Tracy Watson review 4 Apr 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable part of the holiday was scuba diving in the Gulf of Aqaba. The diving sites and aquatic life were amazing.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would recommend the day trips around Dahab. We went to the coloured and white canyon which were amazing. Check with the company which footwear would be best to take and how much water to bring as it is a long walk but very enjoyable.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
There were many local people working at the hotel and all tour operators the hotel used were local.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I really enjoyed staying at Dahab. The people, food and view from the hotel was lovely. I would definitely return to this hotel again.
Linda Petra review 25 May 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
On a windy evening, the restaurant staff kindly brought our dinner over to the Bedouin tent, where we were able to enjoy it near the fire and follow it with tiny cups of mint tea and a shared sheesha. Exquisite!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do it! Ask at the desk if you want to go snorkelling, fishing etc, as they are very helpful.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - there appeared to be recycled wood in the beautifully designed bedrooms and we liked that the hotel claims to employ local Bedouin people and to give all organic waste to local goat-herds, sending the rest back to Cairo for recycling...
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb. We just loved the character of this small-ish hotel, we have recommended it to several other people and we would go back there ourselves in a heart-beat!
Carmen Luck review 20 Apr 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The hotel was a wonderful find!! It is beautiful, and all the staff without
exception were very friendly, and helpful - I don't think "NO" is a word they
ever use to their guests!!!! We were able to have some great adventures with our
son, whilst feeling safe & comfortable all the time - which included going along
sand dunes on camels, and having the best bread baked in the sand for lunch.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
1) We made the mistake of bringing US dollars, and had to then change most of
it to Egyptian Pounds (LE) - Just bring local currency.
2) Going to Dahab in the Easter half-term is great if you have kids as the
weather is fab, but manageable with kids.
3) We used a local company to book local tours, including
quad biking, sand dunes on camels and climbing Mount Sinai - and had a great
experience each time.
4) Make sure you confirm taxi prices before leaving the hotel for any trips
longer than the local ride into town or you will be charged more than you
should be.
4) Make sure you arrive with an open mind, and enjoy all your experiences to
the full !!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The hotel is run, and worked by local people who quite clearly have a great
pride and love for what they do, so a big yes! We also used a local tour
company for our excursions, and the guides were all local so it would seem
that a wide range of local people benefit from travellers. The hotel is very
aware of recycling, from feeding the local goat herds waste food, to recycling
plastic bottles. (They even ask that you bring all your waste from your day
trips out back to the hotel so they can dispose of it properly)
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The overall experience was wonderful, with some amazing memories.
Tamsin Smith review 19 Oct 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
A sunset gallop down the beach - utterly thrilling if terrifying!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is such a relaxing place to be that it is tempting to spend most of your time there but try to tear yourself away and snorkel (if only in the seas outside just outside the hotel where the fish and corals are stunning), explore the town and perhaps go only a couple of trips (the Bedouin dinner is very atmospheric). Ask for the local bread with hotel meals (much nicer than the processed stuff they seem to think the tourists will prefer!).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The hotel is very sympathetic to the local environment in design and employees were Egyptian (though only one, as far as we saw, was a local Bedouin). I would have liked to see packed lunches and the Bedouin meal served in recyclable or biodegradable containers (there is a sad quantity of waste plastic in the sea and on the beaches that we did not wish to add to).
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a lovely time - great food, very relaxing and incredibly helpful, efficient and friendly service.
Eleanor Cameron review 27 Sep 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Climbing Mount Sinai under a full moon then sleeping under the stars until sunrise
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Hotel food is good, but usually doesn't include Egyptian style food. If you want more variation in your food, don't book half board at the hotel and eat in Dahab itself sometimes. Dahab is a 10 minute (15 egyptian pound) taxi ride away.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes to some extent, e.g. involvement by local bedouin people, and employment of other local staff.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant, I would thoroughly recommend the accommodation for a relaxing break. When we were there, there were usually less than 20 other guests and it was usually quiet and peaceful, with lots of space around the pool sun loungers and amazing open panoramic views right onto the sea.. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the food was good (although not Egyptian) the pool was lovely, we could snorkel in the sea right by the hotel, and it was a perfect distance from the town of Dahab.
Anne-Marie Jenkinson review 13 Jul 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All of it! The Egyptian and Bedouin people we met could not have been more friendly, welcoming and obliging - same goes for all the staff at our hotel, Dahab Paradise. We particularly enjoyed diving, snorkelling, dinner in the desert, a trip to Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's monastery, traditional Egyptian buffet at the hotel, Bedouin tea, and meals out in Dahab.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Our holiday was not a luxury holiday, but it was amazing nonetheless. We loved the water sports during the day and Dahab was simply magical at night. The holiday lifted our spirits, but it might not be to everyone's taste.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Our taxi drivers, scuba instructors, guides, and most of the hotel staff were Bedouin and Egyptians. I definitely think the local people benefit from tourists and they certainly made us feel welcome. As for the environment - the hotel seemed to be very environmentally aware. However, we did need taxis to get about and I would be concerned about the impact of so many divers on the coral - although, the off-shore diving (as opposed to boat diving) is better for the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a holiday of a lifetime!
Ruth Tillyard review 31 Dec 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The wonderful snorkelling all along the reef, some of the best of which was right outside the hotel. The 2-day side trip to Petra which was a 7 hour journey each way but well worth it. Also the friendly, attentive and efficient service.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This hotel is well worth a visit, and buying the "Explorers" package meant that a number of things were organised for us thus reducing the hassle factor that you can encounter in these parts, and the hotel willingly tailored it to our own requirements, for example going to Petra for 2 days rather than Petra and Dead Sea, and we felt that the extra time there was crucial to our enjoyment of it. Guro and her co-workers are all most helpful and willing so make the most of that personal service. You can hire snorkelling (and I think diving) equipment from an outlet at the hotel and can organise transport to some of the "hotspots", although we found that doing it from the hotel was equally good, and we could relax and eat around the pool in between sessions. Breakfast was unexciting but perfectly adequate (omelettes made to order), the snack menu was excellent for the daytime, and the main menu a little limited. You can easily walk to other restaurants in 25 + minutes; we enjoyed the quiet situation out of town. All the rooms have balcony or terrace overlooking the pool and gardens and the sea. Take mosquito repellant for a problem which I think is not exclusive to this hotel in Dahab.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It is a small, locally-owned business and all trips etc. make use of local people. Environmental impact was reduced by the small size of the place. We were told that water comes from a private borehole - and supply was certainly plentiful for guests and garden. Building materials included recycled wood items including clever use of old telegraph poles round the dining room. Plastic bottles are recycled. Overall use of plastic could be reduced by having dishes with glass tops for the breakfast bar (which would be nicer to use than peeling back Clingfilm). We noticed that on the trip to Petra, we were almost the only ones to have polystyrene "Breakfast Boxes" while everyone else had cardboard boxes or paper carriers. Electricity use is minimised by very efficient hot water heaters in each bathroom. There is no solar heating - which would have benefited the rather cold pool, but apparently it is very rare here and we certainly saw no solar panels.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely excellent - all credit to Guro and the rest of the staff.
