EGYPT: Visit Hurghada But Avoid Arguing With Drivers, Microbus Travel Is Not Good For Women,

Hurghada is a resort town on the Red Sea Coast of Egypt. It is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is one of the country's main tourist centres located on the Red Sea coast.

Hurghada was once a fairly small and unimposing fishing village, located next to the Red Sea and boasting a number of superb beaches.

Today, the resort of Hurghada is almost unrecognizable from its past life and has grown to become the most visited tourist destination in the whole of Egypt, with more than 100 different hotels, many of which line the shoreline.

Famous for its superb diving opportunities, Hurghada is especially appealing to those with little experience of scuba diving, who come to marvel at the underwater reefs and awesome marine life.

Tourism is now a huge part of Hurghada and each year, many tourists choose to combine their holiday here with visits to other prominent locations along the Nile Valley, including the relatively nearby city of Luxor.

Holiday resorts and hotels provide aquatic sport facilities for windsurfers, kitesurfers, yachtsmen, scuba divers and snorkelers. Hurghada is known for its watersports activities, nightlife and warm weather.

Daily temperature hovers round 30 °C (86 °F) most of the year, during July and August temperatures reach over 40 °C (104 °F). Many Europeans head to Hurghada for their regular Holidays, specially during the Winter season and spend their Christmas and New Year holidays in the city.

Tourism from Russia dropped drastically after the Metrojet Flight 9268 plane crash in November 2015.

Hurghada stretches for about 36 kilometres (22 mi) along the seashore, and it does not reach far into the surrounding desert. The resort is a destination for Egyptian tourists from Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt, as well as package holiday tourists from Europe.

Today Hurghada counts 248,000 inhabitants and is divided into:

- El Ahia and El Helal, the northern part.

- El Dahar or Downtown is the old part.

- Sekalla is the city center.

- El Kawsar is the modern part.

- El Memsha or Village road is pedestrian road stretching over 4 km.

Along the El Mamsha you find many of Hurghada's new hotels, restaurants and shops. Most of the newest and biggest hotel resorts locates in the area between Mamsha to Sahl Hasheesh or Village road.

After Sahl Hasheesh you find Makadi Bay with it hotels. Dahar is the oldest part of the town, where the town's traditional bazaar, the post office and the long-distance bus stations, Go Bus and Upper Egypt Bus are situated.

Busiest area is it's city center known as Sakala, which is spread along Sheraton Road. There are some hotels, shops and restauants along Sheraton Road.

The city is served by the Hurghada International Airport with scheduled passenger traffic connecting to Cairo and directly with several cities in Europe. A new terminal was opened in 2015 to accommodate rising traffic.

Hurghada has a subtropical-desert climate, with mild-warm winters and hot to very hot summers. Temperatures in the period December–January–February are warm, but in the evenings temperature may drop from average 20 Celsius degrees to 10.

November, March and April are comfortably warm. May and October are hot and the period from June to September is very hot. The average annual temperature of the sea is 24 °C (75 °F), ranging from 21 °C (70 °F) in February and March to 28 °C (82 °F) in August.

The highest temperature recorded occurred on June 12, 2013 and was 46 °C (115 °F), while the lowest record temperature was recorded on February 2, 1993 and was 0 °C (32 °F).

El Qoseir is one of the Egyptian gateways, and one of the oldest cities on the western coast of the Red Sea. In the past it was known by various names, such as Thagho in the pharonic period, Leucos Limen or white port in Greek in the Hellenistic and Ptolemaic period, and Portus Albus in the Roman period.

In the Islamic period it was given the name El Qoseir, which means a small palace or fortress.

Located between Hurghada and Marsa Alam, El Quseir used to be an important port. Many people traveled from there to the land of Punt to buy ivory, leather and incense. During the Ottoman and the Islamic periods, Egyptians and Muslims from North Africa traveled from El Quseir as pilgrims to Mecca.

It was also the only port importing coffee from Yemen. During the French occupation of Egypt, El Qoseir was the arrival point for Arabs and Muslims from Hegaz coming to fight beside the Mamalic against the French army.

The most important sites in El Qoseir are the fort and the water reservoir. The water reservoir was El Qoseir's only source of drinking water 100 years ago.

El Qoseir El Adima is another important site as well. It was the old Roman port where hundreds of amphora and old pottery artifacts were found.

Even the police station is located at a historical site. There are now many bazaars here, as well as cafes, coffee shops and restaurants offering sea food. There are several 300-year-old buildings here: the Ottoman fort and the old mosques El Farran, El Qenawi and El Senousi.

Makadi Bay is a Tourist Resort located 30 km south of Hurghada dedicated only to hotels, shops and clubs. There's no settlements with locals. Place features good sandy beach. Surprisingly, the local delicacy is camel marinaded in Buckfast.

Sharm El Naga is a village, around 40 km (25 mi) south of Hurghada. Its beach contains a beautiful reef cliff.

Soma Bay is a tourist resort situated 45 km (28 mi) south of Hurghada, with various hotels including Palm Royale Soma Bay, La Residence des Cascades, Robinson Club, Sheraton,Kempinski & Caribbean World Resort Soma Bay.

El Gouna is a privately owned luxury hotel town, about 25 km north of Hurghada. Quiet and clean, the town consists of several islands separated by channels and connected by bridges.

Besides 14 hotels and 3 marinas, there are also 2200 private villas and apartments, while many more are under construction. It is promoted by some as Egypt's Venice. It is built on 10 km of beachfront and has unique and diverse architecture.

El Gouna provides diving and watersports centers, horse stables, go-karting, shopping arcades, bazaars, a wide selection of restaurants and bars, night clubs, an internet cafe, four bank branches, many automated teller machines (ATMs), two pharmacies, the El Gouna international school, El Gouna national school, a nursery, a private hospital.

There are three marinas, a library, an airport, one of several casinos on the Red Sea coast, a private radio station, a post office, a museum, real estate offices and an 18-hole golf course designed by Gene Bates with a unique aqua driving range.

El Mahmya is a tourist beachfront camp on the protected Giftun island, 45 minutes by boat from Hurghada.

Although a town in its own right, Hurgada’s current major industry is foreign and domestic tourism, owing to its dramatic landscape, year-round dry and temperate climate and long stretches of natural beaches.

Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various water-sports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkelling.

Dive sites around Abu Ramada Island, Fanadir, Giftun Kebir, and Giftun Soraya are popular. Tourists also visit shipwrecks such as the El Mina or the Rosalie Moller.

The beach at Hurghada is not secluded, out to Sigala the beach is then followed by coastal holiday villages and then desert.

In a 2016 attack and again in a 2017 attack foreign tourists at Hurghada's beach resorts were targeted by terrorists attacks.

Most major airlines in Europe and the Middle East can fly you straight to Hurghada International Airport without having to stop in Cairo. Prices depend on the time of the booking and the airline. As you enter the airport building, you will see a big sign saying Visa 25USD.

You will be ushered towards a stand where you must buy the visa for 25 Euro (over 30USD). You can easily avoid this by going to the National Bank Of Egypt stand in the same hall and presenting your passport, along with exactly 25 US dollars, to the attendant.

He will give you the visa and you will be done in half the time, for half the price.

If you are in Cairo, you can also fly to Hurghada on Egypt Air Express a subsidiary of Egypt Air or Nile Air, which is now servicing domestic locations in Egypt. Prices vary: 400-900 Egyptian pounds depending on the season and how early you book your tickets.

From Sharm el-Sheikh you can fly with Egypt Air for about 450-550 LE, the trip takes about 1 hour.

From Cairo, trip takes about 7 hours, depending on the operator. Good operators are Super Jet and Go Bus; avoid MCV Co. Prices range from 50 to 150LE for a one way ticket and buses will leave about every hour.

From Alexandria, 2 daily buses. One is operated by Upper Egypt and leaves at 18:30, arriving in Hurghada around 4:30 the next morning. This is not ideal as you will find the city asleep and it is very hard to get a taxi this early.

The second bus, operated by Super Jet, will leave around 20:30 and arrive around 6:30 in the morning. Prices are around 90-100LE for a one way trip.

From Luxor, about 4-5h by Super Jet bus or longer by Upper Egypt. Super Jet runs twice daily and Upper Egypt has more frequent buses.

From Aswan, 2 daily buses, both operated by Upper Egypt. The first one leaves at 15:30, the second leaves at 17:30. The trip takes at least 8 hours, meaning you will arrive in Hurghada after midnight. Prices are around 50-55LE.

There is no normal public transport in Hurghada. White mini vans the Toyota Hiace locally called micro bus have established routes. Locals are the main users, but it is quite easy to use them.

It costs about 1-2 Egyptian pounds, and they stop wherever needed and go wherever you want except 1-2 neighbourhoods. Ask the driver for destination before getting in.

Microbus travel is not recommended for the young women.

Taxi drivers in Hurghada have astonishing talent for spotting tourists from far, far away; look at the approaching car and it will stop for you at a cost.

Before stepping in, find out if driver speaks any English, and show the wanted destination on the map. There are only few streets with names, so the destination is specified with nearby places, a hotel for example.

Discuss and agree the total price but not per person with the driver: remember the price varies from 10 to 25 Egyptian pounds. Do not travel with the meter on, drivers can control it. After the driver agrees on a price, jump in. Get out in front of the hotel.

The method to avoiding confrontation with the drivers is to have correct amount of money you agreed at first. Pass the money on at the destination, get out and walk away; avoid arguing with drivers.

Most taxi drivers are honest people trying to make a living by getting tourists and locals from one place to another. Very few are thieves, targeting tourists to steal money.

If you have only a 50LE or 100LE note, mention this to the driver before you get in. Ask him if he has change, then ask him again. He might have to stop somewhere at a shop to have the note changed. As you hand him the note, say for example; I give you 100 pound, you give me 80 pound.

This will prevent the taxi driver from quickly changing the note and accusing you of giving him only 10LE. If this should happen, weigh your chances.

You are unlikely to get your money back, and when surrounded by many taxi drivers, you might get yourself into more trouble. Cut your losses and take another taxi.

When you want to drive by night, you should take care, mostly as woman. You should take better an serios taxi service. There are a few very well, where the driver speak also english. And there is also a german taxi company in hurghada, MyDriver chauffeur service.

Uber and Careem both have presences in Hurghada. They are reasonably priced and convenient, sparing you the incessant haggling required for taxi rides.

However, some locations e.g. the bus station within Hurghada have been blocked on Uber. You will see a message that Uber does not operate in this location. Simply walk about 2-3 blocks/5 minutes away from the building avoiding the taxi touts along the way , and you will be able to use Uber again.

Hurghada has a variety of activities for those who enjoy the sea and the beach. Activities include scuba-diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, parasailing, and jetskis. You can also ride a glass boat which is a boat with a glass bottom where you can see the amazing coral reefs and underwater scenery.

The main reason to visit Hurghada is the Red Sea, which is excellent for diving or snorkeling. See incredible coral reefs and hundreds of varieties of tropical fish just 10 m from the beach.

Again, either your hotel will have dive escorts on site, or it can arrange a scuba diving expedition with guides. Scuba diving (2 dives) cost between 50-65 USD. The divers are locals and are excellent in handling beginners.

In late March, the water may be a bit cold, so a wetsuit might be necessary. It might also be windy in late March and just as likely may not be. You may want to check if your resort hotel provides windscreens on the beach.

For a desert adventure, you can also ride motorbikes or beach buggies into the desert.

Hurghada is an ideal point for trips by bus to Cairo and Luxor. The road between Hurghada and Luxor take around 3.5 hours. the road between Hurghada And Cairo take around 6 hours.

Hurghada offers many activities not to be found anywhere else on Earth: quad-biking hundreds of miles into the Sahara desert for tea with a Bedoin tribe, then camel-riding across Biblical plains to see remote and ancient wonders.

Diving and snorkeling around a vibrant and colourful coral reef; boat trips to the unpopulated Big and Little Gifton islands; swimming in the warm sea; good shopping; excellent and varied cuisine from across the world, etc.

If you were to choose to stay in your hotel complex for the duration of your break, you would miss out on much more than you bargained for.

Those new to Egypt will find karkaday - a drink made from an infusion of hibiscus, served hot or cold and reputed to have many health benefits and chi a local version of tea, usually served in a glass offered everywhere.

Both are delicious and will usually come replete with a smoke on a sheesha pipe, known in the West as a hookah. Sheeshas are used for smoking molasses tobacco in various flavours, with the smoke passing through water before inhalation through a long tube attached to the bowl.

Although they may resemble a device used to smoke illicit substances in the west like bang, sheesha is completely legal.

Cruise across the Red Sea to the uninhabited island of Giftun surrounded by magical coral gardens. Enjoy a lazy day on the white sand or swim amongst the coral reefs. This great day trip is hard to skip when you are in Hurghada.

In the evening, you can go for a walk in the promenade area for some traditional cafes, shopping, or dining. There is a bowling and family entertainment centre close by as well as a few malls and restaurants.

Night life usually begins quite late, and you can find some clubs in close proximity to the promenade.

Hurghada Grand Aquarium, Village Road, After Magawish Hotel. Aquarium and Mini Zoo.

Nautilus Pearl, Hurghada Marina. 8 am - 10 pm. Luxury Catamaran with underwater viewing stations, restaurant, bar with wifi, Sun Deck, Jacuzzi, Cocktail deck, snorkeling. Sailing Daily.

Tornado Marine Fleet, Hurghada Marina. 24 hrs. Luxury liveaboard fleet offering cruises for divers and non divers on board an award winning fleet. Catering for groups and individuals. Multilingual guides.

You can buy many souvenirs from the shops that are spread inside the main town at Sekalla high street and along the beach areas. Also the old down town el Dahar has a wide selection of bazaars with cheaper prices than Sekalla.

First, remember to haggle, haggle and haggle everywhere except in restaurants and drugstores. You should be able to get 75% off from the price that seller asks at first. This might vary with different products, so remember to check a few shops for appropriate prices.

There are souvenir shops that have fixed prices, mostly in the New Hurghada area. There is no reason to be happy with the fixed price, since some times it's more expensive than in other shops. At famous stores like 'Cleopatra' you can find souvenirs, shirts, woodwork, and silver.

For brand-names and higher-quality products, head down to New Marina and Sheraton Road where you can find Adidas, Timberland, Dockers and Levi's as well as a traditional bazaar or Souq in Arabic.

Often the clothes are counterfeit knockoffs; though you will notice that any shop may post famous trademarks on its banner and yet sell fake clothes.

In perfumes, most are oil-based and rarely can you find natural or organic perfumes. Be wary when the sellers attempt to entice you into the shop, for they will often invite you to drink something like tea.

Or, if they feel you are rich, they will offer Cola for while they are demonstrating perfumes. One should politely refuse the refreshments because, if you drink, you have to buy from them.

Hurghada offers a variety of cuisine, including fast food, western restaurants, oriental food, and many others.

You can find KFC, McDonald's, and the local fast food chain GAD.

Where Sherry Street branches from Sheraton Street, you can get chicken meal in Brost eldik for 14LE, popular among backpackers and young people.

Right across from Princess Palace Hotel, near Hard Rock Cafe, you will find the bar/restaurant Triple X. Though the name may sound a little strange, the atmosphere in this place is very friendly. It is a family-run place and often will you find more staff than clients.

But delicious and cheap food, cold beers served in clean, cold glasses and helpful, multilingual staff make this place the perfect hangout for many loyal customers. 50cl of Stella costs 10LE; chicken sandwich with fries costs 25LE.

Also, they have free WiFi for their customers,just ask for the password, it changes 2 or 3 times every day.

Alcoholic drinks can usually be found in bars or hotels. Hurghada has a very western atmosphere so it is much easier to drink than in other areas of Egypt.

Nonalcoholic drinks include conventional drinks like canned drinks, sodas, or juice, as well famous Egyptian drinks such as sahlab, karkadeh, mirinda, yansoon, gansabeel, irfa, and many others.

Over the years, Hurghada has developed a bubbling reputation for its cosmopolitan nightlife scene, alongside the many bars within the new Hurghada Marina, Papas Bar has two venues one inside the marina, the other next-door to the Shedwan Hotel in downtown Dahr.

The world-renown Hed Kandi Beach Bar; still the world's first and only Kandi beach bar.

There are many bars, nightclubs and discos in Hurghada. Almost every hotel comes equip with its own disco, and then you can find the only beachside Ministry of Sound venue, coupled with the world's first Hed Kandi Beach Bar.

Other nightlife leaders in the city include Hard Rock Cafe, Little Budha, Calypso Disco, the new R&B Club, and throughout the summer months you can find the popular Voodoo parties every Wednesday within the Grand Hotel Resorts.

Global leaders in dance music, Ministry of Sound Beach Club, operate a varied daily schedule ranging from disco grooves, through to R&B/hiphop and house/techno.

There are also many other discos and late-night bars dotted around the city, generally speaking ask your guest relations or tour guide to recommend you a venue suited best to you.

There's famous Czech pub PRAHA at the end of Sheraton St.

A general rule when taking a taxi at a night club is to agree on a price before you even touch the car and give the correct amount. Taxi drivers will try to steal money from you and you will not be able to retrieve it once it is in their hands.

Dana Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh Road, Hurghada, Egypt. This 5-star Hurghada resort offers private beachfront resort on the Red Sea. Amenities include a lagoon-style outdoor pool, dive center and piano bar. All rooms feature an outdoor balcony.

Beach Albatros Resort, Safaga Road, P.O. Box 110, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is a 5-minute walk from the beach. Located directly on the beach, this 4-star resort features an Aqua Park with 3 outdoor swimming pools and spacious rooms with a balcony. It includes a spa and a diving center.

Lillyland Beach Club Resort, KM 17 200 Hurghada - Safaga Rd, Red Sea Governorate, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is a 10-minute walk from the beach. Lillyland Beach Club Resort is on the coast of the Red Sea and 12 miles south of Hurghada International Airport. It features a spa, an outdoor pool, and a private beach area.

Giftun Azur Resort, Village Road, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is a 4-minute walk from the beach. Nestled among lush gardens with palm trees, Giftun Azur Resort features 7 restaurants and 7 bars. It has outdoor pools, and spacious rooms with sea, pool or garden views.

Amwaj Blue Beach Resort & Spa, Abu Soma Bay, Hurghada, Egypt. Amwaj Blue Beach Resort & Spa offers luxury accommodations with Red Sea views and a private beach. There are 2 pools set within gardens, as well as a spa and fitness center.

AMC Royal Hotel, El Ahyaa Area, Hurghada, Egypt. Right on the beach, AMC Royal Hotel is in Alahyaa District in Hurgahda. It features a private beach and a vast range of water activities including scuba diving and snorkeling.

Imperial Shams Abu Soma, Km 9 Safaga Road, Soma Bay, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. In the beautiful Soma Bay, this 5-star resort features a private, sandy beach and a large, outdoor pool. A balcony and satellite TV are offered in all rooms.

Albatros Aqua Park Resort, Safaga Road, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is a 5-minute walk from the beach. This hotel is situated in Hurghada and is a 10-minute drive from Hurghada International Airport.

It features a large pool with waterslides, a heated swimming pool and a hot tub. Guests can enjoy free access to Aqua Park as well free access for children Aqua Park at Sea World Resort.

Bel Air Azur Resort for adults Only, El Cornich Road, Sekala, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. This all-inclusive beach hotel is located along the Red Sea, just 1.9 miles from the centre of Hurghada. It features 800 m² of freshwater pools, and rooms with balcony and free minibar.

Grand Seas Resort HostMark, KM 14 - Hurghada - Safaga Road, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. Featuring outdoor pool and a sit-down restaurant, the Grand Seas Resort HostMark is in Hurghada. Wi-Fi access is available for a fee.

Eiffel Hotel Hurghada, Sheraton Street, Beside Marina Al Yokhoot, Hurghada, Egypt. This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Featuring a private beach, Eiffel Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with a balcony overlooking the Red Sea.

Its outdoor pool is surrounded by sun-lounge chairs and has a pool bar. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

Eagles Resort, Airport way in the Magawish area. New Resort right on Red Sea coast just 10 minutes away from Hurghada Airport. Hotel consist from just 72 suits with separate living rooms and will give you pleasant relaxing atmosphere during vocation. from 23$.

A little internet searching will throw up some private self catering accommodation that is usually owned by Europeans as a holiday home, which gives much more independence than staying in a resort hotel and is potentially much cheaper.

Hurghada Acorn is a reputable provider of self catering accommodation in Hurghada and the surrounding areas, to suit all budgets, and has been established since 2008.

They are a husband and wife team, and are regularly contacted by travelers for help, even if they are not their own guests, they try to make themselves available for assistance.

Budget hotels catering to Egyptian travellers with rooms at 50LE can be found near the Upper Egypt bus station.

Hurghada Center is a big complex, offering over 400 living spaces of different sizes. Ask the taxi for Center Libya, the complex is still property of the Libyan government and known by everyone in Hurghada by this name and ask one of the security guards to take you to the reception.

A 2 person studio will be 125LE per night. They also have special rates for long term rent. Taxi ride from the airport costs 30LE, to McDonald's on Sheraton Road 10LE and to Hard Rock Cafe 15 or 20LE.

Sonesta Pharoah Beach Resort, Safaga Road, Hurghada Egypt.

Sunrise Holidays Resort, Coronation Road, Hurghada Egypt.

Sunrise Chrystal Bay Resort, Hurghada Egypt.

Sea Star Blue Rivage, Hurghada Egypt.

Giftun Beach, Hurghada Egypt.

The Oberoi in Hurghada is 5-star deluxe hotel.

Steigenberger Makadi Hotel is nestled on the picturesque shores of Hurghada and in the heart of the magnificent Makadi Golf Course and the entire Madinat Makadi resort.

Madinat Makadi is 617 acres of new and thriving holiday Egypt destination with an impressive variety of five-star hotels, family resorts and deluxe accommodation that provides something for everyone.

The wonders of antiquity, the magnificent Red Sea with its stunning beaches, majestic desert and mountains and Souk Makadi shopping complex.

Jaz Bluemarine is situated in Hurghada, with its own private beach, outstanding natural beauty and mesmerizing marine life. The long stretching coastline, Mediterranean climate and coral reef islands provide a perfect backdrop to the perfect five-star Egypt escape.

Hurghada Clinic. Medical clinic with doctors who can speak English and Polish. International travel insurances are accepted.

El Gouna Hospital. An integrated professional medical service provider across the Red Sea since 1998. Different & professional management for multiple-trauma patients through its highly-qualified medical crew in different departments including neurosurgery, general & thoracic surgery, orthopedic & vascular surgery.

Endoscopic surgeries: gynecology, orthopedic, general surgery, urosurgery, stone removal and destruction. There are stuff who speak English, French Russian and German. Often international insurances are accepted.

Senzo Mall is a new shopping mall, about a 10 minute taxi ride from town, on the airport road. It has a large Spinneys Hypermarket and many other shops, fast-food outlets and a 5-screen cinema as well as a moderate-sized kids' play area.

You can take a bus to El Gouna which departs every 15 minutes from El Dahar Square opposite the Egypt Telecom building. A 45-minute ride costs 5LE for one way if you told him that you are living in el gouna if you are a tourist they will charge you 10LE

Buses leave for many destinations from the Old Town bus station. Eighty percent of them run on schedule; the others may face many hours' delays.
Be there at least one hour before the scheduled departure. Having a local fix your ticket might be a good way to avoid a lot of frustration, whilst saving money.

Buses leave for Quseer and Marsa Alam 3 times a day, Luxor 3 times, Cairo each 1 hour, there's no direct buses to Sharm El Sheikh you must go to Cairo or Suez that about the GOV buses.

But for most safety, reasonable price and comfortable buses go to Zahran bus station you can find more than 4 private companies you can use SuperJet it cost 80LE to Cairo and 100LE to Alexandria 45Le to Luxor.

To go Aswan you can use StarJet.

There are long-distance taxis leaving from the station in El Hegaz Street. Just contact the people standing at the entrance who ask for your destination. The taxis are used a lot by the locals and are quite cheap. One can reach most bigger cities in Egypt from this station.

To get to the station, take the bus 4 or 7 to El Hegaz Bus Station.

Be aware that shared taxi are not comfortable and if you are with a woman don't go there as you may be ripped off there by the drivers.

If you want to travel more comfortable, there are flights offered by Egyptair connecting Hurghada with Cairo and other cities.


Tourism Observer

JAMAICA: Negril, The Capital Of Casual Sun Bathers And Reggae Parties

Negril is in Jamaica.

Negril is a small but widely dispersed beach resort town located across parts of two Jamaican parishes, Westmoreland and Hanover.

Negril is about an hour and fifteen minute drive on the coastal highway from Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay.

Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island.

Downtown Negril, the West End cliff resorts to the south of downtown, and the southern portion of the so-called seven mile (11 km) beach are in Westmoreland.

The northernmost resorts on the beach are in Hanover Parish. The nearest large town is Savanna-la-Mar, the capital of Westmoreland Parish.

Negril, Jamaica is home to miles of pristine sand beaches, crystal clear waters and dramatic rugged cliffs, a stunning combination of landscapes that cannot be found anywhere else on the island.

The locals have dubbed this city the Capital of Casual for its informal island vibe.

If you are to stay in an all-inclusive resort, you will probably have access to a courtesy van from the airport.

Otherwise, it is easy making your own way from Montego Bay the lobby of the airport hosts two companies operating minibuses to Negril.

The minibus departures are frequent and correspond to flight arrivals. But if you absolutely can't wait to start your tan, taxis await just outside the airport to wisk you to Negril.

The weather is remarkably consistent year-round, highs in the mid-80s, lows in the low-70s F. During the summer, the beach is less-crowded and hotel rates are twenty to forty percent lower than in the winter.

The October hurricane season in the Caribbean typically has a minimal effect on Jamaica.

Negril has a huge assortment of accommodations, ranging from all-inclusive resorts costing several-hundred dollars a day, to guarded campgrounds where you can pitch a tent under the stars.

The pros and cons of the multitude of lodging options are a major topic of conversation among Negril tourists, many of whom continue the discussion virtually at the Internet Negril Message Board.

It is good to have the names of a few hotels in mind, but you don't need to make a decision before arriving in Jamaica.

Even during the busy winter season there are plenty of empty rooms to choose from. The tourist office in the arrivals lobby of the Montego Bay airport before you go through customs can suggest accommodations and can make a reservation for you.

For a typical Jamaican breakfast try fried ackee and saltfish. Ackee is a fruit transplanted from West Africa. Saltfish is, well, a salty fish. The combination tastes better than it sounds.

If you are staying at one of the expansive all inclusives at the northern end of Negril, you will find it very easy to stay within the pampered confines of your resort.

Jamaican culture is friendly and interesting, you will be rewarded if you venture out to meet local residents.

If you are staying at one of Negril's other beachfront hotels, be aware that you will be facing a constant stream of sun bathers during the day and reggae parties at night.

For more secluted quarters consider staying at West End, the inappropriately named area immediately south of Negril beach. The West End is famous for its excellent snorkeling and for its hotels which hug the cliff sides.

The Negril beach is only a 5 minute taxi ride from here.

Consider making a quick trip to Cuba. Several companies in Negril offer two day tours that include air transportation and one night hotel.

Beingee's Negril Jamaica Today lists current events happening in Negril, gives details on some of the accommodations options, and hosts a lively forum.

The Jamaica Tourist Board site is most useful for its accommodations search engine. You can also request brochures online.

The name Negril is a shortened version of Negrillo or Little black ones, as it was originally named by the Spanish in 1494. The name is thought by some to be a reference to the black cliffs south of the village.

Another theory holds that because there was a vast population of black eels along Negril's coast, the Spaniards called the area Anguila Negra which was shortened to Negrillo and then to Negril.

Although Negril has a long history, it did not become well known until the second half of the twentieth century.

Negril's development as a resort location began during the late 1950s, though access to the area proved difficult as ferries were required to drop off passengers in Negril Bay, forcing them to wade to shore.

Most vacationers would rent rooms inside the homes of Jamaican families, or would pitch tents in their yards.

Daniel Connell was the first person to create more traditional vacation lodging for these flower children when he set up the first guest house in Negril,Palm Grove.

The area's welcoming and hospitable reputation grew over time and the first of many resorts was constructed in the mid to late 1960s. The first hotel in Negril was the Yacht Club by Mary's Bay on the West End.

When the road between Montego Bay and Negril was improved in the early 1970s, it helped to increase Negril's status as a new resort location.

It was a two-lane paved road that ran approximately 100 yards (91 m) inland from two white coral sand beaches, at the southern end of which was a small village.

The long paved road from the village ran north to Green Island, home to many of the Jamaican workers in Negril, and was straight enough to double as a runway for small airplanes.

Tis was why there were lengths of railroad track standing on end along the side of the road to discourage drug smugglers from landing on the road to pick up cheap cargos of marijuana.

After Negril's infrastructure was expanded—anticipating the growth of resorts and an expanding population, a small airport, the Negril Aerodrome, was built in 1976 near Rutland Point, alongside several small hotels mostly catering to the North American winter tourists.

Europeans also came to Negril, and several hotels were built to cater directly to those guests.

The geography of Jamaica is diverse. The western coastline contains the island's finest beaches, stretching for more than 6 km (3.7 mi) along a sandbar at Negril.

It is sometimes known among tourists as the 7-Mile Beach although it is only slightly more than 4 mi (6.4 km) in length, from the Negril River on the south to Rutland Point on the north.

On the inland side of Negril's main road, to the east of the shore, lies a swamp called the Great Morass, through which runs the Negril River. Within the Great Morass is the Royal Palm Reserve, with protected wetlands and forest.

In 1990, the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society was formed as a non-profit, non-governmental organization to address ongoing degradation of the coral reef ecosystem.

The Negril Marine Park was officially declared on March 4, 1998 covering a total area of approximately 160 km2 (62 sq mi) and extending from the Davis Cove River in the Parish of Hanover to St. John’s Point in Westmoreland.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are especially good in the protected reef areas.

The West End Road is also known as Lighthouse Road as there is a Belgian engineered lighthouse protecting seafarers from the dramatic cliffs.

There is beautiful scenery on this western tip of Negril, near Negril Lighthouse. You can mingle with locals at beer shacks like Sexy Rexy's and others out West.

For years, Negril's beach has been rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world by many travel magazines.

The beach's length is the stuff of legends, the two bays Bloody Bay to the north, and Long Bay to the south comprise the Seven Mile Beach.

The beach is actually little less than 7 miles in length, with Bloody Bay being around 2 miles, and Long Bay being just under 5 miles.

Bloody Bay is home to the large, all-inclusive resorts, and Long Bay has all-inclusives and smaller, family-run hotels. This combination gives the Negril area a large variety of rooms, services and prices.

South of downtown Negril is West End Road, known as the West End, which is lined with resorts that offer more privacy.

These areas offer easy access to waters good for snorkelling and diving, with jumping points reaching more than 40 feet (12 m) high.

Many vendors and shops are located around the beach resorts; however, they are predominantly located on the south end of the beach, where there are fewer all inclusive resorts.

That Negril is still fairly underdeveloped remains a significant factor in its charm, but this may not last, as a new highway from Montego Bay and an improved infrastructure may bring more tourists.

As a result, more hotels and tour operators continue to develop new attractions and excursions in Negril.

Since the 1980s, it has also become a popular location for U.S. college students to visit during spring break or just a regular vacation in Jamaica.

The last few years have seen major development along the beach.

The resorts include Couples Swept Away, Couples Negril, Sandals, Beaches, Samsara Hotel, Legends Resort, the Grand Lido, Riu Palace Tropical Bay, Riu Club Hotel and Hedonism II.

The Hedonism II resort is one enduring hotel/resort that has been saved from bankruptcy and remains an adult destination.

A franchise of Jimmy Buffett's chain restaurant and bar, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, and a duty-free zone have also been added.

In recent years, a large development has been constructed consisting of ocean front villas, 2 or 3 bed townhouse developments and studio apartments.

This development is known as Little Bay Country Club and is home to some of the wealthiest Jamaican families.

Currently under construction is the huge new Royalton Negril Resort.

The early development of Negril as a resort is featured in Ian Fleming's 1965 novel The Man with the Golden Gun.

One of the schemes of the novel's antagonist Francisco Scaramanga was to open a hotel called the Thunderbird on the beach.


Negril is famous for its 7 miles of cool, white sand beaches and another 7 miles of 40' cliffs.

One of the most beautiful towns in Jamaica, it has a more laid back atmosphere than that of Montego Bay and is more touristy than Ocho Rios.

When you stay at a hotel on the beach you are literally on the beach when you walk out of the beachside of your hotel. You have probably never seen water this clear or warm.

You will be amazed at how far out you can walk in the water before it gets up to your neck. The water is gentler and the sand is whiter smaller grained aka softer the farther down away from town you are.

The end of the beach down by the all-inclusives is the whitest. The region is also known for its foreign janes or female sex tourists who visit.

Fly into the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Take a 60-90 minute shuttle van ride to Negril.

Amstardmc.com A highly recommended Airport transport company and Excursions with more than 20 years of service.

Travel Around Jamaica Tours specializes in providing safe and reliable 1st class private airport transfers from Montego Bay Airport and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, which includes private transfers to any hotels or villas in Jamaica.

Travel Around Jamaica Tours also provides private transfers to many great Jamaican sightseeing and adventure tours.

Thriller Tours provides airport transfers and shuttles to all locations in Jamaica. If you are looking for a pickup, drop off, or round trip from Montego Bay to Negril or Kingston to Negril they can provide transportation.

PPJTours & Airport Transfers provides Private Airport Transfers including Helicopter transfers from the Montego Bay Airport.

Jamaica Airport Transfers provides private airport transfer for individual and group going to Negril from Montego Bay Airport.

Clive's Transport Service is a great way to get from the airport to Negril, for $20 per person in a nice, air-conditioned van with really positive staff to meet you off the plane, provide you with refreshments & very safe, friendly, accommodating drivers.

Cross Jamaica Tours provides island tours, pick up and transfers from and to Montego Bay and Kingston airports and guaranties a service which will take you from and to airport with minimum fuss and maximum contort.

The professionalism and wide experience of its drivers will make you experience in Jamaica a special one.

Kingsley James of Take Care Tours, is reliable and available for private or group transportation throughout the island, in a clean and comfortable van. Based in the West End, with 20 years experience.

Dudley Warren's Big Ship Tours will take excellent care of you; tours and airport transfer to and from Negril with a/c, cold drinks and great company.

The least expensive way to get around is to hire Route Taxis. There are two types, charter red plate, and red plates route taxis.

Red plate taxis are official and you can bargain with them. Route Taxis, for example, from the Rui Resort on Bloody Bay to downtown Negril will charge about $2 per person. From Rui to Ricks Cafe is about $4 per person.

Be sure to set your price with the driver before you enter their taxi. Current rates seem to be 130 Jamaica dollars along the beachfront road to the roundabout in Negril township.

130 more for any point past this i.e. around the cliffs, you will have to change taxis at the roundabout and catch a different route to the cliffs. Double this if you are catching a route taxi at night.

Non red plate taxis can be anyone owning a car. It is illegal and these drivers are not insured nor licensed to carry passengers.

Some will show their Jamaican tourism ID which is still not official unless their license plate on the car is red. Many drivers will attempt to get you to hire them for tours or just to one location.

Many of them are very expensive, even if you try to negotiate with them. They will double and triple the cost of a route/red plate taxi.

Drivers who are not Route Taxis often charge over $10 per person and will tell you that Route Taxis aren't safe which is not true, it's just a way to get more money from tourists.

In non larger or locally owned hotels, they might have official drivers which still does not mean you will get a good price, these again are non-red plate taxis. Stay away from drivers with white plates.

Rick's Cafe, is known for the cliffside it is built upon, where tourists can take a courageous leap into the Caribbean Sea below.

During Hurricane Ivan, the cafe slid off the cliffside into the sea below, but it has since been rebuilt and is now bigger than ever and has been rated one of the Top Ten Bars in the World, according to some publications.

Rick's Cafe has undergone extensive refurbishing since Hurricane Ivan, and is about the biggest tourist trap in which to view a gorgeous Negril sunset.

Cliff diving is available from a sturdy concrete slab perched high atop the sea cliffs, higher than before.

There, visitors can test their mettle or leave it to the professionals, people have been killed and seriously injured/maimed when cliff jumping including the so-called professionals.

If you do not have experience cliff jumping and want to jump, then jump from the lower jump first to practise and reduce chance of injury. Just remember that if you watch the show, you're expected to tip the professionals.

- Appleton Rum Estate

- Walk the Martha Bray River

- Negril Jamaica Vidia - a visual encyclopedia of Negril

Taking a snorkeling tour in one the glass bottom boats is highly recommended. Watch the famous Negril sunset, it is the sunset to remember .

You can spend American dollars almost anywhere on the island. Most of the roadside stand sellers have a calculator and know the exchange rate.

Although the roadside sellers are quite savy they can be honest to a fault when it comes to bargaining. If you want a better price you can get it. Just try to avoid upsetting the locals by killing their tourist tax.

In touristy areas items will double in price, if you feel that something is expensive, you're probably right.

There are several grocery stores in town with many items such as Jamaican coffee, rum, tea and other local products.

These are typically more reasonable in price. This can also save money in food or alcohol costs while vising Negril.

The tourist crafts market at the edge of town is a great place to pick up souvenirs and nick nacks. The sellers are willing to bargain especially if you want more than one thing. Do not be afraid to bargain.

Just like other touristy Jamaican cities, you can purchase cigars from Jamaica or specifically Cuba. Due to the US trade embargo, it's a popular item sold in gift shops in Negril.

Remembering that Cuban Cigars are illegal to import back to the United States. If you purchase cigars, unless you are an expert, there is a chance you are buying fake cigars with the label added.

These shop owners know that Americans can not have them, so they will offer exorbitant prices. Referencing prices in Europe where it is legal you can pay 3-15$ a cigar, depending on the brand.

You should do your research beforehand, and if possible bring someone who knows cigars. Just because an item is in a Cuban Cigar box, it doesn't mean they are authentic.

Try eating Sugar Cane, Coconut Jelly/Meat, and Jerk Chicken.

Quality's Sea Breeze Restaurant, Top of the cliffs, across and down a little from Canoe. Best seafood hands down. Great little place, Quality's seafood is the best, and prices are very reasonable.

Guinep Corner (West Land Mountain), West land Mountain Road, just by the famous Guinep Trees. early am till late.

Local food at a local Jamaican bar, cooked & served by Jamaican couple Janice & Rasta Martell. From pieces of fresh fried fish and chicken to full breakfasts of Ackee & Saltfish or dinners of goat curry and other Jamaican dishes.

Ambiance is truly Jamaica, with domino games, great music, Jamaica TV and wonderful street life. Very local, Jamaican street life at its best set in a really friendly community with strictly no harrassment & total enjoyment. 400JMD.

Eddie's De Bar and Grill Jerk chicken plus all the traditional Jamaican dishes, goat, fish and lobster. The bar has great vibes, excellent music, nightly bonfire; truly a Jamaican yard. Just past The Rockhouse Hotel on the left.

The Rockhouse Hotel. A beautifully set restaurant and hotel on the cliffs. They will collect you for free from your hotel and drive you there.

Three Dives Restaurant an eatery on the west end that is just past Xtabi Resort. Expect jerk chicken, pork, lobster and snapper - all locally sourced.

LTU Restaurant a locally-styled restaurant perched high on the edge of the cliff, just 200 yards from Ricks on the cliff road. The menu offers high quality and a wide range, including vegetarian, and there is a specials board for fresh 'catch of the day' offerings such as Marlin, Kingfish and Mahi mahi.

Royal Kitchen a vegetarian/Ital restaurant on the west end past the M&L Market. $250 J gets you a great combo that usually consists of soy chunks, rice and peas, veggies, plus often stew or ackee.

Sweet Spice Restaurant, most locals will recommend the place and with good reason, the oxtail is great and the lobster is cheaper than at the beach.

Coconut Water - best straight off the tree, just cut open the coconut with a machete and drink,if you're picky, you can use a straw. You can also buy bottled coconut water basically anywhere on the island, but not as good as getting it fresh from the green coconuts. Good for your heart.

Rum Fruit Punch or Red Stripe Beer are Jamaican concoctions. Guinness and Heineken can also be purchased pretty much anywhere that sells alcohol.

The SamSara Hotel also located in the west part of Negril past the rock house has a very nice buy one get one free happy hour from 4-7 every day!

Red Dragon. In Red Ground. World Class Jerk Pork. Locals also refer to it as Ragabones. Monday afternoons is a big time for tourists.

The Jungle Night Club. A night club set on the main road which runs parallel to the 7 mile strip. Plays RnB/Rap/Reggae music. Note that this club is known for its Thursday nights ladies night when all ladies enter free. Very fun spot to be. Admission costs $700J.

Judy House Cottages, West Land Mountain Road off One Love Drive West End Road. This is really living life in a Jamaican community just minutes away from Negril's beautiful beaches, local cook shops, fantastic restaurants.

Two cosy, fully equiped cottages or Sue's One 4 the Road Backpacker Hostel rooms, nestling in the back of Sue's amazing tropical garden. 15 to 75 USD.

Riu Tropical Bay, Norman Manley Boulevard. Victorian-style resort is in Bloody Bay. 416 rooms offer deluxe accommodation, including a mini-bar and liquor dispenser in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Array of buffet dishes and a la carte options at the resort or take advantage of exchange programnme privileges at the Riu Negril. Live music and Riu's theme shows.

Riu Negril, Norman Manley Boulevard Bloody Bay Beach. 420 deluxe rooms, a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach just minutes away from shopping area and nightlife. The resort offers renowned mini-bar and liquor dispenser, along with a complete programme of daytime activities and nightly entertainment.

Dine at any of the tempting buffets and the a la carte specialty restaurants or enjoy a drink at one of our cosy bars.

The Cliff Hotel, West End Road. The Cliff Hotel, located along the coast in Negril, Jamaica, combines 33 suites and villas to include two one-bedroom villas, a four-bedroom, and a five-bedroom villa. All of our guest rooms offer unhindered views of the Caribbean Sea sunsets.

Rock House, Rockhouse combines natural beauty, strong architectural design, local materials and craftsmanship, excellent service, and a relaxed Jamaican experience. The hotel has an interesting history; when its first room was built in 1972, it was one of the first hotels on Negril's cliffs.

Early guests included Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. In 1994, the property was purchased by a group of Australians.

Beaches. All inclusive family resort.

Hedonism Resorts. All inclusive resort with adults only fare nude resort.

LTU Villas. Large, spacious rooms at reasonable prices. Free WiFi access and cable TV throughout.

Negril Yoga Center. $30-65 USD (double occupancy). Quiet & peaceful collection of small cozy villas. Has daily yoga lessons for $10 USD. Kitchen provides vegetarian fare.

Negril Tree House Resort, Phone: 876-957-4287, [18]. Not an all inclusive but close enough with room service, a bar/restaurant, pool, hot tub, towels for the beach at the front desk, and a free buffet breakfast.

The two bedroom suites at the top of the treehouse-style rooms have a master bedroom with a bide and double sinks in the master bath, a full size fridge, a washer, cooking utensils, dining room table, DVD player with cable in the living room, cable, tv in both bedrooms, remote controlled serious air conditioners and ceiling fans in all rooms.

The cleaning service washes all the dishes and will do your laundry if you are feeling too lazy to use the washing machine. There are also a hammock, and a little hammock-like swing on the private open air covered deck at the entrance to the room. They also have one bedroom suites at ground level.

Great Huts. Ecotourism beach bed and breakfast uniquely composed of treehouses and African Huts. Hostel rooms also available.

Blue Cave Castle, Lighthouse Road. A castle built 50ft above an old pirates cave, on the cliffs. The views are incredible and all of the rooms face the ocean. The rooms are large with a veranda.

The superior rooms have cable TV, CD players, remote control air conditioning, fans, and refrigerators. From $50US, to the huge $120 castle-top penthouse, with its 360 views of Negril.


Moon Dance Cliffs Resort and Spa (Moon Dance Cliffs), West End Road. checkin: 2pm; checkout: 12pm. Moon Dance Cliffs is a 22 room boutique hotel with four royal Villas that overlook the Caribbean Sea. The on-site restaurant and bars feature Jamaican and American cuisines.

The spectacular 5,000+ sq ft pool includes waterfalls, islands and bridges. The Resort also features an on-site modern Spa. The Royal Villas range from one to five bedrooms.

Xtabi Hotel, Built on the historic Xtabi cliffs. The labyrinth of caves beneath the hotel have served as hiding places for pirate's treasure and film locations for major motion pictures.

The Xtabi hotel consists of 24 rooms located on the cliffs and in its beautiful gardens. The hotel also has an award-winning restaurant and large open-air bar.

Idle Awhile Beach, Norman Manley Blvd. checkin: 3 p.m.; checkout: 12 p.m.. A beach chic design blends rustic elements and local art with contemporary comforts, seamlessly combining indoor and outdoor living.

Sixteen Caribbean-style suites feature low slung wood beds, large louvered windows, and a private veranda — complete with lounge chairs or hammocks.

Use common sense, especially at night. Negril is generally considered safer than most large American cities.

Jamaicans are very friendly people. In touristy areas though, be aware there are many people who will welcome you, ask you where you're from and offer advice are looking for money.

Especially people who go out of their way to say hello. Many will be willing to walk you to a recommended restaurant or offer to show you around.

These people will always ask for money in return. Even after giving a few dollars, they will even ask for more. Don't be afraid to say no, and to avoid these people from the start.

When walking down the street, people looking for money will look for ways to grab your attention, such as a fist pound or handshake.

Do not be afraid to keep walking, and politely say no thank you. This can get very tedious at times but think similarly to how you will deal with panhandlers in any major city.

When choosing not to stop, you might get some accusations of being racist, "why you in a hurry", "why you being rude" and such. Remember when walking away they are still trying to get your attention, don't take it personally.

There is an official change office at the roundabout in Negril. Many locals around it offer a better rate than the office, but they will scam you.

After you agree with them for a better rate, they will bring you to the ATM booth next to the change office. At first, they will hand over you the money.

After you counted, you'd realize it is less than you expected. When you tell this to them, they will ask you to give the money back, they recount in front of you and add the missing amount, but at the same time, they may reme some banknotes,generally 1 or 2 banknotes. Don't change money at them, you'll end up scammed.


It is illegal to buy and/or use drugs in Jamaica. Commonly, you may be offered marijuana 'smoke... smoke?', "the bob Marley" or simply "weed" by the locals. A pleasant no thank you or yes please will usually suffice.

Do not be surprised if you are offered drugs several times throughout your stay. In addition, you might be offered a free amount. Typically if you smile and say no thank you you will have no problems.

A little known fact is that you can walk from the far end of the beach to town in under an hour on the beach if you walk along the beach line to where the trees block the way and then take to the grass along the water.

Just stay on the shore and you will stumble into the tourist market at the edge of town. There are coconuts and sugar cane for sale in the parking lot. It is a great way to avoid the taxi tax and stay off the road,

To see more of the area in and around Negril, with a local flare, requires a tour guide. Tour Guides can be hired relatively cheaply, and will add a lot of life to your exploration of Negril, and Jamaica at large.

To find one, it is easiest to ask for a referral from a tourist spot, like Rick's Cafe. One local favorite is Sexy Rexy, a Rastafarian tourguide, but others can be found as well.

Knutsford Express Buses are becoming more and more popular for means of travel throughout Jamaica.

Knutsford Express offers charter buses form all the major cities to any of the major tourist locations such as Ocho-Rios, Kingston, Negril and Montego Bay.

Fairs are payable on site or on their website ahead of time. Costs depends on the time you book, it's recommended to book ahead of time.

Many hotels offer their own shuttles to and from the airport in Montego Bay. In addition, they will offer tours to local attractions.

Find here:

- Beaches Resorts - Negril

- Sandals Negril

- Little Bay Country Club (LBCC)

- Couples Swept Away

- Couples Negril

- Royalton Negril


Tourism Observer