Mar 27, 2019 07:14 AM

We spent 3 months at the Hurghada Marina from October 2017 to January 2018. The price was $ 320 per month.

On the positive side, it was a beautiful marina with water and electricity and a nice front walk with plenty of cafes and expensive restaurants. Some ATMs are inside the marina. To go out and enter into the marina we go through a security gate where some guards will often check your bags. Outside just on your right hand side near the fish market are 3 very cheap restaurants where you can choose your fish and eat it on the spot with rice for 2 to 3 euros. The city is bubbling and very touristy. With a motorcycle we were able to discover it more easily. There is some ship chandlers and was very interesting to buy for a low cost in second hand all diving equipment around 300 euros.

On the negative side, we have been racketeered by the agent with the complicity, no doubt, of the marina and the port authorities who share the money. Seven other boats with us had the same problems with the same agent. While it was agreed with Alpha Yacht Service the package of $ 215 for formalities in / out and two months of cruising permit, after a month, on the spot, the agent started to be urgent and asked for more money : more than $ 350 for each boat and $ 800 to a new catamaran. Unfortunately the other boats preferred to pay, and as we refused, the agent tried to block the boat when we tried to leave the marina by sending the police on board. The marina has earned two more days thanks to the agent. Fortunately our papers were in order. Indeed, easier with a motorcycle, and used to it by my job, we managed to get around the problem by going directly to the authorities on land every day to ask permission by using “google translation” without going through the agents of the port. In the end, we managed to get from our agent half of the $ 250 to pay a second agent. And then with a small backsheesh of $ 20 to the 3 coast guards (who asked for $ 200) after 2 hours of negotiation and we succeed to get out of hell trap. Never again Hurghada !!!

Do not stop at Hurghada unless you have a good reason and avoid Mohammed Soleiman of Alpha Yacht Service hoping this comment will change finally the situation.
However, I advise you
1 / to keep on arrival the paper delivered and stamped by the port authorities (leave only the copy of the document to your agent and keep the original even if he refuses) this document will be necessary to exit and with this paper you will be able to check out without your agent in case of problem.
2 / better to clear in/out at Port Ghalib than Hurghada for only 80 dollars. Over there to clear was very easy and the marina is even more beautiful.
Les Siamois