SHARM EL SHEIKH. The best places to eat, sleep and play in Sharm El Sheikh this fall and winter

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1 SHARM EL SHEIKH FALL & WINTER GUIDE The best places to eat, sleep and play in Sharm El Sheikh this fall and winter With more than 50 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor makes travel planning a snap for the 50 million travelers visiting our site each month. Think before you print. And if you do print, print double-sided.

2 INTRODUCTION TripAdvisor, the most trusted source for where to eat, sleep and play in thousands of destinations around the world, has collected the best insider tips from its 50 million monthly visitors to produce a unique series of travel guides. In addition to the best hotels, restaurants and attractions for every type of traveler, you ll get great advice about what to pack, how to get around and where to find the best views. Be sure to check out the guides at You ll find reviews for more than 520,000 hotels, 125,000 vacation rentals, 155,000 attractions and 715,000 restaurants on TripAdvisor.com. Learn from other travelers what to expect before you make your plans. Inside SHARM EL SHEIKH INSIDER TIPS 1. Dress for the warmth, but do so respectfully. It is okay to wear what you want within reason. Remember, you are in a Muslim country. It is okay to show legs and shoulders in places like Na ama Bay. TripAdvisor Member 2. Avoid the midday sun, wear a hat and use a high SPF sun lotion! Drink lots of bottled water. Take some anti-bacterial hand gel to carry with you when out and about. TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, U.K. 3. Make sure you have a tissue roll when traveling though Sharm Airport as there is none, and they charge per sheet! TripAdvisor Member, Essex, U.K. 4. Don t walk on the coral reefs or feed the fish. This is extremely detrimental to the eco-balance. TripAdvisor Member, Staffordshire, U.K. 5. Haggling is customary in Sharm. Offer a third to a half of their initial price; when you get to about two-thirds, say it s your final offer, and if they refuse, walk away. Above all, keep it friendly and lighthearted. TripAdvisor Member, Barrow, U.K. Divers worldwide heed the siren call of the Red Sea, where a year-round dry, temperate climate, crystal waters and superb marine life beckon underwater explorers. Sharm el Sheikh, perched at the tip of the Sinai peninsula, is a dream destination for divers. Experienced divers will head for the huge dropoffs at Ras Mohammed, while novices will prefer the gentler Na ama Bay, where diving classes of all levels are offered. Those who wish to remain above the water s surface will find relaxation on the beach or adventure in the desert. Sharm el Sheikh was originally an unlikely tourist destination. When the Israelis held the Sinai, Sharm was a small fishing village, developed for political reasons. When the Sinai was returned to the Egyptians in 1982, the town flourished, welcoming development and tourists. Security has beefed up at the resorts after incidents in 2005, but tourists still flock to the resort town for year-round fun. tripadvisor.com 2

3 Top VIEWS SHARM EL SHEIKH S BEST VIEWS Head out in the wee hours to reach the top of Mount Sinai to watch the sunrise. To see the line of torches of the climbers snaking up the mountain is great, if a bit off-putting, because it seems to go on for ever! The thrill is to see the sunrise, because of the colors. It really is a fabulous sight; the rocks change color so dramatically. TripAdvisor Member Sinai Mountain, Arrange excursions from any large hotel Where Without a doubt, the best views in Sharm are all underwater. At Ras Nasrani, a coral plateau provides the backdrop for diverse marine life, including fusiliers, barracudas and electric rays. Look for the morays hiding in the crevices! Ras Nasrani, Red Sea Diving College, to PLAY The roof terrace over the Camel Bar in Na ama Bay is great for watching people on the streets below. TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, U.K. Camel Bar & The Roof, Na ama Bay, Egyptian Tourist Authority: TOP 10 Attractions 1. Kite Junkies, Regency Plaza Resort, Nabq, Ocean College Dive Centre, Hilton Waterfalls Hotel, Na ama Bay, Oriental Spa & Hammam, Peace Road, Na ama Bay, El Fanar, Ras Umm Sid, Ras Mohamed National Park, Sinai Mountain 7. Terrazzina Beach 8. Star Gazer Night, Wadi Mandar, Tiran Island 10. Shark s Bay FAMILIES You don t need to learn to dive you can see loads from the surface with a snorkel. To go to Sharm and not visit Ras Mohammed national marine park is a crime! TripAdvisor Member, Ireland Ras Mohammed Reef ROMANCE Take a moonlit camel ride to enjoy Bedouin hospitality. This was a brilliant trip for anyone wanting a bit of romance! We really enjoyed it, the camels, the food, the stars, the candles and the talk about the planets and the Bedouin people, etc. Really interesting and very romantic. TripAdvisor Member, Wirral, England Sunset Camel Trip, Arrange excursions from any large hotel Our lads love the Ghibli Raceway. There s a junior track for Under-12s, as well as normal go-karts. TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom Ghibli Raceway, Na ama Bay, not to visit is a crime! The Bus Stop Night Club in the Sanafir Hotel is one of the most popular night highlights. Its entrance looks like a London Bus from the outside and once inside, the crowd is lively and the drinks continue until late in the night. TripAdvisor Member Bus Stop Night Club, Sanafir Hotel, the drinks continue until late in the night. Don a mask and snorkel, learn how to use them, and then prepare to be wowed beneath the Red Sea. Whether renting or buying equipment, novice snorkelers would be well-advised to take a course in snorkeling from one of the many dive centers in Sharm. TripAdvisor Member Red Sea, Colona Divers, Hotel Amar Sinai, Take a trip into the desert for a romantic night of stargazing. You lie down on soft cushions and the guides point out all the constellations and planets. You even get to look at some through a telescope. An amazing night and worth every penny! TripAdvisor Member, London, U.K. Star Gazer Night, Wadi Mandar,

4 Where to PLAY BUDGET Shark s Bay was great. The fish are amazing off the pontoons. You don t even need to snorkel to see them. The sunbeds are free and there are lots of them! TripAdvisor Member Shark s Bay ADVENTURE Take a day trip to Coloured Canyon for a hike. It s a minute actual walk depending on how long you stop to look at the rocks. Apart from one spot where you slide a few meters under a large boulder, it s a reasonably easy stroll. TripAdvisor Member, Nuweiba, Egypt Colored Canyon, Northwest of Nuweiba, Arrange excursions from any large hotel EDUCATIONAL/HISTORICAL Start your hike up Mount Sinai before dawn for the best scenery. Had a great trip walking up the mountain, watching the shooting stars as the sky was so clear. The break of dawn was amazing. The colors were fantastic on the mountains. TripAdvisor Member, Nottingham, England Sinai Mountain, Arrange excursions from any large hotel RELAXATION Hop a glass-bottom boat to peer at the coral reef. It s fantastic for anyone who doesn t like the sea. The fish were amazing. TripAdvisor Member, Blackpool, England Jolie Ville Sports Club, Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, Na ama Bay, In Old Sharm, amble along the boardwalk between hotels and sea, stopping to glimpse at various art booths, shows, bands and music. TripAdvisor Member Old Sharm a hair-blowing, adventurous alternative to the beach. Get up and close and personal with the desert while quad biking. Quads are large, fourwheeled motorbikes that burn over the sand dunes and provide tourists a hair-blowing, adventurous alternative to a day at the beach. TripAdvisor Member, New York Quad Biking, Camel Dive Club, Camel Hotel, Explore the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, a WWII British supply ship sunk by the Luftwaffe. What a great adventure! TripAdvisor Member, Glandale, Calif. SS Thistlegorm, Red Sea Diving College, Sultana Building, Na ama Bay, watching the shooting stars Join the locals at the Camel Bar, perhaps Sharm s most famed hangout. The main bar is quite lively, but if you go upstairs to the roof terrace, it s lovely and chilled, great views, food, decor and really funky music. TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, England Camel Bar, The Camel Dive Club and Hotel, Enjoy the evening colors from one of the many rooftop bars or from Terrazzina Beach, a chill out beach frequented mostly by Egyptians who eat, drink, dance and enjoy their music with class and sophistication in their daytime nightclub! TripAdvisor Member, Nottingham, England Terrazzina Beach, Na ama Bay Sign up for daily individual dives with Camel Dive Club. I dive with Camel Dive whenever I go to Sharm, and I really like them. TripAdvisor Member, Egypt Camel Dive Club, Camel Hotel, TripAdvisor members have posted more than 8,000,000 traveler photos on the site. The good, the bad and the very candid. It s almost like being there! Take a day trip to St. Catherine s Monastery, where Moses is said to have spoken to God. In the morning, groups come from Sharm, but after 10:30, the monastery is almost empty, and you ll be able to really enjoy the visit. If you can stay until closing time and you are INSIDE the monastery, you ll have the chance to participate in the midday mass. St. Catherine s Monastery, At the foot of Mount Sinai Even in the desert you can tee up for 18 holes at Jolie Ville Golf Course. The club house is palatial. TripAdvisor Member, Surrey, U.K. Jolie Ville Golf Course, Um Marikha Bay, HOW TO GET AROUND There are plenty of taxis in Sharm, but many are ancient boneshakers with no headlights or seat belts! For a stress-free transfer from the airport, arrange a transfer in advance with your hotel. TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, U.K. The mini-buses are generally used by the Egyptian workers, and therefore, it is respectful not to hop on semi-clothed. TripAdvisor Member It is quite okay to tell your taxi driver to slow down. TripAdvisor Member 4

5 WHERE to eat FAMILIES I would highly recommend Dananeer, which serves excellent seafood and steaks that are out of this world. TripAdvisor Member, Scotland Dananeer Restaurant, King Of El Bahrain St., Shamandora Mall, Na ama Bay, ROMANCE Siam is a relaxing and charming restaurant with superb Thai food and excellent service. One of the best restaurants I have ever been in! TripAdvisor Member, Bedfordshire, U.K. Siam, Royal Peninsula Hotel, Peace Road, Um Marikha Bay, BUDGET Try The Tavern. It s got the biggest screen in Sharm! TripAdvisor Member, Peterlee, England The Tavern, Mall 14, Na ama Bay, HEALTH-CONSCIOUS The Café is famous for its sumptuous (if expensive) buffets featuring dishes from all over the world, including the Middle East, Far East and Europe. TripAdvisor Member The Café, The Ritz Carlton, 1 The Ritz-Carlton Ave., Om El Seed Peninsula HIDDEN GEMS Vino is simply the best food in town. The seafood is a joy as are the steaks. Reasonable prices with great friendly service. A hidden gem and well worth a visit! TripAdvisor Member, Essex, U.K. Vino, Hussin Salem & Fareed Ezzat Street, Shamandura Mall, Na ama Bay, The Orangerie breakfast buffet is served everyday, with excellent choices, service and quality. Fruit, yogurt, croissants, a multitude of delicious breads and pastries, jams, honey, eggs any which way, cold meats and cheeses, etc. TripAdvisor Member, Hampshire, U.K. Orangerie, Jolie Ville Resort and Casino, Even if you aren t staying at the Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz Resort, you can still take advantage of their private dinners on the beach. Private dinners on the beach, Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz Resort, Na ama Bay, The Hard Rock Café is fantastic. What a fun place, and so cheap. The portions are so large, we had a starter combo among the four of us. TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom Hard Rock Cafe, Marina Street, Na ama Bay, What a fun place The Pomodoro Restaurant s fresh food, including fish and an array of vegetarian options, makes it among the best places in Na ama Bay to eat. The lamb and the spicy chicken thingies are highly recommended. TripAdvisor Member, Jersey, Channel Islands Pomodoro Restaurant, Camel Hotel, Na ama Bay, We had had enough of hotel food and wanted something fresh and delicious, and the Red Sea Fish Restaurant certainly did not disappoint. Outside the restaurant, there s a fabulous display of fresh fish to choose your meal! TripAdvisor Member Red Sea Fish Restaurant, Old Market, The Underground is a great little bar hidden away from the hussle and bussle of Na ama Bay. Children are warmly welcome. It s not an upmarket place, but serves simple British food. TripAdvisor Member Underground, Beneath The Tavern Bar, Mall 14, Na ama Bay, The food, service and atmosphere at Little Buddha were all amazing. It was worth every penny! TripAdvisor Member, Blackpool, U.K. Little Buddha, Tropitel Na ama Bay Hotel, Na ama Bay, The food at Charleston Bakery was fantastic and really good value. There s no way we could eat sea bass for this price at home! TripAdvisor Member, Cornwall, U.K. Charleston Bakery, Il Mercato, Staples of the Egyptian diet include fuul and tamiyya (both bean dishes), also koshari (a delicious mix of noodles, rice, lentils, garbanzos, fried onions and tomato sauce). There are small local take-away shops serving fuul, tamiyya and koshari in every town. TripAdvisor Member, Cairo, Egypt Take-away restaurants, Old Sharm La Fleur, the French restaurant, serves food to rival the best in London or Paris. TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, U.K. La Fleur, Jolie Ville Resort & Casino, fresh and delicious... 5

6 Where to STAY FAMILIES The Sensatori is a stunning resort. They had a fantastic activities programme for my 12 year old, a great kids club for my younger son and plenty of entertainment for all ages - all of which were free! TripAdvisor Member, Newcastle, U.K. Sensatori Sharm El-Sheikh by Coral Sea, Na ama Bay, We can honestly say the Baron Resort is a truly great hotel. All the staff were extremely helpful and very good with the children. Everything was spotlessly clean and the added extras, like the free massages, were especially appreciated. TripAdvisor Member, London, U.K. Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Nasrani Bay, I must say you can t get any better hotel in Sharm for family than the Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz Resort. It s practically on the beach in the center and has a very calm atmosphere. TripAdvisor Member, Oslo, Norway Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz Resort, Na ama Bay, ROMANCE We have stayed at many hotels all over the world and the Stella di Mare has surpassed them all! We were on the 4th floor overlooking the beautiful Red Sea. We had a very large balcony with table and chairs and the view was breathtaking. TripAdvisor Member, Berwick, Australia Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel & Spa, Na ama Bay, BUDGET We loved every day that we were at Xperience St. George Homestay. There are games you can play like water polo and water volleyball and more. This is the best holiday I ve ever had, and I m going there again. TripAdvisor Member, Sharm El- Sheikh Xperience St. George Homestay, Magless El Madina St, Um El Sid Hill, LUXURY The Maritim Jolie Villa is amazing. The staff really make you feel welcome. The room was big and set within the most amazing grounds. It really is like a Garden of Eden! TripAdvisor Member, Coventry, U.K. Maritim Jolie Ville Resort & Casino Sharm El-Sheikh, Na ama Bay, We fell in love with everything about it. The Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort is beyond doubt a five-star hotel. Nothing is too much trouble, and every request is met within minutes. The lazy river is the dreamiest place. Waterfalls, grottoes and flowers give the perfect illusion of a mountain river. TripAdvisor Member, Copenhagen, Denmark Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort, Gardens Bay, The Four Seasons Resort is quite possibly the most exquisite and the most luxurious resort that I have stayed in. We fell in love with everything about it, from the Mediterranean hilltop village feeling, cascading to the sea below, to the greatest attention to detail and smile-filled service that you will get at every possible opportunity. TripAdvisor Member, Stockholm, Sweden Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, 1 Four Seasons Blvd., The Sierra Resort is a first-class hotel. Our room had a HUGE bed, and the housekeeping staff regularly left flowers and sculptures made with towels and clothes. TripAdvisor Member, Glasgow, Scotland Sierra Resort, White Knight Beach 167, Every request is met within minutes. Have questions about Sharm El Sheikh? Get insider advice from local experts in our forums. The majority of questions are answered within 24 hours. The Iberotel Palace is five-star from start to finish. As soon as you walk through the hotel door, your holiday starts. Everything is done for you. The staff and management were just fantastic. You arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. TripAdvisor Member, Germany Iberotel Palace, Sharm El Maya Bay, You arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. For the price, you absolutely can t do better than Sinai Old Spices. It s not easy to find you need to call the owners and have them pick you up the first time and the surrounding area is not scenic. But, the inside of the rooms and all common areas are gorgeous and brand new. TripAdvisor Member, Los Angeles, Calif. Sinai Old Spices, Roissat, The whole experience at The Royal Savoy was faultless good food, wonderful service and lovely accommodation. To have such privacy in beautiful surroundings was like a dream come true. A fabulous experience! TripAdvisor Member The Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, White Knight Beach,

7 Where to STAY HIDDEN GEMS Camel Dive Club & Hotel is small, personal and comfortable. I had been afraid that it would be noisy, being in the center of Na ama Bay, but I was wrong. The rooms are quiet, and there is a nice small pool in a central court, which all the rooms face. TripAdvisor Member, Cairo, Egypt Camel Dive Club & Hotel, Na ama Bay, From the moment we entered the Reef Oasis grounds, we knew this was going to be an amazing holiday. The paths were gently lit with lanterns, and the views were amazing. TripAdvisor Member, Norfolk, U.K. Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort, El Basha Bay, We have just spent a week in the Sultan Gardens Resort, and we got all the relaxation we needed after a week spent visiting archaeological sites! The beach was simply fantastic, with a coral barrier full of fish (even the amazing Lion Fish), sponges and corals. TripAdvisor Member, Empoli, Italy Sultan Gardens Resort, Sharks Bay, About TRIPADVISOR TripAdvisor is the largest travel community in the world with 50 million monthly visitors and featuring more than 50 million reviews and opinions of 675,000 hotels and attractions. TripAdvisor.com is the most trusted source for travel recommendations about where to go, where to stay and how to play for 93,000 destinations around the world. TripAdvisor.com also provides easy access to the major online travel sites to make booking your next vacation, your best vacation, easier than ever. Edited/compiled by Jenny Brown, Michelle Schwartz and Kris Horton This brochure and its contents are copyright 2011, TripAdvisor, Inc., all rights reserved. TRIPADVISOR, the owl logo and all other marks displayed herein are registered and/or common law trademarks of TripAdvisor and/or third parties. Representations made in this brochure are current as of its publication date. This brochure contains reviews, comments, photographs and other content regarding destinations, accommodations, airlines and other travel products and services submitted by users of tripadvisor.com. Reviews and ratings represent the opinions of such users. TripAdvisor does not sponsor or endorse any user content and therefore is not liable for any statements, representations or other information contained in such user content. Further, reference to any products, services, processes or other information of any third party does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation of or affiliation with, such third party by TripAdvisor. Such third parties are owned and operated by independent retailers or service providers, and TripAdvisor cannot ensure that you will be satisfied with their products, services, business practices or provided information. TripAdvisor recommends that you pursue any and all investigation you feel necessary or appropriate before transacting with any third party. 7