Sun holiday in January ? Egypt ?

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Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 24209
edited January 2019 in Off Topic
I'm looking for a week somewhere warm (min 20C) that doesn't involve an 8hr+ flight, where I won't end up suffering a load of gobshite chavs on the piss from 9am or risk ending up in a video with a large knife pressed against my throat.

Any suggestions ?  Does such a place exist ?


Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
Also chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them.
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26749
    edited January 2019
    If you want to guarantee 20C+ in Jan, you need to be south of the equator, which pretty much forces a long flight.  Egypt and Dubai/Abu Dhabi or Muscat are obvious options for sub-8hrs but don't always hit 20 every day. That said, it's usually 25-ish 

    Actually, Aqaba in Jordan could work, though it's 8hrs from Gatwick to Amman via Istanbul, then another internal flight or long drive to Aqaba. But you could stop at Petra and Wadi Rum which are both completely essential and definitely what you should do.

    Otherwise there's Riyadh, which is never below 20 degrees, but a completely shit place for a holiday. 
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  • Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 24209
    I've been looking at Egypt.  I've never been, but I'm extremely cautious about the idea - not for the terrorism risk, I think that's low enough on a big complex for me, but the hassling that seems to be part of the arab culture.  I went to Tunisia before it all kicked off over there and I loved the place, the hotel, the food, the weather, the beach - all amazing.  The ONE thing that ensured I would never return was - the people.  The constant haranguing, lying, short-changing, overcharging and hard-selling made every day an ordeal to endure rather than a relaxing break.

    I'm wondering if Egypt is any different.
    Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
    Also chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them.
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26749
    Maybe I'm used to it a bit because we've lived and travelled round the middle east a lot, but we didn't have any real trouble. Our guide basically just told all the shopkeepers to sod off and that was it. Most people were actually very welcoming - generally just happy to have tourists interested in the place after years of turmoil. The carpark at Karnak fits about 50 buses and used to be overflowing. When we were there in March 2016 there were only about 6 buses. 

    Sailing down the Nile is one of the best things I've ever done... 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • My ex went on an Egypt trip for xmas, she said it was beautifully warm. Also, a coach load of tourists got blown up at the Giza pyramids 2 days after she's been there, so swings and roundabouts I guess.
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  • What about Turkey ? But not on Christmas Day
    “Ken sent me.”
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26749
    What about Turkey ? But not on Christmas Day
    I don't know about the rest of it but Istanbul is FUCKING FREEZING in January.
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26749
    My ex went on an Egypt trip for xmas, she said it was beautifully warm. Also, a coach load of tourists got blown up at the Giza pyramids 2 days after she's been there, so swings and roundabouts I guess.
    We stayed in a place about 100m from that bombing. Not far from the infamous "pizza hut near the pyramids"
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • Mrs T and I did Egypt in January 2008.  Stayed in Cairo for 3 days,  then flew to Luxor and did a weeks cruise down the Nile.  It was stunning.  The history is just incredible.  The weather was normal for that time of year but felt hot to me. It hit 34 the day we went to the Vally of the Kings which was a bit much for me.  Most of the time it was upper 20s.   What was odd was the locals were all dressed in thick fur coats as they said it was cold.   We went on a fully escorted tour and Im glad we did.  We were constantly approached and harangued everywhere we went in public, and this was ably dealt with by the guide we had. The begging and poverty are something else, and it really made me wonder how a society that had build the pyramids had fallen so far to todays levels.    Id go again but would want to ensure we visited different sites.  

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  • ESBlondeESBlonde Frets: 3576
    Canaries. Short enough flights. Pick a quite resort, warm and reasonably priced.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    A Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor is fun, with a few days in Cairo, but this week the temperature is struggling to reach 20C at midday. Leave it a month or so, or go further south. Canaries sounds interesting.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • scrumhalfscrumhalf Frets: 11262
    Agadir or Essouira in Morocco are about 4 hours away.
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  • PC_DavePC_Dave Frets: 3396
    Just turn the heating up at home - that way you don’t have to deal with the Great Unwashed.
    This week's procrastination forum might be moved to sometime next week.
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  • ionianionian Frets: 100
    I was looking into this but couldn't make our budget fit with school holidays. Still, we looked at Morocco, Cape Verdi, Canaries (East Islands have less wind) and Crete - all worth a look.

    I was at Sharm el sheik in 2010 and that'll be hot enough. I loved Egypt, we also went to Luxor, but I'm not sure if the political changes since the Arab spring would give you security concerns. 
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  • TeetonetalTeetonetal Frets: 7801
    The Gambia. It's warm, with some decent beaches and surprising lots to do.
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  • boogiemanboogieman Frets: 12314
    edited January 2019
    The Gambia. It's warm, with some decent beaches and surprising lots to do.
    This. I’ve recommended it before on here. Pretty cheap too. 

    Whoever said Morocco: I’ve been to Essouira in December before and it was cold and cloudy. The cities are amazing though, especially Fez and Marrakesh, so if you didn’t want sun then it’s worth a visit. You will get hassled though. 
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  • Fishboy7Fishboy7 Frets: 2178
    I'd look at Morocco or Cape Verde
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  • octatonicoctatonic Frets: 33725
    ESBlonde said:
    Canaries. Short enough flights. Pick a quite resort, warm and reasonably priced.
    This.
    Egypt is fun but it is not the place to go if you want to avoid Islamic culture, although it isn't Saudi either.

    Sri Lanka is better though- it is a longer flight but it is cheaper than Canaries and much warmer (by the coast) and cooler in the mountains.
    Kandy is incredible, although you've missed the festival by a few months.
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  • Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 24209
    I don't have an issue with Islamic culture - I don't regard the haranguing as quintessentially Islamic.  I can't imagine being hassled much in Mecca or Medina.  On balance, I think the Canaries are probably the safest bet.  We did Boa Vista (Cape Verde) early last year and it was weird.  Grinding poverty outside and opulence inside the complex.  Plus we both got food poisoning and it was windy as hell.
    Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
    Also chips are "Plant-based" no matter how you cook them.
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  • KrisGeeKrisGee Frets: 1264
    Went Sharm El Sheikh 10 years ago. Never again. Hassle from people constantly trying to sell anything to you is unbelievable. 
    Go somewhere nice in Canaries instead and enjoy your time.
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  • Ive been to the Canaries, but in June.  It great, but I have heard that Nov - Feb can be windy, which will make it feel cooler than the temperatures suggest

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