kiteingcolin Posted June 28, 2006 Author Report Posted June 28, 2006 hmmm thanks colin, are there any other accomodation options at abu somer?! that 5 star pushing it for us a touch me thinks! shame on colona area, hmmm decisions!! LOL, what do we think about el gouna?! obviously lack of water a slight consideration from what I've read but is it that big an issue for october time?! thanks all noel[/quote now then ! pauline went on line to check out prices at the 5 star abu somer intercontental hotel, and the price range is stunning, going out on a late deal for 1 week is £450 for one, all in; flight transfer,hotel, 2 meals a day,all watersports and equipment, and unashamed luxury, and wait for this; the very same deal in sept booking well ahead is a unbelievable £1300, ouch! transfer time from the airport is 45 mins-1hour, there are no other real alternatives for staying at this private resort, Quote
j_noiseboy Posted July 1, 2006 Report Posted July 1, 2006 Just a quickie, the guys who went to ras sudr who did u book with as my mates just been into a few travel agaents and they have never heard of the place which is kina annoying lol. so any enlightenment on who u flew with booked through would eb good cheers all J Quote
guppy Posted July 2, 2006 Report Posted July 2, 2006 U can book with www.waveriders.biz or www.planetkitesurf.com to Ras Sur...maybe www.sporif-uk.com Guppy:cool: Quote
noelpilot83 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Aaah confusion reigning in my head right now!!! Spoken to planet kitesurfers and waveriders. Planet said the tide in el gouna wasn't an issue apart from for first time beginners. they said low tide you could walk out 150m and jobs a good un there's the water. waveriders were saying hmm and trying to push me to safaga and based on going out on a boat every day, going out on a boat now and then be alright but would rather be on the beach and just be able to kite as and when i want. was hoping to try and pull a week in around the 300-350 mark and 2 weeks for maybe 500 ish?! is this unrealistic as hell?! LOL can anyone confirm the thoughts on el gouna and the tide situation!? are we talking unkiteable or is it just a bit of a walk out!? ras sudr looks incredible but mucho money and nowt else there which is a shame. planet were suggesting push moneywise to stay in the movenpick and be ON the beach as opposed to turtles inn etc and having a 20 min walk from town to the beach. Sorry to be posting again! so eager to get this sorted but trying to make the right choice! opinions or comments once again very very eagerly accepted. Noel Quote
Sandslide1 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Safaga: Alright accomodation, OK ish food, no nightlife, boat journey each way is probably an hour (taxi would prob be 10mins) and to make it more irritating you pass Surf Motion at Abu Soma (see what Kiting Colin posted). When you get to funkites (Safaga) spot its not as good as Surf Motion's, and if no wind or too much, you end up sitting stuck on the boat or have to wait to get back to the hotel. Best thing I found there was the instruction, but didn't think the spot was that great, though I am a beginner, you can be out on the reef very easily. Movenpick El Gouna, good accomodation right by the beach, food decent, instruction isn't as good, but OK, was two Serb guys when I was there and they would help with anything. At low tide, the shallow learning area does empty, but only for a few hours. At any time you can walk out to the deeper water, though it looked like several hundred metres to me, not 150, though I watched a few people doing it. If get fed up there, hop on taxi for 10 mins to Mangroovy beach (search on here or Google) it has a kite school and seems to get mroe wind that El Gouna, but does get busier. At El Gouna you can wander off and do something else when no wind, for price could even stay at cheaper hotel like captains inn and that and walk down to beach each day, tho put put taxis are pennies. I don't think price you are looking at is unreasonable for last minute deal, both El Gouna and Safaga I went with Waveriders (they pushed me a tad for the boat as well and now wish I handn't). At mo I'm looking at going back out in August, preference would be Abu Soma intercontinetal then El GOuna then Colona at Hurghada, not Safaga. The guys from Waveriders have always been great with me, but they are running a business, so I expect them to try amd make as much dosh as possible off every deal they sell. I reckon the only prob for August will be that it's still school hols, but every time I've been out to Egypt the hotels have been half empty. Good luck!!!! Quote
Sandslide1 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 P.S. ref what was put in the thread earlier about Abu Soma, if you check Mark Warner late deals out http://www.markwarner.co.uk/last_minute_holidays/last_minute_summer at mo they're offering Abu Soma at 395 pounds on 7th July. When I e mailed them about their late offers they said that the only down side is that they may apply single supplements for guys going out on their own!!!! Quote
kiteingcolin Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 why are you not thinking about going to the magawish hotel in safaga, colona watersports operation, very cheap deals to be had, you must bear in mind that when you are going the direct sun i dam hot, on the beach with a wind its ok, walking from the captains table is a hot walk, and walking back to the hotel is a hard job in that heat, mind you the beer will be extra good after that walk, you will need to dive for cover quite a lot during the day and colana is one of the best places with its cafe shop school only 8 steps away from the waters edge, shams is not the best, your stuck with the boat wether you want to be or not, Quote
kiteingcolin Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 P.S. ref what was put in the thread earlier about Abu Soma, if you check Mark Warner late deals out www.markwarner.co.uk/last_minute_holidays/last_minute_summer at mo they're offering Abu Soma at 395 pounds on 7th July. When I e mailed them about their late offers they said that the only down side is that they may apply single supplements for guys going out on their own!!!! i would say go for that, unbelievable price for whats on offer, posher than the queens pad!! Quote
noelpilot83 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 thanks all magawish safaga?! havent heard bout them, didn't realise they were anywhere apart from hurghada? im quite fixed on dates, looking at going out 29th september, so if i understand correctly will be a little cooler then? which is the spot for magawich/colona at safaga? doesn't have the issues of going out in the boat all the time im guessing? really appreciating all this help, Noel Quote
noelpilot83 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 shams hotel safaga looks good, but seems the site only offers flights from germany!! hmmm off to search some more!! Quote
Sandslide1 Posted July 6, 2006 Report Posted July 6, 2006 Was wondering if anyone else is heading out to any of the Hurghada resorts in August or I am likely to be the only one risking low tides and kids on holiday????? Quote
joff Posted August 1, 2006 Report Posted August 1, 2006 i know this is an old thread, but is magawish at hurghada going to be a good spot for me and girlfriend, both beginners with our own kit?.... wanna leave in a couple of weeks.... we aint going upwind yet, but wanna learn to with alot of practice and few lessons.... I'm a bit confused by the thread above....anyone got some advice??? Quote
kiteingcolin Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Posted August 2, 2006 yes it's good for what you want, you will have to register with the sports shop, colana, but then its all easy and safe, big long walk around to newbies bay every day, which is the only downside realy, you will love the whole experience(apart from the hot walk) as soon as you can sail upwind they let you use the main beach 12 ft from the shop and beach cafe, much better! the abu somer set up is better for a lot of reasons but the colana /magawish set up is very good, and better than anywhere in the uk,and the beers cheaper, Quote
Lord T Posted August 2, 2006 Report Posted August 2, 2006 Hi Colin I just got back from 5 day 4 night experience at the Sheraton at Soma Bay. It was great. Kiting in the morning (with my new 12m Ion) to finish up with a small downwinder to the hotel. About ten poeple and about 8 from fun kite (out of Safaga). The kids 3 and 7, were at the kids club most of the day, the wives went to cascades spa and got pampered. Afternoon was followed by taking the kids snorkelling on a very nice reef (I am a diver so I was pleased with it), green backed turtles, coral, nemos etc etc, catamaraning, and lots more. We all loved it and will go back. The kiting spot is good although it is off sure but they have a boat and charge 10 euros for use of the boat, kite handlers. Wind of 4 or higher 85% of the days. Next door to the Sheraton is the Robinson hotel (German mainly) very kid friendly as was the Sheraton) and this is were the boat leaves in the morning to take you to their kiting spot. If you stay at the Sheraton you have to go to this hotel and hop on the boat unless you have a car. No one around, no buildings just you and the wind. Intercontinental has a hotel around the bay as well that as a centre and i think you can kite from infront of the hotel with mainly cross sure winds. El Gouna is great, kiting from the movenpick is crap, coral small take off zone (and dangerous ... to close tot he hotel) they overcharge kiters! You have to drive around to the kiting beach that is over crowded and too many posers. El gouna is nice though, shops, bars, hotels, kiting wise though mmmhh. I wouldn't go to Hurghada, concrete resorts everywhere its just a mess. The Sheraton closed down operations there and moved to Soma Bay. If you are just going for the kiting and dont care about hotel comfort look into other options, mind you no wind nothing to do. There are some great beaches in Egypt. My choice if you going to pay for it is soma bay. Quote
kiteingcolin Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Posted August 2, 2006 one of the guys from ainsdale is off to the intercontinental hotel in somer bay, they are off for 2 weeks full board and all watersports included, they have upgraded to one of the massive suites at the front of the hotel with 20 ft garden balcony, overlooking the beach, it's costing around £450 a week in high season next week! sounds cheap to me, i cant wait till jan/feb, Quote
joff Posted August 2, 2006 Report Posted August 2, 2006 cheers for info colin. so if i go with waveriders, is colana gonna be the place i get a couple of lessons? why is abu soma better? would that apply to begginers too? Quote
kiteingcolin Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Posted August 2, 2006 not having been for lessons at either i dont know which one newbies would prefer, but i would stick my neck out and say the abu somer beach and facilites look the best, no doubt someone will be able to give ist hand advice on the teaching front, both have very shallow waters to fall around in, both are off shore winds with saftey cover, the hotel at abu somer is superb the magawish has had mixed reports, i stopped going to it 3 years ago after being eaten by mossies,and the smell from the drains, Quote
Lord T Posted August 2, 2006 Report Posted August 2, 2006 The Robinson takes people to a spot (5 mins by boat) but it is not shallow but rather deep water (good to learn and emergency pack down in), off shore with boat and Mohammed is s*** hot rider and teacher. They will look after you. If you stay at the Sheraton then you just walk over to the Robinson. No idea on the intercontinental but I know they usually get cross shore winds and its right in front of the hotel. We just stayed at the Sheraton ... it was really nice! Quote
gillstah Posted August 2, 2006 Report Posted August 2, 2006 re: abu soma: http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/viewtopic.php?t=12484 sounds like it might be ok for learning tho, see points about the "5-star" hotel. Quote
joff Posted August 2, 2006 Report Posted August 2, 2006 getting even more confused now!.....off shore winds sound a bit wrong for a newbie not yet staying upwind, their safety cover might have to be a taxi service!.... what ya think?....price is also an issue so we cant go 5*. If you were a learner on a budget, where would you go? really appreciate the advice guys. J Quote
kiteingcolin Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Posted August 2, 2006 off shore winds in 2 ft of water is not an issiue, on a bubget go to the magawish, stupid deals can be had, £200 half board i have been told Quote
joff Posted August 3, 2006 Report Posted August 3, 2006 been offered a wicked deal to ras sudr.....is this place better than magawish for beginners? less busy? what about the ramada hotel? any thoughts?... i know its a mission of a transfer and not much to do other than kite....but i'm going with the gf and we dont mind it quiet. just want to find a great spot where we wont get good kiters getting angry with us for getting in their way, and somewhere we can progress in great conditions. Also wondering, will i be overpowered with my 13m instinct out there? (i weigh 12.5 stone...) and my gf 9m (9 stone)..... Quote
Mark_Sims Posted August 4, 2006 Report Posted August 4, 2006 If that is still with waveriders then you are talking about the CNS crew and Paradise Hotel. The CNS crew are very good and I had lessons for the whole week as by the time I would have rented kit it all sort of equaled out (kit included with lessons). During my week I was mostly on 7m and 9m as it was nice and windy. You can email the crew there via their website www.fun-kite.com Great place to learn and the good kiters go further out for neck deep jumping depth. The CNS boys are also very good at helping carry kites back up the beach and the boat does come out to you when you've spent the last 20mins trying to drag upwind to your board (twice in my case). Not a lot else to do there, but nice swimming pool, not that I ever got to it. regards, Mark Quote
joff Posted August 4, 2006 Report Posted August 4, 2006 cheers for info mark. 13m might be a bit much then! Quote
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