Your resort

Some useful details on what to expect in your holiday resort in Egypt, Greece and Turkey, including some suggestions on tipping and dress code when visiting religious sites.

Safety in your resort

Our resorts are safe for tourists, but crime is a fact of life in every country, so please take the same care for your safety, and that of your belongings, as you would at home. Take particular care in busy towns and at temples and sites of interest. Please see your representative for tips and advice on local customs, bartering and staying safe in resort. Avoid approaching or feeding cats, dogs, birds and other animals as they may scratch or bite, and can transmit diseases.

Beaches and the sea

Beaches get very hot in the sun, and can have sharp rock areas or coral sand, so we recommend wearing beach shoes. Beach shoes are also recommended when in the water to avoid injury on areas of sharp rock, coral or sea urchins.

Some beaches have a rocky foreshore or shallow coral areas which prevent direct access to the sea. In these cases you may find man-made beach terraces, and jetty or pontoon access to deeper water for swimming.

Beaches may not be supervised by a lifeguard, so take extra care when in the water.

Resort service

All our brochure holidays include the service of our appointed local agent and / or resort representatives. Our team of English-speaking representatives will greet you at the airport, accompany you to your accommodation, and in selected properties may invite you to an orientation meeting held the following day.

Your representative will let you know when they will be at your accommodation or their resort office, and how they can be contacted in an emergency. Their details are also displayed on an information noticeboard in your hotel.

If you have a complaint about any aspect of your holiday, please let your representative know. They will do everything they can to liaise with the resort team and our headquarters Duty Office to solve the problem as quickly as possible and minimize any inconvenience.

Building work

Some areas of the resorts we feature are still expanding and being developed, so there may be building or construction work taking place in the vicinity of your accommodation. There may also be some general refurbishment taking place in your hotel. We have no control over such work, but it is important to us that you are aware of any significant building or refurbishment that may be going on during your stay. When we are informed of any such work we will tell you at the time of booking or, if you have already booked, we will contact you before departure. Please refer to the Booking Conditions.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs

Most resorts have a wide range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs in addition to those in the hotels themselves. We have included some examples of these in our resort guides for your information. The examples listed are for information only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by us. These establishments do not form part of your holiday package, and we cannot accept liability for the quality of service offered, or any issues arising from them.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a period of Islamic religious fasting that lasts for around 30 days. During Ramadan, some cafés and restaurants will close between sunrise and sunset, and there may be restrictions on the serving of alcohol. Service in our hotels should not be affected.

Taxis & limousine service

Local taxis are widely available in the resort areas. Always agree the fare with the driver before you get in the taxi, and do not pay until you reach your intended destination.

In Egypt, only authorised vehicles are allowed into hotel grounds, so you can only hail local taxis outside the hotel, and they must drop you at the hotel gates. Most hotels operate a limousine service. This is a private taxi service licensed to access the hotel grounds and may be more expensive than using local taxis.

Tipping

Tipping, generally known as Baksheesh, is standard practice in North Africa, not just for tourists. You will be expected to tip porters, waiters, pool attendants, barmen, boat crew, coach drivers and taxi drivers – anyone who offers you any type of service or assistance. The general rule is to tip little and often. It is advisable to keep plenty of small change/notes for tipping purposes. People will accept €1 and £1 coins. The US $1 dollar bill is popular as it can be easily exchanged in banks.

Religious sites

When visiting religious sites such as mosques, monasteries and churches, you will be expected to cover up, wear long trousers or skirts, and in some cases a headscarf. You may also be required to remove your shoes. If you have any doubts, simply ask your representative what is appropriate.

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