i can honestly say that there is only one major issue with this hotel and that is the entertainment programme. ( or lack of it!! ) but don't get me wrong it did not in any way shape or form ruin my stay here. We are a young family 30, 29, 41/2 and 18months and to us this hotel was a great recommendation by our travel agent. The aqua park has everything from a lazy river to the super fast kamikaze slides with every thing in between, there is no need for the usual inflatable toys and lilo's as there is a huge selection of floating apparatus already in the the pools provided for the use of guests. Whilst still on the subject of the park and pools, i must mention the fact that there is a lifeguard at every pool and recreational staff present at all times and they certainly add to the fun factor of the days!!! There is a pool towel service and you are given a towel card per person upon check in.
Food at the complex is varied each day to a theme, ie.. local, italian, american, international etc. with each evening meal at two dishes are cooked fresh for you as required such as pasta and bbq'd meats. An excellent salad selection for both lunch and evening meals, as with the bread and rolls selection which was all cooked on site. There is even a chefs herb garden round the back of the spa, which is used daily!! Breakfast has a good selection including fried eggs, ommlettes, pancakes and waffles all cooked fresh for you as you order, now you cant say fairer than that! The snack bar isn't brilliant but it serves as a means if you miss brekky or lunch ( in all honesty after a big brekky or a three course lunch you must be a greedy guts if you want more!!! ) The brochure does not tell you, but you DO NEED TROUSERS FOR MEN FOR DINNER. If you haven't got them, they may make you eat outside.
The bars all round will serve you all the usual cocktails , spirits, beers and i can say i did try most of them and was not dissatisfied to say the least. If you do tip the barman or waiter you will notice that drinks are suddenly brought to you when yours has finished. If you buy a bottle of water on your first day, you can always fill that bottle up at the water dispensers all over the resort.
A lot of people did get some sort of stomach upset, but if you understand that you are going to a far away hot country with different cooking methods and oils, you will let it pass better. Apparently the doctor is expensive - we went straight to the excellent pharmacy around the corner who gave us medicine - about £15 with a reciept and it worked instantly.
There are mosquitos, and they do seem to hang out in the bedouin tent! The deet free stuff we took with us wasn't powerful enough and we bought some really good stuff out there.
We did 2 trips, but not through first choice. Both companies are based in reception area - we did the quad biking safari - fantastic fun, we all loved it and they let us take the kids with us (need a backpack to carry a large bottle of water). We also did the submarine trip, which was good, got to see a lot of fish, but for me personally, the trip was a bit off-putting when a cockroach crawled out from behind the rear seat I was sitting on. This was the only cockroach I saw the entire holiday. The hotel is incredibly bug free, just a few flies (reminder - it is a hot country!).
There are other nations in the hotel Russians, Italians a few germans as well I think, and apart from the concept of queueing being lost on them, all nations got along well together.
I made the most of hotel facilities. I had a massage for around £18 (v. good as masseur was a man so he was a bit more powerful), I had a cotton hair removal thing for £10 (excrutiating, but I now have BEAUTIFUL eyebrows) and we had a shisha for the last few nights which only cost £1.50 a pop and they will put more coals on it for free (just make sure Mohammed who smokes impressively does it!). We used kids club and the mini disco which both operate every day. Kids club is the one of the only places in the hotel where the staff are women and Maha is great, very professional. Our son went there every day - he mostly watched DVDs, but we were happy with his few hours out of the sun.
The staff around the hotel are possibly one of the best things about the hotel. I have never met such friendly, welcoming and positive people. We did make a point of learning a bit of arabic before we went and this also helped greatly. Egyptians are very broody about children and don't be alarmed if you find your little ones being hugged or kissed - it is just Egyptian nature.
We had a fantastic holiday and are already planning out trip back there next year.








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