A step by step guide explaining how to organize a DIY holiday to Sharm!

During the last few years, however, even those using to refer to travel agencies, have been looking for a do-it-yourself choice, both as a matter of saving and in order to be more free and independent.
Frankly speaking everything gets done online nowadays and it's ever so easy!

One of the most important things to consider is who you should trust when booking flights, hotels and a variety of tours, without bumping into some fake and unethical sites, risking therefore to lose money and having your holiday spoilt.

I personally rely on the same usual sites when I travel and always manage to have a great time. I am going to mention anyway a few links where you can book your holiday to Sharm El Sheikh directly, bearing in mind that they can be useful for other holiday destinations as well.

The first step in organizing everything is obviously choosing the destination! In this case we use Sharm El Sheikh

• Make sure there are no particular restrictions or issues. The safest source from which to draw information is certainly the Farnesina website: here you will always find the most up-to-date information (please avoid acting like those smart guys who ask for clarification on such delicate issues in Facebook groups, polluted in groups everyone has their say. pro advantage and therefore not from reliable information).

• Learn about the local culture. For example, some gestures that are normal for us may be offensive in other countries. Learn how to avoid finding yourself in the middle of unpleasant inconveniences.

• Talking about ladies, be aware that in certain countries, such as Sharm El Sheikh, it is normal for men to address shameless appreciations to women and it is also rather normal for them to keep on staring at them insistently (this has something to do with the local culture, where women are almost entirely covered for religion purposes). If you think this might be a problem for you, then better to avoid certain situations.

Do it yourself travel - The Necessary Documents

• Passport: to travel outside the European Union, in most cases, a passport is required. If you do not have one already, be aware that it takes at least 10 - 15 days to get it. If, On the other hand, if your passport expiry date is approaching, try to find out how many months left are requested by the country of destination to enter without any problem (this is sometimes a necessary condition also to apply for a visa), so be careful; For Sharm El Sheikh an electronic or paper identity card is also accepted as long as it is accompanied by two passport photos (these will be used at the airport to make you a replacement identification document)

• Visas: No visa is required for Sharm El Sheikh as long as you do not stay for more than 2 weeks or do not have to travel outside of the Sinai peninsula.. For other TRIPS other than Sharm inquire if you will need a visa to travel.

• Vaccinations: No mandatory vaccinations are requested for Sharm (concerning the present COVID-19 situation, you will either need a vaccine certification or PCR / rapide negative test). For other destinations other than Sharm, find out if you need to undergo any vaccinations and do it in time.

• If you intend to drive, check whether you can use an Italian driving license or if you need an international driving license (In Sharm you definitely need an international driving license).

• Be sure to take some cash with you (not all shops in Sharm have a POS to pay) and a credit or debit card to withdraw. Before leaving, talk to your bank and ask if you can use your cards abroad (Very often your cards must be unlocked before traveling in case you wish to use them for payments abroad). Moreover remember to write down somewhere the numbers you should contact in case you need to block your cards when abroad, should you lose them.

• For Internet and Calls it is always advisable to buy a local sim card to avoid paying a fortune using the Italian one! (In Sharm you can do it upon your arrival directly at the airport). Try to find this out as well.

Do-it-yourself travel - Book your flight, hotel or even an apartment!

When deciding to make a trip, two important considerations must be made: Is it better to stay in a hotel or apartment? This is very personal but so important. If you want to have an all inclusive (board and lodging) formula, then a hotel is your best choice, as you can take advantage of internal  services such as a SPA and other ones. Consider anyway that you have a lot of chances not to like the cuisine of the hotel you pick, in which case you will have to dine out....This is rather typical in Sharm El Sheikh, but it's not so frequent when choosing other destinations.

On the other hand, if you are used to traveling overnight and have booked a private accommodation or even if you already know the place and therefore how to move around, then choosing an apartment could be good. n this case you will have your bedroom and a kitchen enabling you to prepare anything you like. Bear in mind that apartments are often located within a resort/hotel, which means you will have the possibility to use facilities for free such as the swimming pool, as well as getting optional discounted services. Something else worth taking into consideration is that choosing the apartment option will leave you free to invite friends round, cook and come and go as you totally like.

But now let's get real and talk about booking!

My advice is to start monitoring flights as soon as possible, to get an idea of the dates and how much you can spend. There are websites and search engines: In particular I am satisfied with Skyscanner and BookZone, both giving the possibility to find flights and hotels. As for the apartments I recommend AirBNB and for local tours It really depends on the area but if we talk about Sharm El Sheikh I feel like recommending the excellent SharmZad, with really competitive prices.

So now you got all the information you might need, you just have to get ready to arrange everything for your next trip!