Is it safe to leave your belongings on a sunbed at beaches in Sharm el-Sheikh, and what other beach safety issues should you know about?

At Rotana, the beach is not sandy, so water shoes are recommended for walking to the pontoon or pier. Wind can carry away flip-flops left behind, while footwear makes it easier to exit the water elsewhere.

Full-face snorkelling masks may be prohibited on hotel beaches. Hotels also warn that swimming beyond the marked buoys is at your own risk.

According to a report, water shoes are not necessary at Gafy beach, while some other beaches have many rocks and are less comfortable or safe without them.

For a rocky-sandy shoreline entry, water shoes can help prevent slipping; they are unnecessary if you only swim from the pier. Before diving from a pier, a lifeguard may hold a phone and small personal items.

The area left of the pier has large boulders — wear shoes there, otherwise you risk hurting or spraining your foot.

The beach has two sections: the left side has some rocks but is manageable without water shoes if you stick to the sandy path near the pier; the right side is mostly sand with very few rocks.

Paid beaches are generally safe for leaving belongings on a sunbed, but it's not guaranteed — bring only inexpensive items and a small amount of cash. One traveler had sunglasses stolen at Palma beach despite it being a paid, guarded area.