Red Sea holidays

Stretching for more than a thousand miles from Egypt, down between Africa and the Middle East and flowing out into the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea is a vast and beautiful body of water.

Four airports deliver holidaymakers to the delights of the Red Sea's Egyptian shores, where they have the choice of a host of famous resorts, as well as a few lesser-known gems.

The Red Sea Riviera attracts holidaymakers thanks to excellent facilities, wonderful dive sites, beautiful views, and the sort of year-round weather that Mediterranean destinations can only pray for. So take your pick from popular beach hotspots such as Sharm el Sheikh, Taba, Marsa Alam and Hurghada, or quieter, but equally lovely resorts such as El Gouna and Nuweiba. Wherever you choose to base your trip, you will be sure to enjoy holidays in Red Sea resorts. And thanks to the numerous airports in the region, the transfer time to your hotel will never be that long.

Much of the accommodation in the Red Sea area is devoted to all-inclusive holidays, with many properties more like resort complexes. However, you will also find hotels offering bed and breakfast and half-board deals for those who prefer to eat out. Just ensure your chosen hotel has places nearby to explore as some resorts do not have much on offer outside your hotel complex.

You can fly intoSharm El Sheikh Airport(SSH), which serves the largest and one of the most popular resorts - Sharm el Sheikh, plus other northern resorts such as hippy hangoutDahaband quiet Taba or Nuweiba (Taba Airport - code: TCP - also caters for the northern part of the Red Sea); Hurghada Airport (HRG) delivers travellers to the western shore and hugely-popular resorts such as Hurghada and Makadi Bay; while Marsa Alam Airport (RMF), which is much further south on the western coastline, serves fast-growingMarsa Alam.

Book your trip today. The search tool on TravelSupermarket is easy to use and will quickly lead you cheap holidays in the Red Sea resorts.

If you had just one word to describe the weather along the Red Sea coast, it would probably have to be 'hot'.

The heat in the summer months can be oppressive as a result, with daytime temperatures regularly hitting 40C. And it never gets cold along the Red Sea Riviera. Even in winter, you can expect daytime temperatures of above 20C, with spring and autumn, when the mercury hovers between 25C and 30C, attracting the most visitors.

There's plenty going on in the area so why not get out and about and enjoy some of these activities?

Active types: As well as diving, several Red Sea resorts have become a Mecca for kite-surfers and windsurfers due to their shallow waters and reliable sea winds.

Romance: The luxury hotels along the Red Sea coast make this Egyptian destination a favourite with couples on romantic breaks.

Babies & Toddlers: The gentle, warm waters off the beaches of resorts such as El Gouna are perfect for little ones. And with many hotels having wonderful pool complexes, they'll love the water - just ensure you pack sun cream.

Sightseers: For those in the Hurghada area, trips to Cairo or to the Nile area around Luxor are real possibilities, offering the chance to visit temples, historical sites and, of course, the pyramids. For those in the Sharm area of the Red Sea, then trips to St Catherine's Monastery are a must.

What's on in Red Sea?

Why not combine your holiday to Egypt's Red Sea region with one of the many events taking place in the area?

Hurghada International Festival; February: Sporting events such as marathons, triathlons, and even a fishing festival attract visitors to Hurghada every February.

Sham el-Nessim; Easter Monday:Otherwise known as “sniffing the breeze”, this family event sees the locals welcoming in the spring.

International Camel Competition; April: This thrilling contest aims to find the fastest camel in the Sinai Peninsula.

International Shopping and Tourism Festival; July:The cosmopolitan and fun-filled resort of Sharm el Sheikh puts on some great deals at hotels, restaurants and shops to entice visitors despite the July heat.

El Wakala Street Festival; weekly:Taba Heights, in the far north of the Red Sea, puts on a weekly spectacle of song, dance and children's games.