Marsa Alam

Get the best advice about your holiday in Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, Marsa Alam, El Gouna, Safaga and other parts of the Red Sea.

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Karenh
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Marsa Alam

Post by Karenh »

Well I have survied a weeks holiday with my mother in law in the Three Corners Fayrouz at Marsa Alam. We spent a week there ffrom 24th December to 31st December. :)

When we departed a rather wet :( and miserable Manchester we had been delayed around 40 mins to 1 hour and therefore were later arriving. Arrival at Marsa Alam Ariport went quite smoothly apart from the reps trying to get you to buy the visas from them instead of the banks. As we had not been here before we didnt really get a chance to try to find the bank as the Gatwick flight arrived at around the same time.

We collected our suitcases and were transfered quickly to the hotel which was around 15minutes away and also 10 minutes from Port Ghalib. On the way to the hotel it was noticeable that there is nothing in this area apart from desert which is great if you wish to chill out but not if you hope to escape the MIL now and again. :lol:

On arrival we went to check in and were advised to get to rooms qickly and change as the Gala xmas meal had started. Rooms of the hotel were large and clean and we had been given rooms as we requested close to the main building with easy access for my mum in law. I sat on the bed once in the room to unlock the suitcases and to my surprise (despite my weight) the matress never moved an inch ~ it was like concrete which appeared to be a common complaint in the resort! The food that night was great and the atmosphere, even MIL enjoyed it! :D

In the morning we walked around the reosrt and the fish we saw in the coral from the jetty was great the resort was definatley relaxing, but I would say that unless you want to completly chill out its not the place for you, or if you have wallking disabilities.
Port Ghalib is better to visit in the evening as it is so quiet almost like a ghost town during the afternoon, maybe when it is completed it will be an alternative for some hotels instead of sitting in the hotel lobby bar every night! :oops:
As my husband & I have been numerous times to Luxor and all three of us to Hughada the only trip that wasnt too long was Al Queiser which we went on and I really enjoyed. I love seeing the true egyptian life and not the tourist life.
We went to the dolphin house reef and snorkled our friend who was diving was lucky enough to see the dolphins, and we could only think we saw them, unfotunately I didnt have an underwater camera ~ Saw the turtles at another beach I cant remember how to spell (too much egyptian brandy rots the brain you know!) went on a quad bike trip into the desert and had a great time.

Our representative med hotels in resort told us that in the future the transfers will be by yacht from the airport to the hotels in Port Ghalib ~ what start to your holiday!

On the return to the airport we were not aware that you were not allowed into it until 1 hour 45mins before departure and had to sit outside as the sun went down and the wind became cold! Once in the airport, you can see its new not much choice in duty free ciggies apart from Marlboro. We then found out we were delayed an hour ~ suddenly after waiting 45 mintues into the delay the tvs changed to say 2 hour delay so everyone went to get coffees etc and as soon as they came back we were told to board the plane! Only in egypt!

We would go back for a rest again but maybe in a few years time when Port Ghalib completed or in a hotel nearer to Al Queiser or Safaga.
But as always the sea, coral and fish were excellent, as was the hospitality shown by the egyptians.

I will if possible try to upload some fo the photos taken in Al Queiser from the minaret at the oldest mosque and the interior roof of Santa Barbara church which was spectacular!


A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Semsema
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Post by Semsema »

It is so good to hear a good report for a change and I am especially pleased to hear that the medhotel rep was good!
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Post by Horus »

Nice report Karenh :) thank you for taking the time to write it :D
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Post by Kiya »

Thanks Karenh..it sounds though you had a great time, looking forward to seeing your pictures :)
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Post by Hurghada Lady »

You didn't make it to Hurghada Karen :( But glad you enjoyed yourselves anyway. :)
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Post by FABlux »

Thanks for that Karen, looking forward to the pictures :)
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Post by Nilegoddess »

Really appreciated your report Karen, I had myself been seriously pondering whether to try Marsa Alam, but luckily now reading your information I too will give it a miss. I do like peace and relaxation but I dont do cut-off and need shops and someone to do sometimes.

I do have mobility issues and if I wanted to just sit and do nothing in the warm then I would just spend the day in at a UK sunbed centre with a magazine !
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Thank you for your comments ~ I hope to try to upload photos this weekend. Hopefully now the egyptian brandy has worn off and the brain cells are coming back to life I will manage it! :ni:

We have decided that hopefully this year we will go to Sharm to see our friends, have a week in Hughada and a week later in the year in Luxor, so might make it to the Winking Frog yet HL! :) :)
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Post by Goddess »

Thanks for that Karen
I went to Marsa Alam years ago and it was just a big fiasco all round. The bus from Aswan dropped us off in Marsa Alam, hotel 60 km away and no transport.

When we got to the hotel (in a pick up truck :roll: ) there was nothing to do besides poke around the hotel, which was very nice, but so not my idea of a holiday - (thought there would be a town or village to investigate)

Then the even bigger problem of getting out of the hotel, involved a ride with a belly dancer to Safaga, a service bus to Qena and another service bus to Luxor. Had me hopping up and down in frustration!!
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Port Ghalib

Post by P666ats »

I spent new year in Port Ghalib, we arrived at the coral beach resort on the 30th Dec although god alone knows why its called a beach resort as they have no beach, anyway the hotel is mainly for divers and as my other half was there to do a course for some guests i went along. I have never been so bored in my whole life, i do not dive and it was to cold to snorkle, there is nothing to do there at all except watch tv and eat. We did take a water taxi one evening and go to the new hotels and coffee shops and it is going to be fab when its finished. If you are not into diving the only other thing is sunbathing but it was very cold and windy while we were there and thank god i am back in Hurghada.
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Im still trying to upload the photos, but keep getting interupted ~ will try again shortly!
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Well if this works Ill eat my hat ~ I actually managed to get two photos uploaded then I seemed to have problems again!
If this works and when I have a little more time, I will post a couple more of Marsa Alam

Image



img]album_pic.php?pic_id=250[/img]
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Oops one worked, I foergot to say that its the inside roof of the Santa Barbara Church in Al Queisr we were told it was the opldest church there. The other one I tried to post was the sunset from the minaret on the oldest mosue in the area. It was a wonderful sight, but my hand wasnt that steady due to someone pushing past me!
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Image
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Post by Kiya »

Karenh well done for getting your pictures uploaded....great pictures :)
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Thanks Kiya I will try to upload a couple more showing the area at the weekend. It seems straighforward enough I think! :lol: :lol:
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Post by Nilegoddess »

Karenh owwww such a beautiful church ceiling picture, never knew there was such beauty in such remote places.
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Post by Karenh »

Nile godess when we were there they were renovating the church ~ it seemed almost out of place as it was beside an old run down factory ~ originally Italian I think I remember. The roof was stunning I have never seen such beautiful paintings.
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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