A public beach (LEI) has opened just south of Geisum and across from Beach House. Showers and facilities planned for late 1993. There is a free public beach just south of the Sheraton Hotel, 7km southwest of town, but Western women may feel uncomfortable here if they choose to bare anything more than toes. Better is the semi-private Shellghada Beach just before the Sheraton, where LE10 will buy you a day on their soft, clean sand, free soft drinks up to that value, fresh-water showers, and more liberal bathing fashions. The best beach in town belongs to the Sheraton (LEIO). Minibuses (5Opt), local buses (25pt), and taxis (LE5) shuttle between the center of town and the Sheraton throughout the day.

The Red Sea Aquarium, in town on Al-Bahr St. before Geisum Restaurant, has a reasonably impressive display of live fish but is a bit expensive for its size; it may, nevertheless, be a good way to get acquainted with the species you’ll encounter in your underwater explorations. (Open daily 9am-10pm. Admission LE4.) Another option is a glass-bottom boat out to the reefs (LEIO for a 2-hr. ride). Check with Shellghada or the hotels by the beaches in town for details.

At night, the Cha Cha, in the Shedwan, is the only place in Hurghada which can legitimately call itself a disco. Belly-dancing 11:30pm daily except Tuesday, Hurgha-da’s big night. The Belgian proprietor pipes in the latest music from Europe. Be forewarned: the LE20 minimum charge covers the price of one beer. The smaJ! Arabia Disco, in the Sand Beach Hotel, plays more Arabic music. Scruples pub and steak house, on An-Nasr Way near the center of town, buzzes and pops with neon lights, beer, and German-heavy crowds.