Red Sea Magic

“Red Sea Magic”

Written on: 21/04/2012

All dealings with Barrhead travel were excellent no problems at all.
The holiday booked was with Thomson Cruises for 2 people joined to our daughters family of 2 adults and 2 grandsons.They had booked months earlier.
Flight out from Manchester with Thomson was not too bad at all in First Choice Aircraft. Transfers to ship went well and the time on the ship was great so was the weather.
The Catering and service on board ship was absolutely first class good food and cabin was looked after well. The entertainment at night was also excellent.
Being pensioners we considered trip to Petra would have been too strenuous in the heat so while rest of family went to Petra we paid £15.00 each to go to the Hotel Movenpick in Aqaba Jordan hoping to spend the 4 hours on the beach, one coach left the ship at 11.00 and the next at 11.30, this was disaster as the old towel on the sunbed trick left us searching and standing for a long time in what was a lovely hotel with several pools and a private beach which we were no able to appreciate.The complimentary drink promised never materialised although we did get the loan of a towel each. We were rather stunned when we were charged £15.50 for 2 500 ml glasses of beer! Pepsi cola was £3.0 per can.
The previous day we had used the free every 20 minute transport which was provided by the port authority for the ten minute drive to the same hotel.This was not mentioned until we landed in Sharm el Sheik so we had already booked the trip on line before leaving Manchester. We would be more careful in future.
We had been to Cairo on a previous holiday so we just did the Valley of the Kings tour in Egypt. Again Excellent although a very long day coaches left at 0630 and returned at 2100, the guide was young but very well informed about the places we went. Lunch was provided and on return to the ship the restaurant was still serving dinner so a quick change and off to a meal then the show.
It is a shame that the long day is right at the end of the holiday because on return from the show we had to pack our cases and have them outside our cabin by 0200 the following day.
The return journey on the aircraft was unfortunately a 6 hour nightmare, as I am tall my legs were jammed against the seat in front and the journey was unbearable. Due to family health we had booked late and been unable to have legroom seats. This would be the only thing that might prevent us doing similar again.
On the whole a really excellent holiday. Well done!