Thomson + Red Sea

[Ken]

I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.

I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.

Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?

Ken

[David Mahon]

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?

Just use them for the flight and hotel and sort the diving out yourself
Ken.

What hotels are they offering?

[Ken]

Post by David Mahon

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?

Just use them for the flight and hotel and sort the diving out yourself
Ken.
What hotels are they offering?

None I have heard of before, but Sharm is exploding at one hek of a rate so
that does not surprise me. From what I see on their site they are not the
most central (inevitably) but it depends what you want to do. Difficult to
see how any can be as well placed as the Naama Bay Hotel though! The hotels
themselves are fine from what I read if you want to grill yourself, but it
would be a trek to the jetties and restaurants each time. The dive packs are
just three - a try dive, an open water course, or a 5-day dive pack. Nothing
else is mentioned, not even who the diving's with. With Thomson being an
all-things-to-all-men sort of company I wonder if they have diving up there
as first, second and third things to get right in a holiday to this
destination.

Ken

[Richard Faulkner]

Post by Ken

Post by David Mahon

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?

Just use them for the flight and hotel and sort the diving out yourself
Ken.
What hotels are they offering?

None I have heard of before, but Sharm is exploding at one hek of a rate so
that does not surprise me. From what I see on their site they are not the
most central (inevitably) but it depends what you want to do. Difficult to
see how any can be as well placed as the Naama Bay Hotel though! The hotels
themselves are fine from what I read if you want to grill yourself, but it
would be a trek to the jetties and restaurants each time. The dive packs are
just three - a try dive, an open water course, or a 5-day dive pack. Nothing
else is mentioned, not even who the diving's with. With Thomson being an
all-things-to-all-men sort of company I wonder if they have diving up there
as first, second and third things to get right in a holiday to this
destination.
Ken

It seems that you dont really want to go with Thomson, and may be
looking for someone to suggest an alternative? <g>

Like Ken said - book the hotel and flight as a holiday, and book the
diving separately. Thomson will probably be overcharging for the diving,
and it may, or may not, be with someone good and reputable.

Try emperor, camel, Sinai divers, red sea college, ocean college,
oonas.... etc..

If you want to be in the heart of Naama Bay, then so be it... but there
are lots of good hotels only a £30/40 Egyptian, taxi ride away, which
can be up to 15/20kms.

Which hotels do they offer?

[Ken]

It seems that you dont really want to go with Thomson, and may be looking
for someone to suggest an alternative? <g>

I'd be very happy to go with them. But at the same time I wouldn't want to
spoil the experience just for the sake of going with them. All I ask is if
anyone has any experience of them as a dive holiday operator.

Like Ken said - book the hotel and flight as a holiday, and book the
diving separately. Thomson will probably be overcharging for the diving,
and it may, or may not, be with someone good and reputable.

They want £130 for a 5 day pack which is about right. However thee is no
mention as to who this is with, or whether there are options to do
additional, night, remote (meaning long way away e.g. Thistlegorm). No doubt
a call to them on the 'phone would clear this up.

Try emperor, camel, Sinai divers, red sea college, ocean college,
oonas.... etc..

Indeed I would - but it would be nice to know if any of these are the ones
they use anyway! From my perspective as I'm sure most people on this NG
(unlike the tanners) the hotel - which they give prominence to - is far less
important than the dive op and to who they give no mention at all. Which is
why I asked if anyone hd any experience of going with Thomson. You see they
are starting flying direct to Sharm from Doncaster Sheffield which is just
20 miles away from home and therefore much more conveneint than any other
departure point.

If you want to be in the heart of Naama Bay, then so be it... but there
are lots of good hotels only a £30/40 Egyptian, taxi ride away, which can
be up to 15/20kms.
Which hotels do they offer?

The least expensive is the Clopatra Tsokkos. They also do Falcon Hills,
Tropicana (doesn't EVERY resort everywhere hava an hotel called Tropicana?),
Crowne Plaza, Renaissance Golden View, Movenpick, Hilton Waterfall,
Hostmark, Hilton Dreams, Fayrouz, Ritz Carloton, Regency and CLub Magic
Life.

On second thoughts I've heard / walked past some of these whiling away the
hours on my de-gassing day.

Ken

[David Mahon]

Post by Ken

Post by Richard Faulkner
Like Ken said - book the hotel and flight as a holiday, and book the
diving separately. Thomson will probably be overcharging for the diving,
and it may, or may not, be with someone good and reputable.

They want £130 for a 5 day pack which is about right. However thee is no
mention as to who this is with, or whether there are options to do
additional, night, remote (meaning long way away e.g. Thistlegorm). No doubt
a call to them on the 'phone would clear this up.

I asked about the hotels to see if I could do some digging and find out
if they have a dive operator on-site.

Post by Ken

Post by Richard Faulkner
Try emperor, camel, Sinai divers, red sea college, ocean college,
oonas.... etc..

Indeed I would - but it would be nice to know if any of these are the ones
they use anyway! From my perspective as I'm sure most people on this NG
(unlike the tanners) the hotel - which they give prominence to - is far less
important than the dive op and to who they give no mention at all. Which is
why I asked if anyone hd any experience of going with Thomson. You see they
are starting flying direct to Sharm from Doncaster Sheffield which is just
20 miles away from home and therefore much more conveneint than any other
departure point.

I'm fortunate (apart from the parking charges) - my local airport is
currently Heathrow (although another move is on the cards).

Post by Ken

Post by Richard Faulkner
If you want to be in the heart of Naama Bay, then so be it... but there
are lots of good hotels only a £30/40 Egyptian, taxi ride away, which can
be up to 15/20kms.
Which hotels do they offer?

The least expensive is the Clopatra Tsokkos.

According to lastminute.com, which also offers the Cleopatra, it has
it's own dive centre (don't know the name).

Post by Ken
They also do Falcon Hills,

One of the resorts that redseadivers.com offer - so there should be a
few divers around.

Post by Ken
Tropicana (doesn't EVERY resort everywhere hava an hotel called Tropicana?),
Crowne Plaza, Renaissance Golden View, Movenpick, Hilton Waterfall,
Hostmark, Hilton Dreams, Fayrouz, Ritz Carloton, Regency and CLub Magic
Life.
On second thoughts I've heard / walked past some of these whiling away the
hours on my de-gassing day.

Yeah, quite a few of them are offered by the diving holiday websites.
But I much prefer picking one that has the dive centre in resort rather
than just nearby - allows me that extra half an hour in bed which I am
so very fond of.

Emperor is at the Rosetta
Sinai is at Conrad and Ghazala
Ocean college is at Ocean Club, Ocean Bay and Hilton Waterfalls

etc.

When are you thinking of going? Might take a trip out there myself the
first week in August.

[Ken]

Post by David Mahon
When are you thinking of going? Might take a trip out there myself the
first week in August.

I'm booked (with Explorers) for the third week August (20 - 27) staying at
Ocean Bay. Going with my younger lad Tom who has just started diving. I
believe flights from Donffield to Sharm start in November.

K

[Gaz]

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?
Ken

Thomson use exclusively Emporer...They will collect and return you from
whichever hotel you stay at...

[Ken]

Post by Gaz

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?
Ken

Thomson use exclusively Emporer...They will collect and return you from
whichever hotel you stay at...

Aha! A most useful nugget - thanks. Suddenly the prospect looks better!
Knowing the dive op is a reputable one, just a matter of deciding on the
overall price against the competition.

Ken

[Craig Baker]

Post by Ken
I note Thomson Hols. have been advertising in diving mags regarding their
hols in the Red Sea. These would be very convenient for me as I'm a lot
closer to the new Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood South Yourkshire
International Airport (now THERE'S a name created by a committee!) than to
any other.
I've never been with Thomson on this sort of a do. They certainly don't
offer much info on the water aspect of things on their site, not even the
name of the dive operator. They appear not to have a great deal of choice
once there either. From reading my impression is they appear to be doing
more of a general tanning holiday which happens to be at Sharm, with the
water bit added on as an afterthought but I may be mistaken.
Anyone done a diving trip with them? How do they compare with people like
Explorers, for example?
Ken

Went to Sharm in January with Thomson, the Reps meeting was the usual sell
trips here there and everywhere. Diving was mentioned but only briefly. They
said that they only recommend and use Emperor. So booked each days diving
through Thomson with Emperor, it was cheaper than going to Emperor direct,
but only by a few quid.
Diving was excellent and Emperor`s set up was top notch, could not fault
them at all. Pick ups from hotel, drop offs etc all on time and with no fuss
whatsover.

Am just waiting to go out there again when the purse strings allow !!

Craig