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El Gouna, just 30 minutes north of Hurghada, Egypt, is a luxurious self-contained resort town offering a plethora of activities and a variety of opulent hotels catering to all sorts of holidays, from honeymoons to family trips and golfing breaks.

The Red Sea, renowned for its winter sunshine destinations such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada in Egypt, remains a top choice for those craving winter warmth.

Boasting glorious weather throughout the year and reasonably short flight times, it’s a perfect option for UK holidaymakers. Moreover, the abundance of package deals makes organising a spontaneous escape incredibly straightforward.

However, if you’re seeking something rather more distinctive, whilst still accessible, there’s a destination that’s well-known among Egyptians and kitesurfing enthusiasts, but remains largely undiscovered by many Brits.

OPINION

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El Gouna, merely 30 minutes north of Hurghada, Egypt, is an upmarket self-contained resort town providing countless activities and an array of lavish hotels suitable for all types of breaks, from romantic getaways to family holidays and golfing retreats, reports MyLondon.

Melanie Kaidan, senior lifestyle reporter at the Express, experienced El Gouna first-hand. She said: “During my 5-night holiday, I was able to sample only a few of the many excursions and comforts this town has to offer, starting with a thrilling desert quad bike safari, where I visited a Bedouin encampment at sunset.”

She added: “Staying at the Steigenberger Golf Resort gave me an outlook into the more mature, relaxed side of the resort, where crowds vary from families with young children to seniors golfing on the hotel’s own 18-hole championship golf course located on the other side of the lagoon.”

For those craving a more energetic break, the celebrated Mangroovy Beach draws kitesurfers from far and wide, whilst the stylish Casa Cook Hotel sits conveniently beside a kite centre which Melanie described as ideal for visitors “who like to get up and go”.

El Gouna offers far more than its stunning golden sandy shores – it boasts magnificent coral reefs and shipwrecks, including the celebrated Sha’ab El Erg and Careless Reef. These aquatic treasures await discovery through snorkelling and diving excursions.

Navigating the resort proves effortless, with journeys lasting no longer than 20 minutes. Melanie recommended: “For those seeking a truly local experience, tuk-tuks are a whimsical way to explore the town that makes spontaneous stops much easier and fun.”

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She also highlighted the vibrant evening entertainment. Melanie explained: “When it comes to dining and nightlife, Abu Tig Marina and the Downtown area are the places to be, with local shops and restaurants offering something for everyone. At dawn, these areas come to life, becoming a hotspot for visitors looking to try different cuisines, from the top-rated African eatery Bongoyo, to Camino, a lively Latin restaurant.”

Another top-rated activity in El Gouna is crafting your own fragrance. Melanie said: “I’d strongly recommend anyone going to El Gouna create their own scent to remember their holiday at Norshek, a little store selling hair and body products made with natural oils. Here, you can customise your body butter, hand wash, perfume or hair conditioner to your liking. Try oud and pomegranate for a sweet and indulgent, long-lasting mix.”

For lovers of Indian food, Melanie suggested Tandoor as essential, “not only for its privileged location overlooking the entire marina but also for its superb fare, featuring all the classics as well as a few unique fusion dishes.”

Melanie also suggested Fanadir Marina for a more sophisticated, peaceful setting, enabling guests to enjoy uninterrupted views of moored boats whilst dining. She also put forward Villa Caracas for traditional Lebanese cuisine, whilst its neighbour, Marzipan, offers “authentic Egyptian fare in abundant portions that are ideal for sharing”.

Another outstanding aspect of El Gouna is its proximity to Luxor. A day excursion here starts with an otherworldly journey through the desert and showcases some of Egypt’s most breathtaking monuments, including the colossal Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, an ancient Royal burial ground from Egypt’s New Kingdom period.

For those choosing to spend the night in Luxor, an early morning hot air balloon ride offers a unique chance to spot many of the ancient landmarks, including the imposing mortuary temple of Hatshepsut. The stark contrast between the lush, cultivated fields along the Nile River and the surrounding desert and mountains is truly a sight to behold.

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Getting there

Travelling to El Gouna from the UK is simple. You’ll need to catch a flight to Hurghada (HRG) airport, with a flight time of around five hours.

British airlines fly to Hurghada from several UK airports, including Gatwick and Luton. Once there, it’s a 30-minute drive to El Gouna either by transfer or taxi.

Return flights in October start at around £147 per person, although this might change depending on the time of purchase. According to Booking.com, last-minute hotel bookings start at around £100 per night for highly-rated, five-star accommodation.

The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. It is located South-East of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.

The Caribbean is a treasure trove of cultural gems, offering a unique charm that’s hard to find elsewhere. Indeed, the vibrant culture of the Caribbean is its biggest draw, showcasing a mix of architectural wonders, colourful festivities, and historical treasures.

It’s a dream destination for those seeking a tranquil getaway, with pristine white sandy beaches and a tropical climate.

Tourism is a key pillar in the economies of all Caribbean islands, which welcome visitors with open arms. One island, in particular, has won over many British holidaymakers, offering the ultimate tropical retreat.

Barbados, an eastern Caribbean island neighbouring Saint Lucia, the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Vincent, is considered one of the safest islands in the region.

This popular cruise ship port is also famed as a foodie paradise, with delicious food and rum at the heart of its culture, reports the Express.

In fact, several annual Food and Rum Festivals are held here, attracting visitors who return year after year to enjoy its delights.

With direct flights from London and an average temperature of 29C in September, Barbados is the perfect autumnal escape.

Surrounded by coral reefs, the island’s crystal-clear waters are warm and invigorating, and the mostly flat terrain is ideal for leisurely strolls to soak up the tropical atmosphere.

The region boasts delightful temperatures all year round, seldom going above 30C or below 22C.

Navigating the island is a doddle, with a top-notch road network and an international airport situated near the southern coast.

Barbados is an outdoor lover’s dream, featuring mountains, rainforests, beaches and coral reefs.

The area is famed for its sugarcane fields, tropical trees and rich wildlife.

Don’t be surprised if you come across dolphins, monkeys, mongooses, barracudas, and even flying fish during your journey.

The national dish of Barbados is Cou Cou and fried flying fish, with pudding and souse also being popular choices.

No Caribbean holiday would be complete without a refreshing rum punch, a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

With a plethora of activities on offer, including swimming with turtles, catamaran cruising, monkey feeding, rum tours and kayaking, this island retreat promises to rejuvenate and refresh any weary traveller.

BRITS can look forward to basking in glorious 29C sunshine this weekend following days of rain.

Thousands of sun lovers are sure to flock to the seaside and stow out beaches as the mercury rises across the UK.

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The Met Office forecasts a warm start on Saturday morning, with figures as high as 23C by 10am in the capital.

Much of Britain will hover in the mid to late teens, before temperatures climb in the afternoon.

By 4pm, most of the UK will be basking in sunshine between 21C to 28C, with the exception of lows of 16C in the Scottish Highlands.

And, a warm and sticky night can be expected as figures are set to remain high even after the sun goes down.

Sunday kicks off in a similar fashion, with temperatures in the mid 20s expected by 10am.

The forecast then echoes that of Saturday throughout the day.

A heatwave in the UK is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days, with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature thresholds.

Across the north and west of the UK this is 25C, and across Greater London and the Home Counties, 28C.

However, Brits may have to brace themselves for “thundery showers” on Wednesday.

Before the glorious weather returns, downpours are expected across much of the UK.

Scattered showers are predicted in the north, while those in Wales and the Midlands are forecast a drizzly morning.

Thursday will also bring a mixture of sunny spells and showers across Britain.

Meanwhile, it is predicted to feel breezy this evening, with the best sunsets in the south east of England.

It will remain cloudy through the night, with some rain forecast in the north and west.

The Met Office has also revealed the forecast for Glastonbury – with revellers bracing for a variety of weather conditions.

When the festival opens on June 25, reasonably warm temperatures of around 24C between 1pm and 4pm, can be expected.

This is then predicted to drop off into a cooler evening with temperatures in the high teens.

There is also a 40 per cent chance of rain on Wednesday evening, climbing to 50 per cent between 4am and 7am Thursday morning.

Glastonbury attendees can expect milder weather averaging in the high teens and low twenties.

The milder weather might be offset by wind chill, as gusts are expected to reach around 30mph between 10am and 4pm on Thursday.

It might pay to be prepared with warmer jackets, suncream and hayfever meds -with a high pollen count and UV rating at 1pm Thursday.

As the music begins on Friday, crowds can expect it to be “cloudy changing to sunny intervals by late morning” according to the Met Office.

With Supergrass kicking off the Pyramid stage at 12pm, they’ll be met with temperatures of around 22C, as well as relatively high humidity and wind speeds.

As the music begins on Friday, crowds can expect it to be “cloudy changing to sunny intervals by late morning” according to the Met Office.

With Supergrass kicking off the Pyramid stage at 12pm, they’ll be met with temperatures of around 22C, as well as relatively high humidity and wind speeds.

This follows a stunning weekend to mark the summer solstice on June 22.

Hundreds headed out early last Saturday to watch the sunrise over Stonehenge in celebration.

Those who marked the year’s longest day elsewhere experienced 18C temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London by 5am, according to the Met Office.

The weather agency also confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside had the highest recorded overnight figures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am.

The mercury in Cumbria and Lancashire also reached highs above 19C.

The pebbles at Brighton Beach, in East Sussex, could hardly as people soaked up the rays.

Hand held fans were also in demand at Royal Ascot as the hot weather continued on day five of the prestigious event.

One Royal Ascot spectator was even taken to hospital, with 42 others given medical attention on site for heat-related illness.

And, a number of horrified Brits were evacuated after being trapped on a train for two hours with no air con.

Weary passengers have slammed Thamelink after their service from Bedford to Brighton came to a screeching halt on the hottest day of the year so far.

The train broke down between Elephant and Castle, and Loughborough – but ticketholders were left waiting in their carriages during the sweltering heat on Sunday.

There was no air conditioning, and a major evacuation was eventually carried out after several hours.

People were led onto the tracks to fend for themselves, and claimed they were given no instruction on where to go next.

In lighter scenes, one delivery courier could be seen hurling what appeared to be drinks up to passengers stranded on a Thameslink train on a viaduct in south London.

Travellers cheered as the delivery driver chucked the items up with impressive accuracy to parched and agitated customers on board the train.

Incredible footage shows the driver hurling the items up as passengers, sweating in the intense heat, sat on the edge of the train and on the viaduct itself, as the train doors had been opened.

Temperatures hit up to 33.2C in Charlwood, Surrey, making it the hottest day of the year so far, according to the Met Office.

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THE MET Office has revealed the exact date temperatures are expected to soar to 29C as a dome of “sinking air” descends across the UK.

Brits are likely to be able to enjoy potentially “record-breaking” heat for this time of year as a result of the prolonged sunshine and area of high pressure over the country.

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This comes as countless sunseekers were spotted flooding beaches, parks, and riversides yesterday as temperatures reached a balmy 26C across much of southern and central England.

The Met Office has now said today and Thursday could bring even warmer conditions, as temperatures soar towards the 30C mark.

In a post on X, the forecaster said: “A broad area of high pressure is currently positioned over the UK, leading to sinking air that warms as it descends.

“Combined with prolonged sunshine, this is expected to push temperatures up to 29C in southern areas by Thursday.”

Areas in and around London, as well as much of the rest of southern England, are likely to experience the best of the sunshine, with temperatures reaching their highest point on Thursday afternoon.

Those living across the Midlands are also set to be able to bask in the glorious sunshine in around 25C heat.

While not as warm, conditions are still expected to be largely above 20C in the afternoon across Wales.

However, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to experience slightly cooler conditions, floating around the 12C to 15C mark.

This is in stark contrast to today, where much of the mainland UK should reach above 20C.

If temperatures manage to reach over 30C this week, it would be the earliest point in the year the UK has ever reached such hot conditions, since Met Office records began.

Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “Thursday looks set to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures climbing notably above the seasonal average.

“Overnight temperatures will also be very high in places.

“It’s possible national and station records for daytime and overnight temperatures may be broken.

“The far north will always see cooler conditions, with these more seasonal temperatures likely spreading erratically south later in the week.”

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Conditions are far warmer at the moment than usual for this time of year.

Typically, late April sees the mercury reach average around 12C in Scotland, and 16C in southern England.

However, predictions of 29C mean the UK could be hotter than Crete (15C) in Greece and Barcelona (21C) in Spain on Thursday.

Following Thursday’s peak, temperatures are expected to begin to fall on Friday, with 25C likely being the maximum temperature.

The Met Office said there is a chance of some showers and potentially thunderstorms developing late on Thursday or overnight, particularly in the south and south west.

It added there could also be some “uncertainty” as we move towards the weekend as an area of low pressure moves up from the south.

ARGOS shoppers are rushing to get their hands on this summer kids’ must-have on sale in time for this week’s heatwave.

The hot weather essential is scanning for 50 percent off as customers revel in its “perfect” design and quality.

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Priced at as little as £7.50 – down from £15 – Argos’s kids paddling pool holds up to 26 litres and takes as little as 5 minutes to inflate.

The Bestway 3ft Sunny Days Shade Paddling Pool is flying off shelves as parents rush to nab the “soft” inflatable pool in time for this week’s hike in temperature.

Measuring 101x97x20cm and is designed for children over the age of 2 under the direct supervision of an adult.

Featuring a smiling sunshine design, the pool promises “guaranteed delight” to little ones.

It also has a UV sunshade providing a safe space for kids to splash around in out of the sun.

Delighted parents have called the paddling pool “great value for money” with one saying it makes for some “really cute photos”.

One said: “Loved this for our one year old, sun shade and low level water was perfect.”

Whilst another added: “I was lucky enough to get this in the sale and I’m so pleased with it.

“To be honest I’d buy it at full price. My daughter loves it. Easy to set up too!”

This bargain buy comes just in time for the heatwave forecast this week, with temperatures expected to reach 25C.

The Met Office has forecast glorious conditions with highs of up to 29C by Wednesday and Thursday.

Sunny spells are due to grace large parts of Britain, with some light rain expected in northern Scotland.

Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: “We’re certainly on track to see the warmest spell of the year so far.”

He added how the conditions are higher than average for this time of year.

At the end of April it is usually about 12C in the north and 16C in the south, so some areas could be more than 10C higher than the average.

But records for April and May are unlikely to be broken as the highest temperature for April stands at 29.4C, and May’s record is 32.8C.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Matthew Lehnert said: “We are not expecting the April UK temperature record to be broken, but some locations may nudge local records.  

“Often warm spells are driven by warmer air arriving from further south, but the origins of next week’s air are from Scandinavia and central Europe.

“This air mass will be warmed by compression as the high pressure begins to build, and this warmth will be boosted by daytime heating from the April sun.”