The Marsa Alam International Airport opened in 2001 and quickly made the area popular with European tourists on cheap flights to Marsa Alam, Egypt. The airport is approximately 45 minutes' drive from the resort town. Its facilities include a duty-free store, a jeweller, bookshops and other shops, cash machines and a currency exchange. As this resort area is growing fast, an increasing number of international airlines are offering flights to Marsa Alam, Egypt. Although many passengers arrive on charter flights from the UK and other European countries, some budget airlines are improving the opportunities to find cheap flights to Marsa Alam, Egypt.
Most visitors on Marsa Alam flights are heading for the beach resorts. Some hotels offer shuttle bus transfers from the airport, and if your holiday package includes accommodation, your transport to the hotel is often included. Another easy way to get to the resorts is a taxi from the airport, but confirm the final taxi fare to your destination before starting the journey. Most beach resorts offer their guests comfortable (and usually air-conditioned) shuttle bus transport to the different parts of the area, and some visitors use local taxis for independent trips and tours.
Located on the coast of the Red Sea and surrounded by desert, Marsa Alam has beaches lined with palm trees, marine life including dolphins, and excellent coral reefs for snorkelling and diving. Divers from around Europe come to Marsa Alam for its beautiful diving sites. The beaches in Marsa Alam rival those in the popular Red Sea resort Sharm el Sheikh, but Marsa Alam is a more peaceful choice than the busy Sharm el Sheikh resorts. Most visitors come to relax on the beaches but there is a wide range of activities. The resorts offer sports facilities including tennis courts, and camel safaris to the surrounding deserts make fun day trips. With so much to do, airfare to Marsa Alam is well worth it.
Much of the dining, shopping and nightlife in Marsa Alam is focused around the resorts. The hotels and beach resorts have restaurants and bars that cater mainly for foreign visitors, and the food is generally of a high standard. Like the restaurants and bars, most of the shops are in and around the beach resorts and are aimed at tourists. Souvenirs from jewellery to textiles are easy to find and some shops sell local arts and crafts, but prices are higher than they would be in local shops or at local markets.