Soma Bay, Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera, should be at the top of the list if you are looking for somewhere to escape for some sun. With winter temperatures in the twenties and virtually 365 days of sunshine a year, it is an ideal place to beat the blues this winter.

It’s hard to get one’s enthusiasm up in the winter months; the shorter days and cold are hardly the best things to warm the heart’s cockles. It’s why so many choose to escape a drab and dreary Britain for sunnier climes, and one of the best places to head to is Egypt, as it boasts amazing sunshine and is one of the few places the exchange rate for the pound sterling is favourable.

The focus of this feature is Soma Bay, regarded as Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera. It is the ideal location to escape the European winter, replacing it with a long-term stay at Soma Bay through Stayr, which has been launched under the Somabay Holidays umbrella.

Stayr offers a range of exclusive serviced apartments for long-term stays that combine personalised hospitality with a refined local touch to transform your holiday into the experience of a lifetime, helping you to forget the less-than-sunny life at home.

With rates starting from just £570 per month (long-term rental with a minimum stay of 3 months) or £50 per night (short-term stay) for a Soma Breeze one-bedroom apartment, Stayr is the perfect way to escape the cold winter months without breaking the bank.

We appreciate that not everyone can escape for a long period of time. For those only able to get away for a smaller dose of sunshine, Soma Bay also provides a diverse range of hotel options, and these are perfect for families, couples and friends alike. The options include The Cascades Golf Resort, Spa & Thalasso, The Sheraton Soma Bay Resort and Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay.

As well as its excellent range of accommodation options, Soma Bay offers guests the chance to get involved in some of the Red Sea’s most exciting activities. It boasts its own house reef, which provides some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving facilities in the region, allowing you to discover Egypt’s scenic underwater world with the help of the Orca Diving Centre.

If you prefer to stay above water, Soma Bay is one of the top three kitesurfing spots in the world. In addition to this, it is also home to world-class golfing facilities, including an 18-hole Championship Gary Player Signature Golf Course, a floodlit driving range for night golf and a short game area.

Soma Bay has also recently launched its innovative Footgolf, a combination of the popular sports of football and golf, offering a fun alternative to your classic game of golf. There is also the Soma Splash Water Park and go-karting at Soma Raceway, perfect for unleashing your inner child.

For something a little less active, the chic S.Cape Beach Club is the perfect option. Enjoy a blissful day at the beach at S.Cape, where you can indulge in delicious cuisine and creative cocktails as you relax at this stylish beachside escape.

The Soma Bay Marina is another great choice for al fresco dining, with gorgeous sea views and a range of dining outlets for guests to try out, from Oriental-inspired Baladina to a casual burger joint, The Burger Factory.

Also popular for those that want to enjoy a relaxed afternoon with a difference is The Cascades Spa & Thalasso, the only spa with a Thalasso-Tonic seawater-based therapy in the Red Sea.

Direct flights to Hurghada from London take just over five hours, making this an ideal destination to escape the chill this winter. Take a break from reality and head to Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera for the holiday of a lifetime!

Rates

  • Stayr – From £50 per night (short-term stay) or £570 per month (long-term rental with a minimum stay of 3 months) for a Soma Breeze one-bedroom apartment.
  • The Cascades Golf Resort, Spa & Thalasso – From £92 per night for a double room on a Half Board basis.
  • The Sheraton Somabay Resort – From £100 per night for a double room on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
  • Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay – From £141 per night for a Double Resort View Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

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