El Quseir is a small, dusty town one hour from Hurghada airport. The Flamenco Hotel 4* and at $35 per night single room , half board, is an amazing bargain! The pontoon to the reef edge is 250 metres long and the coral and fish are amazing. You can expect to see dolphins, turtles and eagle rays most days!2 dophins stayed for 15 minutes playing with me! Rooms are big and all face the sea. Camel riding, desert expeditions and trips to the town are all available.There is a good dive school with jeep trips to other reefs. Next door, and half a mile down the beach is the Movenpick Resort, 5* and highly recommended. There is a lovely beach, fantastic coral, wonderful food and service and again, a good dive school. In summer they have special rates, $50 B&B in a single room. There is always a good breeze so it is never too hot. A bit further down the coast Iberotel Coraya Bay is a spectacular hotel, beautifully arranged on a cliff top with spectacular views. The rooms and service are impressive but the water in the bay can become sandy and you need to be a good swimmer to reach the outer reef. This cost $40 per night. The fourth hotel I tried was Akassia Swiss Hotel which I cannot recommend! There is no pontoon over the reef and you cannot get into the sea - frustrating if you want to snorkel or dive!! Strangely, they have a wave pool - rather incongruous when, with a pontoon, you could swim in REAL waves!!It is also packed full of Italians who organise noisy and banal games on the beach all day! The restaurant is like a school canteen and just as noisy! I soon left! It is really easy to book all these hotels on the net and they will pick you up at the airport for a small charge. El Quseir is unspoilt by tourism and there are some fascinating old buildings in the town. The people are really friendly and welcome tourists. It is the REAL Egypt but will change fairly rapidly as tourism expands. Although there is a new airport at Marsa Alam, 25 miles from El Quseir, no planes fly there from UK - just Italy and Germany so far. I really recommend this area for families or anyone else - it is peaceful and serene but the underwater sights are spectacular.
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We go diving in Egypt up to twice a year and are going to Hurghada next month. I have been to Marsa Alam and done a liveaboard from El Quseir, but never stayed there. Brilliant about the dolphins! I have never managed to swim with them, although I have seen a lot on the dive boats.
shewhosmiles 31.08.2002 00:21
Your enthusiasm shows, it sounds really nice there.
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