The brief
A week in one place.
Sun, sea, and time to switch off. All-inclusive. Good food. Space to relax. Somewhere that felt easy from the moment they arrived.
After a stressful year, the aim was simple — to feel looked after.
But it also needed to work for everyone. One daughter wanted to learn to dive. The other wanted to explore and meet other people her age.
A week that balanced both — without ever feeling busy.
The constraints
The budget was fixed — no more than £6,000.
It had to work as a family setup. Two rooms. Enough space to breathe.
Diving wasn't optional. It had to be done properly — professional, well run, and above all, safe.
And while the focus was on switching off, there needed to be something beyond the resort. A way to break up the week — without turning it into a different kind of trip.
The decisions
Destination
Turkey or Egypt were the obvious options for a one-week all-inclusive at this level.
Diving narrowed it quickly. Egypt made more sense.
Within that, there were still choices. Sharm el Sheikh would have worked. But Hurghada felt right. The diving is well established. There's just enough beyond the resort — including the option of a day trip to Luxor. And with direct flights from the family's local airport, getting there was easy.
The destination was set.
Where to stay
Hurghada has no shortage of resorts. On paper, many of them look similar.
The Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel was the one that felt different.
Not because of the "all-inclusive" label — but because of the space. Over 5,000 square metres of water, spread across the resort in a way that never felt crowded. It meant the family could settle into their own rhythm — time together, without being on top of each other.
Large enough to offer choice and movement, whilst structured in a way that still felt calm, and easy to navigate.
Hurghada — but more considered.
The outcome
No decisions once they arrived.
A week that felt exactly right. The girls dived, found their own pace, and spent time exploring — including a private tour to Luxor.
The rest of the week settled naturally. Eating well, resting properly, and switching off without thinking about it.
One place. Done properly.