When Is The Best Time To Go On Diving Holidays To The Red Sea.

If you are not familiar with the whereabouts of the Red Sea, you can pretty well say it runs down the eastern border of Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula on the Israel border, where you will find the Taba Hotels complex, down through Sharm el Sheikh, onto Hurghada, and then Soma Bay and beyond. These are the names of the best known hotel and resort areas. It is a part of the world that has been a must for scuba divers almost for ever.

The question here is, when is the best time to visit, because Egypt and the Red Sea have classically been a winter sun destination for European Holiday makers. I have visited Taba, and Sharm in the early Spring, when the weather was pleasant, but it became very cool in the evenings, and Soma Bay in July when the temperature was consistently 45 degrees, but with no humidity, and a good breeze, it was more than bearable!!

The main difference between the two visits was the fact that at Taba it was relatively busy, Sharm was packed, whereas at Soma Bay there was only 10% occupancy in a superb hotel called Les Residence des Cascades!! Read the rest of this entry »

Paris Souvenirs Anyone?

Bring back gifts from Paris to your folks and friends, and see their faces illuminate. The words ‘it comes from Paris’ gives an extra special value to any present. Your kin’s joy is the present they offer you in return.

All this is good and well, but where can you buy gifts which are unusual, and show their recipients you specially care for them? Where can you find presents on which a local color story can be told? “Honey, you won’t believe how I found this in a tiny little shop hidden in an inner courtyard right in the…”

Those sorts of stories make the whole present come alive! Well, search no more, my traveler friend. In this series of articles, I will show you where to shop for unusual gifts in Paris. More are posted on my online Paris guide, Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.

Designer depots: Ali Baba’s treasure troves

In a previous article I wrote about “designer depots”: small boutiques where it is possible to find vintage or last-season designer garb at very low prices. I like these shops; they are treasures troves where finding a deeply-discounted Chanel suit or Yves Saint Laurent dress is always within the realm of possibilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn More About Your Cheap Holidays To Cairo

The weather is always beautiful. The sun is hot and the heat is very warm. If you plan to be outside seeing the attractions during your cheap holidays to Cairo, you should include a hat on your packing list. Sunglasses are also a good idea. At times, you might even consider soaking a towel in cold water to keep cool outside. It does get a little overbearing when the sun is beating down on you. The nice thing is that there are museums and inside attractions to see that will break up the day so you are outside for a while and then inside out of the sun.

Many former visitors as well as the locals in Cairo will tell you to drink bottled water when you leave your hotel. Most of the hotels have filtered water, but when you venture outdoors, you need to drink bottled water for your own safety. Some people will feel sick and uncomfortable if they drink water that is not pure or filtered. If you happen to be a smoker, you can smoke in public, but if you need cigarettes, Cairo has a limited amount to choose from if you are in need.

If your cheap holidays to Cairo include any driving, you need to know that that traffic is a bit thick at times. People do have their own standards for driving, which can cause a visitor some confusion. Public transportation is everywhere and it may be wise to use that instead of fighting the traffic. If you are unaware of the Moslem culture, remember that woman must dress in a way that does not disrespect the culture. This is more important for women than it is for men. Unbelievably, Cairo is hot, but you should not wear shorts or low cut tops. Read the rest of this entry »