Destination guide
Egypt Holidays: Red Sea Value with a Few Rules Worth Knowing
Last updated · 2026-07-06
Egypt is the destination UK travellers underestimate most. The Red Sea has some of the best snorkelling and diving on the planet at a fraction of Maldives prices, plus reliable winter sun four and a half hours from home. The catch is that Egypt rewards travellers who know its quirks: the visa rules differ by airport, tipping is a system rather than a gesture, and the gap between a great resort and a tired one is wider than elsewhere.
Quick facts
| Topic | The short version |
|---|---|
| Flight time from UK | ~5 hours to Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada |
| Visa (Sharm) | FREE Sinai entry stamp for stays under 15 days staying within South Sinai |
| Visa (Hurghada & mainland) | Required — $25 e-visa or on arrival (cash) |
| Currency | Egyptian Pound; carry small US dollar/euro notes for tips |
| Best weather | Year-round sun; October–April is the sweet spot |
| Sea temperature | Warm enough to snorkel comfortably even in January |
| Ideal stay | 7–14 nights |
| Tipping | Expected and systematic — budget £2–4/day per person in small notes |
Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada?
Sharm el Sheikh sits on the Sinai peninsula, which means UK travellers staying under 15 days get a free entry stamp on arrival — no visa, no fee. Sharm's reefs are the sharper of the two: Ras Mohammed National Park and the Tiran Strait offer wall diving and drift snorkelling that serious underwater people cross continents for. Rixos Sharm El Sheikh and Sunrise Arabian Beach Resort are the two we'd shortlist first.
Hurghada is mainland, so the $25 visa applies to everyone — get the e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg before travelling. What Hurghada gives back: generally bigger sandy beaches, gentler lagoon entry for children, a larger choice of family mega-resorts, and easier access to Luxor day trips. Steigenberger Aqua Magic is the waterpark-family benchmark; Jaz Aquamarine does the huge-pools formula at a sharper price; Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh is the premium-quiet option.
Skip Desert Rose Resort in Hurghada for now — it's closed for full renovation through December 2026 despite still appearing on some booking sites.
The short version: snorkellers, divers and couples → Sharm (and pocket the visa saving). Families with younger children wanting sand and slides → Hurghada.
What Egyptian all-inclusive includes
Similar shape to Turkey with slightly more variance between hotels: buffets, snacks, local drinks and house wine included at good four/five-stars; imported spirits, fresh juice and speciality restaurants often extra.
Egypt's specific quirk is tipping (baksheesh) — small, frequent tips to bar staff, room cleaners, pool attendants and reef guides are woven into how service works, all-inclusive or not. Bring a stack of small notes and budget a few pounds per day.
Resorts worth shortlisting
Rixos Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh
Adults-oriented ultra all-inclusive on the Sinai — strong for couples who want the free entry stamp.
Sunrise Arabian Beach Resort
Sharm el Sheikh
Family flagship with a strong house reef — one of the first Sharm properties worth shortlisting.
Steigenberger Aqua Magic
Hurghada
Waterpark-family benchmark on the mainland — $25 visa applies but sand and slides are the draw.
Jaz Aquamarine
Hurghada
Huge pools formula at a sharper Hurghada price — good value five-star for families.
Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh
Sahl Hasheesh
Premium-quiet option twenty minutes south of central Hurghada in an upmarket bay.
What it costs in 2026
Peak-season guide per person, 7 nights all-inclusive with flights: £500–£750 at solid four-stars, £800–£1,200 at the strong five-stars, with genuine sub-£500 deals in May, June and September. Winter carries a modest premium and is still cheap next to the Canaries.
Best time to go
October–April is the golden window: 22–30°C, sunny, seas clear. December–February brings cooler evenings but reliable daytime sun — Egypt's trump card over Turkey and Greece in winter.
June–August is hot (38°C+ in Hurghada), suits dedicated waterpark-and-pool holidays, and is priced accordingly cheap.
Common mistakes
- Paying for a Hurghada visa service marked up to £40+ — the official e-visa is $25 at visa2egypt.gov.eg.
- Booking Sharm's free stamp, then buying a Cairo/pyramids excursion — that trip needs the full visa.
- Not bringing small notes for tips, then wrestling with change all week.
- Judging Egypt by its cheapest hotel. The difference to a £600 week is enormous here.
- Touching or standing on coral — reef protection is enforced at Ras Mohammed.
Who should pick somewhere else
Style-led travel, boutique hotels, wandering charming towns in the evening: Greece or Spain. Egypt's offer is precise — world-class water, guaranteed sun twelve months a year, and prices from another decade.
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Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a visa for Egypt from the UK?
- For Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba stays under 15 days: no — a free Sinai entry stamp is issued on arrival. For Hurghada, Cairo, Luxor or anywhere on the mainland: yes — $25, as an e-visa in advance or on arrival in cash.
- Is Egypt safe for tourists?
- The Red Sea resort zones (Sharm and Hurghada) are heavily secured, long-established tourist areas. Check current FCDO Egypt advice before booking.
- Hurghada or Sharm for families?
- Usually Hurghada: sandier beaches, gentler sea entry, more waterpark resorts. Sharm wins for older kids who'll actually snorkel.
- Can you drink alcohol in Egypt?
- Yes, freely within resorts and licensed venues — local Stella and Sakara beer and house wine are standard in all-inclusive plans.
- Is the sea warm in winter?
- Yes — the Red Sea holds 22–24°C even in January, comfortably snorkelable. It's the only destination on this site where a January beach holiday genuinely works without a wetsuit.
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