Holiday Review: Egypt
In this holiday review we join SIA’s support network coordinator Gaynor Thompson as she and her family explore Hurghada on the east coast of Egypt
I find travelling makes me very anxious due to the chronic pain and fatigue caused by my cauda equina syndrome. But, after a family bereavement, we needed something to look forward to and so, as a party of ten, my family and I travelled to Hurghada in Egypt.
Travel to Gatwick
I was dreading the long journey; my pain and fatigue are seriously challenged by driving to the airport, the plane ride etc. But overall, the travel from the UK was great, with thanks mostly to Gatwick’s special assistance team.
Once at Gatwick we used their holiday parking service. We parked, dropped off keys and got the shuttle bus to the hotel, which was five minutes away. Once off the bus there were no clear signs of which way to walk safely to the hotel, so improved signage there would be helpful.
Our Premier Inn hotel on the north terminal was very accessible with lots of space. Check in was quick and the staff happily changed my room so I was on a lower floor.
Gatwick Airport
The next morning we checked in using the special assistance electronic bays, which were very fast and efficient. We went through to security where the special assistance area was very busy. We had to wait 20 minutes as there were no wheelchairs left (which four of us needed).
A lady took us from there, straight through to security checks and stayed with us until we got onto an electric cart, which took us from security all the way to our boarding gate. The driver checked us in at the gate and we boarded very quickly which took a lot of the stress out of the airport environment for me.
Hurghada airport, Egypt
Upon arrival in Hurghada airport. There was no special assistance off the flight. We had to walk a long way to security where there were people with wheelchairs asking if we needed help. The coach transfer was on a small, unmarked bus. Passenger’s luggage went on top of the roof. My husband put our luggage on top as the staff were nagging for tips to do it for us. We were a little concerned, but we got to the hotel safely.
Hotel
In Hurghada we stayed at the Titanic Resort & Aqua Park. The hotel was very spacious and had a lot of ramps and two lifts inside. We were originally put on the 4th floor, but we paid 70 euros to upgrade for the week and were given a larger room on the ground floor with closer access to the restaurant and pool.
I was worried about getting around the park due to its size, but the outside area was flat and had a lot of seating and places to rest. The staff were amazing, all going above and beyond – if we needed anything there was always a lot of staff available to ask. The beds in the hotel were huge and the most comfortable I have stayed in, away from home. A few of our party had a sickness bug for a few days, along with a lot of very itchy bites which was a shame.
Food & dining
There was plenty to eat and drink at the hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were buffet style, and each night would be a different theme – Seafood, Mexican, curry night. A snack bar by the water offers burgers, hotdogs and ice creams throughout the day. There were restaurants off site too – I would recommend Mumbai – an Indian restaurant about 10 minutes’ drive away in a taxi. A traditional curry and very tasty!
Beach
We had access to a sister hotel’s restaurant and beach which were just four minutes away. A free shuttle bus was available every 30 minutes. This hotel had a beautiful beach with lots of staff to help with any needs. A pathway off the bus ran across the beach, however I didn’t see a path going directly to the sea so the sea may not be accessible for wheelchair users.
The weather was beautiful, mostly 26 degrees every day, and I would definitely return to Egypt in the future. I would recommend if you were planning a trip to Egypt, call ahead and make sure your needs, especially if you are a wheelchair user, can be accommodated.
This story featured in Forward Magazine.