Walk Like An Egyptian!

I said I'd never go back to Egypt!

Yep, honestly after a bit of a disasterous trip in 2010 both my other half and I vowed we'd never go back to Egypt!

Why did we feel this way? Well to be honest there were a host of reasons. We were in a Sharm El Sheikh hotel and generally, I just didn't feel comfortable or safe there - I couldn't chill around the pool as I felt I was being constantly watched (we'll use that term) by the male staff in the hotel and when the room next to ours got broken into, no-one seemed to be interested or concerned. Our All-Inclusive drinks were served in those cheap, small disposable plastic cups you used to have at picnics before sustainability was a thing and they would only give one, half filled, cup to each person so you constantly had to be going up to the bar for more than one mouthful of drink. They wouldn't even give my partner a drink for each of us - we both had to go up and get our own each time 😞. To be honest we didn't fair much better outside of the hotel with the 'free shuttle' into town being free as long as you bought something at the drivers brothers shop and if you didnt you werent allowed back on the bus to get back to the hotel! We hated haggling, we hated being barracked by people everywhere we went and all in all we decided Egypt just wasnt for us.

Fast forward to 2025 and I get offered a place by TUI to go on an educational trip to Hurghada.

Now, obviously we are looking 15 years since our bad experience and the travel industry has changed enormously and I've had numerous client wax lyrical about Egypt, so I thought bring it on - let's see if TUI can change my mind!

During our 4 night, 5 day trip 13 Travel Agents from all over the UK and 2 TUI Tour Leads stayed in two family focussed Hurghada Jazz hotels and visited another 4 hotels (1 Tui Blue resort, a Tui Magic Life resort, an adults only option and a property adjacent to to one of our main hotels which shared facilities).

Waterparks and waterslides* are big in Egypt resorts now and 4 of the 6 hotels we viewed had some amazing slide action in one form or another. The Jaz AquaMarine and Jazz AquaBlue are sited pretty much together and share facilities. Great for families, they have beautiful pool areas and great waterslide action going on. The Jaz AquaViva has a full on waterpark (50 slides in total) and is heaven for the water babies young and old. The Magic Life Kalaway Bay has a pool with slides but this resort has more focus on other watersports with a full on diving school as one of its boasts.

Throughout our trip we dined in a selection of the buffet and a la carte restuarants and I can honestly say, I didn't experience a disapointing meal once. Egyptain fare is quite meat centric (my happy place) but each hotel had a great selection for those with dietary requirements (I especially loved the grilled vegetables with dips). At the 5* Tui Blue Crystal Bay resort, a very elegant but family foodie delight, we were treated to an Egyptian night by the waters edge in one of the 7 eateries - fabulous all round. For those looking for an adult-only, quieter choice we viewed the Jaz Makadi Gardens.

I think the best bit for me was the staff. The majority of hotel staff are still men in Egypt but never once did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe. The staff were a pleasure in every hotel; attentive but professional, trying out their English and even coming out with some funnies - 'lovely jubley' and 'alright mate' came up more than once for sure, as soon as they realised we were from the UK. They really couldn't do enough to help and ensure our stay was great.

I can't go into detail on every hotel here (feel free to book a free travel chat to find out more - Book Here) but here is my take on potentially why you'd choose each and I've popped a short video of my trip below to give you a flavour of it all.

• Jazz AquaMarine - Pool focused family fun. Lively, buzzy resort with beachfront locale, some good waterslides and pool activities, fab food with extensive buffet and 3 a la cartes available once each per stay.

• Jaz BlueMarine - Smaller sister to Aquamarine but sharing facilities so plenty of family pool/beach fun to be had and of course those waterslides.

• Jaz AquaViva - Family option for the pool and waterslide lovers with 50 slides in total (adult and child) but also with a beautiful rooftop Adults Only area for those seeking a more chilled vibe. Shuttle bus to the beach. 7 a la carte resturants availble at the Madinat Makadi Bay if Dine Around option is chosen.

• Tui Blue Crystal Bay - A family hotel but with a more 'grown-up', elegant vibe and modern landscaping with some amazing swim up rooms or Jacuzzi suites and a host of a la carte restaurants with no restrictions on visits.

• Tui Magic Life Kalaway Bay - A something for everyone option with a luxury feel, a great activity programme, quiet areas for relaxation and beautiful landscaping giving it a tropical and chilled vibe. A still water, shallow bay area perfect for paddleboarding and canoes or open water for diving and the more adventurous snorker.

• Jaz Makadi Gardens - A small adults only, more suited to those wanting peaceful relaxation set in a gated community of hotels, making it great for a stroll and taking a sundowner walk in the desert to catch the sunset.

One point of note - all the family hotels have a seperate lounge area with two single sofas which become beds, so kids are not in the same space as parents (see the video for more on this!)

So, did Egypt win back my heart??

I'm booked with my partner to visit the Tui Magic Life Kalaway Bay in December, so you decide!

Will it win over my other half? That is yet to be seen! 😉 But I'm pretty hopeful - December sunshine awaits! 🌞🌞

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*height restrictions apply on different slides - please check before booking