The Red Sea’s best kept secret – lesser-known resort with 33C summers & all-inclusive for £23pp
A HOLIDAY abroad doesn’t have to break the bank this year, depending on where you go.
There is a holiday destination that Brits may not be aware of that has hot weather, short flights – and bargain deals too.
Why El Gouna?
El Gouna, which translates to “the lagoon in Arabic” in Egypt is just 12 miles from Hurghada, a popular holiday destination with Brits, while the airport is around 25 miles away.
Flights are less than six hours from the UK, with both Wizz Air and easyJet operating daily flights.
It is a relatively new destination, having been developed in 1989 by Egyptian billionaire Onsi Sawiris with the resorts scattered across 20 man-made islands.
Now seen as an affordable luxury resort there are a number of sandy beaches including Zeytuna beach and Moods beach.
It is sunny all year round, with it rarely dropping below 20C during the winter with highs of 33C.
A TUI spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “As a lesser-known resort in Egypt, El Gouna is not only affordable, but it’s a great choice for those looking to explore beyond the typical hotspots of Egypt.
“One of the benefits is that you can easily walk to the resort centre in the evening, and there’s also a great hop-on hop-off bus service and tuk tuks to get around the resort.”
What are the best El Gouna holiday deals?
Holidays can be found for as little as £410pp, and that’s with all meals and drinks included.
The cheapest deal we’ve found is seven nights all-inclusive at Panorama Bungalows Resort El Gouna, costing from £410pp.
Other four-star deals including seven nights at Dawar El Omda Hotel for £497pp and Casa Cook for £423pp.
There are 18 hotels to choose from, many overlooking the ocean with some even having their own overwater villas.
For flights, the closest airport is Hurghada, and flight-only deals start from £90 with easyJet flights.
And all-inclusive hotels can be found for as little as £23pp a night – the cheapest we found included El Karma Beach Resort & Aqua Park and The Three Corners Rihana Resort.
What is El Gouna like?
While most of the hotels are all-inclusive, there is lots to do outside of the hotel, easily accessed by a tuk-tuk.
The Abu Tig Marina has affordable restaurants and bars with more than 100 to choose from and cruises include Freek, Japanese, Italian and Indian.
Many also visit the destination for water sports, with snorkelling, diving and waterskiing popular with tourists, as well as glass bottom boat tours.
If you aren’t a fan of the ocean, there are activities such as horseback riding, go-karts and biking.
The region is also known for its 18-hole golf course.
And lots of hotels offer day trips such quad biking and beach safaris.
What else do I need to know about El Gouna?
El Gouna is two hours ahead of the UK.
While Arabic is the official language of Egypt, but English is widely spoken at the resorts.
The local currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP) with £10 around 367 EGP.
You don’t need to be vaccinated to visit El Gouna but your passport but have at least 6 months left on it when you arrive.
You will need a visa to visit El Gouna which you can get on arrive and costs around £10.