i booked a 4 nite 5 star from luxor to aswan on our 1st visit to luxor ..........and hated it !
we actually left as soon as we docked in aswan and bribed and begged the train guard to let us on an earlier train back to luxor the people on the boat were very upset as we were the 1st people to ever leave a cruise early , but like we said to them at the time , the boat and food were superb . i think we just hated being kinda stuck in 1 place and not being able to go out when we wanted.we are very much walking and going where and when we feel like it people and being stuck on a cruise just was not for us . mind you it only cost us 60 quid so not a lot to discover you dont like cruises
Posts: 130 | From: torquay . uk | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I kindof conquered my fear of water 4 years ago with swimming lessons but I still cant swim. I've been on 4 Nile Cruises and never worried about it. But hate crossing over the gangplank onto the boat, terrified I'll go over the side and into the Nile. Always assumed someone would save me from drowning for some generous baksheesh.
Today, my friend and I booked a holiday to Port el Kantaoui in Tunisia. At the Royal Kenz hotel. £270 for 1 week half board and flights.
Hurghada is off our list. Now I need to find a Tunisia forum for tips.
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I went to El kantaoui about 9 years ago... I dont know if things have changed a lot since then.. it was considered the "up-market" end of Sousse... cleaner than the rest!! Very nice hotels, very nice beaches, souk's in Sousse are a few minutes away!! Thats all I can remember, hope it helps!! The price seems excellent!!!
[This message has been edited by Samia (edited 27 March 2005).]
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