Sunrise Crystal Bay

Having read all the previous reports about the Golden 5 Resort I was very apprehensive about staying at the Almas Palace, however I have to report that a group of us had a thoroughly enjoyable time there. I wouldn’t describe it as a 5 star luxury hotel and agree with previous posts maybe it is only a 3 / 4 star (English scale) but that’s what you get for the money (we paid £400 for a week) I have to totally agree with the comments made on July 11 2006.
We booked through last minute and used it as a base for 3 days diving / 3/4 days sun bathing / chilling
Ok so a few of us suffered from the occasional dodgy stomach (one was bedridden for a day) but it didn’t prevent us from enjoying the holiday. Just take some Imodium just in case.
Food, ok it may be a bit bland at times, I’ll eat anything so there was always something there for me and my girlfriend can be really fussy, but she likes pasta (so that was ok as there was plenty of that).
We had the all inclusive option and whilst not everything is included like perhaps Caribbean and other all inclusive resorts I went there with the impression that food and drink were included in certain areas and there may be other freebies.
We had drinks served in plastic cups occasionally but mostly we had glasses and one of the bar staff in the reception (Honi) was constantly bringing us drinks and was extremely polite and helpful and always smiling.
We did come across the occasional staff member who was unhelpful, maybe that’s the way some of them are, a bit grumpy and can’t be bothered, mainly the ones in the billiard room in the main resort centre and the beach bar by the Almas Palace, everything seemed more important than serving the queue of people at the bar. And it seemed you couldn’t have more than 1 person serving at any bar, ridiculous but maybe that’s the way it works in a foreign country.
The negatives
The aqua park slides were rarely open, hardly a major issue. The cable car from the front of the resort to the beach worked occasionally but we never bothered using it, it’s a nice enough stroll. One of the restaurants was shut, the Sinai, still others to choose from.
Most of the time the beach towels ran out, took our own anyway. Getting sun beds on the beach was hit and miss after 11.00 but usually you got one. Didn’t try round the pool as we were up too late. There were always queues at lunchtime at the beach restaurant, mainly at the pizza oven and bar (hardly a big deal though). Yes the place is overrun by the Ruskis and they are rude and arrogant but we just ignored them. We didn’t experience any queue jumping, they seemed to ignore the staff or give them a hard time.
Lack of ‘free’ evening entertainment, you have to pay for shows albeit a couple of quid and the snooker / pool (which you might expect to be ‘included’). It was a 20 minute taxi ride to Hurghada town this is a pretty manic place with loads of shops and bazaars which meant a lot of hassle but this could be the same as other holidays
The pluses
They try really hard at most things. We got cold beer most of the time in glasses. The food is ok. The dancing fountain (have to comment on it), the show lasts ½ hour and even though I am a bloke, I thought it was quite good, it’s different.
Your snooker / pool may well improve (£4 per hour in the main resort area). Our rooms were cleaned daily / fresh towels and the cleaners even went the extra mile by adding some nice touches flowers or animals shaped from towels, they try hard and appreciate it when you acknowledge them (because the Russians don’t). We had excellent service from the bar (Honi pronounced Honey) and restaurant (Muhammad).
Tips / info
Hurghada airport has plenty of shops selling the same stuff as inside the hotel and its cheaper, we didn’t try outside the resort, where you do get hassled (like any other country). Be polite to the chefs, waiters, bar staff and you might be pleasantly surprised, thank you’s pleases and hello’s got smiles from the staff who were only too willing to help. Even the staff said they hated the Russians and it was refreshing to have English people there as clearly we are a lot politer and have time for the staff.

Don’t expect 5 star luxury and everything to be all inclusive and you might be pleasantly surprised, read up on what is included before you go like 1hr of golf / billiards per room per week (which we didn’t even use).
Remember you are in a foreign country where they do things differently and not as efficiently as you might expect, but this could be the same for Greece Turkey. We tipped our restaurant waiter about £1 each most nights and he would always look for us, save a table for us, carry our food and drinks, nothing was too much trouble. Ok so maybe they are working you for tips but so what a couple of quid here and there will bring better service, smiles and politeness, which was more than what the Ruski’s got. It is about a 15 min walk from the resort gates to the beach, not really a problem. I saw a previous post about wobbly tables, so what if there are a few, its hardly going to ruin a holiday.
We were a group of 6 so had no problems having a good time, there were only a handful of other Brits there. Showering, yes the water was sometimes hot sometimes lukewarm, same as Greece really?
We had one power cut that I know of during the day, no big deal though, just go and sun bathe for a few hours!
Anyone with a nervous disposition shouldn’t take taxis, it’s suicidal! Hurghada itself is a massive building site stretching for miles. Mini bar was stocked with 12 bottles of water and 4 litres of soft drinks at beginning of the week this is your weekly supply. Most staff do speak English.
We were not robbed of our wrist bands on the last day.
The beach does have reps on it selling branded drinks, shows, horse & camel rides etc we had a chat with them they seemed polite enough and would take no for an answer
It would appear that a lot of the comments posted on websites I looked at beforehand have been acted upon as we found very little to really gripe about.
Its not going to win an award for holiday resort of the year but could win a award for good value for money and I would define ‘all inclusive’ as full board with drinks included and the occasional other extra.

I agree with other comments that the bathrooms were not 5 star but, unlike them, I was expecting only a shower as the hotel advertises its commitment to preservation of the environment and baths are very wasteful. And yes, the hairdressers and health club people do come round the pool, but they do take 'no thank you' for an answer.
The food was good on the whole, but the choice was limited except for the desserts.
The real 5 star rating belongs to the staff and the animation team. I am a middle-aged woman and was traveling alone and I was made instantly very welcome. I was treated with not only great courtesy but genuine warmth by all the staff, from Reception to the gardeners and cleaners, whilst the animation team made sure that my evenings were enjoyable and that I was never short of a dancing partner.
These people made it one of the most enjoyable holidays I have had and I will certainly go back.

Hotel claims 5 star but 4 would be about right, the room was let down by the bathroom being only a shower also a bit tatty in there as well. The bedrooms are huge, bright and airy and the air con was very good free safes and mini bar/fridge. The grounds are huge boasting topiary trees and walkways. The private beach is excellent very clean and safe.
The food was a bit of a let down very repetitive and not much to choose from except the sweet section. Also all inclusive drink wasn’t up to 5 star I would say 3 the local drinks where awful didn’t taste any thing like vodka, gin, Bacardi, whisky etc and don’t expect Spanish measurements (half the glass of gin etc) you are lucky to get half a measure here. The hotel is mainly aimed at Russian and German there was only about 5 other Brits there when we were there. But all the songs and entertainment is in English.
You will be pestered by staff trying to sell you massage, tattoos, scuba, trips etc even if you are pretending to be asleep.
The pool is a bit on the small size for such a huge complex but there are plenty of free umbrellas and sun beds even by the beach and free towels as well.
There are loads of staff on but don’t expect a lie in because the male cleaners are knocking on your door from 8 in the morning but they did do a good job of your room though. Overall its not quite good enough for a 5 star hotel as it claims 4 would be about right.