Look, I've seen tourists pay triple what they should. Every week. Let me show you how we — the locals — actually book stuff. Same experience. Way less euros.
Okay so... I'm Salem. I've been living here for over 15 years. Not gonna lie — I've watched a LOT of tourists get absolutely fleeced over the years. Like, proper painful to watch. And the thing is? They're often paying more for WORSE experiences. Makes no sense.
The Germans especially — they're organized, they plan everything... but they book through the wrong places and end up paying €200 for something that costs €60. Hurts my soul a little bit. So here's the actual guide. The one I tell my friends back home when they visit. No marketing nonsense. Just what works.
Real talk. This is where most people mess up. They go to Lufthansa or TUI... pay full price... done.
But here's what actually works: there's this flight comparison site that checks literally everything — charter flights, budget airlines, connecting routes, the lot. Same destinations. Often 40-60% cheaper. Not kidding.
Best months for cheap flights to Hurghada? October, November, early December. Skip Christmas/New Year — everyone's coming then. Same with Russian school holidays in January... gets busy. February-March is nice — warm enough, not crazy packed.
Checks 200+ airlines including charters • Free to compare • Book where it's cheapest
Okay this one's gonna sound weird but... the same hotel room? Different prices depending on WHERE you book it. Like, massive differences sometimes. I've seen €120/night on one site, €75/night on another. Same room. Same dates. Same everything.
The comparison tool works for hotels too — it pulls prices from Booking, Agoda, Hotels.com, all of them. Shows you where it's cheapest. Simple. Takes like 2 minutes.
For families? Look at family resorts with water parks — keeps the kids busy while you actually relax. All-inclusive can work out cheaper than you'd think if you calculate meals separately. Especially with kids who eat constantly. You know how it is.
Same hotels, different prices • Checks all major booking sites • Free cancellation options
So. You land. It's like 2 AM because that's when European flights always seem to arrive. You're tired. Maybe kids are crying. You walk outside and immediately get swarmed by taxi drivers. "Where you go? Good price! Special deal!"
Yeah. That "special deal" is gonna be about 3x what it should cost.
Look, I recommend KiwiTaxi to basically everyone who asks now. Not because they pay me — because it solves like 90% of the problems tourists have with transport. Book before you leave home. Price is locked in. Driver's waiting with your name on a sign when you walk out. Done.
For daily getting around? Uber works here. Download it. No haggling. Price before you book. Most drivers speak some English. Honestly way less drama than street taxis.
This is where I get a bit passionate. Because I've watched tourists pay €15 for shawarma that costs €2.50 at a local place. THE SAME SHAWARMA. Just... different plastic chairs basically.
That said — if you're at an all-inclusive? Just eat there. You've paid for it. Don't feel you HAVE to go out. But if you do want local experiences, these prices show what's actually normal. Not the Marina tourist menu prices.
Diving is why most people come. And yeah, prices vary like crazy.
Okay so if you're paying attention, here's roughly what a week could cost — done properly:
| Category | Budget (2 people) |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Flights (return) | €300-500 |
| 🏨 Hotel (7 nights, 3-4 star) | €350-600 |
| 🚐 Airport transfers (return) | €30-50 |
| 🍽️ Food (mix of local + resort) | €100-200 |
| 🤿 Activities (3-4 excursions) | €120-200 |
| TOTAL | €900-1,550 |
Compare that to €2,500+ I see people pay when they book "normal" ways. Same experience. Sometimes worse, because the package trips are so packed and rushed. Just... think about it.
Start with flights and hotel — that's where the biggest savings are. Then sort your airport transfer. The rest you can figure out when you arrive.
Local expert living in Hurghada since 2009. I've seen thousands of tourists come through here — the ones who did it right and the ones who overpaid for everything. Now I just tell everyone what actually works. Questions? Check the First Visit Guide or send a message.
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