Sharm El Sheik Safe?

[smurfchops]

Would it be a good idea to book a holiday here in September given the unrest at the moment or does this just affect the larger cities ?

[FredPuli43]

There were one or two terrorist incidents in Sharm a few years ago, but they were isolated events. The current troubles are of violence in big cities, far to the north, and represent a power struggle between rival factions. Sharm won't be affected by that. What's more, neither side wants to discourage tourism, a big source of revenue whoever wins, and vital to the country. Sharm exists entirely for tourism. So it is safe enough.

[meglet]

I would go. From memory Cairo is about as far away as London is to Edinburgh so there is no danger of being close to any disturbance and, as Fred says, Sharm is there solely for tourism so unrest is highly unlikely.

[smurfchops]

Not unrest in Sharm, there are problems in Egypt though. I remember the Movenpick bombing a few years ago but we have been to Sharm before and it is so lovely. I am sure we have nothing to worry about.

[FredPuli43]

We tend to be over cautious about countries. The only question is "Are they likely to shoot you?". The rest is a matter of judging the inconvenience. It may not improve your temper if you are barred by police or rioting from going to a particular site at will. Personally, I can live with that. The hotel prices become very negotiable, tourist areas are not full, the country and people are still the same, everything is aimed at prioritising the , very valuable, tourist's interests. I would not opt for going to Medelin (in Colombia) but I wouldn't stay in downtown Chicago, either.

And everything gets wildly exaggerated by the media. If there's a bomb in London, London isn't safe. If there's a riot in one place, the whole country isn't safe.

[EcclesCake]

I go regularly to Sharm and the only thing I've really noticed in the past year is that the hotels are doing really good deals as some travellers have been put off going.

After the attacks in Sharm a few year ago the big hotels take precautions and the shopping/entertainment areas are well protected by various measures.

I'm trying to negotiate a deal with a hotel for a visit in a few weeks time while I'm tinkering on here!

[meglet]

I was in Sharm a week before the Movenpick bombing but it didn't put me off going again. A few measures have been put in place since to minimise the risk of a car bomb. As others have said, if anything, you will get a better deal if other tourists are put off.

[FredPuli43]

Last time I was in Sharm, I saw two pieces of enhanced security. One was when the then President was whisked by in a motorcade, on his way to some international conference there; all the roads were shut while he passed by. The other was when we went on a tour into the desert. We had armed guards riding fore and aft. That turned out to be because, much to his embarrassment, one of our company was known to be one of the UK's top diplomats. The Egyptians weren't taking any chances of his being a target ! Neither is or was any cause for worry. I doubt whether you'll have a VIP; not denigrating your status, but the odds must be against it.

[boxtops]

I don't think so, zany - and you only have to watch the TV news today to see today's huge protests against the Government. I think tourist resorts in the south should be Ok though.

[pixie373]

My friend is literally just back from there. They had no problems

[DJHawkes]

the only danger to life and limb in sharm are the absolutely crap and unsafe dive boats that take tourists out diving and pretend to know what they are doing./

[Buenchico]

From the Foreign & Commonwealth website:
"The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai, with the exception of (i) the Red Sea Resorts including those in the entire region of Sharm el Sheikh . . . "

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

[mikey4444]

As I type, Egypt is just about to go into another civil war, or so it would seem from watching the news today.

Why take the chance and go to Sharm el Sheik ? Why not go to somewhere else instead ? Sicily would be wonderful in September. Lovely food, great excursions ( not may other places in Europe that you can go to see a real volcano ! )

Croatia is breathtakingly beautiful and much cheaper and nearer.

The list is endless.

[meglet]

Mikey, Sharm is popular as a scuba diving destination.

[naomi24]

Why Sharm?

[EcclesCake]

To be honest sun and diving is all Sharm has to offer, it has very little going for it apart from holiday bargains at the moment.......which I'm hoping to bag :-)

Civil unrest in the North doesn't concern me in the least.

[mikey4444]

Meglet...I am aware that it is a good venue for diving. I was merely pointing out that it may turn into a poor choice of holiday, if what is reported today comes about ::::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23133174

In third world countries like Egypt, this kind of thing is always a possibility.

[Zeuhl]

/Sicily would be wonderful in September. Lovely food, great excursions ( not may other places in Europe that you can go to see a real volcano ! )

Croatia is breathtakingly beautiful and much cheaper and nearer. /

The underwater flora and fauna in the Med or chilly Adriatic aren't a patch on the Red Sea which is the closest, rich Reef Diving we have.

I suppose Israel is an option but there are real bargains to be had in the egyptian resorts and no sign of trouble there in recent years