We are approaching September, but instead of buying school supplies many people are still reaching for their tanning oil. From early summer and all the way to the fall, beach-goers wait eagerly for the weekend to come, then pack their bags and hit the road. Try driving on the Cairo-Alexandria road on a Wednesday or a Thursday and you will be amazed by the number of cars, parked bumper to bumper, waiting to pass the toll station. Everyone is headed to the same destination: the North Coast or Al-Sahel. Thanks to the new Cairo-Alexandria freeway, the two-and-a-half-hour drive has never been easier. New overpasses have improved traffic flow and safety and the highway now has wider lanes and better lighting. Concrete barriers have been installed on both sides to lower the risk of accidents caused by pedestrians crossing the road. Just make sure you get to the toll station early, ahead of the beach-bound crowds. Regarding what to pack for Al-Sahel, the question on many women's minds, the answer is simple: matching items. “Match a different shade to different outfits, saving a lot of space for your other beach essentials,” says stylist Esraa Khaled. “Use your favourite white tank-top with different bottoms, or wear your cute black shorts with a different colourful top. Don't forget to accessorise when you are going out at night.” The North Coast is a string of seaside resorts east of Alexandria, which features marinas and beach access. The area can be reached by seven entrances: the Marina 2 and Marina 5 entrances take visitors to hotels and restaurants, as well as private villas; other entrances are only for private properties. The North Coast is not that different from Cairo when it comes to fashion. Strolling down the Porto Marina Promenade you will be in amazed by the parade of sparkly accessories, high heels, vivid make-up and, most importantly, luscious hair that doesn't seem to be affected by the high humidity. The miniature metropolis is overrun with thousands of children and teenagers. “You see dozens of them posing for Instagram or Twitter selfies everywhere you go, wearing their trademark rosary necklaces and showing off their Al-Sahel form,” says Khaled. For some the atmosphere can be a bit too much, and perhaps this is why some people prefer private beaches and lagoons to the crowded marina. When it first opened, La Plage was the place to be but over the past couple of years the private beach has begun to attract a new sort of crowd. This summer La Plage was replaced by Privé as the marina's newest hot spot. Privé provides its elite guests with a happy and relaxed ambiance all summer long, according to its Facebook page. One truly good thing about Marina this summer was the Beach, a private beach in Marina 5 that has all the right elements: excellent music, a wide selection of drinks, crystal clear waters, and a natural lagoon. People who don't have children or don't want to swim may not appreciate it, but for families with children the Beach is perfect. The kids can play close to hand without any risk of their being sucked away by the mighty Mediterranean tides, while their parents can enjoy some tanning time. When you are done with swimming and tanning, you may want to treat yourself to a professional skin care and makeup session by the world's number one make-up brand, L'Oreal, which is present at both the Beach and Privé. The staff at the Beach are so courteous, especially Hamdy, who will go the extra mile and then some more to make customers happy. The only negative point is that there is no parking area and you have to walk about 500 metres, quite a long way through sand, to reach the seashore. Both Privé and the Beach charge LE150 LE per person for entrance. Those who don't like Porto Marina can always try Marassi or La Hacienda. These are two of North Coast's most popular and newest compounds that have the best reputations. La Hacienda is 45 km from Porto Marina. It is smaller than Marina, quieter and more exclusive. Designed by famous architect Shehab Mazhar, the resort is all about tranquillity and has beautiful gardens. It is also home to Mince, a restaurant that makes the best burgers ever. Those who enjoy tanning on the beach can enjoy the famous Andrea Restaurant and a fashionable new addition to the area's nightlife, the 6 Degrees Beach Bar. Anyone who is anyone in Cairo can be seen at 6 Degrees on the weekend. The bar's music is great and its food is even better. Those wanting to drop by should be sure to make reservations at least a week ahead. La Hacienda is also home to the Nikki Beach Hotel, one of the world's best-known lifestyle brands, with branches in Miami, Cannes and St Tropez. This boutique hotel has 130 rooms, all with breath-taking pool and sea views, 60 glamorous villas and the signature Nikki spa and fitness facility. The six-star hotel also offers an exclusive range of services, including pick-up at the airport and a personalised in-room music selection. Another hot spot on the North Coast this summer is Marassi. Developed by Emaar Misr on Sidi Abdel-Rahman Bay, Marassi has given the entire area a facelift. The compound is home to three hotels: the Golf Hotel, the Beach Hotel and the Al-Alamein Hotel. Those looking for a new and exciting kind of party will find that Marassi is the place to be. Throughout the summer it offers party-goers and night-owls the chance to dance, drink and cut loose at a number of venues, including Nostalgia Nights, Natsu and the Turquaz Beach Club. While best known for its beaches and night life, Marassi is also home to some exquisite dining options: Ruby Tuesday, Mastaba, Lebanese Cafe Blanc and Smokery, one of the most exquisite seafood restaurants on the North Coast. La Bodega has also come all the way from Zamalek to Marassi to serve its usual mouth-watering signature plates and refreshing drinks. If you are the easily bored type, then head straight to the Lemon Tree, where the sun never goes down and where you will find a different menu every day. This restaurant also hosts a range of boho-chic parties every weekend. Last, but certainly not least, after a sweltering day at the beach what could be better than topping off the day with a Nola cupcake? Nola has also moved to the North Coast this summer, making sure that those who like cupcakes will get their daily dose of happiness. Nola has outlets in both Porto Marina and Diplomats' Resort. For those staying in Lotus Village, the nearest well-known resort to Marina, and wanting to treat themselves to the above-mentioned outings, nothing could be easier thanks to the Taxi Al-Sahel. This is a new, 24-hour service launched this summer. It provides North Coast-goers with a safe and GPS-tracked transportation service. Hadeer Shalabi, 24, along with her two partners, Ezzeddin and Noureddin Hussein, were behind the brilliant idea. Theirs is the only taxi service, and they take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their passengers. Along with the GPS tracking system, all their drivers take random drug tests and wear uniforms. Taxi Al-Sahel will take you anywhere you need to go, anytime of the day, from the North Coast. It can take you all the way to Cairo and back again. It means that young people can now go out more and stay out later knowing they will have a safe ride back home. As for the not-so-young nocturnal party-goers, the service will surely also come in handy to help them to not drink and drive. The service can be called directly using the By2ollak Smartphone application. With sea, sand, golf, extreme sports, beach massages and a hard-partying scene, the North Coast has it all and more. So pack your bags and enjoy what's left of summer.
