Four Nights in El Gouna: A Little Taste of the Red Sea

When Stuart and I decided to head to Egypt for a few days, we weren't looking for a busy sightseeing itinerary. We wanted sunshine, good food and, quite simply, a chance to switch off.

So that's exactly what we did.

We spent four nights at the Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna, and whilst I did manage to squeeze in a little work in the form of hotel inspections, the rest of the time was very much about R&R.

And it was bliss.

Our stay at the Steigenberger

We stayed in a Lagoon View Junior Suite, which gave us plenty of space and a balcony with a lovely view across the water.

The pool quickly became our favourite spot. It's long and spacious, with very comfortable sunbeds and plenty of room around the pool. Even when we wandered down at around 11am, we had no problem finding a lounger.

There was pool service for drinks and a pool bar serving lunch and snacks, so once we had settled ourselves down with a book, there wasn't much reason to move.

For me, that was exactly the point.

After a busy year, I loved having a few days where the most important decision of the morning was which sunbed to choose and what book I was going to read.

Breakfast was also a highlight, with a huge choice of fruit, cereals, breads and pastries, cold meats and cheeses, freshly made waffles and pancakes, plus an egg and omelette station and several hot food options.

One thing to mention for British guests is that the breakfast isn't particularly geared towards a traditional cooked English breakfast, so don't expect lots of bacon and sausages. But there was plenty of choice and we certainly weren't disappointed.

Exploring El Gouna

Although we were very happy staying by the pool, one of the things I really liked about El Gouna was how easy it was to head out in the evening. The Tuk Tuks are a fun way to get around, and journeys have a fixed price of just 50 Egyptian pounds, around 80p. We used them several times to get to dinner and explore the different areas of the resort.

I'd definitely recommend using them rather than arranging a car for short journeys. They're quick, inexpensive and part of the El Gouna experience!

We had three very different evenings.

For Stuart's birthday, we went to Signor Sassi, part of the San Carlo group, overlooking Fanadir Marina. The food and service were excellent and it was a lovely setting for a birthday dinner.

Another evening we ate at Bongoyo in Downtown, an African-inspired restaurant with a much more relaxed atmosphere. We'd tried to get into Chicha next door, but it was fully booked. Having walked past and seen how busy it was, I can see why!

Our final dinner was at Maritim in Abu Tig Marina, where Stuart cooked his salmon on a volcanic stone at the table and I had the fish of the day, sea bass. Sitting outside overlooking the marina, with the friendly service, made it another lovely evening.

And that's one of the things I really liked about El Gouna. You can spend the day doing very little, but still have somewhere different to go for dinner each evening.

Seeing El Gouna through a travel advisor's eyes

Of course, I couldn't visit a destination like El Gouna without wanting to see some of the hotels for myself. We were lucky enough to have a fantastic afternoon hosted by the resort team, including a lagoon tour and visits to several of the resorts.

My tip would be to take a lagoon tour if you're staying for more than a couple of nights. It was such a good way to understand how the different islands, lagoons, hotels and marinas all fit together and gave us a much better sense of the destination.

We visited the Sheraton, The Chedi, Casa Cook and La Maison Bleue, all of which offer something quite different. We also had lunch at The Beach House at The Chedi, overlooking the beach. Definitely one of the more enjoyable parts of a hotel inspection!

Seeing the properties first-hand was particularly useful for me. I now have a much better feel for which hotels I would recommend for couples, families, groups of friends, golfers or clients simply looking for somewhere lovely to escape to for some winter sunshine.

A few things I noticed

We visited in early October and the weather was lovely. We had around 31°C during the day, dropping to about 23°C overnight, and it was a fairly dry heat rather than feeling particularly humid.

The evenings were still warm enough to sit outside in short sleeves, which made dining outdoors particularly enjoyable.

We did have a rather spectacular electric storm on our last evening, with lots of thunder and lightning and just a few spots of rain. We were told this was quite unusual for El Gouna, so I think we were just lucky enough to experience something a little different!

Cash: We made sure we had plenty of smaller Egyptian notes for tipping. 50, 100 and 200 Egyptian pound notes were particularly useful. Credit cards are generally accepted in restaurants and bars, but I would still recommend having some cash with you.

Safety: El Gouna felt extremely safe to us. Passport details are taken when you arrive through the main entrance to the resort and there is security at the gate. We felt completely comfortable wandering around in the evenings and, actually, I would be very happy staying there on my own.

And finally, if you're arriving into Hurghada and buying your Egyptian visa on arrival, don't be tempted by the people offering to arrange it for you for a higher price. We found the official process very straightforward. The visa costs US$30 and the official booths are in the arrivals hall.

Who would I recommend El Gouna to?

Having now experienced it for myself, I can see why El Gouna works for such a wide range of clients.

Couples and groups of friends will enjoy the choice of hotels, restaurants and bars, with plenty of options for evenings out. Families are well catered for too, although I'd be selective about the hotel, as some are much more family-focused than others. With activities such as boat trips, snorkelling, horse riding, Go Karting and the trampoline park, there is plenty to keep children and teenagers occupied.

For golfers and more active travellers, there are two golf courses, kiteboarding, diving, tennis, padel and Sliders Cable Park, so there's no shortage of things to do if sitting by the pool isn't your idea of a holiday.

I'd also recommend El Gouna to older clients looking for winter sunshine, particularly those who want a relaxed resort with a good choice of restaurants and the freedom to explore without needing to hire a car.

For me, one of El Gouna's biggest strengths is its versatility. You can be as active or as relaxed as you like, and choosing the right hotel makes all the difference.

Would I go back?

Absolutely. We went to El Gouna wanting four nights of sunshine and R&R, and that's exactly what we got. I loved having time to relax by the pool, enjoy some lovely dinners and explore somewhere completely new, without feeling we needed to fill every day with activities.

It was the perfect balance of relaxation and exploring, and I came away with a much better understanding of the destination and the hotels I'd recommend to different clients.

If you're looking for winter sunshine with more to offer than just a beach and a hotel, I'd definitely recommend giving El Gouna a look. Whether you want to spend your days relaxing by the pool, get out on the water or enjoy a different restaurant each evening, there's plenty of choice without the need for a packed itinerary. And with such a variety of hotels, there's a good chance of finding somewhere that suits you.