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| At Escape Worldwide we've been visiting the resorts of Egypt and the Red Sea in recent weeks, to see for ourselves what a holiday there is all about, following the recent change in government. Mark visited Taba Heights and other parts of the Sinai Coast, taking in all of the hotels in Taba Heights as well as trying his hand at golf, sailing along the coast in a traditional boat and checking out the largest dive school in the region. |
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"The first time I visited Taba Heights was the best part of 10 years ago, when there was just one hotel open and no direct flights. Now, it's one of the highest quality resorts on the Red Sea, with a selection of great hotels, one of the best dive centres around and an impressive golf course. The resort has a relaxed feel, but there's enough to keep visitors occupied with world-class sightseeing on the doorstep and shops, bars and restaurants aplenty.
Taba Heights is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with spectacular views over the mountains and the Red Sea - it's around 5 hours from Cairo, making it a sleepy little corner of Egypt. Having said, that, while there's little on Taba's doorstep, there's a huge amount of interest within a day trip distance, and our local guide in the area told us how most visitors take a day trip or overnight to at least one of the number of World Heritage listed sites close by. Petra in Jordan and Jerusalem in Israel are the most popular, both of which being reached on a day trip, while Cairo has regained a great deal of popularity since the change of government, mainly from people who want to see the main points of interest and now know that much of it is quieter than usual. One guest at the Marriott Beach Resort Taba Heights told me how he and his wife had been to Cairo on an overnight trip, and had been to the Pyramids when there were no coaches there, and had seen Tutankhamun's gold in the Egyptian Museum while having the entire gold room to themselves!
Since Taba Heights first opened it's matured in to a well-rounded resort. The quality hotels are the main draw for visitors and it's not a great location for nightlife, but there's more than just the hotels and the beach. The golf course is stunning (I tried a few putts even though I'd never been on a golf course before!) and the snorkelling off the jetties is excellent. The Downtown area has a number of restaurants (the Tandoori restaurant is particularly good!) and there are various bars and cafes too. There's a weekly street party that all guests are welcome to attend, and when I was there one of the bars was having a rooftop party.
Taba Heights is perfect for those who want quality hotels, good service and plenty of space for a relaxing holiday. If you don't want to be squeezed in amongst all the other visitors, there's a sunbed with your name on just waiting for you. Now is such a great time to visit - ignoring the low prices available - as you'll be pampered with attentive service just like I was!"
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