A problem that some of my friends have experienced in El Gouna is that British tour operators won't touch some apartments as they have not been built to meet the high standards required by health and safety regulations required by the tour operators. For instance, my friend has a beautiful marina apartment, but because the balcony rail is not quite high enough, no British Tour operator will touch it. Also, as it is linked to a hotel there, the British tour operator would only allow their clients to go in ground floor rooms. I am just hoping that all this has been taken into consideration when building the various projects in Sahl Hasheesh. Does anyone know?

Has this question ever been raised with Resort Alliance? I have to confess I have no idea what the regulation height would be but all of the units in Sahl I have been in look safe enough to me. I guess the criteria would be 1. Could a railing give way? 2. Could a young child topple over? Anyone else know what the rules are for balconies to be acceptable?

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PROPERTY SHOP INC. International Property Brokers
EGYPT REAL - Your One Stop Shop for Hurghada Property

Hi Peter,

Here is some information on the research my friend did relating to balconies etc in El Gouna. Perhaps this should be mentioned to Resort Alliance and other developers.

There is a really serious issue with Health and Safety in El Gouna, which potentially affects many of us who rent out holiday property. Particularly to the UK market, andpotentially to the rest of the EU.

The height of virtually all the terrace/balcony railings, and width between the bars does not comply with current EU Health and Safety regulations. Railings must be 1 metre high minimum, from either the floor or any horizontal 'step-up'. The gap between bars must be 10cm or less.

This is significant because any tour operator with UK clients is liable under the British legal system. Should a tragedy occur, a tour operator could be charged with corporate manslaughter, with compensation running into £ millions GBP and potentially a custodial sentence. If a property is non-compliant with EU Health and Safety law, the PLI would presumably be invalidated.

This is significant on 2 counts:

1) It affects tour operators such as James Villas and potentially Savilles. They will not take on any properties that are not compliant with EU Health and Safety because of the legal risks to themselves.

2) If British owners rent out properties independently, and offer anything more than a basic rental, their status in law changes to 'Tour Operator' with the attendant legal risks. Even the smallest addition can effect this change - eg an airport transfer or an El Gouna bus ticket!

(If properties are rented independently, with no 'additions' the owner would PROBABLY be relatively safe, as any legal action would take place through the Egyptian judicial system, which I am told is relatively ineffective.)

The hotels are in the same position with UK clients / tour operators, and Ocean View is currently negotiating to change all their terrace railings. In the meantime all British guests are housed on the ground floor.

Ther are some good points here, answers a lot of questions on why we all may not be able to rent our apartments out as holiday lets, unless the developments meet some type of standard for safety especially.

I am pleased to say that RA were out with their tape measures last Saturday after reading Distantdreamers comments! I am assured that all balconies in Sahl Hasheesh comply with the relevant regulations.

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PROPERTY SHOP INC. International Property Brokers
EGYPT REAL - Your One Stop Shop for Hurghada Property

Any big supermarkets in Hurghada where you can stock up on food.

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Hmmm I think ones called Abu Bashra? if i've got the name right there a quite a few of them around hurghada.There will also be one opening around the corner from the Suleder development.

I can't remember seeing any.

But I bet there's a Tesco Hypermarket there within 5 years!

But I think it's less relevant in a tourist market. People don't shop on holiday the way they do when they are home. They don't have an SUV that they can drive to the hypermarket and stock with on a week's grocery. I think most people just buy a day's stuff at a time from the nearest cornershop and walk home with it.

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EGYPT REAL - Your One Stop Shop for Hurghada Property

Author of: Propertastic's Complete Guide to Hurghada Property and Egypt's Red Sea Riviera Real Estate

I usually shop for a day or two but just keep to basics as we are always out and apart from breakfast we hardly eat in as its so cheap.

Hi back from 2 weeks in Hurghada, Self catering Fantastic, big supper market near Sea Gull sells everything and very cheap, Kentucky, McDonalds, food out very cheap, There was 7 of us 4 adults and 3 children, We was doing one week in our apartment and one week in an all inclusive hotel, The week in the apartment was fantastic the kids enjoyed everything, then off to the hotel for a week, After 4 days we checked out and back to the apartment the Hotels are full of Rusians and very rude. the all in use alot cheaper drinks and you can tell the diference. So for all us 7 people we prefer self catering anytime.