Eight days in Egypt. Two nights in a 3-star resort in Hurghada, then five nights in a 5-star Hilton in El Gouna — two completely different versions of the same Red Sea coastline, with a steep step up in price (and atmosphere) between them.
We visited in February 2026, flying direct from Riga — which turned out to be a very smooth start to the trip. This guide covers what each option actually delivers, what it costs, and which one is right for you.
The Trip Structure: Budget First, Luxury Second
We spent 2 nights at King Tut Aqua Park Beach Resort in Hurghada, all-inclusive, for €110 total — around €55 per night for two people. For context, 3-star all-inclusive resorts in Hurghada typically start from around $100–115 per night, so this was good value. Then we moved to the DoubleTree by Hilton Mangroovy El Gouna Resort for 5 nights — €510 total, roughly €128 per night. That was a special deal: the standard rate for this hotel runs $230–270 per night, so if you’re considering it, it’s worth hunting for promotions before you book.
The contrast between the two experiences was sharp enough to make for a proper side-by-side. So let’s take them one at a time.
Getting to Hurghada from Riga
One practical note worth mentioning upfront: there are direct flights from Riga to Hurghada, which makes Egypt far more accessible from the Baltics than many people realise. No connection, no layover — we were at the Red Sea in a matter of hours. If you’re based in Latvia or nearby, this is worth checking when you plan.
Hurghada: The Honest 3-Star Experience
King Tut Aqua Park Beach Resort — What to Expect
Honestly? It wasn’t bad. The rooms were clean, there was a partial sea view, and the food was decent — a reasonable selection and good flavour. The resort sits on the first line, so the beach is a 5-minute walk. The beach itself was rocky rather than sandy, which is worth knowing in advance, but for the price it’s a solid option.
The bigger draw of staying in Hurghada proper is that you can actually step outside and experience the city — the real streets, the local pace, the everyday Egypt that disappears entirely once you cross into El Gouna.
Stepping Out: Interesting, Chaotic, and Very Much Egypt
We did venture out into Hurghada beyond the resort, and it’s worth doing at least once. The city is chaotic in a way that feels alive — busy streets, local shops, people going about their day in a way that has nothing to do with tourists. It’s not polished or easy to navigate, but that’s part of the point. You get a genuine sense of the country.
That said, be prepared: the moment you leave the resort gates, you enter negotiation territory. Vendors, tour sellers, tuk-tuk drivers — everyone has a starting price, and it’s rarely the real price. Once you understand that, it becomes manageable. But if you go in expecting fixed prices and a relaxed browse, you’ll find it exhausting.
Haggling: Budget Some Energy for It
In Hurghada, you need to negotiate. Not occasionally — constantly. Market stalls, souvenir shops, pharmacies, beach vendors, excursion sellers: virtually everything has a starting price that isn’t the real price.
Case in point: a yacht excursion that opened at €180 for two of us. After negotiating, we got it to €120. As it turned out, the going rate is more like €60 per couple — and if you shop around, you can do better than that. Ask your hotel what things actually cost before you agree to anything on the beach.
Orange Bay and Snorkelling — a Genuine Highlight
We booked a day excursion to Orange Bay, and it was the highlight of the Hurghada leg. The snorkelling was the first time either of us had done it, and the Red Sea completely delivered — visibility, colour, and marine life that justify the journey entirely.
One note: everything on Orange Bay island is expensive. Cocktails at resort-bar prices, drinks that cost as much as you’d pay in any upscale European bar. Bring your own snacks or budget for it accordingly.
El Gouna: How an Entire Town Was Built From Scratch
Before getting into the hotel experience, El Gouna deserves a little context — because it’s not a resort that grew organically over decades. It was deliberately designed from nothing.
In 1989, Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris visited Venice and fell in love with the city. He decided to build his own version on the Red Sea — but the Egyptian coastline had no natural lagoons, so he simply carved them out of the desert. Canals were dug, artificial islands and peninsulas created, and construction of El Gouna began in 1991.
Sawiris had an engineering degree from the Technical University of Berlin and led the design himself, with several hotels designed by American architect Michael Graves. The result is a town that’s Nubian in style but European in organisation — ochre and beige buildings with arched colonnades, connected by bridges over lagoons. The nickname “Venice of the Red Sea” isn’t just a marketing line; it was the original inspiration.
Today more than 25,000 people live there, and the town has its own schools, hospitals, marina, and annual film festival. Whether you find the Venice comparison convincing or not, El Gouna doesn’t look like anywhere else in Egypt.
DoubleTree by Hilton Mangroovy El Gouna — The Stay
The hotel is genuinely excellent. What stood out most was the rooms: well-designed, modern, and finished to a quality that actually matched the 5-star label — proper luxury rather than 5-star Egyptian marketing. The rooms felt calm and spacious, with the kind of attention to detail that makes you want to stay in rather than rush out to activities.
The grounds are beautiful too — palm trees, tropical plants, pools, and that unhurried resort atmosphere that makes it very easy to do nothing at all. It’s the kind of property where you step outside your room and immediately feel like you’re on holiday.
The food was varied and good across the board. The one gap: fish dishes were noticeably absent, which felt like a missed opportunity given the Red Sea setting. If you’re hoping for fresh seafood, you may need to venture out to the marina restaurants.
Getting to the beach requires a short tuk-tuk ride (or an 8-minute walk), since the hotel sits slightly inland from the shore. The beach itself is sandy — a genuine improvement over Hurghada’s rocky shoreline — but very shallow. You’ll walk a good kilometre before reaching swimming depth. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing in advance.
El Gouna Mostly from the Poolside
We’ll be honest: we spent most of our El Gouna time at the hotel — pool, terrace, the hotel restaurant. After the stimulation of Hurghada, that was exactly what we wanted. The property is designed for exactly that kind of comfortable withdrawal from the world, and it does it well.
The town itself — the marina, the restaurants, the waterfront — is there if you want it, a short tuk-tuk ride away. But we didn’t feel compelled to explore. Sometimes the right holiday decision is to do very little, and El Gouna makes that easy.
Day Trip to Luxor: Beautiful, But Prepare for the Heat
We did make one excursion from El Gouna that’s worth mentioning separately: a day trip to Luxor, included in our hotel package at no extra cost. The journey is long — around four hours each way — so it’s a full day commitment. But Luxor Temple is genuinely stunning, and seeing it in person is something else entirely.
One practical warning: Luxor is inland, and noticeably hotter than the coast. Even in February, when Hurghada feels warm and pleasant, Luxor takes the heat up another level. Bring water, wear a hat, and don’t underestimate it. If Luxor is available as part of your package or excursion options, it’s worth doing — just go in prepared.
The Trade-off: Luxury vs Authenticity
El Gouna is self-contained by design. Everything you need is within the resort town: restaurants, bars, pools, the marina. If you want to reach ‘real’ Hurghada — the actual city, the markets, the noise — that’s a 40-minute taxi ride away.
That’s the honest trade-off: El Gouna gives you comfort, calm, and carefully curated luxury. Hurghada gives you Egypt. Neither is wrong — they’re just different trips.
Real Costs: Hurghada vs El Gouna (February 2026)
| Expense | Cost | Notes |
| Direct flight Riga–Hurghada (return) | Check current prices | Direct route available — no layover |
| Airport → Hurghada centre / King Tut area | ~$15 | Negotiate before getting in — don’t accept rides from drivers inside the terminal |
| King Tut Aqua Park Beach Resort (2 nights, all-inclusive, 2 people) | €110 (~€55/night) | 3-star, all-inclusive. Market rate for 3-star all-inclusive in Hurghada: from ~$100–115/night |
| DoubleTree by Hilton El Gouna (5 nights, 2 people) | €510 (~€102/night) | 5-star, special deal. Standard rate: $230–270/night. Worth searching for promotions |
| Yacht excursion to Orange Bay (2 people) | $120 | Negotiated down from €180. Normal rate ~€60 — shop around |
| Snorkelling at Orange Bay | Included in excursion | First-timer friendly, highly recommended |
| Drinks/food on Orange Bay island | ~$10 | Expensive — similar to upscale European bars |
| Day trip to Luxor from El Gouna | Included in hotel package | ~4 hours each way. Check if available with your booking |
| Taxi from El Gouna to Hurghada city | ~ $25 | ~40 min journey. Budget accordingly if you want to explore the real city |
| Airport → El Gouna | ~$25–30 | Further distance (~40 min). Pre-booking avoids haggling on arrival |
Note: all prices from February 2026. Egypt can be very good value if you negotiate in Hurghada — and surprisingly expensive if you don’t.
FAQ: Hurghada vs El Gouna
Can you do a day trip to Luxor from El Gouna or Hurghada?
Yes — we did a day trip to Luxor from El Gouna, which was included in our hotel package. The journey is about four hours each way, so it’s a long day, but Luxor Temple is worth it. One important warning: Luxor is inland and significantly hotter than the Red Sea coast — even in February, when Hurghada feels pleasantly warm, Luxor is noticeably more intense. Bring plenty of water and sun protection.
Is El Gouna better than Hurghada?
It depends entirely on what you want. El Gouna is cleaner, quieter, and purpose-built for comfort — it delivers on that promise. Hurghada is messier and more unpredictable, but it gives you genuine access to Egypt. We’d recommend experiencing both if your schedule allows.
Are there direct flights from Riga to Hurghada?
Yes — we flew direct from Riga to Hurghada in February 2026, which made the trip far more straightforward than we expected. Check current schedules, as seasonal availability applies, but the direct route exists and is worth looking for.
How far is El Gouna from Hurghada?
El Gouna is approximately 25 kilometres north of Hurghada. By taxi, allow around 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Is Hurghada safe for tourists?
Generally yes — violent crime against tourists is rare and the main tourist areas are well-monitored. The more common issues are scams and pushy vendors, not physical danger. During the day and into the evening, walking around feels comfortable.
Solo women at night are a different story. Late evenings in quieter areas are best avoided alone — use hotel transport after dark rather than walking solo. The Marina area is safer and more relaxed than the busier Dahar district.
What is Orange Bay in Hurghada?
Orange Bay is an island excursion off the Hurghada coast, popular for snorkelling and boat trips. The underwater visibility and marine life are excellent — one of the best Red Sea snorkelling spots for first-timers. The on-island drinks and food are expensive, so factor that into your budget.
Is El Gouna all-inclusive?
El Gouna is not a single all-inclusive resort — it’s a planned town with individual hotels, restaurants, and bars. You stay at a specific property and pay separately for meals and activities, unless your hotel offers a board arrangement. It functions more like a self-contained village than a single resort complex.
Can you visit El Gouna on a day trip from Hurghada?
Yes — a taxi takes about 40 minutes, and El Gouna is worth a half-day visit even if you’re based in Hurghada. The marina area is pleasant for an afternoon walk and dinner. That said, the full sense of El Gouna only comes from staying overnight.
Hurghada vs El Gouna: Which is Worth It?
Both — ideally in the same trip.
A few nights in Hurghada gives you access to the Red Sea’s best snorkelling, a chaotic and genuinely interesting city to explore, and a budget that leaves room for excursions. Yes, you’ll need to haggle. Yes, the beach is rocky. But for €110 for two people including meals, the value is hard to argue with.
El Gouna is a different category of experience. The DoubleTree rooms were genuinely excellent, the setting is beautiful, and switching off completely there is very easy. But it’s a luxury bubble, not Egypt. If you visit El Gouna exclusively, you’ll leave having had a great holiday and very little sense of where you actually were.
The combination worked well for us: Hurghada first for the energy and snorkelling, then El Gouna for the recovery. We’d do it again — and the direct flight from Riga makes the whole thing easier than it sounds.
Featured photo from Pexels