Hi Doe went on the Mahamaya Island trip when I was staying with friends in Soma Bay South of Hugahada in 2010. The trip was one of our favourites and a great day out. There are some pics on my slide show on HT TV most are at the hotel the Caribbean World but the boating and beach shots near the end are all on the Mahamaya trip.

This is the link:
http://www.holidaytruths.tv/media/2242/Red_Sea_Crocs/

Hi Doe,Mahmaya is a beach on the southern tip of the largest Giften islands.
The beach next door is called Paradise beach and these are the better beaches to visit as they have shade and are not so crowded as the beaches in the North where most of the boat trips go to.
The trips to these beaches seem to cost more than trips just advertised as Giften Island.
Have a look on Google earth at the photos.
We never managed to get there when we stayed in Hurghada as it was just after the shark attacks in Sharm when we were there.
Hopefully we will return this winter and visit then.

Thanks NicK I will have a look at your photos

I will do a bit of reasearch and find out which is which Jay as I would prefer to go to one which is less busy. I am sure there will be private tour ops in El Gouna selling these trips or if I struggle I bet thomas cook who I am travelling with will sell it. This all depends on if we are motivated enough to move from round one of the eight pools in the hotel.

Doe

Great photos Nick, the island looks beautiful and not all that crowded, in my mind I imagined it been overrun with tourists and very commercialised and that thought was putting me off a bit.

Hotel looked nice as well.

Doe

Make sure the trip is to Mahmaya as the Giften Island boat trip takes you to the Northern beach ,which is beautiful but very crowded and practically no shade.

thanks Jay,

I normally go through the forum and write up a few notes before I go away nowdays especially if it's somewhere new, even if I don't do all the things I take info on I find it's helpful to have the information with us. Sometimes once you get places things seem different, or reps try and bambozzle you with info on the various trips based on what they would rather sell - think it is an 'age thing'

Also got my notes about not getting the visa at the Thomas Cook desk, but at the bank desks as when you go to an airport the first time it's easy to get flustered.

Doe

Getting the visa was a nightmare for us at Hurghada.
We had drove 310 miles to Gatwick via our daughters in Surrey, through dreadful blizzards and arrived just as the airport had closed due to the snow.
After spending a night at the airport where we were well looked after by the staff,I was in no mood for hassle by the time we got to Hurghada.
We walked away from the Thomas Cook queue to go to the bank kiosk when the so called rep came charging after us like a bat out of h***!
After arguing with him for 15 minutes another airport worker came to our assistance and asked us just to give him the £26.
The rep then gave us our visas.We may have not had to wait it the huge queue as a few flights landed within minutes of each other,but it was so annoying and embarrassing.
I was so annoyed ,I went to the loo and discovered when i got out of the airport I had left my handbag on the back of the loo door.
As you know its not allowed to go back into the airport but thanks to the TC transfer rep she retrieved my bag.
We had a brilliant holiday and I discovered the bloke I had argued with had no connection to Thomas Cook!
There are a couple of British people who live in Hurghada and give excellent up to date information on the Hurghada forum on Trip Advisor.
Next time I go I will take $30 and pay with that as its about £18.40.

I can understand why after such a difficult journey you just paid up. I think I will take $30 and try and pay at the abank kiosk. Thank goodness you got yourn handbag back - I think i remember you doing a thread on it on here.

Luckily enough my hubby had been to the states on a business trip a few weeks prior,so we were able to pay in dollars. It is definitely worth getting some u.s dollars before you go, I would use them for tips too.Jay, you were lucky to get your handbag back! My hubby was followed in to the loo at the airport and asked for money whilst he was peeing!I have never been to an airport like Hurghada,it's not much more than a tent.

It wasnt until I got on the coach that I realised my bag was missing.I was in a bit of a panic after all the hassle but the TC rep was still outside the arrivals hall and she asked the security guard who was just inside the building if he could find it.
Someone must have found it as he had it at his feet.
Contents intact I got back on the coach were hubby was about to explode.

Hi minione and Jay

We seem to be the only ones interested in Egypt at the moment

I'm going to get US $ for my visa & 10 or 20 $ notes that I can use for tips to tide me over till I can get some low denomination LE.
I think a dollar is about 60p so is a good tip for a lot of things out there. I never use one pound coins as they can't change them in their banks.

I never change them back either as they have a bit of a s c a m going producing fakes £1 coins & when they ask you to change ten into a £10 note they sometimes stick one or two falsies in. You are normally doing it on the hop & as a favor so not paying attention & folk dont notice. So it's small LE and $bills for me all the way for all those reasons.

Your hubbie was followed to the loo & asked for a tip while he was peeing minione. Must warn hubbie, dreading Hurgarda airport - but at least it's only a means to an end and you aren't there long (hopefully)

Doe

It's absolutely true Doe. He was stood at the urinal,taking a leak when a guy walked in with his hand out saying "money,money".His face was a picture when he came out,flabberghasted would be an understatement.
Surely,there are more than us three going to Egypt this year? I can't remember this site ever being so quiet.I know Lyn is going at Easter but I think she is going to Sharm again.

We always take $30 for our visas, but it is best not to tip in anything other than Egyptian pounds. You shouldn't have to tip anyone at the airport. Everyone will hold their hands out! At the ladies loo, there is usually a lady trying to charge to give you a piece of toilet paper. I always have a tissue in my pocket, and just wave it as it go past!! The guy putting your case on the coach will hold his hand out, we just shake our head, as far as I know he is getting paid to do his job. (but I always check to make sure the suitcase actually goes on the coach - lol)

When I came out of the loo at Hurghada airport I was asked for money. I darent repeat what I said on here.
This was before I discovered I had left my bag on the back of the toilet door.

minione wrote:

It's absolutely true Doe. He was stood at the urinal,taking a leak when a guy walked in with his hand out saying "money,money".His face was a picture when he came out,flabberghasted would be an understatement.
Surely,there are more than us three going to Egypt this year? I can't remember this site ever being so quiet.I know Lyn is going at Easter but I think she is going to Sharm again.

It is quiet. I dont think jaytrip is going as I'm sure she mentioned Fuerterventure on another thread.

Just you, me and dizzyblonde, to the Hurghada area, at least we wont have any probs getting a sunbed round a pool this year

Lyn is going back to Sharm so at least there will be one family of Brits there.

I dont tip the folk who put the case on the bus either dizzyblonde as I dont really see it as a service (we would happily do it ourselves) i also check it is on! I do tip waiters, even when we are AI and room boys, half way through the holiday and at the end and with somekind of note.

I try never to get cabs if at all possible, we just do not like to deal with the drivers, I am fine with everyone else.

Doe

I am not planning on going to Hurghada until November/December as there are no flights from our local airport so only go when we are at our daughters who is only 20 miles from Gatwick.
I am off to Fuerteventura on Wednesday for 2 weeks and that will be a real change from Tunisia ,Turkey and Egypt.(No hassle)
Back to Turkey in May and hope to squeeze a holiday to Austria in July.
I still like to read the forums of places I go on holiday.

I hope you get a good booking for Nov/Dec Jay sounds like a nice time of year to go to Egypt. Let us know if you find any hurghada/makadi bay/el gouna bargains & have a great holiday.

Doe

We went to Hurghada the last week in November,it was lovely sunbathing weather during the day but was dark really early. I wouldn't go at that time of year again,it was far too cold for me at night. Really windy and to be honest a cardi or pashmina wasn't enough,I could have done with a winter coat!I would imagine September would be a good time to go but we are booked for Turkey again. I can't resist my Turkey fix, especially since finding the best hotel ever, the WOW.I know I have gone but better than the site not having any action?

I also like warm evenings as well minione, so if I like hurgharda area I might consider doing another week there in September, perhaps makadi bay this time.

I believe it is a bit warmed than Sharm as it is further south, alternatively might go back to Sharm, alot will depend on price as always and what deals are around when I am ready to book..

I guess if I dont get to Mahmaya Island while in El Gouna, I could go there from Makadi bay as well so that's good.

Doe