Go on holiday to Egypt – it’s good for your health!

It's a simple and indisputable fact that the British summer (such as it was) is officially over and winter is here to stay. As the nights become longer and the weather gets steadily worse, some people find they experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder): depressive symptoms associated with the gradual loss of vitamin D, normally sourced by the body from UVB rays in sunlight. Living in the UK, we're particularly at risk of developing SAD as the sun becomes a distant memory and grey skies prevail.

If you're worried about developing SAD, and scraping your brain for good holiday ideas, why not think about jetting off somewhere hot and sunny and getting that much-needed vitamin D boost this winter? Egypt is a great choice for a winter getaway: even in December the sun is shining and the temperature is comfortably over 20 degrees – just imagine the warm air on your face as you step off the plane, drying away all memories of the rain.

Whether your holiday preferences lean towards history, nature, water sports or just relaxing on a beautiful beach, Egypt will leave you spoilt for choice. The medieval town of Cairo has all the hubbub of a bustling city. Steeped in history and ancient culture, this is the perfect place to do a bit of shopping in the souk and try out some local delicacies.

It would be a crime to ignore the Great Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, still as mystical and mysterious today as they were when first discovered so many years ago. Go back to biblical times on a visit to Mount Sinai and Moses’ burning bush, or meander down the Nile on an Egyptian cruise, ending up at the Red Sea Riviera for the beach holiday of a lifetime.

The glittering waters offer some of the world's best diving and snorkelling, with the chance to see thousands of different species of marine life at close hand. If you get tired of the sea, you can take a camel ride into the desert and sleep under the stars. Take a trip to the wondrous ancient land of Egypt this winter – and shore up your defences against SAD!

@http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/holiday-Egypt-8211-8217-s-good-health/story-17189327-detail/story.html

Simon Calder's Holiday Helpdesk: Is Egypt in November a good idea for a family holiday?

Every day our travel guru answers your travel questions:

Q. I am thinking of taking my family in November to Hurghada for a week of sun at an all-inclusive hotel. The foreign website is not clear. Can you tell me if you think it will be OK?

Dan Lunn, Reading

A. Egypt in November is an excellent plan. The weather should be warm and sunny, cooling off pleasantly in the evening. Hurghada is a great destination: while the beaches are not as impressive as those of Sharm el Sheikh, you are in a real Egyptian town with plenty of life. And an excursion to the archaeological wonders of Luxor is a reasonable prospect.

More practically, November is the lowest of seasons in terms of price. You could take the DIY route - but if you go through a tour operator and buy a proper package holiday, you are assured of a good-quality hotel, and have someone to complain to if anything goes awry.

Thomson, for example, has plenty of high-quality all-inclusive holidays in Hurghada  for less than £600 per person, departing from Gatwick (if you can go at the very end of November, it's under £500).

The cheapest flights-plus-accommodation deal I have found for the month is just under £500 per person. But this does not include baggage (Thomson allows 15kg each), and more importantly it does not give you the confidence of a holiday that is covered by the package-travel regulations - which basically say that the holiday firm is responsible for delivering the promised trip, and must take responsibility from departure to arrival back at Gatwick.

@http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calders-holiday-helpdesk-is-egypt-in-november-a-good-idea-for-a-family-holiday-8227020.html

Winter in Egypt - what to expect in the land of the pharaohs

Those looking for a cheap package holiday destination, but abhors the mass tourism that should spend the winter in Egypt, because, although there is persistent rumors indicate contrary, this year no bikini ban, not only have the Red Sea resorts have sufficient capacity available. No matter what attractions you want to visit in Egypt, they have been virtually alone for themselves.

Nile Cruise

There are places for a cruise on the Nile, for example, have enough. To sail on the longest river in the world around is considered a particularly romantic way to discover Egypt. Travel of this kind can, as the Egypt holiday deals from Thomas Cook book on short notice at a travel agency in Internet or even on site. The namesake of the second largest German tour operator, among others organized the first ever cruise on the Nile, is regarded as the inventor of the package.

Cairo

What he would think of a trip to Egypt in 2012? Not only in the center of Cairo Egyptian Museum missing visitors, which yes, the proximity to Tahrir Square would be more understandable. Finally, the name was linked from the outset with the uprisings against former dictator Hosni Mubarak. At the moment there is virtually unobstructed view of the pyramids. There, where a previously crowds blocked the way, now there is nothing but emptiness.

Even the White Desert and Alexandria seems to want to visit any more.

Alexandria

Here, the Mediterranean city was just on the point to follow up on their old feats. On the island of Pharos in the Bay of Alexandria once stood the lighthouse, it was expected to be the Seven Wonders. But almost more famous was the Library of Alexandria. In this haven of learning were formed Archimedes, Euclid and Eratosthenes. With 700,000 papyrus scrolls in ancient times it was the largest library in the world.

Since 2002 it again, the famous Library of Alexandria. Not far from the old location it was rebuilt. However, not only the facade is modern: it was created space for eight million books (in about 1.5 million have been around) and a backup copy of the Internet Archive, which includes about three petabytes.

The library, which is currently used primarily by students should also be a tourist attraction, but the largest with 2000 seats open reading room lures - like all other classic attractions - at barely more visitors.

What Thomas Cook would say probably it? He probably would advise Europeans in need of recuperation, not to be deterred by the uncertain political situation and to take an educational trip to Egypt. After all, he has done 1860.

@ http://www.noz.de/themenseite/reise-reporter/67433362/ein-winter-in-aegypten-was-sie-im-land-der-pharaonen-erwartet