My partner loves snorkelling, and we'd been promising ourselves a Red Sea holiday for some time, but only with the recent opening of Taba Airport (removing the need to travel via Israel) did we think it worth choosing Taba, which was until the 1980s 'Occupied Territory', rather than Smarm or ... Read review
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Advantages: Sun, sand and snorkelling Disadvantages: Not the place for lovers of shopping & entertainment
...we think it worth choosing Taba, which was until the 1980s 'Occupied Territory', rather than Smarm or Hurghada.
I knew that Taba Heights was an artificial green resort set down in the desert with no 'real' towns or villages anywhere nearby before | went, and it is vital to book any holdiay there knowing exactly what to expect. I also knew that the point, as far as the Egyptians were concerned, was to keep tourism (which their desperately ... ...defensible, and unlikely to provoke the wrath of conservative Egyptians. It's vital to be the kind of person who can generate your own amusement. We took loads of books, a kettle, snorkelling and gym kit, water colours, and a large bottle of rum!
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency 5* hotel on a half board basis. The Hyatt turned out to be quite a magical place. The architecture contrived to turn what was a very large hotel into something ... more
My partner loves snorkelling, and we'd been promising ourselves a Red Sea holiday for some time, but only with the recent opening of Taba Airport (removing the need to travel via Israel) did we think it worth choosing Taba, which was until the 1980s 'Occupied Territory', rather than Smarm or Hurghada.
I knew that Taba Heights was an artificial green resort set down in the desert with no 'real' towns or villages anywhere nearby before | went, and it is vital to book any holdiay there knowing exactly what to expect. I also knew that the point, as far as the Egyptians were concerned, was to keep tourism (which their desperately poor economy needs) corralled in a place that was secure, defensible, and unlikely to provoke the wrath of conservative Egyptians. It's vital to be the kind of person who can generate your own amusement. We took loads of books, a kettle, snorkelling and gym kit, water colours, and a large bottle of rum!
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency 5* hotel on a half board basis. The Hyatt turned out to be quite a magical place. The architecture contrived to turn what was a very large hotel into something small scale and intimate, with something different around every corner. At night it looked like the lost city of Atlantis from certain vantage points. The mixture of vernacular, modernist and pharoanic architectural influences was stunning. My partner said it reminded him, oddly, of Portmeirion in Wales, and I could see what he meant. It would be a great place to shoot the remake of The Prisoner!
The really high temperatures of summer had passed by last week, although it was still very (but not intolerably) hot, but even so, it was essential to drink many litres of water each day. Most stomach upsets are triggered by dehydration, and the moment you feel thirsty, you are already seriously dehydrated. For me the holiday turned into an accidental health spa. There was actually a mini-spa at the hotel, as well as a filtered seawater lagoon amongst the endless swimming pools, but the health aspect came from the weather, which made me drink less alcohol and more water than I would have done at home, and the exercise, as I ran about 6K in the gym every day. I also read a lot and became mildly addicted to cheesy Arabic pop videos!
The highlight, undoubtedly, is the Red Sea itself. The Hyatt has a large, uncrowded private beach with waiter service from the bar. The coral reef makes it impossible to swim out from the shore into deeper water, but there is a jetty which crosses the reef, and from which you can lower yourself into the sea. But even standing on the jetty, you can look down into the sea and within seconds you will see amazing fish. Shoals of tiny irredescent fish; huge black fish banded in vivid day-glo yellow; large turquoise and orange creatures, even giant clams.
The food was from a buffet, but the choice was fine, with breakfast particularly good. I loved the 'ful', unappetisingly described as 'stewed brown beans' for breakfast, whilst my partner took to the Egyptian porridge with cinnamon. There were also freshly cooked eggs, waffles, fruit, and the 'full works', plus masses of just squeezed orange and guava juice.
As we were there for only a week, and we've been to Egypt before, we didn't take up the offer of tours, e.g. to Cairo, although I was very tempted by the idea of Jerusalem. But we did do a day trip to Dahab, which was really interesting. Seeing the developing coastline and the desert was a treat in itself, the stop at a Bedouin 'motorway cafe' was surreal, and Dahab itself was a mad hippy surfer enclave where kite surfing Aussies were to be found next to Egyptian women beating carpets in the sea. I even saw a cat eating a courgette with some gusto! Dahab's also a bit of 'real Egypt' set in a militarised tourist ghetto, and great for shopping.
A final note. I was really proud of the Brits on holiday. The middle easterners there, both middle class Arabs and Israelis, were pretty rude to the hotel staff where they could be bothered to notice them at all. The Italians weren't much better. The Brits, on the other hand, were polite, friendly, charming and cultured, and in a volatile part of the world, that's the kind of ambassadorship we really need.
Advantages: Sun, sea, sand, relaxation Disadvantages: Food, entertainment
...to go. We decided on Taba, we hadn't heard much about it, but we didn't want to go somewhere to touristy and we were advised that this wasn't. We went in September and got a particually good deal on our holiday, half board for two weeks.
So after months of waiting it was finally time to go. We were flying with excel, a company neither of us had flown with before or heard of either. The flight took us about 5hrs, there were two films shown, Just ... ...be bought £2.50, we had puzzle books to keep us amused though. A meal was given,which was not great, some kind of chicken and rice and sauce, you also got a bread roll, cracker, cream cheese and a drink.
When we landed in Taba it was already evening so you couldn't see anything when you flew over.After getting the most pointless bus from the plane to the building which was within easy walking distance we had to buy our visa. This costs £15 and is ...
ben27 11.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taba, Egypt
Advantages: Guaranteed sunshine. The private beach is safe, clean and half empty and the staff are lovely. Disadvantages: The dreaded Pharoah's curse! I didn't meet anyone who had not suffered from a stomach upset.
Perhaps when you are in the first throws of a new relationship, there is very little a luxury holiday abroad can do to wipe the smile off your face. Maybe my boyfriend and I were both so tired that we were floating around on cloud nine without even realising it. However I prefer to think that our week at the four star SAS Radisson Hotel in Taba Heights seemed perfect to us simply because it was.
The hotel is one of only four in Taba which is an ... ...just south of Eilat. It's position makes it convenient for day trips to Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and the reps are keen to emphasise that these are safe to do but you will spend a good few hours getting through the borders and it just doesn't seem worth it when you're only on holiday for a week.
There are mountains everywhere you look which may not be to everyone's taste but if you are fed up with city life and the idea of lying on a beach ...
VanillaSpy 18.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taba, Egypt
Advantages: Bargain holidays available at 4 and 5 star hotels Disadvantages: None
...the Red Sea resort of Taba, in Egypt, with my partner, in February 2004. We went with Longwood travel, and booked through Ezy Travel which was the cheapest travel agent by far, run by two Egyptian brothers who really know their stuff (you can find them on teletext). We paid £585 each for two weeks at the Radisson, a 5 star hotel, on an all-inclusive basis, which is a bargain in anyone's money!
We flew to the new airport at Taba Heights. From there ... ...hotel. Taba is very close to the Israeli border and some airlines fly into Ovda, but I wouldn't recommend it. Not only is there a 2 hour transfer, but it involves a border crossing which can take between one and two hours - longer on a bad day. Suffice to say that there is not much co-operation between the Israeli side and the Egyptian side.
If, like me, all you want is a relaxing holiday with nothing to do but laze in the sun, snorkel along the ...
AnneMarieIsted 26.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taba, Egypt
Advantages: Sun, warmth & beautiful seas Disadvantages: Flying in to Taba "International" airport
A truly lovely and fantastically friendly resort, you can't get much better than this in South Sinai. My son and I travelled there in July 2004 for two weeks and had a wonderful time.
You could not wish to meet more friendly staff and they just adore children. They don't hover around expecting tips and the grounds are kept immaculate; beautiful date trees drooping with heavy fruit, beautiful flowers and grass - yes, in the Sinai desert.
There are ... ...which we always found too hot even in the evening - and an a la carte restaurant. The food was always exceptional and they had varied menus, taking a different theme each night. My favourite was "Egyptian night!"
The service was 5*++ at the restaurants and bars (three bars - beach, pool and main reception area) and at the pool bar you were waited on hand and foot. Service was discreet but highly attentive. You will be will looked after by your housekeeper ...
moonpoppy 15.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taba, Egypt
Advantages: quiet relaxing break Disadvantages: no where to go in the evenings really so need more entertainment in the hotel
We went to taba in the easter break 2005 ,we landed at taba airport and had about a 45minute drive to the hotel ,and at first i thought what a building site as we drove through the mountain area ,but when we reached our hotel it was out of this world true 5 star luxury .please note security is very intense and a little off putting at first but is for your own good and you do get used to it guards are even located at the boundaries of all the hotels ... ...is one of only a handful in taba heights all mainly 5star like the sofitel and hyatt regancy and all situated on the beach of the red sea you really are isolated ,this is the perfect holiday to just chill and relax you really are isolated no shops or roads to walk down just the beach front .you can get a bus on the hour everyday to water park for boat trips and parasailing which is great so give it a go !and you can eat there and the bus will bring ...
packer2 31.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Taba, Egypt
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Advantages: Beautiful setting, clean hotel Disadvantages: Entertainment was poor
deserved to be rated as a 5 star!
The rooms were large, I shared with a friend and we had a double bed each. Also in the room was a fridge, a tv, plenty of storage place for clothes, a table and chairs and a storage space designed for suitcases, which was very useful as it kept them out the way. The rooms had large bathrooms, with a full size bath and regular hot water. You also got free Sky Tv out there which was useful between 4-6 when the sun has gone down but it was too early for dinner.
I really would recomend the hotel to anyone wanting a relaxing holiday, however, if you were looking to see the sights of Egypt then you would probabaly be better going to Sharm as in Taba you are quite a long journey from the main sights of Egypt. ...
Advantages: Sheer luxury at an affordable price Disadvantages: In the middle of nowhere
This is a wonderful hotel at the Red Sea resort of Taba, in Egypt. The hotel is literally in the middle of nowhere, so there is nothing to do but relax in the sun, swim in the pool, eat, drink and be pampered. And this is the place to do it.
I stayed on an all-inclusive basis in February 2004. The staff were very courteous and helpful. The food was excellent, and the cleanliness throughout the hotel could not be faulted.
The towels and bed linen were changed every day. If we took a shower during the day, the towels were changed again.
The entertainment was poor, but by the time we'd enjoyed a long leisurely meal over a few glasses of wine, we were happy to sip a coffee on the terrace before taking a stroll along the beach, then retiring.
The hotel is on a lovely stretch of beach which is kept loevly and clean. The sea ...
Advantages: clear warm water and unspoilt corals Disadvantages: diving in the canaries just won't be the same again
I am still a "new diver" having only qualified 12 months ago in the cloudy murk of Stoney Cove, Leicestershire.
My husband doesn't share my passion for neoprene and nitrox so family holidays are a juggling act to keep him, me and my 12 year old daughter happy. We have managed this so far by holidaying in the Canaries but I was fed up of hearing how wonderful the Red Sea was, from my Buddies at Northampton Sub Aqua and decided I had to see for myself.
Having decided that we thought Sharm may be too busy for us we settled on a week at The Hilton Hotel, Taba. (Direct flight 5 hours) The only problem was that no one seemed to have heard of it! Taba is situated on the Sinai Peninsula right on the border with Israel. The scene at night is amazing, you can see Saudia Arabia, Jordan and Israel spread out infront of you.
The Hilton Hotel ...
