I never left my hotel on a trip to the ‘cradle of civilisation’ – but I’d do it again
Travel snobs, feel free to hate me for what I’m about to admit: not only did I visit Egypt, the ‘cradle of civilisation’, and stay in my hotel the entire time, but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
The pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings have their place, but there’s a reason UK holidaymakers are flocking to the likes of Sharm el-Sheikh.
According to TUI, rising costs and backlash to overtourism in ‘traditional’ sun holiday destinations such as Spain have led customers to seek alternative options, resulting in a surge of bookings for package breaks to Egypt.
Not only is the weather pretty much guaranteed year-round, you can experience luxury on a budget throughout the Sinai haven. Plus Sharm is a mere 5km from the airport, and is even exempt from the visa requirements affecting travel to the rest of the country.
Newly-opened Rixos Radamis is one resort looking to entice British tourists by offering more bang for less buck with its ‘luxury all-inclusive’ offering.
The 1,642-room hotel is right on the coastline, a short distance from Sharm’s nightlife and shopping centres.
Even so, with a plethora of all-singing, all-dancing facilities at the hotel – including a fleet of golf carts ferrying you around and a 700m river complete with gondolas – you’re unlikely to need (or want) to stray far.
There can be a level of judgement towards ‘fly and flop’ all-inclusive holidays, which made me feel anxious about sharing my travel plans with friends. On top of that, I only went abroad (to Spain) once as a child, and I’ve always worried I wasn’t as well-travelled as others my age. Now I get to see the world as part of my job, but I haven’t yet managed to shake that inferiority complex.
This time though, the need to relax overrode the desire to play catch-up with urbane anecdotes of cool places I’ve been – after all, what good is a holiday if you need another once you come back?
The pyramids have stood for thousands of years, and they’ll be there when I go to Egypt again. So as the plane touched down, I vowed to see this break as exactly that; no itinerary, no stress, just great weather and all the food and drink I wanted.
And I was spoilt for choice at Rixos Radamis. Alongside three main buffet restaurants, there are 16 à la carte eateriesacross the resort, with everything from Mexican to Thai cuisines available.
As an all-round experience, Mangal was a standout for me, thanks to its beachfront outdoor setting and open-air BBQ cooking. Looking over the ocean, sipping a cocktail with grilled-to-perfection meats stacked high on the plate in front of me, it was hard to believe this meal was part of the all-inclusive deal.
During our visit, my partner and I were also treated to a seven-course feast, courtesy of acclaimed Swedish chef Ebbe Vollmer. As part of a series of Michelin Chef Four Hands Dinners, he put together a special menu alongside Rixos’s Omer Yalcin.
The event (and others like it) was available for all guests for no extra charge, which made the caviar and lobster tail go down even sweeter.
After dinner, you can head to the arena for some entertainment. The week we stayed, the bill featured professional-level dance and acrobatics shows, but if you’re lucky, you might catch a major star like Enrique Iglesias (who’s performing there on May 3).
For younger guests, Rixy Kids Town is easily the biggest kids club I’ve ever seen, with its own Theatre Acting Academy, play Fire and Police Department, Green House, and even a Robotic Centre to keep little ones occupied.
If you’re wondering how we managed to fill our days without a sphinx or sarcophagus in sight, the answer is, pretty effortlessly.
By the time we’d had breakfast, sunbathed by the pool and joined in the aqua aerobics, it was time to try another eatery for lunch. Then, after a couple of frozen daiquiris and a lie-down as the sun sets, you’re ready to get dolled up for dinner.
The beach at Rixos Radamis also has its own coral reef, and while the weather was a little choppy for us to properly snorkel while we were there, it was easy to spend hours paddling in the crystal-clear shallows of the Red Sea, marvelling at the array of fish, which easily rivalled the Maldives or the Caribbean.
And, in all honestly, there’s nothing wrong with taking it easy and relaxing in your room. Ours was massive and gorgeously bright. But it was the little touches that set it above many others I’ve stayed at.
To up the relaxation factor, you can also try a massage at Anjana Spa, or just kick back in the sauna or steam room.
The real highlight, and an experience I’ll never forget, was a day in one of the private beachside cabanas – so if you’re celebrating a special occasion while on holiday, it’s an add-on that would definitely put the cherry on top.
For $300 (just over £230), you get a massive cabana to yourself, equipped with a hammock, hot tub and TV. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get your own personal butler, who made me feel like a total VIP.
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