Golf Escapes 2009 - (Page 17) Madinat Makadi’s golf course is the newest in Egypt. Peter ellegard WEstErn rEd sEa rEsorts From established favourite to Egypt’s new kids on the block Hurghada City The Western Red Sea’s largest and longest-established resort, Hurghada City has an extensive range of hotels appealing to a wide cross-section of holidaymakers. It has a very lively centre with plenty of nightlife and there are lots of sports and activities available along its sandy beaches. It is also one of the region’s top diving destinations. Makadi Bay. Windsurfing in front of Soma Bay’s Sheraton Hotel. Starwood HotelS & reSortS egyPt touriSt autHority Madinat Makadi This resort village newcomer south of Hurghada City has eight hotels. Top properties are the five-star Jaz Makadi Golf hotel, next to the new golf course, and sister five-star Jaz Makadi Star, which has a spa. There is very much a community feel to the resort. Leisure facilities are open to guests of all the hotels. The Souk Makadi is the heart of the village and has outdoor entertainment, bars, restaurants and shops. A wide beach offers safe swimming in Makadi Bay and dive boats head out from its pier. The “Little Venice of Egypt”, north of Hurghada City, has over a dozen hotels, from five-star properties to boutique B&Bs, plus elegant private villas, a Mediterranean-style marina lined with restaurants and bars, a shopping centre, casino and art galleries. There’s sailing and other water sports from its extensive beaches, and diving from nine dive centres – it is the closest resort to the famous Thistlegorm wreck and has many reef sites. El Gouna Beach at El Gouna. el gouna reSort Soma Bay An expanding upmarket resort on a peninsula south of Hurghada City, its exclusive La Residence des Cascades, built in the centre of The Cascades golf course, caters to golfers and spa clients. It houses the huge Les Thermes Marins des Cascades thalassotherapy centre. Other hotels include the adjacent pharaonic-styled Sheraton Soma Bay. Facilities include the Red Sea’s largest diving centre. Ain Soukhna Soma Bay’s Les Thermes Marins des Cascades. Cairo’s closest beach, at less than 50 miles east, is a developing resort just south of Suez, at the top of the Red Sea. The existing golf course is being augmented by more, with Thomson, Perrett and Lobb’s El Ein project due to open in spring 2010. Wide, sandy beaches, goodquality hotels, the proximity of Cairo and sights including the Eastern Desert’s monasteries are part of its appeal. Golf ESCAPES 2009 17 Soma Bay
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