“Egypt is often chosen based on the hotel – price, star rating, pools, or reviews. However, I would first suggest choosing the resort based on the type of vacation you want, and only then look for a hotel. For families with small children, couples who want to dive, or travelers who like to go out in the evenings, we would recommend different places,” says Brigita Kučinskaitė, travel expert at “Travel Academy.”
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Hurghada – the most versatile choice
Hurghada is the most versatile of these three resorts. There is a large selection of hotels, many sandy beaches, and for those who want to spend at least part of their vacation outside the hotel – restaurants, shops, a marina, markets, and a wide range of excursions. It is also convenient to travel from Hurghada to Luxor. For these reasons, it is often worth choosing for families, first-time visitors to Egypt, or groups with different vacation expectations.
“For families with small children, I would suggest looking not only at the hotel’s star rating but also at the specific beach: whether the entry into the sea is sandy and gradual, or if swimming is only comfortable from a pontoon. A good hotel does not necessarily mean the most convenient beach for a child,” says the travel expert.
Sharm El Sheikh – for reefs and more active relaxation
Sharm El Sheikh is best suited for those who value diving or snorkeling. The resort surroundings include the Ras Mohammed National Park, the reefs of the Strait of Tiran, and in some hotels, the coral reef is accessible directly from the shore or pontoon. At the same time, it is a livelier resort: Naama Bay, SOHO Square, and other areas have restaurants, cafes, shops, and nightlife, so couples or groups of friends who do not want to spend the whole week within the hotel grounds feel comfortable here.
In winter, another important criterion is the wind. In Sharm El Sheikh, you can find bays better protected from it, but the exact location of the hotel matters a lot. “For those sensitive to wind, it is not enough to ask whether to choose Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. You need to look at the specific part of the resort where the hotel is – even a difference of several kilometers can be noticeable,” emphasizes the travel expert. This season, Sharm El Sheikh will also be more conveniently accessible for travelers from Kaunas – flights resume on October 3.
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Marsa Alam – for tranquility and the underwater world
Marsa Alam is the quietest of the three resorts. There is less city life here, and more vacation revolves around the hotel, beach, and sea. The region is especially popular for reefs, diving spots, and natural lagoons, with the Wadi al-Gemal nature reserve nearby. Therefore, Marsa Alam is best suited for those seeking peaceful relaxation, nature, and as much time as possible by the Red Sea.
Marsa Alam is the quietest of the three resorts.
“For those who want to walk around the city in the evenings, choose restaurants, or have more activities outside the hotel, Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh will be more suitable. It is also important to evaluate the specific beach: a hotel may have a great reef but an inconvenient entry into the sea, so when traveling with small children or weaker swimmers, it is worth looking for a hotel with a lagoon or sandy access to the water,” advises B. Kučinskaitė.
So which one to choose?
“There is no single best Egyptian resort – there is a resort that best matches the specific person’s vacation expectations. If versatility, family relaxation, and more activities outside the hotel are most important, it is worth starting with Hurghada. If you want good reefs, diving, but also restaurants and nightlife, Sharm El Sheikh is more suitable. And if the priority is tranquility, nature, and as much time as possible by the Red Sea, Marsa Alam is worth choosing. Therefore, before looking at hotels, I would first suggest answering for yourself who you are traveling with, how important the sea and reef are to you, whether you want activities outside the hotel, and what time of year you are traveling,” summarizes B. Kučinskaitė.
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