"Hi, I haven’t written a review for years, but I felt it was important to share my honest opinion about my latest experience in Sharm El Sheikh and Egypt in general.
I’ve actually been to Egypt around four times before, mostly Hurghada, travelling with my wife and children. We are a well-travelled family and have visited places all over Europe, Asia, and the Middle East — including Japan, Switzerland, Italy, and the UAE many times. In fact, I’ve been to the UAE around seven or eight times and we’ve always thoroughly enjoyed it there.
This year, because of the conflict concerns around August and difficulties finding suitable travel insurance, we decided to book somewhere closer and easier for the children to enjoy during half term. Since I’d visited Egypt several times before, we thought Sharm El Sheikh would be a good option, especially as the hotel marketed itself as a five-star resort.
I had experienced some rude and arrogant behaviour from staff during previous visits to Hurghada, but I put that down to isolated incidents and didn’t let it stop me from returning to Egypt.
Unfortunately, this trip started badly from the moment we arrived at the airport. After a very long queue at passport control, I was met by an Egyptian officer who was rude and dismissive, insisting that I could not be British and repeatedly questioning my nationality despite the fact I hold a British passport and was born in Britain, as were both of my parents. I’m 35 years old, well travelled, and have never experienced anything quite like that before. After a long journey and delays already affecting our arrival, it was frustrating and disappointing to be treated with suspicion for no reason.
At first, I tried to put it down to ignorance and move on. However, things became more upsetting once we arrived at the hotel. On our first day, a group of young Russian children walked past me and my children and appeared to use a racist slur towards us. Thankfully, my children did not hear it, but my wife did, and it was deeply upsetting. I challenged it at the time, but the explanation given did not feel believable.
I want to make it clear that I am not somebody who looks for reasons to complain, and I do not have prejudice against any nationality. I’ve travelled extensively around the world and generally have very positive experiences. However, on this occasion, I genuinely felt uncomfortable and unwelcome as a Black British family, and that is not something I can ignore.
Aside from that, the hotel itself was disappointing for families with young children. My children are six years old, and there were only a couple of very small pools suitable for them, meaning they couldn’t properly enjoy much of the resort. The beach area was also quite small, with rough water and rocky surroundings, so it wasn’t ideal for children wanting to play, build sandcastles, or enjoy a traditional beach holiday safely.
Overall, this holiday left me regretting not sticking with destinations where we have consistently felt welcomed and comfortable, such as the UAE, the Caribbean, or parts of mainland Africa. It genuinely saddens me to say that because I have enjoyed parts of Egypt in the past, but this experience was very different.
I’m sharing this review simply to help other families — especially Black British travellers or families from diverse backgrounds — make an informed decision before booking. Everyone deserves to feel respected, welcomed, and comfortable while on holiday, especially when travelling with children."
