Hilton Sharks Bay - help!

[blondiesarah09]

I've got a few questions as i've never been to egypt before! I'll just bullet point to make it easier! hope people can help me as i'm a tad worried!

- Is the Hilton a good hotel to stay in? it is rated as no.1 at the min but thought i'd still ask if people have been there.
- Is there much aeroplane noise?
- I'm planning on going to see the pyramids do i need a visa?
- I'm going in June, will it be too hot? Does it get cool at night?
- Is it better to book trips before you go or wait until you get there? If better to book before where can i book them?
- I'm confused with the currency aswell!

I don't think theres anything else to ask! If anyone has got any other helpful little tips they will be much appreciated!!

Sarah

[williamro]

Originally Posted by blondiesarah09

I've got a few questions as i've never been to egypt before! I'll just bullet point to make it easier! hope people can help me as i'm a tad worried!

- Is the Hilton a good hotel to stay in? it is rated as no.1 at the min but thought i'd still ask if people have been there.
- Is there much aeroplane noise?
- I'm planning on going to see the pyramids do i need a visa?
- I'm going in June, will it be too hot? Does it get cool at night?
- Is it better to book trips before you go or wait until you get there? If better to book before where can i book them?
- I'm confused with the currency aswell!

I don't think theres anything else to ask! If anyone has got any other helpful little tips they will be much appreciated!!

Sarah

Helo Sarah

I copy below my recent report on Hilton Sharks Bay. As you will see we found to to be a very good hotel.

To answer your bullet points I would say as follows.

Yes

Very little especially if you opt for older part near the sea.

You need visa for pyramids. Buy on entry to Sharm at airport. Costs USD 15 but usually more in other currencies.

It will be hot in June and hot enough at night. Do Google search for Sharm temperatures. Swim with blouse or your back will get burnt if snorkelling for any length of time.

I would always book at resort where you can see what is on offer. See my report about Mustafa and mention my name if you book with him. He is an agent and does not run land tours himself. Most UK tour companies will book tours for you - see your rep at the hotel.

Currency. When you buy your visa at airport change, say £20, into Egyptian currency. You can pay for trips in USD or GBP and most shopkeepers will accept either but it is useful to have a small amont of Egptian pounds for small purchases, toilets, tips etc. You can use any surplus to buy cheap duty free at Airport on your return joureny and make up any shortfall with credit card or USD or GBP.

Hope this helps.

William 18/3/09



In late February early March 2009 we stayed for 12 days. Having previously stayed at Hilton Waterfalls and Holiday Inn Sultan Gardens which were good we considered this to be the best. We always want a good hotel with good house reef for snorkelling.



Location – very close to airport with easy transfers yet you are hardly aware of the airport noise. The hotel is on a very long thin site about 1 kilometre long which fronts on to the Red Sea and backs on to the airport boundary. The older part is near the sea and the newer part is near the airport. There is a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes round both parts to the beach.



Room – we asked for a room in the older part half way between beach and dining room and were very happy with our room on the first and top floor situated in a very well designed garden landscape with beautiful flowers and sea view. There was virtually no airport noise. We did walk up to the new part to look round but it is a much less attractive site and far from the sea with its own dining room that looks more like a works canteen. We did not see inside the rooms and they may be better but we were very happy with the standard of ours in the old section.



Food – there was a very good choice in the attractive dining room. Very good fresh fruit, tasty spices and sauces and not a hint of tummy problems. Service was very efficient and friendly. You could pick up unlimited free water bottles at any bar or restaurant.



Beach and Reef – there is a small sandy beach with pontoon to give access over reef to snorkelling. Several larger terraces with sunbeds and umbrellas a very short distance up steps from the beach where one could always find a sunbed at any time of day. As refreshment and snack bars were up the steps from the beach it was not important to be on the beach if you wanted swimming and refreshment as you had to walk a short way for both. Excellent snorkelling with a wide range of highly coloured fish. The reef has several islands which make exploring more interesting and you can swim to other adjoining hotels. The highlight of our swimming was that whilst snorkelling in bright daylight we saw a giant Moray Eel swimming freely out of its cave over light covered sand adjoining the reef which gave us an excellent view. It was blue/grey and beautiful about 2.5m long and swam for over one minute with its fins oscillating along its full length and body flexing back over itself. An unforgettable sight. We returned many times to the same area but never saw it again but did see blue spotted rays. Apart from all the usual rainbow characters we also saw Barracuda.

Trips – we did not book trips through the hotel or tour companies but instead found cheaper prices at Marina Divers which is situated about 300 metres from the hotel. Turn left out of reception into the main road and Marina Divers is on the opposite side of the street in a parade of shops. It has blue signage above and is located close to Concorde Hotel. Inside you should ask to speak to Mustafa who arranges road trips. He is not always there but the staff will get him on their phone for you to speak to him. We did a daytrip by minibus to St Catherine’s Monastery with included lunch in Dahab. It cost £45 for 2 persons. Marina Divers themselves specialise on sea trips and diving instruction and we booked with them for an introductory day of scuba and dived off the back of a boat near Tiran Island with a very good instructor called Saffi. Mustafa also came on this trip which left from the small harbour in Sharks Bay which meant we did not have to travel over 20 kilometres to Sharm harbour picking up people in many hotels on the way. This trip including instruction, equipment, minibus and boat trips with lunch and 3 stops for diving/snorkelling cost £110 for 2 persons. Mustafa can be contacted by calling in at Marina Divers or by email on rageh77 at hotmail.com.



Climate – we had one cloudy day with maximum of about 18C but otherwise it was sunny in the mid twenties but pullovers needed some evenings. Water was warm enough to snorkel for up to 30 minutes at a time but March/April would have been better.



A very good hotel if you want a quiet holiday on a beautiful site with good food, service and snorkelling. As in most Sharm hotels the nightlife was not wonderful but does include ethnic and belly dancing. For those seeking the bright lights there are minibuses or taxis to Naama Bay but if this is what you want you should stay nearer to Naama Bay. Taxis to airport can be caught outside the hotel for 10 USD of which driver pays 5 USD to airport security. Hotel will provide an airport car for 12 USD which is cheaper than getting a taxi at the airport which can cost about 20 USD.

[blondiesarah09]

That has helped very much. Can you pay by card in most places then? If i do go on trips i would like to take card to pay rather than lots of cash! I'm still a bit confused about the curreny though!

I'll just make sure i take $15 for the airport for visa!

cheers

[williamro]

Originally Posted by blondiesarah09

That has helped very much. Can you pay by card in most places then? If i do go on trips i would like to take card to pay rather than lots of cash! I'm still a bit confused about the curreny though!

I'll just make sure i take $15 for the airport for visa!

cheers

It is much chepaer to take cash and pay in sterling or USD. If you use card, card company will charge you high commssion. Check with card company. Do not buy Egyptian currency in UK. You will get much beter rate at airport in Sharm and elsewhere in Egypt. Many shops will take cards but not market stalls and probably not tour companies including your rep. Shops will give better deal for cash rather than for cards where they pay commission. Also cash can be hidden from taxman. At HSB all rooms have a safe where you can keep your cash.

[williamro]

Pay for trips in USD or £. No need to change to Egyptian

[williamro]

Originally Posted by blondiesarah09

That has helped very much. Can you pay by card in most places then? If i do go on trips i would like to take card to pay rather than lots of cash! I'm still a bit confused about the curreny though!

I'll just make sure i take $15 for the airport for visa!

cheers

How did you enjoy Sharks Bay Hilton?



Williamro