Taba

I hadn't done any major research into the area we were visiting; just booked the holiday and got ready to pack. I knew we were near the sea and some distance away from Cairo, but that was about it. "I think we are landing in the desert!" I said to my SO as I looked out of the window and could see nothing but the lights of the runway; when we made our way to the hotels, through pitch darkness, in a convoy of coaches, with what appeared to be a police escort, I started to worry slightly. I know I wasn't the only one because nearly everyone was sat bolt upright holding onto the backs of the seats in front of them!

Thank goodness our hotel was the first stop, because I'm not sure my poor little heart could have held out much longer. On arrival, we were struck immediately by how quiet it was; not in an eerie way, more a peaceful and relaxing type of quiet. Our rooms were nice and spacious and all next to each other; after dropping our cases off, we sat at the poolside under the most amazing star filled sky.

The welcome meeting with our holiday rep the following morning proved to be informative; not only about things to do, but for learning a little more about where we were.

The last portion of the Sinai to be returned to Egypt from Israel (1989), Taba is slowly being developed into a beautiful resort at the tip of Egypt's Red Sea Riviera. On the Gulf of Aqaba, Taba borders Israel and is directly opposite Jordan. The area is popular with Israeli tourists, although this has decreased since the bombings in 2004.

Situated in the part of Egypt that is in Asia and not Africa, our hotel was backed by the Sinai Peninsula mountains

With the Red Sea to the front