Hi all, my wife, 13 year old son and I have just returned from the Delta Sharm resort in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt. And if you read any reviews then read this one as well:-

BOOKING:- We went through the usual waste of time in a number of travel agents who said they had given us the best deal they could do, GUARANTEED!!!! and then said that if I did find the holiday cheaper elsewhere then come back to them as they would beat the quote! I then explained that if they had given me there very best price, then they would not be able to beat another quote, so with the fact that all the travel agents are liars and some ridiculous quotes I went home to search the net.
3 days of web browsing and searching flight information and times later, I had found what appeared to be the holiday we were after, ie,10 nights all inclusive for three for around the £1000 mark. On the phone I went to a company called Imperial travel who informed me that yes this was a good price and all my criteria had been met but the hotel was fully booked, at which point I had that horrible sinking feelling and felt the urge to go back to the travel agent, "BUT" said this friendly person on the other end of the line have a look at delta Sharm resort website as we can offer this to you for £1500 10 nights AI. So we looked and booked while still on the phone. All smug and pleased with ourselves we went to work the following day with our news of our impending holiday (3 weeks away). All was great and most were wanting to go to this resort aswell as i talked about all the pools and facilities and weather as if I knew it all. Then somebody asked "Have you checked t5he reviews on trip advisor? Well of course I hadn't.
At home that evening it was with great anticipation that we sat and read every negative and damming report on our resort that we could bear to read( that sinking feeling came back but this time coupled with a clammy, sick, sensation.) WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!!!!

DEPARTURE:- It occured to me on the day before we flew from manchester at 9am that we had had booking confirmation but no tickets were to be seen. Another phone call to Imperial travel and an appologetic agent and I was given a booking reference to present at check in. So at 3.30 am, with no tickets and a lingering fear and dread we set off for our summer holliday.
Thankfully with a bit of toing and froing we got our boarding cards and checked in our luggage and settled in to our seats on the aeroplane. Now i should explain that I am 6'4" tall and around 18 stone and we had been given the seats with the least leg room on the entire plane( fact) so if your over 5'10" then get to check in early ond grab the front seats( I know some reading this are thinking the front seats are the pilots, but I think we all Know what i'm talking about) So for 5.5 hours I figited and wriggled and got more and more annoyed at the size if the plane, until eventually we landed and the doors of the plane openned and we stepped out to what can only be compared to a blast furnace. in to the shuttle bus to the terminal and thankfully the terminal was air conditioned. so we proceeded to queue up behind about another 100 thomos cook passengers to wait for our passports to be checked be mr misserable with the moustache at the front. but then I heard my name being shouted by a man to my right, "yes" i said as i approached him immagining all sort of internall examinations and searches. " Follow me sir! " he said and walked me and the fammilly past all the other passengers to a sepperate desk where our passports were checked and we were asked if we wanted to buy a visa so we could go on excursions.
#1 impotant point!!!!!--- YOU DO NOT NEED A VISA IF YOU ARE NOT GOING ON ANY EXCURSIONS LOCALLY SO DON'T LET THEM BULLY YOU INTO BUYING ONE £12 EACH. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT SURE THEN BUY ONE AS THEY ARE ONLY £12 .

TRANSFERS:- So after being conned into buying a visa we were then led out to collect our bags and then escorted back into the searing heat of the afternoon to our transfer coach (a small minibus fairly new).
Off we went for the 10 min drive to the potential disaster of our room in the delta sharm resort.
#2 important point!!!!!--- IF YOU ARE IN A CAR OR BUS WITH SEAT BELTS , WEAR THEM, THE DRIVER SPENT 70% OF THE TIME FACING US IN THE BACK TALKING ABOUT EGYPT AND DRIVING AS FAST AS THE BUS WOULD GO OCCASIONALLY I HAD TO POINT OUT THAT THERE WAS A NUMBER OF CARS STOPPED IN THE ROAD AHEAD AT WHICH TIME HE WOULD BRAKE SEVERELY AND HOOT THE HORN THEN DIVE THROUGH A GAP YOU MAY NOT EVEN TRY ON A MOPED.

THE ROOM:- The omens were not good so far as we were dropped off outside the reception of the delta sharm resort. We were then greeted by a very pleasant young man and young lady behind the desk, (things starting to look up) They informed us that we would be staying in room 167/201, and would be escorted there by the local bell boys, we were isued with a not to fetching all inclusive wrist band ( still can't understand why they don't isue all inclusive credit card size cards to prove that we are all inclusive) and then ushered onto the waiting golf buggies on which our cases had been loaded
#3 important point!!!!!--- HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE I SWEAR THE EGYPTIANS HAVE NITROS POWERED GOLF CARTS AND DRIVE THEM THE SAME AS THEY DO THE CARS AND BUSSES.
So at warp speed we went through a maze of appartment blocks and occasionally caught a glimpse of the blue water of a pool until we arived at our room. Well this was it, was what we had read true or were we going to be lucky for the first time in our lives. The door was swung open by a now struggling bell boy and before us was the nicest room I have ever had when abroad.
It was exactly like the photo on the web site as we had booked a one bed appartment so we could be separated from our 13 year old boy at night. RESULT!!!!!!!

FOOD:- After sorting our clothes into the cupboards we went to see if we could find the reastaurant so we could get some food and me some beer, armed with our site map and not a clue where we were in relation to the map coupled wethe the fact that it is dark by 8.30 pm over there we made a few wrong turns and eventually completed the 3min walk in about 15mins.(oh! well we were there anyway) as we arrived at the restaurant we were greeted by a very friendly waiter and asked him where we ate that night and were told that every mon and thur food was served outdoors by the main swimming pool, we turned and looked at the layed out tables and the chef busilly barbequing chicken and looked at each other as if to say the omens were now most definately on our side
#4 important point!!!!!!--- THE AVERAGE WAGE FOR THE THE STAFF ON THE RESORT IS AROUND 400 EGYPTION POUNDS (£40 STERLING) PER MONTH SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS WHEN GIVING TIPS 20 EGYPTIAN POUNDS IS ONLY £2 AND DOESN'T BREAK THE BANK, NOR DOES 50 EGYPTIAN .
Food consisted of soup starter and rice pasta chicken meat balls fish all seperately laid out and kept hot on hot plates. followed by a selection off desserts and as much tea coffee juice and alcohol as you felt inclined to drink.the food was tasty plenty of it and all very clean, as the resort only started all inclusive this year then some might say the food was a little repetative but I had no problem finding something different to eat every night from the buffet, and if you get bored withe the day time buffet then you can always order off the A I snack menu where you get pizza pasta and sandwiches of many varieties
#5 important point!!!!----BREAKFAST IS SERVED 7am - 10am
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 10-11.30
LUNCH 12.30-2.30
SNACKS 2.30- 4.00
DINNER 7.00-10.00
THERE IS ALSO ROOM SERVICE AND A LA CARTE MENU TO CHOOSE FROM( THESE ARE CHARGED FOR, ALTHOUGH NOT EXPENSIVE)ALL INCLUSIVE RENS FRON 7AM - 11PM AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN WHEN GIVEN PLASTIC CUPS AS THEY ARE LIKE HALF PINT GLASSES AND IF YOU WANT A BOTTLE THEN THEY COST 20 EGYPTIAN POUNDS. ( FOR ALL THE WELSH BOYS READING THIS I HAVE SQUARED THE BAR STAFF AWAY WHITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IF A WELSHMAN COMES TO THE BAR THEN NOT TO WASTE TIME GIVING HIM ONE BEER AT A TIME BUT ALWAYS GIVE HIM TWO AT A TIME AS IT WILL SAVE THE BARMAN HASSLE.

THE RESORT;- After a good nights sleep in an air conditioned appartment we set off for breakfast and the pool. there was a pool right outside our appartment but that seemed to be used by us towards the end of the day.There are 12 pools on the complex and there are swim up bars in 4 of them all included in the all inclusive. you can also order from the snack menu at any pool by asking a member of staff for it and then it is brought to you by the pool whichever you may be at. so once you have settled down for the day you don't have to move if you don't want to but i felt awkward asking somebody to fetch me a beer when the bar was within walking distance.The streets in the delta sharm are cleaned constantly by young lads so it is always spotless on the ground. The gardeners work all day watering and cutting to keep the paradise like look about the place. all pools have unique little features about them that make them interesting and appealing
the row of shops at the main entrance to the resort is ok with internet cafe, supermarkets, hairdresser salons, restaurants
atms for cash withdrawl
#6 important point!!!--- THE CASH POINT WILL DECLINE YOUR CARD PERIODICALLY SO DONT PANIC AND JUST TRY EVERY ONE YOU SEE UNTILL IT SPITS OUT SOME CASH.
There are places on site for booking excursions but we met an english lady who was with an egyptian man and she introduced us to the assistant manager of a local travel agents who could beat every other price going. so shop around for prices!

THE BEACH:- delta beach is a small section of the naama bay beach. in the day the sand is so hot you can't walk on it the sea is so clear it is like a swimming pool the restarant on the beach is not in the all inclusive but it is not expensive

NAAMA BAY:- to hot to go there in the day and at night the street is packed withe tourists of all shapes and sizes smoking the shisha pipes drinking and eating in any of the dozens of places to eat.
#7 important point!!!--- on the menu the prices are all quite reasonable but watch out for the sales tax 12% and the service charge 10% which are added to your bill, our bill was about £35 sterling £350 egyptian but was in the end closer to £50 (£500) making it a rather costly evening considering it is supposed to be so cheap.
taxi to naama bay from delta sharm haggle them down to 10 egyptian pounds (£1) if you want some fun but even if you can't be bothered then don't pay mor than 25 egyptian pounds(£2.50).
if you are feeling really brave then there are small shuttle busses on the main road that are white on top and blue at the bottom and they will stop anywhere and only cost £1 egyptian (10p)

SHARM EL SHEIK:- will be nice when its finished but at the moment is a bit of a dump unless you are on a resort building happening everywhere and non of it being finished so to summarise sharm- its a massive building site with pockets of paradise dotted around.

WEATHER:- HOT! HOT! HOT! 40+degrees all the time we were there and is just getting hotter by the day. I got burnt by putting factor 40 on and sitting under the sun parasol by the pool so unless your used to it then cover up its not like spain.
#8 important point!!!!---THE SUN IS SO HOT IN THE DAY THAT YOU BURN IN NO TIME, IT SAYS ON SUN CREM THAT ITS WATERPROOF BUT JUST KEEP APPLYING IT BECAUSE IF YOU BURN IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS IT IS GOING TO SPOIL YOUR HOLIDAY. I KNOW SOME WILL BE THINKING THAT I'M BEING A BABY BUT BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THET IF YOU BURN THEN FINE IF YOUR IN SPAIN ,FRANCE, ITALY BECAUSE AT LEAST IT COOLS DOWN IN THE EVENING SO YOUR SUN BURN IS COOLED AS WELL, NOT IN EGYPT, THE NIGHTS ARE STILL WELL INTO THE 30'S SO YOU DONT GET A CHANCE TO COOL DOWN. DURING THE DAY YOU COULD TRY AND STAY IN THE SHADE BUT THE SUN WILL GET YOU SOMEHOW. IT IS RELENTLESS HEAT THAT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO SO THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY YOURSELVES IS NOT BURN IN THE FIRST PLACE!

HEALTH:- do not drink the water from the taps, even the egyptians drink bottled water, used bottled for cleaning you teeth and in the kettle, be carefull what you buy on the streets as you don't know how clean it is wash hands after handling the money, the egyptian people are not as hygeinic as brits and the money is very dirty and holds endless bacteria
#9 important point!!--- CARRY WITH YOU A SMALL BOTTLE OF ANTIBACTERIAL HAND CLEANSER OR ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES OR BUTH IF YOU CAN AS GETTING ILL OVER IN EGYPT WILL BE ANOTHER HOLIDAY SPOILLER.
I did have to go to the toilet on a much more frequent level the need for which was indicated by a funny feeling in my stomach, on par with bad butterflies. I did not feel ill in any way and this had no severe affect on my enjoyment, my wife and boy were the same. I think it is par for the course with the differnce in where the food comes from how its cooked etc you are bouind to have a side affect, two tablets i now call cement will cure the problem in a matter of an hour and last for up to three days during which time your lucky if you go to the toilet once a day( dioareah tablets im talking about)


OVER ALL A GREAT PLACE TO STAY WITH PLENTY TO DO OR NOT TO DO AS YOU WISH, I WOULD SAY THAT THE RESORT HAS GOT 4 STARS DUE TO THE FACILITIES AND NOT FOR ITS CUISINE. THATS NOT TO SAY IT IS 3 STAR BUT MUCH BETTER THAN I HAVE HAD ELSEWHERE. PEOPLE CAN'T DO ENOUGH FOR YOU AND WILL DO EVEN MORE IF YOU GIVE THEM A TIP.
TRADERS IN THE MARKET ARE ANNOYING SO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO BE BLATANTLY RUDE, AND IGNORE PEOPLE. WATER PARK IS AN EXPENSIVE DAY OUT 45POUNDS FOR 6 SLIDES AND A WAVE POOL.

WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED OURSELVES AND ARE HOPING TO GO BACK AND KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING BACK .
SO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO RAN THIS PLACE DOWN ,THEY WERE EITHER VERY UNLUCKY AND GOT ONE OF THE ROOMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MODERNISED OR THEY ARE JUST MISERABLE [--] WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN NIT PICK AT ANY LITTLE THING THEY CAN FIND.

THANKS FOR READING HOPE IT HELPED