Brenda and John Stewart Davis chant, “It’s cheaper to stay here,” as they sit on the terrace of the Stellar Garden Resort on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. “We turned off the heating, so the electricity and gas bills are included in the service charge,” says Brenda.
“Since we’re retired, we’re indoors all day, so we had the heating on. Now we’re sitting in our flip flops without our coats on.”
The couple are retired tax collectors from Kent and believe they’ve snagged a 2023 holiday bargain. This figure includes flights with luggage from Luton, Gatwick, Manchester or Bristol. Transfers between the airport and Stella Gardens. All-inclusive accommodation at a five-star rated resort, at least in Egypt.
“What a beautiful day,” Brenda, 60, points out as the winter sun shines through the clear blue sky. “People are great.”
John, 70, takes up the subject as follows: No complaints. ”
They are just a few days after their 28 day trip. A very selective company. The £650 price was the leader with very limited losses. Independent After meeting arrivals from Hurghada airport on four designated flights from the UK, only 12 people in total said they had successfully taken advantage of the easyJet Holidays deal.
The travel agency, the package holidays subsidiary of Britain’s largest low-cost airline, declined to disclose whether it has more than 12 beneficiaries.
Brenda and John Stewart Davis actually paid less than the deal quoted and got it for £609 each. Also in USD he had to pay $25 to get the visa on arrival.
“The only thing we take into account is the tip money,” says Brenda. “All the staff are very pleasant.”
They certainly provide meticulous service, even on properties where the fun feels industrialized. Down a cup of tea or a pint of beer will magically make another person seem unbidden. is as follows: “Glass too small”.
Red Sky: View from the Beach at Sunset
(Simon Calder)
The Stella Gardens Resort has over 700 rooms, 3 restaurants, 8 swimming pools, mini golf, table tennis and a range of bars including 1 basement venue with Russian nightclub smoke and Smirnoff ambiance .
This is not surprising as the clientele appears to be fairly evenly split between British and Russian customers. Egypt has imposed no restrictions on flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, much closer than Luton, where Brenda and John Stewart Davis arrived.
With a main buffet (providing more catering to a full British brigade than a Russian clientele) and a constant supply of excellent Lebanese and Chinese cuisine at the restaurant, the couple believes numbers are at an advantage.
Couples say they typically spend between £100 and £200 a week on food, drinks, takeaways and other treats. You will also save not only on utility bills, but also on transport costs, especially gasoline.
Karl, who recently arrived from Manchester as another beneficiary of easyJet’s mega package, agrees. If we were doing that, there would be no comparison. It’s cheap when you come here.
“You don’t have to cater or cook. And it’s just a little bit of winter sun.”
His wife, Julie, added: we just brought a book. Read on, relax.
Given the immediate vicinity, it looks like a good plan for the next few weeks.Like the rest of the Lucky Dozen, Carl and Julie are eligible to receive a gold band. This is a plastic bracelet that allows access to its sister property, Stella Beach, with frontage over the Red Sea and neat rows of sunbeds.
However, going further requires considerable effort in terms of time and money. Sutera Gardens is located in Meraki Gulf, 20 miles south of Hurghada (including a very serious police checkpoint). Three buses run daily to Hurghada’s marina for €7 (£6) each way. But the antiquity that Egypt is universally celebrated for is frustratingly far away.
Sheila Williams of North Wales booked a £600 week-long holiday just three days before her departure. “She was a little surprised by what Hurghada has to offer,” she admits.
“The stores all look the same. There are a lot of T-shirt and handbag stores,” she says.
Pyramid sales are not popular at resorts. Excursions to the monuments of Giza (outskirts of Cairo) and the treasures of Luxor are offered, but require hours of travel.
“I knew Egypt was full of history, so I thought the area had more history than it actually did.
But even holidaymakers who couldn’t stay here for a month at the bargain price of £650 seem happy.
Sunny Afternoon: Helen and Terry Bateman Enjoying the Egyptian Weather
(Simon Calder)
Helen and Terry Bateman from Gloucestershire paid £1,200 each for the same 28 days. “We’re actually overjoyed,” Terry says. “I can’t live in the house because of it.”
The two had previously vacationed in Thailand in January, but long flights and rising costs brought them closer to home.
“What we saw about this hotel, the facilities and the staff, was just out of this world,” says Terry. “They are really nice people. I hope the rest of the month continues. Until January 31st, let’s enjoy the sunshine and enjoy the weather.”
Digital nomads are nowhere to be seen. Like everyone else in Egypt for an extended period of time, Helen and Terry are not constrained to travel to work.
Brenda Stewart-Davis has a message for everyone at home.