5 tips to spend a week in El-Gouna for LE 5,000

CAIRO – 12 September 2018: El-Gouna is located 22 km north of Hurghada International Airport and 470 km away from Cairo. It is famous for being the perfect spot for various water sports.

There are six districts in El-Gouna: Marina Town, Mediterranean District, Nubian Quarter, Hilltop District and the Italian Quarter. There are also three major central areas in El-Gouna where there are houses, shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs, namely Down Town area, Tamar Hanah area, and Marina Abu Tig area, which are being developed to accommodate large yachts.

El-Gouna is known to be one of the most expensive cities in Egypt but here are some tips that might change your mind:

1. Don’t travel by your car

Don’t spend your money on fuel if you are traveling from Cairo to El-Gouna; you can travel through any of the transportation companies. El-Gouna is a place where you can walk from one place to another very easily and if you can’t walk, the city offers rickshaws which are considered the official transportation means there. You can get a rickshaw using Careem or Uber applications while in El-Gouna and it costs LE10 (0.65 $) for the trip that is less than 2 kilometers.

2. Don’t stay at a five-star hotel

Three-star hotels in El-Gouna are like five-star hotels at any other place. All El-Gouna hotels include restaurants, private pools, lakes or beaches, good rooms, friendly staff and luxurious facilities. The average rate per person is only LE 500/ night (28 $).

3. Don’t book your hotel because it has a private beach

The most popular beach in El-Gouna is called Moods with an entrance fee of LE 150/ person (8.7 $). The beach is considered to be one of the best places for diving and snorkeling. But, if you don’t want to visit it, most of the hotels that don’t have private beaches offer a boat to take you to another hotel which has a beach for free.

4. Don’t book your meals with your hotel reservation.

If you want to treat yourself to a delicious dinner, the marina gives you a wide variety of five-star restaurants. You can feast upon a meal of fresh seafood, Italian homemade dishes, burgers and of course the traditional oriental food. El-Gouna offers a wide selection of restaurants and you can choose according to your preference and budget.

5. Don’t search for night life only

El-Gouna is famous for its wild night life, but it may cost you a little bit more than usual. So, instead, you should enjoy the Aquarium located in El-Gouna's downtown for only LE 20 for Egyptians. The Aquarium contains a huge variety of different sea creatures including rare species of fish and reptiles.

Also, you can enjoy safari rides in the desert or on the beach for low prices, where you can take a camel ride for 15 minutes for LE 30 (2$) or rent a beach buggy t for 2 hours for LE 100 (6$).