While chilling in Port Ghalib...

[moorish8idol]

Hi folks!

I will be doing a liveaboard out of Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib) in August and am wondering if you have any tips or recommendations on where to hang out/chill while waiting to get on the boat and later while waiting to head to the airport.

I arrive on a Saturday around 2 p.m. and can't board the boat until 5 p.m. I have my visa already and no checked luggage so hoping I might be able to get out of the airport without too much of a delay. Any safe, friendly spot with some decent food/drinks and wifi where I can bide my time?

Same goes for the way out. We have to check out of the boat by 8 am on the following Saturday and I leave at about quarter to 3. Would anyway recommend the nearby hotels in terms of paying a day rate to use the pools or am I better off just finding a friendly spot to have a very long breakfast?

Final question: assuming I have no bags to check, how much time do I need to get through security and border patrol at the Marsa Alam airport these days? Obviously I don't want to miss my flight but I'd like to avoid spending a long time in a crowded and unpleasant airport with nothing to do.

Cheers!

 

[diverLux]

Hi,

Port Ghalib is small everything is within walking distance, it’s also a modern holiday resort at the same time. The boat leaves right from the promenade literally within a few meters there are cafés, restaurant and bars, no need to go into details you’ll see for yourself when you get there. Extra Divers have a shop there on the promenade just in case you need some dive stuff. Opposite the boat gaz station there is a small grocery store you can buy candy etc.

Marsa Alam International is a modern state of the art airport, it is very small and a very pleasant one at the same time , you’ll be out in a breeze and provided you have transport waiting ( there is no taxi rank ) you’ll be at the Port within 1 hour of disembarking. To get back is another story as the security is V E R Y tight, it is recommended you be there at least 2 hours before departure. Buy your souvenirs in the departure hall, there is quite a choice and prices are fixed. This is not a crowded airport at all never seen more than 2 flights at the same time ! August you say, that's European summer holiday high season, there could be 3 aircraft and yes could be busy.

Take small $ bills 1, 5, 10 nobody has change ! You can get Egyptian Pounds ( LE ) at the ATM in the arrival hall.

. . . . and don’t forget this is what you look like in their eyes

Happy diving and mind the sharks ( the ones on land )

 

[diverLux]

Oops, didn't realise you are from Europe, sorry

 

[Sunn]

Usually, there will be someone waiting you at the airport on arrival.

For departure, the diving center usually drives you back to the airport.

Marsa Alam is not a crowded airport, last time I went there, (oct 2017, high season for liveaboards) there was 1 plane departing, nobody arriving...