Do kids need water shoes and swim vests for the beach in Egypt (Red Sea)?
Based on 1 discussion with 5 participants · Last activity: 1 day ago
TL;DR
Yes, water shoes are essential because of coral, sea urchins and hot sand, and regular armbands are usually enough for swimming since Red Sea water is dense and buoyant. Swim vests are sometimes available at hotels, but it's best to check in advance or bring your own.
What the community said
Regular swim armbands work fine for an 8-year-old — Red Sea water is very dense and buoyant, so armbands are comfortable and don't get in the way.
2 days ago swim armbands
Check directly with your specific hotel about swim vests for kids — some provide them for free, others require buying locally or bringing your own.
2 days ago kids' swim vest
For beach trips it's recommended to bring a spare pair of flip-flops plus mandatory water shoes ('koralki') — footwear for entering the water is a must.
5 days ago water shoes + flip-flops
Sea urchins and stingrays occasionally show up along the coast — one day the water was covered in urchins, and a child was seen with a bandaged foot after stepping on one, so swimming in water shoes is strongly advised.
14 days ago sea urchins and stingrays