Booking Almaza Bay is the easy part. The questions start afterwards. Which month, actually? Do I need cash? Is the sea warm in May? After several seasons of sending travelers to Egypt's Mediterranean coast, I have collected the answers that matter, the ones people wish they had known before packing.
Pick your month like a local
The season runs from May to mid-October, but the months are not interchangeable. May gives you gentle sun and a sea that is refreshing rather than warm, fine for adults, ambitious for toddlers. June is close to perfect. July and August are peak heat and peak occupancy, since Cairo families migrate to this coast the way Belgraders migrate to Greece. September might be the smartest buy of all: the sea is at its warmest after a summer of heating up, the sun has lost its edge and the bay noticeably exhales. Early October still works for swimmers who do not shiver easily.
Getting there without drama
Charter flights from Belgrade land at Marsa Matruh airport and the transfer to the bay takes well under an hour. That short hop is a bigger selling point than it sounds. Compare it with some Red Sea itineraries, or with a Hurghada arrival at midnight followed by a long bus ride, and you will appreciate reaching your room while the day is still usable.
- Visa: Serbian citizens obtain an Egyptian visa on arrival for a fee, payable in cash. Check the current rules with your agent before departure, they do change.
- Passport: six months of validity from the date of entry is the standard requirement.
- Transfer: organized coaches meet the charter. Independent taxis exist but the resort zone is remote, so stick with the transfer.
Money, tipping and the price of small things
The local currency is the Egyptian pound, but inside the resorts euros and dollars are accepted almost everywhere, and cards work at the reception and main bars. Bring small euro notes. Tipping, baksheesh, is woven into Egyptian service culture: a euro here and there for the person who cleans your room or carries your bags is expected and genuinely appreciated. It is not a scam, it is a wage supplement, and it buys you remembered coffee orders by day three.
Outside the resort there is very little to spend money on, which is worth knowing in advance. This is not a destination with a promenade of shops and restaurants. The nearest real town is Marsa Matruh, and trips there are an excursion, not an evening stroll.
What to pack that people forget
Sunscreen with high SPF, because the African sun does not negotiate even by the Mediterranean. A light long-sleeve layer for evenings, when the sea breeze can be surprisingly fresh in May, June and late September. Seasickness tablets if you plan boat trips. A power bank for excursion days. Water shoes are unnecessary here, the entry is pure sand, so save that space in the suitcase.
Wifi, pharmacies and other small logistics
Resort wifi is solid in the lobbies and decent enough in the rooms for messages and photos, less so for streaming a series in HD. If you need reliable internet, buy a local SIM or eSIM with a data package, coverage along the coast is better than you would guess. Sockets are the same two-pin type used in Serbia, so leave the adapters at home. Drink bottled water only, which the all-inclusive supplies without limit, and use it for brushing teeth too if you have a sensitive stomach. Each resort has a doctor on call and the reception stocks the basics, but bring your own supply of the medications you actually use. The nearest proper pharmacy is in Marsa Matruh, not across the street.
Mistakes to avoid
The first mistake is treating Almaza Bay like a base for sightseeing. Cairo and the pyramids are a serious drive away, and doing them as a day trip from here means a brutal schedule. If antiquity is the point of your trip, look at a Cairo program instead, or combine the two. The second mistake is skipping the resort's a la carte restaurants because the buffet is included. Book them on day one, the slots go fast. The third is underestimating the midday sun between noon and three. The breeze lies to you. Reapply sunscreen and take the long lunch like the locals do.
One more, small but real: do not expect nightlife. The bay goes quiet by eleven. Travelers who need bars and clubs after dinner will be happier in Larnaca or on a livelier island. Here the evening program is stars, shisha and the sound of the sea.
Is it good value?
For what it is, yes. You are paying for a five-star, all-inclusive product on a beach that would be fenced off and photographed for magazines anywhere in Europe. WAYLY packages start from 2050 EUR with flights and transfers included, and the price holds up well once you count what you will not spend: no restaurant bills, no beach fees, no car rental. Check the current departures and pick your month wisely. September, if you ask me.
