Holiday photos from the Hotel Sofitel, Taba Heights, Egypt (December 2006)

Holiday photos from the Hotel Sofitel, Taba Heights, Egypt (December 2006)
Panorama from the balcony of our hotel room
We stayed at the Sofitel, Taba Heights during Christmas 2006. I'm planning to do a short write-up one day, but in the meantime why not take a look at some photos from around the resort...
View from the balcony	The pool, late in the afternoon
On the beach	Courtyard off reception
Panorama from the front of the hotel
Nativity scene on Christmas Eve	Santa parasailing in to the hotel
Santa arriving on a camel	Guess who!
On Christmas Eve the hotel held a gala dinner. The food was excellent, with some fantastic buffet displays by the restaurant staff. Outside the restaurant, the hotel had an extra surprise - a nativity scene with real shepherds, camels and donkeys! Christmas Day was livened up by the arrival of Father Christmas, parasailing in to the beach. He made his way up to the hotel pool by camel, before giving out presents to all of the kids.
Panorama from the "Three Corners" hotel down towards the beach
Charlotte waiting for the shuttle bus	Charlotte at the 'Three Corners'
It's about a mile to the 'Three Corners' hotel and shops - you can walk it in about 15 minutes. The free shuttle bus provided by 'Waterworld' runs every 30 minutes. Nothing special about the hotel - a busy swimming pool in a central courtyard, and the usual bars and dining rooms. The shopping centre immediately behind the hotel was interesting though. Lots of restaurants, shops selling various souvenirs, clothes, jewellery, carpets etc. and a supermarket.
Red Sea Waterworld	Outside Red Sea Waterworld
Deborah and Matthew had a go at scuba diving at the Red Sea Waterworld. The half-day beginner's introduction cost around £60 each. For that, they had three dives and got to see plenty of fish. Later in the week, we all went back to Waterworld and went on the glass bottomed boat. Don't think the boat was expensive - maybe a fiver each?
Panorama of the pool, with the hotel in the background Three large pools - one heated, one unheated and one saltwater. The heated pool was around 22 - 23°C during our stay, which was about the same as the temperature of the seawater if you swim out beyond the shallows. There's a small jetty right next to the hotel, which takes you over the coral reef and into the water just beyond.
The pool	Relaxing by the pool
The pool, with the Lotus Restaurant behind	View from the pool down to the sea
Some useful links I found: LexicOrient [Middle East & North Africa] Attractions and Excursions in the Red Sea, Egypt Babel arabic CULTUREFOCUS_TRAVEL_PHOTOS_ Egyptian Consulate in the UK Crossing from Israel to Egypt Hotel Sofitel Taba Heights Hyatt Regency Taba Heights Index of -babel-arabic-dict-sounds Jersualem excursion from Sinai Jordan from Israel Petra - Myth and reality Petra Map and Monuments Taba Heights Marriott Beach Resort Hotel Taba, Egypt weather forecast from Weather Underground The Complete Petra TRAVELLING BETWEEN EGYPT AND JORDAN UKDivers.net - Red Sea Life - Fish Back to Home Page