Port Ghalib Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook has become the first UK operator to contract Sun International’s new Port Ghalib resort on the Red Sea in Egypt.

The resort, which opens on November 15, is the luxury hotel company’s first outside southern Africa.

Thomas Cook is to sell Port Ghalib’s three five-star hotels at its 800 UK agency branches and online at www.thomascook.com. The resort will also appear in Thomas Cook’s Summer 2008 brochure when it is released later this year.

Prices start at £599 per person for seven-nights stay at the Sahara Sun Oasis hotel, based on travel between May 27 and 11th June 11, 2008, including flights and transfers.

Port Ghalib is being developed along 18 kilometres of coast, a few minutes’ drive from the private Marsa Alam airport. The area of Marsa Alam was first recognised for its excellent diving. However, it is now making a debut in the mainstream tourism scene in a similar way to Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.

The resort will feature a convention centre, saltwater ‘palm-oasis’ swimming lagoon, several fresh water swimming pools, landscape gardens, tennis courts, marina, activities centre, health spa, children’s club and a Souq and Corniche with shops, bars and restaurants.