1 week Ago By Ryan Rowe
THE first time we thought about a family holiday here, the government slapped a no-fly zone on them back in 2015. And a decade on, getting to this stunning resort at the south end of the Sinai Peninsula couldn’t have been easier, thanks to TUI’ s new twice-weekly direct flights out of Glasgow to Sharm el Sheikh. Advertisement 11 The stunning TUI BLUE Sensatori Coral Sea in Sharm el Sheikh 11 The swim-up rooms add to the sense of luxury 11 You're spoiled for comfort and a view on these sun loungers 11 Or you can kick back and relax in a hot hub on your balcony This time, our teen son went all Kevin McCallister on us — Home Alone version, not the Falkirk footie idol with similar name.
But by the time Susan and I settled on the split new 737 and dipped into the in-flight WiFi entertainment on your own phone or iPad for a bargain £3.35, any fears of him turning the house back in Bairnsville into a nightclub for the week were long forgotten. At six hours, the flight time isn’t much longer than a trip to the Canaries or Cyprus — but boy, does the weather play ball, and year-round too.
We were there the second week in April, and enjoyed temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s with a lovely breeze coming off the azure-blue Red Sea. Nights were also still a jumper-free zone. Advertisement Read more Travel CAPITAL GAINS Major airline announces exciting new flight from Edinburgh to US TOP TENT Scotland’s best family-friendly campsite with meerkats & lemurs on its doorstep Once you were in the hotel, though, any thoughts of actually leaving it felt like a chore.
Six restaurants, ten bars and cafes, a pristine half-mile stretch of beach , a rooftop gym (so they told me!) and spa, a diving centre and jetties out into the sea to take advantage of the incredible clear waters and marine life . And the list of activities for adults and kids alike was bottomless. Post-dawn yoga and pilates sessions in the wellness pagoda overlooking the beach outside our amazing swim-up room were popular every morning, while there were salsa classes, volleyball and boules on the beach, archery, tennis and a vast array of fun stuff for the family in the activity pool to the side of the huge main pool deck, and the pirate-ship-bedecked water park .
Advertisement Most read in Travel FLIGHT DELIGHT Scots airport 'in talks' to DOUBLE daily service to popular destination SAIL AWAY Disney reveals £826m ‘heroes & villains’ cruise ship launching this year FLYING HIGH Budget airline slashes prices on thousands of summer holidays from Scotland HOLIDAY HELL Gutted Scots 'in limbo' as travel firm goes bust and cancels holidays If it was peace and quiet you were after — no offence, kids — then the adult-only pool and beach section was bliss. The whole place was stunning, though — the daily-cut grass was like the fairways of Augusta, the trees trimmed by what felt like an army of topiary Taylor Fergusons, and not a grain of sand looked out of place on the beach. Mystery new ‘city’ found underneath Egypt’s Pyramids stretching 6,500ft BELOW surface in shock discovery, scientists say A top tip was downloading the Tui Blue app — it was a godsend to keep you up to speed with the daily schedule, as well as restaurant menus and opening times, excursions, childcare offerings and so much more.
It’s essential. There was plenty of entertainment at night if that’s your thing, with permanent music in the piano bar from talented turns Craig on guitar and Heim on piano, with their bigger acts — like Dolly Parton and Debbie Harry tributes — filling out the new purpose-built Venue. Advertisement Don’t worry about going stir crazy inside the resort, however — TUI’s trip offerings were outstanding, and the star of the show for us was a full-day outing to Cairo.
Yes, it was a long day at the thick end of 20 hours thanks to a 6am departure and a flight delay on the way home. No, it’s not cheap at £259 a head. But three words of advice — JUST DO IT! Seeing the Pyramids of Giza, the last great wonder of the world, and the Great Sphinx, up close is one of the most mind-blowing experiences you’ll ever have.
Witnessing the gold mask and coffin of boy King Tutankhamun in the Cairo Museum likewise. Advertisement 11 TUI offer a day trip from the resort to the famous landmark Credit: Supplied 11 Gordon and Susan at the Pyramids of Giza Credit: Supplied The questions that swirl around your head over how a culture could achieve such perfection nearly five millennia ago nag away at you. And if you’re lucky enough to do all this in the company of our guide, Cairo native and Egyptologist Habib? You’ll be blessed.
He was a force of nature , powering a group of 37 of us through 4,700 years’ worth of history as well as the utter chaos of a city of 20million people with passion, humour , knowledge and the patience of a saint. Advertisement I’ve never enjoyed a holiday excursion more in my life. But there are plenty to choose from, whether it’s a trip into old Sharm for a bit of bartering in the market and sightseeing, half-day snorkelling experiences, quad-biking, camel-riding and star-gazing in the desert with dinner at a Bedouin camp — they’re all do-able for around 40 quid a head or less, which struck us as great value.
As for the all-inclusive aspect of the resort? GO: EGYPT GO: SHARM EL SHEIKH A week all-inclusive at the 5H TUI BLUE Sensatori Coral Sea is from £1,089pp leaving Glasgow on June 12. Includes 25kg hold luggage per person and transfers. Book at tui.
co.uk , stop by your local TUI holiday store, or download the TUI or TUI Blue apps. The drinks were local — big brands were extra — and while the spirits were noticeably a downgrade on their global equivalents, the beer , especially the local Stella, was top class and the house wines, particularly the Obelisk, were a very decent drop indeed.
Advertisement Food-wise, it was sensational. Big-room buffets can often be more quantity than quality, but not here. There was something for everyone, both local and international, with fresh pasta and pizza stations and grills on the go every night in a classy indoor/outdoor setting that never felt over-busy.
And the desserts? A nightly war was waged between temptation and the judgmental, raised eyebrow of Mrs W as the belt buckle was loosened another notch — get thee behind me, sweet-station Satan! But if the nightly global gourmet hoover job becomes too much, their a la carte offerings are even better — three of them included in your package, with the Stone Grill and tepanyaki restaurants an add-on — although neither a bank-breaker by any stretch. Advertisement For us, both the Italian, Casa Bianca, and the middle-eastern themed Marhaba were the pick of the bunch — both meals were top end, and the surroundings were superb. 11 The food on show in the Sharm was to die for 11 The desserts are sure to have you making room for more! 11 And the restaurants have a gorgeous setting Advertisement 11 Gordon recommends the local 'Stella' beer! The thing that made the place SO special, though, was the staff.
You were greeted like long-lost family at every turn — special mentions to Hossein in the Italian, Mahmoud by the pool whose sixth sense could find an empty glass at 100 paces and refill it, and countless others who went out of their way to make everyone feel like a VIP. Read more on the Scottish Sun CENTRE OF ATTENTION 'Opening date' for huge £400million Center Parcs in Scotland announced TRAGIC LOSS Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide after troubling posts The TUI reps were ever-present on site too, and the word ‘no’ doesn’t seem to exist for them. They strive to make the impossible possible for you if they can manage it.
As a resort, it had everything for everyone — but there’s absolutely no doubt it’s the people who put the charm in Sharm . Advertisement 11 Sunset at the TUI BLUE Sensatori Coral Sea.
