Penelope Granycome review 19 Sep 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It's almost impossible to put into words how restful, life affirming and soul enhancing this yoga diving holiday at the Bedouin Moon hotel has been. The combination of learning deeply restful, energising and challenging breathing yoga techniques with diving over some of the most stunning reefs in the world I will never ever forget. Barbara Gordon who teaches yoga and Monica Farrell, also a practitioner of yoga and a world class diving instructor took me on a journey that was so much more than a holiday - it was a fabulous journey into being present on the moment, with oneself and revelling in the teeming waters of the Red Sea!
Monica's expertise and passion for diving and the sea life is unprecedented. I have never felt as safe diving as with her and of you are a beginner, you have nothing to fear, Monica will take incredibly good care of you and make your learning and understanding of this amazing sport a joy. Even if you are an experiences diver - she will change your approach for ever, removing much of the ego and competition that sometimes seeps in causing stress - an absolute no no! Combines with the yoga and learning to breathe properly, a years worth of stress and emotional tension has lifted in a week!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To really open yourself up to a unique and precious kind of 'holiday' - you will benefit from it far more than lying in some cloying resort hotel hungover and bloated from too many piņa coladas! Dahab in Sinai is a stunning area but the culture is different from the main resorts and you will feel very much part of the local Egyptian community. I felt part of a family in my week here. Expect to be challenged and to learn things about yourself that you may not expect!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Very much so - the wonderful Bedouin Moon hotel is run by the locals who treated me with great kindness and the money you spend is going straight back into that community. If you are a diver you will be aware of the damage it can cause to the underwater world through poorly trained divers crashing into reefs, boat pollution etc but Monica Farrell will change how you dive forever. I learnt so much about achieving perfect buoyancy and relaxation (therefore safety) underwater and have a new found respect for the sea.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A top score is not high enough - it was out of this world - literally! But - will put you right back in touch with your own world in the best way!
Fiona Tibbitt review 17 Oct 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The yoga was wonderful, the diving was awesome and two Bedouin children spontaneously helped me beach clean on my last day.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Buy your water in large containers from Dahab and refill your bottles so you use less plastic and it's much cheaper. Depressingly there is no recycling so take a spare shopping bag also to avoid using plastic ones. Suggest the hotel buy large containers so guests can refill from there at a small charge. The flouro night dive is very overpriced for what it was. It was good fun but not worth 60 Euro.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people were employed in the hotel but there were no reduced environmental impacts I was aware of. They did mention they had done beach cleans and environmental discussions were had with some of the instructors but that was it. I have suggested to them to buy large containers of water for guests to refill from to reduce the amount of plastic bottles as there is no recycling and also to take responsibility for the house beach and keep it clean with organised beach cleans including the guests (suggested holding a barb-b-que and beach clean as an incentive) in the hope other hotels will do the same. We'll see if they take up the idea.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a fabulous holiday as it incorporated my two favourite things yoga and diving. I was saddened as I could see the reefs are suffering under the pressure of tourism, litter, diving and fishing but Dahab has a fabulous energy about it despite it looking like a construction site. However the people are charming and the hotel was great. Basic but it had rea character and the pool was wonderful. I would love to return Enchalla. Thanks to all the staff at Bedouin Moon and Reef 2000.
Read the operator's response here:
We are glad you had a good holiday with us and thank you for your positive comments, we take all feedback onboard. please see our response below in regard to your queries about environmental issues:
We give all our guests a local handmade, hand painted bag and tell them part of the reason for this is to reduce the use of plastic bags. In regard to your query about the water containers, we are just about to buy a water cooler for the yoga room for this very reason. Guests can also buy 5ltre bottles at the supermarket.
All hotel rubbish is separated and goes to the re-cycling plant in Nuwaiba.. Paper is re-cycled in the office, and long life bulbs are used in parts of the hotel. All left over food goes to local camels and goats.
The flouro night dive mentioned is offered by another local operator. We offer yoga diving night dives but not 'flouro'. It is a new technology not readily available worldwide so is expensive.
The reef indeed has suffered terribly because of tourism and diving and construction. We specifically dive in small groups and under instruction so that the divers who are mostly responsible for this destruction are well enough supervised so that they do not damage the reefs. Reefs are damaged because of unawareness and self centeredness of tourists and industry. Yoga is all about awareness therefore our entire course is the remedy to this global problem.
We hope this answers some of your questions and wish you all the best in your future travels.
Tania Charles review 29 May 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There are too many to mention. This was my first visit to Egypt and the holiday was a great introduction to Dahab and diving in the region. The diving was amazing. I was the only person on the course the week I went in early April so had one-to-one diving sessions. The diving was extremely relaxed and there were a few occasions when the instructor and I were the only divers on a stretch of reef. The yoga classes were great and very informative. I've learnt a lot from both elements of this holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go with an open mind and take time to learn about the local people, culture and a little Egyptian Arabic before you go. As a lone female traveller I didn't encounter any problems whilst out there. I felt perfectly safe. Dress conservatively when out and about. Make sure you try the Bedouin Tea. Drink plenty of water (bottled water is cheap so there's no excuse).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, absolutely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An amazing experience and great chillout. I'll definitely be returning.
Deborah Hollis review 6 Jan 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the differences in the fishes between the Red Sea and the Caribbean.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Eat at the Nirvana Indian Restaurant and the Blue House Thai. Great food. Remember to drink lots of water.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent!! I really enjoyed the diving and the food.
Christine Hughes review 22 Nov 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really enjoyed the yoga on the beach and the Bedouin dinner!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are very into diving then explore the dive options before you go to ensure that you get to all the best sites with the least crowd! Although the yoga dive groups are very small and the yoga dive experience is very relaxed an experienced diver might want to stay on and do other sites and some of the shore diving sites get very busy.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. Although there are some environmental concerns as the reef is not in great condition and lots of divers come from Sharm every day.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very relaxing and enjoyable.
Samantha Cristoforetti review 6 Jan 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There is a true sense of community in Dahab that made me feel absolutely safe and taken care of at all time. Diving was spectacular and Boris was a great instructor. Yoga was a great way of taking care of my body and spirit.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you check the expected temperatures if you are going in winter and pack accordingly, do not just assume that "Egypt is warm"!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It seems to me that the local Bedouin community greatly benefits from tourists as their main source of income.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of the best holidays of my life!
Nancia Leggett review 21 Sep 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best memories will be of the other guests I met on the holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Choose a sea-view room with a balcony.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I wasn't made aware of this.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
If you love yoga and diving this is a great way to combine the two, but I felt it could have been managed better.
Read the operator's response here:
We provide an alternative to "factory diving" in that our dive professionals are diving for the reasons of love, protection of and education about our underwater world, not mainly profit. Our dive pros are actively involved with reef conservation in Dahab with agencies such as M.A.T.E. The dive operations leader has personally trained many local Egyptians and Bedouin to dive and participate in the dive operations on a non profit basis- including our Bedouin driver and assistant who was present during the course. Our dive leader is one of the only foreign residents to speak Arabic and Bedouin and involved in training locals in the dive industry.
Suzanne Morris review 26 Sep 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The diving.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The Airport can be a bit confusing when you come to get you Visa. Don't expect luxury, but if you want genuine people and a great time this is the holiday for you.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant! Should have gone for longer.
Sophie Anderson review 11 Nov 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The People and the Yoga
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for very basic accommodation. But the facilities such as pool and Yoga room are great!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not necessarily
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Really good
