El Gouna

[Peter Mitry]

I think that when Oroscom began developing El Gouna there was nothing else like it and people who were prepared to pay for this style of five star resort naturally went to them.

Now that has all changed; with Sahl Hasheesh, Gamsha Bar, Soma Bay and no doubt more to come, they will have to pay more attention to their marketing and - God forbid, they may even need agents!!

 

[crombiestone]

I wasnt suggesting they dont work hard in Orascom real estate . They do and long hours (Hi Gianna if you see this ). I was just saying that they do a poor job of promotions other than in El Gouna itself or at Exhibitions . They could promote on the internet much better . Maybe they sell enough by this means that they feel its unnecessary . I'm just an El Gouna fan spreading the word .

Pleased you got a laugh though

 

[awahee123]

Yes looks like they are certainly happy with what they have.
I'm sure they will pick up the pace as other developments near El Gouna.

 

[Peter Mitry]

It is great that Development companies such as Orascom & ERC have had the vision to create resorts like El Gouna & Sahl. As more aand more investment is ploughed in to the area maybe the eyesores of unfinished projects will gradually disappear and be replaced with better, properly thought out and adequately funded projects.
This forum is testament to the demand; oversubscribed and expensive flights, no hotel rooms etc etc. The market is just developing and the next few years will see phenomenal changes....

 

[awahee123]

We most definately will see major changes within the whole of Egypt,In the two years I have been travelling to Hurghada There has already been some major changes.
Even though Hurghada is still very small just imagine what it would have been like without all the development.
We have a long way to go and we will all hopefully see some exciting major developments been released over the next 5 to 10 years.
Everybody buying at this moment in time wether in Hurghada,Sahl,El Gouna or any other part of Egypt will enjoy many benefits apart from the financial ones.

 

[Jeremy Sturgess]

Two tier pricing

Hi crombiestone

agree with all your comments.

I wasnt sure about two tier pricing though. I know they have different offices to deal with different nationalities but I'm pretty sure the prices are all the same if you are local or foreign. Certainly now - maybe not in the past- but there would not seem to be any economic logic in gouging foreigners who make up a large proportion of buyers. What i like about Gouna also is that it is already established and seems to get better every year.

Jeremy

Hello Propertastic



I'm not sure whate you mean by phase 2 . There are a few developments in El Gouna that do vary in price . I was quoting the price for Golf West Phase 3 which are $95500 USD at current exchange rate .



It is true that there is a 2 tier pricing system and this is not only apparent in El Gouna one example is the Sharm- Hurghada ferry . I have heard a couple of horror stories of people trying to buy via the Egyptian route . I'm not saying its not possible to do but there is a risk that you could hand over your cash and get nothing .

I wasnt knocking Sahl at all only saying that its prices are very expensive for a resort in its early stages .Sahl has taken a long time to "take off" with some plots already changing hands .Orascom originally had the Marina plot at Sahl which was marketed as Venice Marina . For some reson they saw fit to sell the land on to the group who are developing Serrenia . Serrenias website appears to be "under further development " isnt that a little worrying ? I would think that prices in Sahl should be lower at the moment to compensate for any risk of the development not getting finished to planned timescales. Early buyers in El Gouna (sadly long before I found out about it) got major bargains.

 

[Jeremy Sturgess]

Agents at Gouna

Im sure ive seen Savills international and Select Resorts websites promoting units at Gouna so perhaps things are changing.

I think that when Oroscom began developing El Gouna there was nothing else like it and people who were prepared to pay for this style of five star resort naturally went to them.

Now that has all changed; with Sahl Hasheesh, Gamsha Bar, Soma Bay and no doubt more to come, they will have to pay more attention to their marketing and - God forbid, they may even need agents!!

 

[crombiestone]

Im sure ive seen Savills international and Select Resorts websites promoting units at Gouna so perhaps things are changing.

Jeremy

I think you may be right on the pricing strategy now .

Just back from a week and as you say it just gets better every time. There is an impressive new library ,a paintball arena for the kids ,2 or 3 new restaurants ,the most colourful eccentric buses from Pakistan and some new if ineffective road markings ,crossings and stop signs which once the locals are educated about may be of some safety improvement,which are amongst the notable changes since our last visit . I think your description of "charming" in another post is very apt.

We also received an Email last week saying that James Villas have now agreed to advertise private rentals for El Gouna .

We were talking to a couple on the plane who had a place in Hurghada and were upset because their lovely view had been replaced by the brick wall of the new apartment block built very close in front and that their pool didnt get any sun due to the poor design of the building . I didnt get the name of the building though. Thankfully there are none of these worries in El Gouna.

If I am not living out there by next year I will be very disappointed .

 

[queenie40something]

Hi Crombie - welcome home.

It is certainly sounding great. El Gouna is one place that we have not visited and I am starting to regret not going for a day visit when we where in Hurghada - we may have preferred it to Sharm. Too late now though but maybe we could swap apartments sometime to have a change!!

 

[crombiestone]

Hi Crombie - welcome home.

It is certainly sounding great. El Gouna is one place that we have not visited and I am starting to regret not going for a day visit when we where in Hurghada - we may have preferred it to Sharm. Too late now though but maybe we could swap apartments sometime to have a change!!

Hi Queenie

That could cetrainly be an option

Here are a few pics. I have not tried this before so here goes.

 

[queenie40something]

WOW those pics are just fantastic. See what you mean about the bus LOL. They also like to decorate their taxis I've noticed with all sorts of rubbish!!

 

[Jeremy Sturgess]

I would definately recommend a visit to El Gouna next time you are in hurghada area. what i like about gouna is that because its controlled by one man (who is not really in it for the money anymore as he has enough already) you have the feeling there is a coordinated overall masterplan for the place and a Chairman who is chief quality control officer as he is there a lot with his friends who he wants to be happy and many of whom have houses there. when ive been down to sahl or sharm there are lots of plots being developoed by different groups, some of which are very good and some of which arnt- and you therefore get the impression that its not very well planned overall and buyers can be dissapointed as new developments come on stream that are either not very pretty or overlook or block their views. Im sure the Damac scheme will be well masterplanned but that will probably be 7-10 years living in a building site at best and at least with Gouna all the major risks are over in terms of infrastructure.

One thing I was very impressed with when i bought my villa 2 years ago was that at the time there was no plan to extend the lagoon up to my house and instead it was more like a stream. In the end the Chairman himself intervened and at huge expense to Orascom (and no cost to us owners in phase 5) he widened the lagoon greatly which cost a lot and was not an obligation of theirs at all. Now I have put in a boat Jetty ! I think he felt he didnt want people complaining or seeing villas that were below the usual high standards for Gouna even though this portion of lagoon only served about 15 villas.

I think an owners involvement is a really good thing with a place like Gouna. I know all the leading resorts like Sotogrande and Val de Lobo had v strong individuals who were the backbone of the whole thing and really got involved. I also heard a funny story the other day about an incident at Gouna where someone very senior was cut up on the road by a rogue local tuk tuk driver and he was dismissed on the spot. I like the fact that its not a democracy - provided the owner has the right instincts ! Although Im sure many PC people would disagree with me !

Yours

jeremy

Hi Crombie - welcome home.

It is certainly sounding great. El Gouna is one place that we have not visited and I am starting to regret not going for a day visit when we where in Hurghada - we may have preferred it to Sharm. Too late now though but maybe we could swap apartments sometime to have a change!!

 

[crombiestone]

WOW those pics are just fantastic. See what you mean about the bus LOL. They also like to decorate their taxis I've noticed with all sorts of rubbish!!

Thanks Queenie

El Gouna is very photogenic so its easy to take nice pics (believe me I have hundreds )and the good thing is that the resort is as good (if not better) in real life !

David

 

[queenie40something]

Hi maybe next time we are in Sharm we will fly over and spend a couple of days in El Gouna. If anyone has an apartment available to let or can recommend a reasonably priced hotel please let me know.

 

[Jeremy Sturgess]

Try the Captains Inn in the Abu Tig Marina (no pool and try to get a room overlooking the Marina about 45 euros) or Ocean View also in the Marina (pool ? havent been inside myself but heard its ok- price ?)

Hi maybe next time we are in Sharm we will fly over and spend a couple of days in El Gouna. If anyone has an apartment available to let or can recommend a reasonably priced hotel please let me know.

 

[queenie40something]

Thanx for that Jeremy

 

[Roger]

El Gouna Accommodation

Hi maybe next time we are in Sharm we will fly over and spend a couple of days in El Gouna. If anyone has an apartment available to let or can recommend a reasonably priced hotel please let me know.

Hi Queenie,

We stayed at the Dawar El Omda last year and loved it so much we are going back this year. Fairly small, very friendly, pool, use of Zeytuna Beach...

I got a price of €33/pers/night all inclusive, but that may be because we are returning guests - worth asking though. Ask for a room overlooking the lagoon.

 

[queenie40something]

Thanks Roger - I will take a look at that one as well.

 

[realestatemart]

Gouna Go

El Gouna is amazing, well controled, safe, clean natural, all outlets you need, just the sea and sun, and calm so amazing to spend vacation

 

[ThomasCurtains]

Its hard to find fault in Gouna really. Clearly a lot more expensive than most places in Hurghada and parts of Sahl but for good reason. We stayed in the Movenpick the last time I was there and had a great holiday, the kids loved it and were always safe in or out of the hotel, and there is loads to do.
To change subject slightly I did come across the most amazing brochure of Serrania in a real estate office in Hurghada and if that comes to life it will be fantastic for Sahl, my concern being the website was taken down and its getting harder to find out whats going on. As I said in another post Sahl excites and scares me!