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School it out and now we can finally have that down
time we’ve longed for...! But after a couple of days
of relaxing, the kids are fidgeting and we’re ready
for something new. Many expats usually spend
their summers abroad, catching up with friends and family or
exploring new spots around the globe. But others chose to spend
time in Egypt, where they get to discover new places or re-visit
their favorite spots. Even though many would think that summer
in Cairo is dreadful, it’s not as bad as it seems, especially in
terms of traffic and crowds.
For those of us with children, finding something interesting and
entertaining might seem difficult, due to the heat during the day.
Although we are not in Dubai, there are plenty of indoor activities
to consider. Most shopping centers have cinemas, bowling lanes
and/or indoor play areas, as well as a huge dining selection for
afterwards. Mall of Arabia in 6th of October is home to Billy
Beez, one of my kids’ favorite places - it’s a huge indoor area with
tons to do for kids ranging from toddlers to pre-teens. Kidzania,
another favorite, is located in Cairo Festival City, and is a place
one can spend a whole day in. Most malls have facebook pages,
where you can check the what’s happening, as well as summer
opening hours. A great website with updated cinema information
is elcinema.com. If you live close to Americana Mall you’re
even able to book tickets online!
Many places offer summer camps/schools for working parents
or children who wish to try something different. These include:
7SC and CAC in Maadi, AUC, Art Cafe, Helen O’ Grady, The
Little Gym, Kidzania, Katameya Heights, - just to name a
few - all offer either full or half day programs. If your child is
interested in learning a new skill, many academies (swimming,
tennis, dance) run their regular courses throughout the summer.
If you love being outdoors and those daily trips to the club are
getting repetitive, try Adrenalin Park, in 6th of October. It’s a
really fun place, where both kids and adults can have paintball
as well as water fights. The newish Family Park in Rehab City
boasts a science museum, a small zoo and some rides.
Another enjoyable and different thing to do is to plan a
“staycation”, where you can either spend a day or overnight
at one of the many hotels in Cairo and use their pool and spa
facilities. A few favorites are the Intercontinental in City Stars
(it’s like swimming on the roof of the mall and you get to use a
private door to get into the mall), the JW Marriott (great water
park and beach, as well as a golf course), and the Sofitel Gezira
(a beautiful setting with the pool overlooking the Nile). Also
now might be the time to try out those delicious Friday brunches
offered at many 5-star hotels. And of course, the preference of
many is to head to the beach. Egypt, being blessed with gorgeous
beaches in the Mediterranean Coast and amazing underwater life
in the Red Sea, spoils us for choice! The North Coast, packed
and much cooler than Cairo, has many resorts and compounds
and a few new high-end hotels. El Gouna, Hurghada and Ras
Sudr are easy destinations, as they are only a 4-5 hour drive
from Cairo. Sharm and Southern Sinai is a favorite of ours, but
farther to get to, but the snorkeling and diving there are worldclass.
And for a quick weekend getaway, Ain Sukhna is only a
1,5 hour drive and has very child-friendly beaches, as well as a
couple of golf courses.
One thing is for sure, Egypt in the summer is far from boring.
Whatever you end up choosing, it’s all about having fun, creating
new experiences and spending time with loved ones. Have a
great summer...!
By: Terumi Mascarenhas
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