Choosing a destination for your summer vacation is easy. Tailoring your expenses to your budget, however, is the most challenging step. Rehab Saad helps you plan It's summer time again and most people are now planning their vacations at a seaside resort. Some would prefer the Mediterranean: Alexandria, Port Said and Marsa Matrouh. Others would select Red Sea cities like Ain Al-Sukhna, Hurghada, El-Gouna, and Marsa Alam or south Sinai resorts in Sharm El-Sheikh, Nuweiba, and Taba. Most of these destinations offer holiday-makers excellent facilities: deluxe hotels, fine resorts, entertainment, in addition to long stretched beaches, smog-free sea breeze, azure waters and, in the Red Sea and Sinai, the wondrous world of coral reefs. So the resorts are great, the facilities are incomparable and the weather is fine, but there is still one major problem -- money. How much money would you be willing to pay for your accommodation, food and entertainment? Some might think that there are "expensive" destinations in Egypt that cater only for a certain calibre of holiday-makers whereas there are other "reasonable and cheap" destinations for the less well-healed. This is, however, untrue. In each destination there are expensive, mid-range and budget facilities. In Sharm El-Sheikh, for example, which is considered by some to be the most expensive resort, there are some hotels that offer rooms at LE350 per person per night, while others will cost you less than LE100 per person per night. In Alexandria, which is considered one of the most affordable destinations in Egypt, some hotels are more expensive than those of Sharm El-Sheikh, while others offer rooms for only LE50 per person per night. The same applies to most of the destinations all over Egypt. Thus you are the one to decide on the resort hotel that suits your budget, whatever your destination is. August, rather than April, is "the cruelest month" as far as resort hotel rates are concerned. In most of the resort hotels in Egypt, rates in August soar LE50-LE70 above the usual rate. So my advice is to try to book your vacation before August, or to wait till September or October, if you can, when prices go back to normal. So decide first on where you want to go, whether overlooking the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal or the Red Sea, then count the money you have in your pocket and select what suits your budget. Here is Al-Ahram Weekly 's guide for travellers to the best summer deals in Egypt. To suite your search to your budget, the guide is divided into mid- range room rates (LE100-LE150) per person per night, high mid-range room rates (LE150-LE250), high-range rates (over LE250) and low-range rates (less than LE100). All rates are per person per night inclusive of service charge and taxes, and are valid only for Egyptians and foreign residents. MID-RANGE RATES (LE100-LE150 PER NIGHT): There are several options for those who plan to spend from LE100 to LE150 per night. There are good deals in El-Gouna, Soma Bay, Ain Al-Sukhna on the Red Sea, Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba and Ras Sedr in south Sinai in addition to Alexandria and Port Said on the Mediterranean and Fayed and Abu Sultan on the Suez Canal. Sheraton Miramar in El-Gouna (+2065) 545 606), 20 kilometres north of Hurghada, offers a night for LE150 per person in a double room, on a bed and breakfast basis. Rates are valid for June and July. In August, a supplement of LE30 is added per person per night. Children under 12 stay in the hotel free of charge, for a maximum of two children. Children aged six to 12 years will pay 50 per cent of the adult's rate for meals. Children above 12 are charged adult rates. On the other hand, the three-star Sultan Bey (+2065) 580 077), offers a night for only LE145 per person on half-board basis (breakfast and dinner). There is an interesting deal on offer here: if you book three nights you will get the fourth free and if you book five you will get two free nights. The same deal of the free nights applies in Dawar Al-Omda (+2065) 580 064). However, Dawar Al-Omda offers a night for a cheaper rate: LE135 per person on half-board basis. In both hotels children under six receive accommodation free of charge. Those from six to 12 are charged LE40 per room per night on half-board basis. If you choose Sharm El-Sheikh as your destination for summer vacation, you have to consider the offer of Sonesta Beach Resort and Casino (+2069) 600 725) that offers double rooms for LE150 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis. The offer includes a welcome drink upon arrival, one-hour of tennis, and late check out. Children up to 12 years receive accommodation free of charge, if sharing the parent's room. On the other hand, Sonesta Club (+2069) 601 280) offers one night for LE125 per person in a double room on bed and breakfast basis. The offer includes the same facilities as those of Sonesta Beach Resort and children's policy is the same. Domina Nuweiba (+2069) 500 401) in the serene city of Nuweiba in south Sinai offers a real bargain as double rooms are sold for LE110 per person per night on a half-board basis. Children under six receive accommodation free of charge, whereas LE40 per night on half-board basis is chraged for children between six and 12 have to pay Taba Heights Sofitel in the border city of Taba offers double rooms for LE130 per person per night on a half- board basis. All rooms are sea-view rooms. Children up to 12 receive accommodation free, if sharing the parents' room. Ras Sedr, overlooking the Gulf of Suez, has two offers: one by Moon Beach Resort (+202) 760 4050) that offers one night for LE125 per person in a double room on a half-board basis. The other is by Nozha Hotel (+2069) 380 888) that offers the night for LE120 per person in a double room on a half-board basis. Children under six in both hotels are free of charge whereas those between six and 12 have to pay LE40 for their meals (in case of Moon Beach) and 50 per cent of the adult's meals (in case of Nozha). The three-star Mena Oasis hotel (+202) 290 6162) in Ain Al-Sukhna on the Red Sea offers doubles for LE112 per person per night on half- board basis. For a sea-view room you have to pay an extra of LE15 per room. For a suite you have to pay a supplement of LE40 per suite. Those who prefer to spend their vacation in a resort closer to Cairo could choose either the offer of the four-star Palma Abu Sultan Village (+2064) 400 421) in Abu Sultan, on the Suez Canal, that offers double rooms for LE150 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis or the three-star Shamousa Village in Fayed that offers doubles for only LE120 per person per night on a half-board basis. The three-star Regency Home (+203) 557 1547) in Miami Beach in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, offers double rooms for LE120 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Sea-view rooms are for LE175 per person per night. In Port Said there is a budget deal on offer from the five-star Helnan Port Said Hotel (+2066) 320 890), where double rooms are offered for LE125 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. Emeco travel agency (+202) 574 9360) offers a number of deals in various resorts in Egypt. It offers, for example, packages to Marriott Hurghada Resort for LE140 per person in a double room on a bed and breakfast basis, in addition to the Steingberger Taba Hotel that offers a night for LE130 per person in a double room on a half- board basis. It also offers packages in Sama Al-Arish Village in Arish in north Sinai for LE100 per person per night in a double room on a half-board basis. HIGH MID-RANGE ROOM RATES (LE150-LE250): There are many resorts of this kind in Ain Al-Sukhna, Marsa Alam, El-Gouna, Makadi Bay on the Red Sea, Sharm El-Sheikh and Taba in south Sinai and Alexandria on the Mediterranean. The luxurious El-Gouna Mövenpick Resort (+2065) 544 501) in El-Gouna offers double rooms for LE215 per person per night on half-board basis during June and July. In August the rate rises to LE240 per person per night. A cheaper deal is offered by Steigenberger Golf Resort (+2065) 580 140) where a night in June and July costs each person LE200 in a double room on a half-board basis. In August a supplement of LE15 is added to the rate per room. Children under six go free. Those aged between six and 12 have to pay LE60 per day. Children over 12 have to pay the full adult rate. On the other hand, the three-star Rihana Resort (+2065) 580 025) offers double rooms for LE170 per person per night on a half-board basis. Children under six go free and those aged from six to 14 receive a 50 per cent discount off the rate of a person in a double room. The five-star Iberotel Makadi Oasis (+2065) 590 050) in Hurghada offers nights for LE205 per person in a double room on an all-inclusive basis. All-inclusive means that guests can eat and drink as much as they wish all day without paying any extras. The three-star Shedwan Golden Beach (+2065) 547 044), on the other hand, offers doubles for LE170 per person per night on a half- board basis. In Ain Al-Sukhna on the Red Sea, Stella Di Mare Resort (+2062) 250 100) offers one night for LE235 per person in a double room during week days and for LE275 in weekends. The offer is restricted to sea- and pool-view rooms. Emeco has an attractive three-day package to Acacia Resort in Marsa Alam where a holiday- maker would pay LE175 per night on a half- board basis. If you are a Sharm El-Sheikh fan, you can consider the offer of Iberotel Grand Sharm Hotel (+2069) 663 800) on Um Al-Sid Hill. You can have a double room for LE180 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. This rate is valid until mid-July. Starting from 17 July until the end of August room rate will jump to LE270 per person per night. The Ritz Carlton Hotel (+2069) 661 919), on the other hand, offers double pool and garden rooms for LE175 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis. A sea-view room will cost LE225 per person. Sofitel Sharm El-Sheikh (+2069) 600 081) on Neama Bay also offers the same room rate, namely, LE175 per person in a double room per night until mid-July. From 17 July until the end of August the rate will be LE270 per person per night. A cheaper deal is offered by Ghazala Gardens Hotel (+2069) 601890) that offers a night in a double room in July for LE160 per person on a bed and breakfast basis. In August the rate will be LE190 per person. For a quieter and less expensive holiday, you could take Taba into consideration. It offers worthwhile deals, all on a half-board basis. Hilton Taba (+069) 530 140) offers during June and July double rooms for LE155 per person per night; sea-view rooms for LE170 and chalets (more spacious than ordinary rooms in Hilton Village) for LE180. In August, a supplement of LE40 will be added per room. Hyatt Regency Hotel (+2069) 580 234) offers deluxe rooms during June and July for LE150 per person per night and sea-view rooms for LE175. In August, a supplement of LE50 is added. The first child goes free, the second has to pay LE45 per night. In order to get the best rate of Taba Heights Marriott (+2069) 580 100), you have to book your room before 13 July. Before that date you can get a double garden-view room for LE140 per person per night. For a sea-view room you have to pay an extra of LE20 per room and for a beach-front view LE40 will be added whereas a pool-front will cost an extra of LE60. In the period from 14 July to 24 July, a supplement of LE40 per room per night will be added to all room types. From 25 July to 17 September, LE80 will be added. If you prefer the Mediterranean, you can select the three-star Beau Site Hotel (+2046) 493 401) in Marsa Matrouh that overlooks the picturesque Beau Site beach. The hotel offers double rooms for LE200 to LE220 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis. Rates are valid until the end of September. Alexandria is another Mediterranean option where the four-star Maamoura Palace Hotel (+203) 547 3108) inside Maamoura offers double rooms for LE170 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis in June. In July and August the rate will be LE200 per person per night. HIGH-RANGE RATES (OVER LE250) PER PERSON PER NIGHT: If you want to spend your holiday in style, in exclusive resorts that provide you with each and every facility you dream of and you don't mind how much money you might spend, here's your summer guide: Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh (+2069) 603 555) in Sharm El-Sheikh offers double deluxe sea-view rooms for $75 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis and for $99 for foreigners. Domina Coral Bay Hotel (+2069) 601 610) in Marsa Al-Dekhela, on the other hand, offers one night in July for LE357 per person in a double room on bed and breakfast basis. In August, the rate soars to LE427 per person per night. Children under six go free and those over six get 50 per cent off the adult's rate. On the Red Sea, the most exclusive Le Meridien Makadi Bay Resort (+2065) 590 590) offers double rooms in June for LE250 per person per night on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and for LE270 on all-inclusive basis. Starting from July a supplement of LE25 will be added per person per night and from August LE75 will be added. The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh (+2065) 440 777), offers the most luxurious so-called Ocean-View suites for LE300 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. You can also have a bigger suite with a private swimming pool and garden and a special butler to answer all of your requests for LE600 per person per night. Only one child is allowed to stay in his parent's suite for an extra of LE75 for breakfast. The child should be under 12. The five-star Soma Bey Sheraton Resort in Hurghada (+2065) 545 915) has an attractive deal as a person could stay in a double room for only LE130 per night on half-board basis. A supplement of LE40 per person per night will be added from the beginning of August until 11 September. The Mediterranean city of Alexandria also offers its own deal for those who want to spend their vacation in luxury. The historical five-star Al-Salamlek Palace in Alexandria (+203) 547 7999) in Montazah gardens offers double rooms for LE330 per person per night without meals. A cheaper deal is offered by Helnan Palestine Hotel (+203) 547 4033), also in Montazah gardens, that offers doubles in June for LE295 per night on a bed and breakfast basis but in July and August the rate jumps to LE388. Cleopatra San Jiovani Resort (+2046) 494 7600), the only five-star resort in Marsa Matrouh, on the Mediterranean, overlooking Romel beach, offers a night for LE325 per person in a double room on half-board basis. If you want a sea-view room, you have to pay LE329 per night. LOW-RANGE ROOM RATES (LESS THAN LE100 PER PERSON PER NIGHT): For those searching for the difficult equation: to have a good place that provides good facilities at a relatively economical cost, we suggest the following: The two-star Al-Khan Hotel (+2065) 580 052) in El-Gouna on the Red Sea offers, during June and July, doubles for LE80 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis. If you want to include dinner you must add a supplement of LE45 per room per night. In August, a supplement of LE10 is added to the room rate. Captain's Inn and Turtle's Inn (+2065) 580 170/1), also offer the same rate of Al-Khan on bed and breakfast basis. If you want marina rooms, LE40 supplement is added. Children under 12 are free of charge. You can enjoy all the facilities of Sharm El- Sheikh and its picturesque nature and incomparable marine treasures while staying in two-star hotels and resorts such as Palermo Village (+2069) 661 562) on Um Al-Sid Hill that offers doubles for LE85 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis and also Ocean Sands Hotel (+2069) 600 801) in Neama Bay that offers a night for only LE80 per person in double on a half-board basis. Bawaki Beach Hotel (+2069) 500 470), in Nuweiba in South Sinai, offers double rooms for LE80 per person per night on bed and breakfast basis. Children under five get free accommodation and those over five pay an adult's rate. On the other hand, Al-Waha Touristic Village offers double rooms for the same rate as Bawaki but on half-board basis. It also provides non air-conditioned bungalows for LE15 per person without meals. Breakfast is for LE25 per day. Alexandria offers budget deals too. You can stay in a double room in the two-star Cleopatra Hotel (+203) 542 8058) on the Corniche for LE90 per person per night including accommodation, breakfast and lunch. Children under eight receive free accommodation but have to pay for the meals. Also you can book a double room in the two-star Holiday Hotel (+203) 480 1559) in Mansheya for LE35 per person on a bed and breakfast basis. In Port Said you can choose from Sonesta Hotel's real bargain and the two-star Concorde Hotel cheap rates. Sonesta Hotel (+2066) 325 511) offers double rooms for LE90 per person per night on a bed and breakfast basis. You will have a welcome drink upon arrival and will be able to have a late check out upon availability. Children up to 12 years are given accommodation free of charge when sharing the parents' room. The offer is valid until the end of October and is valid for a minimum stay of two nights. If you don't mind the stars and look for a lesser rate you can try the three-stars Concorde Hotel (+2066) 235 342) that offers doubles for only LE40 per person on bed and breakfast basis. Here are the offers. All what you can do is to decide on your budget and select what suits you. All rates are correct in time of print. Al-Ahram Weekly is not responsible for any changes made by hotels and resorts. Additional reporting by Rasha Sadek
