Here is my report:)

Hiya guys

We flew with Thomson, on the way back the plane had at least 50 seats spare, so it just shows how quiet things were, also if booking now as a late deal, you would proberly get a good deal.

I will try and categorize things for you so they make sense.

THE WEATHER

Right folks.....Sharm has seen some extreme temps due to the heat coming from the Sahara, in the day it has always been 110 - 120 and extremely hot, the night time temps have averaged 86 and 90 degrees being the hottest. When it was 90 degrees that night, it was truly unbearable, i am a heat lover, but i felt sick and had to stay in the air-conditioning. But... and a big but......the air-condioning was warm. A guy who we made friends with was a diver at the Oonas Dive centre next to the Sonesta Beach resort, he walked on the sand, and burnt all his feet. A trip to the Doctors and Iodine applied, he couldnt walk for nearly 4 days. Flip flops(plastic kind) no good, they fry in the sand.

SUN CREAM

I am going to stick to my guns on this, and i am experienced in this field. Any of you travelling to Egypt in the summer months especially now, need at least factor 25 upwards. Anyone that thinks factor 5,15,20 will be ok is completely nuts. I adore getting brown and worship the day time heat, but so many people were red raw and sick. I will say this only once, so please take this as friendly advice.....

LOW SUN CREAMS/OIL DO NOT MAKE YOU BROWN! THEY MAKE YOU BURN YOUR SKIN, GO RED, THUS NOW GIVING YOU UVA/UVB DAMAGE, WHICH CAN CAUSE SKIN CANCER. HAVING RED BURNT SKIN HAS ALREADY CAUSED YOU DAMAGE BY THIS TIME, SO BLISTERS AND MOLES COULD APPEAR - IF THIS HAPPENS, IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT!

HIGHER FACTORS OF SUN CREAMS EG, 20,25,30 AND 40 SHOULD BE USED IN VERY HOT COUNTRIES, IT WORKS IN THIS WAY.

USED AT LEAST X2 DAILY, YOU WILL NOT BURN, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LOVELY BROWN, GOLDEN TAN, WHICH DARKENS EVERY DAY. HAVING A HIGHER FACTOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW BROWN YOU GET, THE HIGHER FACTORS ARE THERE TO PREVENT UVA/UVB RAYS GETTING THROUGH AND DAMAGING YOUR SKIN. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT THE LOWER YOU GO THE BETTER FOR GETTING BROWN. THIS IS TOTAL RUBBISH. THE LOWER YOU GO MEANS YOU ARE BASICALLY TELLING THE SUN TO GIVE YOU CANCER

We wore factor 30 all week and have come back very dark, we know we have played safe sun. It is up to you, do you value your life enough to risk it

SECURITY

Was everywhere, they checked our bags reguarly when coming back of an evening. Also asked us to show proof of a key number.
It was quieter than last year in Naama Bay, not unduly sure why...maybe the World Cup? Tourist Police were around as usual, and entrances to hotels now all have barriers to let people in and out. I never felt unsafe, in fact the opposite, i liked having them there, i wish the UK was more like Egypt for security. We spoke to them all. I dont think people are staying away because of the bombings, in actual fact, most holiday makers said they wouldnt stop coming to Egypt.

RESTAURANTS

We tried a few different restaurants this time, my favourite and is a recommendation is the POMADORO, clean toilets, and the food is fabulous, they dont try to hustle you in as its always packed, so it speaks for itself. We made friends with everyone, it is quite near to the Camel Bar. A 3 course meal with soft drinks and water cost us a total of £14.00.We also went to the Chinese in the mall over looking the balcony on the roof. Whatever you do here, dont order to much, they do huge portions and we couldnt eat all ours.Total cost £30, for a 2 course meal with soft drinks, coffee and water.

I wouldnt recommend the DANANEER, whoever recommended it on this board, i am sorry, i have to say it wasnt up to scratch. It wasnt full, there were 7 waitors all sweaty and whipping your plates away before you have finished. The air-conditioning was rubbish, it was the night it was 90 degrees, and it wasnt very comfortable either, because the tables for two had no leg room. My legs with a skirt on, had to go on the outside of the table, not impressed and the meal(steak) was lumpy and gristle.

SHOPPING

I went into a jeweler and bought a sappire and white gold cristal bracelet, just getting it valued. The shop is opposite to the Pomadoro restaurant, the single jeweller on its own on the corner. Fabulous man in there wasnt pushy, and was most helpful, i would go in their again.

You still get hassle, but not as bad as last year. But if you dont like hastle then book a differnt holiday, sorry, but its true

HOTEL SONESTA BEACH - for you Medot

I will do another report on this hotel asap, but just to say, half the hotel is empty due to being painter etc. We were in room 2302, it was a family room very slightly smaller to 1105 last year. So medot, paying the upgrade has got you the huge room i recommended last year. If booking at the Sonesta beach, ask for a double double family room for a £2 pd charge, over 2 weeks it would be £14. We were happy with our room because it was opposite what was the Italian ppol and has been painted, and the bathroom was a great improvement.

Do not take water in at the hotel at night, the security guard will search your carrier bags, we were. Buy the water in the day from the OOnas diver restaurant next door for 50p, take it in your ruck sack, they are not searched in the day.
There were hardly any Italians this year and more English.
As i said i will write more on my report later.

TUMMY UPSETS

I got big time after day 3 of my holiday, some advice........from your local pharmacy take with you over the counter medicines to include, Dioralite, buscopan for cramps. It works brill. Go to their pharmacy and just ask for antibiotic for tummy. Some used Streptoquinn.
The hotel has a Doctor, he will give you some medicine for tummy problems etc, you can make a offer on them, my friends said a quid or something ridiculous. I used Antinal, they are yellow tablets for the gut to stop infection. They have no side effects.
http://www.amoun.com/products/PROD_164%5Cantinal.htm


PASSPORT CONTROL AND VISAS

The airport has changed a lot from our last visit. You dont need visas if staying in sharm, join the queue as though getting a visa and they will stamp Sinai only. No problems there, and in and out in 5 mins.

Same going back, more security, but no problems.

All in all a great holiday, cant wait to go back.

Any questions please ask

Michelle xx

Ps.......World Cup on everywhere, we watched the first England game, the bus stop had the big screen up.