The Red Sea is blue |
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Most backpackers know Dahab to be a paradise for its superb backpackers' facilities at super low rates. Dahab is also best known for crystal clear blue diving waters, and a nightlife which is hard to beat. Incidentally, this town is also as good a first Egyptian overland stopover from Aqaba, Jordan as well as the starting point for an overnight adventure trip up Mount Sinai.
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While the shopping areas in Dahab are nothing spectacular - shops offering the same tired and beaten souvenirs like jewellery and papyrus - there are numerous t-shirt shops offering a myriad of designs including custom made ones. I had heavenly seafood almost every meal, but be sure to eat out and stay away from the hotel restaurants because you will end up paying double for half the fare, albeit in a better ambience.
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I particularly enjoyed wilding away lazy afternoons, sipping cool pineapple juice, while playing a game of chess of backgammon with a new found acquaintance under a thatched roof bungalow. The ocean laps by and the waves create sweet music to the ears - it is difficult to imagine being anywhere else but the proverbial paradise.
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The Blue Lagoon is reputed to be one of the best diving spots at the Red Sea. Basically you go to Dahab to relax - and relax you definitely will - I planned two nights but stayed six! It's difficult to tear yourself away from paradise! Throw overboard all your weird ideas of crashing five tourist spots into one day. Chill out!
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Gulf Paradise - for US$18 you can enjoy an air-conditioned double bungalow, all meals provided and perfectly cooked to order. The hotel is not located near to where the night life is (amongst the cheap backpacker area), but it is situated right where the super crystal clear diving/snorkelling water is. To get to this diving area, which I assume you would, you would have to walk a good 20-30 minutes in the hot sun if you were to live at the backpacker area. I decided that time was precious, so I paid that little more to enjoy the water all day long - even after sunset. The hotel manager cum tourist guide cum driver cum chef - he does everything! - also speaks good english, and he will either bring your food to your bungalow or to anywhere you choose - even int he candlelight by the beach!
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Located within the Gulf Paradise is a huge, crazy disco, although when I was there it was closed down to due record low tourist levels.
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Fish and Company International, for the freshest seafood in all of Dahab. Pick what you want while it is still swimming/crawling, tell them how you want it done, then sit back and enjoy freshly squeezed iced lime juice. Huge fish, prawns, pita, rice and an array of middle eastern dips together go for less than LE40.
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STERN WARNING: AVOID the PENGUIN HOTEL like a terrible plague. I stayed there for one night after being touted mercilessly, only to realise that it was all along a huge scam. They promised me breakfast, and the next day after having had a huge one, they forced a hefty bill down my throat in a most threatening way. I got away in one piece only after numerous insults (and it can get bad in this part of the world) and after I threatened to go to the tourist police. Never cave in to scams like this, and always go to the tourist police who will almost always side with the tourists. Be forewarned!
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Published on Tuesday August 13th, 2002 by inzaghi
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