Hill Villa 116

El Gouna · Red Sea

Hill Villa 116
A lagoon beach in El Gouna

Prepare your stay

Everything to sort before you fly — visa, transfers, packing — so your holiday starts the moment you land.

Visa & entry

  • Most nationalities can get an e-visa online (US$25) at visa2egypt.gov.eg — apply at least 7 days before departure. Visa on arrival also works at Hurghada airport for many passports (bring US$25 cash exactly).
  • The visa is stamped in your passport — or on a card with an ID photo you bring specifically for that purpose.
  • Passport must be valid 6 months beyond your arrival date.
  • IMPORTANT — El Gouna entry permit: the town is gated and every visitor needs a permit number. Send us photos of your passports or ID cards ahead of arrival and we register you with security.
  • Keep a printed copy of your villa booking confirmation for immigration.

Getting to the villa

  • Fly to Hurghada International (HRG) — 30 minutes by taxi from El Gouna.
  • Our trusted driver Nasser picks you up at arrivals — WhatsApp him your name, arrival date & time and airline before you fly. About E£400 cash for the 30-minute ride; he speaks English and replies by voice note.
  • Good to know: WhatsApp works in Egypt for texts and voice notes, not voice calls.
  • At the El Gouna gate, give your permit number; the Hill's own guard will then ask which villa you're heading to — 'Hill Villa 116'.
  • Our house manager meets you at the villa with the keys.

Getting around & apps to download

  • Tuk-tuks are the local taxi — hail one in the street (easiest at the Mövenpick entrance), order via the cabs app, or dial Tok Tok (ext 32337) / Tuc Tuc (ext 77222) from the villa phone. Keep small notes.
  • Electric cabs and shuttle buses connect the Hill, Downtown, the Marina and the beaches.
  • Renting a car? Sixt has a station in El Gouna — handy for day trips to Hurghada and beyond.
  • Download before you fly: Yala (El Gouna's town app — events, venues, deals) and the local cabs app for rides.
  • Groceries apps: Gourmet Egypt (premium) and Best Way (everyday basics) both deliver to the villa.
  • Best fruit & veg: Abu Amer in Downtown, next to Crystal Bike (who also rent bicycles and motorbikes).

Health & safety

  • Do NOT drink tap water — ever. Bottled water is provided at the villa and restocked; use it for drinking (cooking and brushing teeth with tap water is fine for most people).
  • El Gouna International Hospital (24/7 emergency, English-speaking) is 10 minutes from the villa.
  • Pharmacies in Downtown and at the Marina deliver to the door.
  • Travel insurance with medical cover is recommended, as everywhere abroad.
  • El Gouna is gated with 24/7 security — one of the safest places in Egypt; kids roam freely.
  • Emergency numbers and the house manager's WhatsApp are on the fridge and in your account page.

What to pack

  • High-SPF sunscreen and after-sun — summer sun is strong (reef-safe brands appreciated).
  • Hat, sunglasses, light cotton clothing; one warm layer for breezy nights on the terrace.
  • Water shoes for the reef, snorkel gear if you have your own (we keep spare masks at the villa).
  • EU-style plugs (type C/F) — no adapter needed for Europeans. Power is 220V.
  • Any personal medication — pharmacies in Downtown are good but brands differ.

Money & practicalities

  • Currency is the Egyptian pound (E£). You can change money at the bank in town; Maestro and Visa/Mastercard are accepted in most places, and ATMs are at Downtown and Abu Tig Marina.
  • Keep cash for tuk-tuks and tips — tipping (baksheesh) is customary, E£20–50 for small services.
  • A local Pay & Go SIM (Vodafone or Orange) is cheap for calls home; the villa has fast Wi-Fi throughout.
  • Alcohol isn't sold in regular food shops. Cheers in Downtown delivers free to the villa (ext 32587 from the villa phone); within 48h of arrival you can also buy foreign brands at the airport duty-free or the Egyptair Freetax at Abu Tig Marina — 21+, passport in hand, max 4 bottles each, dollars preferred.

At the villa

  • Wi-Fi network and code are in your welcome booklet and in your account page.
  • AC in every room (heating too, for winter) — please keep doors closed while it runs.
  • The heated pool is serviced every morning; pool and beach towels are provided, as is all bed and bath linen.
  • Starter basics are stocked: toilet paper, kitchen roll, soaps, salt & pepper — replace as needed during long stays.
  • Ping-pong paddles and balls are at the house; tables are at the Mövenpick.
  • For families: folding cot, high chair, baby bath, a kids' table and a box of toys are at the villa.
  • Your Zeytouna Beach pass (the Hill 'owner card') is at the villa — entry is free for Hill guests.
  • The small tap by the kitchen sink is filtered water — fine for coffee, ice and rinsing fruit; bottled water for drinking.
  • Bins go in the green container in front of the house, collected daily — and don't leave food out, ants are quick.
  • House manager on WhatsApp 8:00–22:00 for anything; emergencies 24/7.
  • Check-out 11:00: leave keys on the kitchen table, we handle the rest.