British "stranded" At Sharm El-Sheikh

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk

Why can't the package holiday airlines take these Brits on a bus to Cairo Airport, and fly them home from there ? There isn't any restrictions for British planes to go to Cairo is there ?

[Jackdaw33]

I'm sorry, but try as I might I cannot evoke any sympathy for those who, despite all the evidence, insist on taking their holidays in Muslim countries.

[naomi24]

Mikey, you have no idea of the terrain. A journey by road to Cairo airport involves a trek of several hundreds of miles across a barren desert inhabited in the main only by Bedouin and terrorist factions. I told you this morning, Sinai is a dangerous place.

[mikey4444]

I agree Jack...its Tunisia all over again.

[mikey4444]

Naomi....as Jack has just said...if the Sinai is such a dangerous place, why are so many Brits so keen to go on holiday there ? Where will the next Thompson's destination be...North Korea ?

There have been serious attacks on Sharm in the past, but some people never seem to learn.

[naomi24]

Mikey, Sharm is a town on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula built specially for tourists - and it's a good resort with good facilities, good diving, and plenty of sunshine. The old town of Sharm, a filthy place, that most tourists are blissfully unaware of, is a few miles down the road. Between Sharm and northern Sinai there is nothing but desert. You wouldn't want to make the journey from Sharm to Cairo in a bus - especially in the present climate - and I'm not talking about the weather.

[sandyRoe]

You would wonder why anyone would pick so dangerous a region for their holiday. Do some people not read the papers or watch TV news?

[EcclesCake]

Mikey, you seem to be under the misapprehension that there is a Welcome Break service station every 50 miles or so........you are so far wrong.

It is a long and uncomfortable journey only taken by bus by those who cannot afford to fly.

[naomi24]

//you seem to be under the misapprehension that there is a Welcome Break service station every 50 miles or so//

Exactly the impression I got. :o)

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, the town of Sharm is generally safe. Yes, incidents have occurred - but then incidents have occurred elsewhere.... London for example. However, the whole climate has now changed and I think many people really will think twice about going there.

[sandyRoe]

Wasn't Moses lost in the wilderness there for some 40 years?

[bhg481]

I don't think he was looking for a "Welcome Break" though.

[mikey4444]

No, I don't think they can do sandy.

But here again, we have whinging and whining British tourists complaining that they have to spend another couple of days in a resort, that perhaps they shouldn't have gone to in the first place !

[naomi24]

He was indeed - but I don't believe he visited Sharm.

[naomi24]

^That was to sandyRoe.

[sandyRoe]

I think it was about 10 years since hotels were bombed there. While that's a long time the political climate in the region has got worst, if anything.

[mushroom25]

//we have whinging and whining British tourists complaining that they have to spend another couple of days in a resort, that perhaps they shouldn't have gone to in the first place ! //

are these people having to fund their enforced hotel stays themselves? there are reports of tourists not being able to return to their holiday accommodation because "it's too expensive". in which case, what's the attitude of insurers in such circumstances?

[ichkeria]

It seems a bit unfair to blame the tourists!
On the other hand it also seems a bit ungrateful to be whinging, but then I'm not stuck out there.

Wasn't the airport manager sacked? There seems to be a bit of a panic going on about security, and if the worst happened - again - everyone would be complaining that the airport should have been closed.

[naomi24]

Mikey, //we have whinging and whining British tourists complaining that they have to spend another couple of days in a resort//

People are understandably afraid. Surely you can understand that? No?

[hc4361]

People also need to get home to meet their obligations - work, appointments and so on

[mikey4444]

Yes, of course I can Naomi. But my point, which is echoed by others on here today is that perhaps they should have given their choice of holiday destination just a little more thought and consideration in the first place.