Hi everyone,

To those not sure of whether to pay extra and buy in a resort community such as El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Gamsha Bay etc etc, just thought I'd mention some reasons why I'm so glad I did! Obviously you will pay more for the privilege but if you can afford it I feel its worth it!

My comments refer to El Gouna - I realise other resort communities may run slightly differently - but these may be some things to bear in mind when purchasing:

1. LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE JOBS TO BE DONE!!

In El Gouna it is a sheer pleasure if things go wrong, or you need work doing on your property! Be it plumber, electrician, carpenter you just need to make a free phone call. Then generally the same day (depending on urgency), they send someone round to give you a handwritten quote, and if you agree, then the work is carried out by the team they send round which is always very quick! In the UK I am filled with fear if we need a plumber - never can get one!!!

2. THE PRICE OF MAINTENANCE JOBS!!

The work is done efficiently and so cheap!!! We had a window replaced, a security lock installed (which they went to Hurghada to shop for), and all electric sockets replaced plus other minor jobs and the bill - around £30 (a couple of years ago).

3. FREE PHONE CALLS WITHIN EL GOUNA

4. EXCELLENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM - very cheap and easy to get around

5. MOZZIE SPRAYING throughout the resort, so that you don't have to worry about being bitten to death!

6. OWNER DISCOUNT - Varying discounts at shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities for owners. Access to most resort hotels beaches/pools at very reasonable prices or in some cases free.

7. SIMPLE TO PAY UTILITY BILLS - They provide utilities so this saves you having to deal with Egyptian companies. Bills for water and electic come every month and you can pay them when you arrive, at the office provided. Indeed some people have been known not to pay for a couple of years, and just settle when they finally go there again. Mind you they seem to be cracking down on this now!

8. EXCELLENT HEALTH CARE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN RESORT

9. GENTLE INTRODUCTION TO PROPERTY OWNING IN EGYPT! Its a bit like a European Resort, but with the exotic touch, for those that aren't quite brave enough to venture into the "real" thing

10. EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ON SITE - If you don't want to leave there is everything on hand, so you can have to venture out if you don't want to.

11. FRIENDLY PEOPLE - A growing number of expats are starting business there and making it their permanent home. Its a bit like "going home" as you start to make loads of new friends and there's a lovely community spirit.

12. FABULOUS FACILITIES - We can walk to both a stunning marina with its fabulous restaurants or Downtown with more restaurants/shops and its more "authentic" feel

13. GROWING PROPERTY PRICES - An excellent return on investment has been made, certainly by those who purchased in the early days. My friend paid £26,000 (in 2003 I think) for her apartment and was offered £100,000 recently!!

14. ONSITE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES - For those wishing to rent out their properties, their is an excellent choice of companies throughout the resort who will deal with every aspect of management for you including collecting visitors from the airport, check in/check out, laundry, shopping, advertising - so you can just sit back and enjoy your investment!!!

Certainly sounds as though early investors have made a healthy profit only if they wanted to move away from El gouna to maybe another new resort.There is no doubt it is very nice and i'm sure other developers have and will copy El Gouna probably on a larger scale,personally for myself it is too quiet.However if you like quiet you will undoubtedly love El Gouna.

Sahl Hasheesh will be organized in exactly the same way. The object is to make the experience of owning a holiday home as stress free as possible. Owning in the town is great if you are a 'hands on' sort of person that doesn't mind sorting things out for themself (like Queenie, she seems to be a very switched on lady!). However, many people don't have time to even think about their holiday home; they just want to deal with an on site office which they know will take care of everything. After all that what we are paying for!

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A lot of people as Peter mentions do like to just go on holiday when they visit their particular property and don't want to be bothered with diy whilst on holiday.for these individuals it is ideal to have everything done for you,I personally do prefer a bit of hands on approach,however anything I am not comfortable with goes straight out to a tradesman.El Gouna I am guessing will be smaller than Sahl and Gamsha Bay,if this is the case there may be a different feel to them compared to El-Gouna.

El Gouna downtown - ro real roads

Why is there still no proper roads Downtown if the place is so great.

All the things mentioned sound great but those NON-roads will stop me going again - been 4 times to hotels but no more unitl the roads are completed.

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Why do you need to drive downtown in El Gouna or drive to the marina? Just ring for a toctoc (think that's spelt right) or walk. Certainly isn't far at all. And it will keep the air cleaner too.

LOL yeah those little 3 wheeler things they are cool for around town.

It will be a long time until Sahl and Gamsha are bigger than El Gouna . The sand roads probably cost more to keep up than tarmac roads (They are like this due to the continued development or low use of the roads) ,but arent a big problem .The main roads to downtown are tarmacced now.There is much more to be worried about in Hurghada and on the road between El Gouna & Hurghada than an un tarmacced road. A developmpent that sets the standard will always be knocked by the competition . Mr Sawiris does listen to the residents and will act to keep El Gouna in the competition.

Hi
I've stayed in El Gouna Hotel 4 times - those buses and toc tocs are good idea but a tarmac road would be much more comfortable on those wooden seats and there would be less sand blowing around.

I was there in Dec and noted that they is much more work being done to tarmac the road on the outskirts - so why not on the roads downtown and to the Marina.

The whole concept is great - just seems to have taken a very long time to get finished, and now some of the hotels need some refurbing.
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No idea about apartment quality etc - but they look great - the lagoons look cool but they're not that good for swimming in.
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Sorry can't agree - some lagoons are great for swimming in. We spend many happy hours in our "massive swimming pool" which we often have to ourselves, either swimming or lazing on our lilos. Our apartment is near the Sheraton and we've even swam all the way round the Sheraton island - quite exhausting in the heat but great fun, stopping at all the little different beaches on the way.

The apartments there are good quality. Ours is basic, but has a lovely domed ceiling in the living area and a vaulted one in the bedroom. Plus the views from our large balcony over the lagoon are just great. In fact can't wait to get back there!!