Holiday to Egypt...

Egypt in August will be very hot - around the 40C mark. But there is usually a nice breeze in the red sea resorts.

Sickness - usually caused by handling the money and not washing hands properly before eating.

We went to Luxor and did a nile cruise in August. We only did a week but it was amazing - went from Luxor to Aswan Dam and back. Took a day trip to Abu Simbel which was great.

Most people did a second week at a red sea resort - and tagged on trip to Cairo for the pyramids. However, it was incredibly hot. So hot that most of our trips started out at 4am so we were back on board mid morning.

However, it was cheaper to go and less crowded if you can stand the heat.

TG

I went to Egypt last June for my honeymoon and really didn't enjoy it. (I think that was more down to the hotel - very poor)

It was 54C some days and it is a dry heat which can be very uncomfortable. We stayed in Sharm el Sheikh, so by the sea and this didn't make any difference to the temperature.

Myself nor H were ill during our stay, but we were very careful about what we ate and drank and were constantly washing our hands / using anti bac lotions.

I have seen the things in Egypt I wanted to see Pyramids and the mummies etc. I certainly wouldn't go again, unless to go diving. It wasn't a fab holiday to me.

This said, I do know people who have been on several occasions and love it - please don't let me put you off!

Ditto what Alison said about the heat. We went in April, and it was pretty warm then.

Luxor isn't anywhere near the pyramids. It'll be a bit of a journey to get to Cairo from Luxor. Luxor is next to the Nile, and not too far from Valley of the Kings/ Valley of the Queens etc. so there's lots to do. However, I'm not sure I'd want to do that in the summer heat.

We also had stomach ailments, which were sorted out very quickly after a trip to the local pharmacy. The stuff you can get in Egypt is much stronger than stuff you can get in the UK.

MMmmmmm think the heat would be too hot for me...went to Italy last summer and that was hot enough!

I couldn't think of anything worse than being inside the smelly hot pyramids in the middle of August. If you want to see them maybe a later time of year would be best to avoid the heat. We went to Sharm in November a few years back. Horrible hotel, horrible beach, poor diving visibility most days and food poisoning.

It was over 50 celsius when I was there last July- if you sit in the shade in an exposed, breezy area it is mostly fine. You would have to have ascew loose however to consider sunbathing in that kind of climate at that time of year. I had a wonderful holiday, but I was there to windsurf (covered in full protective clothing and face and hands and feet covered in prosports factor 50) and do a yoga course, so the heat didn't really interfere with my plans oto much. I did get dysentery, but hey ho, it goes away in a week or two- actually, I believe it goes away in a day if you get the correct anti-virals but I went straight back to work (albeit mostly form home) and didn't see a doctor for over a week . I wasn't sick (the problem made its way through the alternative exit route ?) but I'd say if you really are phobic of D&V then you should consider whether 'exotic' holidays are really for you. That said, the worst D&V I've had in my life i picked up in lasgow, and second place goes to cannes.

Nile cruise with 3 day stop-over in Cairo in May - the only way to see the sights. Even then it was pushing 40 most days.

We stayed pretty disease free for 10 days, but G&T did befoul the lobby facilities at the Sheraton quite badly on our last morning. It's not what I'd call a "clean" country.

We went to Luxor at Christmas for a week and had a great time. The food is fine, as long as you are sensible. We did all the sites but also were able to spend time sunbathing around the hotel pool - it was warm enough.

I have been to Eqypt a few times now - first holiday there was four nights in Cairo, then fly to Aswan and cruise up to Luxor - great holiday.

There is no way I would go in the summer though. Valley of the Kings was hot enough for me at Christmas.

We went to El Gouna in September, a very nice exclusive resort, we stayed in the movenpick hotel, but previously have stayed in the sheritdon, both lovely 5* hotels(actually feel like a 5* too!). My H2B was in hospital for a night with the lovely tummy bug, but he is always ill!! Was fine as soon as he got the drugs in him, i was more of a mess panicing!! I was fine, just hot! We didn't do the pyramids or tombs as they were a 5 hour drive in each direction, and we didnt fanct that! It was still around 45 degrees and that was in sept. There was a little breeze! I've never spend so much time in the pool and not sun bathing!! x

We went in June/July 2005 when I was on LighterLife, and even though it was well over 50 degrees, I was actually cold!! That just shows how fcuked up that diet was for my body lol.

We stayed in Luxor and did everything in that 2 weeks so we'd not have to go back again. A 3 day Nile cruise, a day flight to Cairo to the Pyramids (it wasn't hot inside the Pyramids - if anything, it was cold), tours all around The Valley of the Kings, a 4 am balloon flight ... gosh, we took in so much we were on the go nearly every day. Mr P didn't want to go, but we were invited to join friends and I'd always wanted to go, so managed to persuade him ?

I didn't get sick, but he did. Badly. The tour guide on the cruise gave him something that was so strong, he was better 2 days later.

We went last Chrstmas and New Year (2007/08). We were based in El Gouna - gorgeous resort and did a 48 hours trip where we flew to Cairo, did sights there andthen flew to Luxor where we did the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple (where we met Tony Blair of all people!). Then took the 4 hour coach back.

We where there in total 2 weeks, had a great time and even went into the desert to see the local tribe and eat their food. No stomach problems for any of us. However I make sure that we have always got bottle water on us, I even make sure all of us clean our teeth with bottled water and we don't drink alcohol either. Stomach bugs are often caused by dehydration due to the over-indulgance of alcohol and too much sun!

We really enjoyed it and would consider going back, although not at christmas as El Gouna wasn;t really hot enough and it was dark by 3pm.

You're quite right, and in a club 18-30 type scenario I would agree. I'd also add that strongly flavoured food and things like strong coffee (e.g. in turkey or the middle east) can be terrible culprits for setting off a very unwell bottom. However, the vast majority of Egyptian bugs are caused by amoeabas or flatworms which I'd imagine don't come from smirnoff. ?

I went to Sharm last March and the weather was beautiful. Quite chilly in the evenings which was nice, and baking in the day. Perfect for me.

Didn't pick up any tummy bugs, but never went to Cairo <shudder>

Hi Sparkletoes,

We went to El Gouna in April and also stayed at the Movenpick, which I would really recommend! We found it hot enough TBH, though the evenings were cooler (needed a jumper). We were only there for a week but did a day trip to Luxor which was truly amazing. Long, long journey there and back but totally worth it. I hadn't thought we'd sightsee but being in the Valley of the Kings was a wonderful moment.

I was completely obsessed with not getting a tummy bug (ate bread rolls with a knife and fork, brushed teeth with bottled water etc). However, I did get a tummy bug (no sickness) and it really wasn't too bad. My H, on the other hand, wasn't bothered at all about what he ate/drank and was well all week! Our rep gave us the name of an Egyptian medicine which we got from the pharmacy and it cleared up in a day.

If you do go and you do get a tummy bug, don't bother with UK medication - just get to an Egyptian pharmacy and they'll sort you out!

We had a fantastic week and I would definitely like to go again.

Katy

My daughters and I went to Egypt end of July, beginning of August. We had two days in Cairo (Pyramids, Egyptian Museum etc) and then a week's Nile cruise. It was the best holiday ever!! It was very hot but we found it easily bearable, the only day we found it a bit uncomfortable was when we went to the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Mortuary temple but the sights were so amazing it was worth every drop of sweat! Most people stayed on the boat (ship?) when we stopped at Luxor and Aswan but we put on our long cotton skirts and kaftan tops, so as not to attract unwanted male attention, and walked everywhere - some of the Egyptian taxi drivers called us the Mad English Women who Walk! - and saw lots more than anyone else, never got too hot (carried bottled water with us) and only got hassled in the usual "come into my shop and buy" sort of way.

Also we none of us got tummy bugs of any sort and tbh weren't all that careful, just the usual drinking bottled water and cleaning teeth in ditto. Never thought of washing hands after handling money!

I went on holiday to Hurghada last February, and it was about 25C during the sea, had a fantastic time.

I did several stop overs in Sharm el Shiekh during June, July and August, temperatures were very hot, but very dry.

Food wise on both the holiday and nightstops I never had any problems with the food. Although as cabin crew it was apparant a lot of people did suffer with food problems, especially on the return flights. Advice is to make sure you keep your fluids up, and salts too. Don`t eat anything you aren`t sure you is safe, but there is plenty of variety.

<Crash> Sorry to crash but H and and I have been talking about going to Egypt at Easter. We aren't bothered about sunbathing or beaches but do want to see as much as we can of the sights and history.

Can anyone recommend a tour company that they have been with, I've found a few but am not sure if they are good are not. Ideally we'd like to do a short cruise to take in all the main things and then a few days in Cairo to see the pyramids and museums.

TIA

We went with Kuoni and were very pleased with the experience.

If you're budget is a bit higher then check out Voyages Jules Verne:

https://www.vjv.com/destinations/africa/egypt/

We have been with Voyages Jules Verne (7 day trip including Cairo (incl day trip to Alexandria), then Nile cruise). Would definitely recommend VJV.