Winter warmer !!

A few days away catching winter sun, snorkelling in the famous Red sea, at 5 * level we thought.

Yes the 5* level is there, possibly only 3+ or 4* in America, UK etc. but the staff and locals cannot be beat for service with a  real smile.

Petra, relly needs 2 days.

Food better than I expected and was informed of prior to our trip. The fresh dates cannot be beat. first time I have tried them, usually the semi dried things we get at Xmastime, what a differance.

The only thing that was missing was 7 days of good strong sunshine. We did get the odd day or so of sun, but generally it came up in the morning and by lunchtime it had slunk off back to bed. Leaving us with a bright day, but could be breezy and cold,or just dull and warm.

We fancied snorkelling having lugged our gear over to Egypt, but only I went into the sea on the penultimate days afternoon. As it was too cold, too rough and windy or too rough. When I finally got in, it was still cold and breezy, but I was determined not to go all that way and not go in. The coral's were as described, simply brilliant. Just off the end of the Jetty too. I swam down tide a little, for 15 mins. But had to swim against the tide and wind which took a little longer getting back to the Jetty. Glad the wife didn't get in, may of been a little too strong for her.

The downside was, the flies. We spoke to one of the poolside staff about them. He said they usually spray the vicinity for them early am, late pm. But not whilst we were there, he thought the machine was been repaired.

As for meals, we went all half board, which meant that, we had breakfast and evening dinner in the specified restaurant. If we had our evening meal elsewher we were given a credit of between £2- £4 per person by way of a voucher. This pre arranged when booking your meal.

You can move freely between the 3 or 4 hotels situated in the Taba cluster. ( 2 more are been built now). Your vouchers are accepted at all these hotels, as is the newly built ''Tandoori Pub''.

This was newly opened Xmastime '05. So had plenty of teething problems, but the concept is good. Just don't expect the typical Brit Curry. ( Of which I don't anyway).

If you go out to Tab, Sharma and Hurgarda area's, please be aware that the items like Beer, Wine,Snacks, Water etc, are expensive. Alcohol by and large is not sold readily as it is a muslim country.

Take your own spirits from Duty free, far cheaper. You can ask some helpfull locals where it can be purchased, usually in port villages along the Red Sea. But be advised, take your Passports out with you at all times off the Hotel grounds. Egypt is security overkill, rightly so, without ever been offensive.

Finally our days out were to Jordan. A long day out  early am, to latish pm. We went to Jordan. brilliant, take good footwear and cardigan. Better still take 2 day trip if possible. Petra is too big for one day. We also went out Quad biking. Brilliant, kept having to stop for my wife to catch up, plodding along at 15 mph. All the gear included in the hired trip thruogh the desert ravines.

That said nothing much else to do, long trip to Cairo I suppose. boat trip, but why when all the fish and coral are 100ft off shore. Water sport abounds, but too cold on this visit.

As Arnie says... We'll be back.