After buckling down at work all summer, we were ready to have a change of scenery come fall. We were also interested in trying out the really popular German all-inclusive tour packages. After doing a lot of research of different destinations and travel agencies, we got a great deal on a one week trip to Hurghada, Egypt. Knowing very little about Hurghada, other than that it’s a beach destination on the Red Sea, we weren’t sure what to expect but were ready to lounge on the beach.
In the end, we had some mixed feelings about the trip. One of the best aspects, was that everything was taken care of for us and we had to do zero planning to do ourselves. After a direct flight from Cologne, we were picked up in a coach bus and delivered to our hotel, where there would be no need to leave for 7 days. All food, drinks, and bottled water were included, so we did not have to pay extra (other than tips). All of the facilities in the hotel (pool, restaurants, etc) were really nice. The beach was really beautiful and the water in the Red Sea was so clear!
Our travel agency did offer a variety of day trips, activities, and excursions if you were interested. We had a day trip on a glass-bottomed boat and a shopping trip into the city center.
However...
We had no idea beforehand, but the hotel where we stayed was 100% catered toward Germans. It honestly could have been picked up and transported from Berlin, just dropped in a sunnier location. All of the staff spoke primarily German, the food was Germanized, and it seemed completely normal for all the other guests who seemed not to be the least interested in the “real” Egypt or local culture. There were even very few people who participated in the day trips outside of the resort.
Although we had a good time, I think in the future, we will stay away from these pre-packaged travel agency options and plan our trips ourselves. In any case, here are some photos.
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| The Nile River |
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| Approaching Hurghada |
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| Our resort |
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| Hurghada Marina |
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| El Mina Masjid Mosque |
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| Hurghada center |
Was it Heinz?
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