The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Rejoice people of Egypt, the shackles of Ramadan are almost off and we all know what that means: party time!

But with so many destinations to choose from, and hotels filling up fast, it can be a little overwhelming for the indecisive among us. Whether you want to soak up some sun on a lazy getaway or go all out at the countries top party destinations, here are a few of the options that await you across Egypt’s beaches.

North Coast:

The North Coast’s breeze, white sands and turquoise waters have made it a forerunner in potetnial Eid destinations. While much of it is already booked up, there are still a couple of options. Jaz Almaza Beach Resortis just 38km east of Marsa Matruh and offers double rooms starting at 2600LE a night in a B&B package. Another option is Aida Beach Hotel El Alamein, which is just a fifteen minute car ride from Marina, where a standard double room goes for 1500LE a night.

El Gouna:

Another increasingly popular spot to celebrate the end of Ramadan is the Lego-like town of El Gouna. While a lot of hotels are already fully booked for the long weekend, three-star Dawar El Omda still has rooms; a B&B standard room package goes for €75, while a deluxe room goes for €94. If you’d prefer five-star treatment then the Mövenpick Hotel has rooms available starting $230, including breakfast.

If you’re a group travelling together, renting an apartment or villa is a practical and viable solution. There are endless options available for either a week – starting at €800 and going up to about €2000 – or if you prefer to pay per night, prices go for about €80-€200. Click here for listings.

Sharm El Sheikh:

A classic Eid destination, Sharm El Sheikh was once the place to be come vacation time. While it’s lost some of its former glory, it is still a reasonable place to spend your days lounging in the sun by day and partying by night. One of the most impressive hotels in Egypt, the Four Seasons, is a destination in itself. With rooms starting at $290 a night, breakfast included, there is absolutely no reason to leave the hotel once there. However, if you’re looking for more party time, then Iberotel Lido offer B&B packages at about 700LE a night. Another option is Laguna Vista in Nabq, just ten minutes away from Naama Bay, which is offering rooms at about 800LE a night, breakfast included.

Ain El Sokhna:

If a quick and easy escape is what you’re looking for then Sokhna is may be right up your alley. Only an hour-and-a-half away from Cairo, the Mövenpick Hotel located in the middle of the strip is offering a deluxe room – breakfast, dinner and tax included – for $360.

Sinai:

Despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons in the past few months, southern Sinai is as safe as it ever was and offers a wonderful escape from Cairo’s noise, people and pollution. The Basata eco-lodge is sticking with its regular rates where Egyptians pay 70LE a night and foreigners €20; up to three people can share a room and there is a 55LE minimum charge on food and beverages. Castle Beach offers rates at 183LE per person and includes both breakfast and dinner. Ayash is another nice option in the area; however, they do not take prior reservations.

Ras Sidr:

A relatively new player on the Egypt travel scene is south Sinai’s Ras Sidr. Popular for kitesurfering, many go for the more relaxed, less pretentious, atmosphere. As all other places, it’s filling up fast, but as of now, Moon Beach has standard double rooms for about 600LE a night, while Holiday Fantasia Resort offers the same but at half the price; about 300LE a night. Both are half board.

Marsa Allam:

A great diving destination, Marsa Allam is another low-key contender on our list. Rooms are going quickly so make haste and snag one of the remaining rooms at Kahramana Beach Resort, where an all-inclusive package goes for about 1155LE a night. Meanwhile, the Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort also offers an all-inclusive package at a slightly lower price of almost 1000LE a night. An even friendlier price is available atCalimera – Habiba Beach, which offers a B&B package at around 560LE a night.

If you’re still looking for other options, click here for an easy and efficient way to check out what’s available and where.  Remember, rooms are filling up fast and in a matter of days, so the sooner you book, the better.