Egypt: a family-friendly exotic destination?

The latest campaign from The Egyptian Tourism Authority is designed at promoting the country as a family-friendly exotic destination.  But,  what makes a family-friendly holiday destination?  

I suppose holidays and vacations are meant to be free from stress, a time to relax, a place to chill, and to enjoy lots of activities with the family without the day-to-day worries that surround us back at home. If you're travelling with kids,  then this can be a bit of a challenge in itself,  however, Egypt's all-inclusive hotels and resorts can help to remove many of the difficulties of keeping the little ones happy and entertained. Many resorts offer animation/entertainment/activity programmes for children of various ages and tastes that can give parents a much-needed break and a chance to relax worry-free for a while.

There are different pools, waterslides and all that kind of fun stuff that can make a day by the pool a wonderful adventure for those big eyes and little feet. In addition, multilingual caretakers are available to look after children when parents want to pursue their own plans undisturbed for an afternoon or evening. This allows parents to relax and enjoy their holiday with peace of mind, the Egyptian Tourism Authority says. 

The clubs and resorts offer a range of outdoor activities, like mini golf, and beach ball games like football and volleyball, some are also equipped with tennis, badminton and basketball courts. Then of course, there are the watersports such as diving, snorkelling, boat rides, jetskies, or kite surfing, there are beginner courses as well as special children's courses available.

Egypt also has something else that many destinations just don't have....a deep and rich history that stretched back millennia. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo has guided tours specifically designed for kids. elsewhere the history that is ever present can really engage and mystify young curious minds. The pyramids and camel rides along with desert tours, buggy rides and those kinds of adventures offer fun for all the family - although they can be a bit pricey, the memories they make will last years. But having said that, many of those adventures, tours and experiences compare favourably to European prices, so maybe it won't break the bank.

So, maybe Egypt really is a family-friendly exotic destination that you've not thought about when planning the summer holiday. There are loads of all-inclusive hotels and resorts that cater to the needs of families with children. Plus there are all the museums and cultural sights that feed the mind and soul of each member of the family making a vacation educational as well as entertaining.  In addition to this, there is the weather,  it is warm and dry throughout the year which means Egypt can be a winter, spring and summer destination.....

Places to go and things to do.........

Emirates expands capacity to Cairo

Dubai-based mega-carrier, Emirates has confirmed it is boosting its operations to and from Cairo to 28 weekly flights, effective 29 October 2023. The additional flights provide more options for customers to connect to Dubai and beyond with enhanced schedules and the opportunity to enjoy more of the Emirates A380’s signature experience.

The operational boost will see Emirates operating four daily flights, thrice daily on the A380 and a daily service on the Boeing 777. Cairo has the highest deployment of Emirates A380 services in the MENA region, outside of Dubai. The additional services and upgrade of seat capacity  on the Dubai-Cairo route will help meet high demand to and from Cairo and support the country’s tourism revival with the addition of more than 2,200 weekly seats in each direction.

EK921 will now operate daily, departing at 1200hrs from Dubai to arrive at Cairo International Airport at 1415hrs. The return service EK922 will depart from Cairo at 1615hrs, to arrive at 2145hrs in Dubai.

Emirates’ third A380 service to Cairo, EK925 will depart Dubai at 20:40hrs landing at 22:55hrs. EK926 will then depart Cairo, the following day at 00:40 hrs, to arrive in Dubai at 06:10hrs.

The Emirates A380 experience remains highly sought after by travellers for its spacious and comfortable cabins, and signature products that offer travellers the best experiences in the sky like the Onboard Lounge, First Class suites and Shower Spa. The airline currently deploys its flagship A380 to 41 destinations worldwide.

New Emirates lounge in Cairo

Last week the Dubai based mega-airline Emirates unveiled its 42nd dedicated lounge in its vast global network. The newest addition to the group is at Cairo International Airport and is open to Emirates First Class and Business Class customers as well as Platinum and Gold members of Skywards, the airline’s loyalty programme.  

Reflecting the airline’s ongoing commitment to Egypt, the Emirates Lounge in Cairo represents a US$ 3.6 million investment to provide premium customers with a seamless and enjoyable journey. Catering to three daily flights, the lounge offers customers even greater levels of comfort, hospitality and convenience as they start their Emirates experience in Cairo. Located at Departure Terminal 2, Level 2, above the secondary security check & Duty Free area, Emirates’ customers can look forward to relaxing, unwinding and enjoying award-winning service and cuisine.