Sol y Mar Makadi Marine Hotel

Very clean and friendly complex, everything at hand, entertainment day and evening, beautiful beach, hand for excursions,
Buffet style restaurant, open from 7.30 till 10pm each day. There were two bars one by the pool with a seated shaded area and an indoor bar with balcony overlooking pool, this bar also had wide screen television which was very handy for watching the world cup which was on at that time.
The beach also had several bars and also offered lunch time snacks (hot and cold). The beach had comfy sun bed and straw umbrellas and privacy screens.

We stayed here for one week from 26th May to 2nd June 2006. What a fantastic place, beautiful room, lovely pool, lovely beach, nothing too much trouble for anyone! The staff are second to none, knowing just what you want before you do.
The rep was great, really friendly (Dave you know I mean you!) Fantastic trip to Cairo for the day, flew into Cairo, met by our guide who was great. Saw the Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx, the museum in Cairo (fantastic) Very hot long day but worth every minute.
Hotel staff always asking if you want anything, your having a lovely time, even a letter from the hotel area manager thanking us for choosing to stay, a really lovely touch to the end of the holiday. Couldn’t recommend it enough. If you are looking for peace and relaxation this is for you.

The hotel and staff were first class nothing was too much trouble. Bearing in mind staff on average only earn £30 per month they give their all to ensure that every guest has a great holiday.
All eateries and food are of the highest quality as are the bars. The shops on the complex aqre all the same ...Selling odd smelling local perfumes and dodgy designer clothing...Do not fall for their chat and enter any of the shops for a quick look around unless you have at least an hour to spare...We found it strange that the owners of these dodgy shops also all had brothers in the UK!!
The dine around option was superb value...Although you only get a voucher worth £3.50 each for the restaurants we ate like kings for another £6 with three courses and drinks within the best Thai we have ever eaten in.
Although the hotel has a large guest list from Russia these are great entertainment...The strange mix of fashions lead us "Brits" to enquire with the staff at the hotel if in fact the Russian rooms had lights within them as some of them must have dressed in the dark!!!! And as for their dancing... This is not to be missed... "Save all your kisses for me" the classic Brotherhood of Man hit had us in stitches with the Russians dancing and a male Egyptian tone deaf double act singing a must for any holiday.
This is a must for any winter holiday far better that the Canaries...Weather & Hotel superb.

This Christmas was our first trip away together, and we went to Makadi Bay, Hurghada. This was my first ever resort based holiday. Previously I've always stayed in towns or villages, and it was an experience!
The hotel - Makadi Marine has a small base of British Clientele. The majority of holidaymakers to the resort are Russian. Facilities at the hotel are ok, personally I expected more from a 4* All Inclusive hotel, however staff were extremely friendly, polite and courteous. The hotel was large enough so you could disappear, but small enough to be friendly. Entertainment was NOT so good... Russian renditions of My Heart Will Go On until midnight most nights... we wished the singer would drown in the Red Sea!
The Entertainments crew were a bit enthusiastic, but we got past it by just holding a glass of water/beer, saying we were chilling out.
Excursions offered by Thomson were good value for money, especially the quad biking in the desert, this was one of the best days we had during the holiday, with the exception of snorkeling - I found Nemo ;-)!!!!!
There is good snorkeling to be had in Makadi Bay beach itself. However I would opt for the trip next time. There is a Diving School in Makadi Bay, who do courses and also snorkeling trips. BE ADVISED - the trip from Makadi Bay (booked through the diving office) is cheaper than booking through the rep. However, the trip leaves from Makadi Bay, and the waters can be quite rough, whereas if you book through the rep you will depart from Hurghada (a taxi will collect you and take you to the Marina) and the ride isn't so bad. It all depends on the strength of your sea legs, and how water tight your wallet is.
Hurghada town is madness, I never expected to see a MacDonald’s on the High Street! Traders are a pain to say the least they will hassle you no end, one even took my arm and escorted me into his shop much to my surprise. Best tip I can give is to haggle away, ask how much first, then offer less than quarter of the price. It's a lengthy process, but all a part of the fun, the locals love it. If you just can't get away or get a price you think is right tell him that a "friend" in another shop down the road is cheaper, and you're going there. He'll either ask you how much and match it, or say he can't do the deal, then you promptly leave. Don't be surprised if the follow you out of the shop (as a few did to us) it proves they really want your money, politely give them your final offer, if they refuse carry on walking away.
There are perfume shops all over the place, you'll probably get pulled into one, but it's a really nice experience. I went in the one at our hotel. Was sat down with some hibiscus tea (brilliant for settling the tummy - top tip!) had a hand massage with sandalwood and aloe vera, and the bloke in the shop made some kind of special perfume blend for me. They can match virtually any perfume made by designers, my boyfriend got them to make up a bottle of Fahrenheit 0 Degree (new summer edition - his own bottle was nearly gone) at a fraction of the price, as it's made completely from oil it will last forever, you can dilute it with alcohol to make your own perfume, put it in the bath/oil burner/anything.......you'll recognise this spiel if you've ever been in one of these perfume stores.
The best thing about our holiday was our Rep Dave Chapple - an absolute Star ****** top class. He gave us the best of his time and attention and even took us out on his night off to Hurghada town 1/2 hour car journey away. We went to Moby Dicks (4 of us had steak, chips, pepper sauce n all trimmings, 2 pints each for the grand total of £24 sterling) just watch out for the cats in the restaurant. He took us the Papas Beach club bars - don't miss the Papas chain - good staff nice pint then on to the opening night of Ministry of Sound Hurghada - top night.
I could go on and on forever it was great, we can't wait to go back, not just for the holiday but to see Dave our rep, he was great and we've kept in touch since we got back.
We'd advise Hurghada to anyone as a different east meets west holiday experience with enough to do but still with a strong element of relaxation.
We're off to Icmeler Turkey next on April 22 2006. I hope our Egyptian experience won't spoil things too much for us, and Turkey won't be too much of an anticlimax, and if so we'll be on the next plane back to Makadi Bay for a fortnight!
Hope you found the review useful.

The hotel is great! There are 3 bars. The Tropicana Bar at the side of the pool, the blue's bar inside where there is entertainment and a free pool table and the beach bar open from sunrise till sunset. Included in the All inclusive is strawberry, chocolate, mango and strawberry ice cream as much as you want all ages, packets of crisps, alcoholic, kid cocktails and local alcoholic drinks like brandy, vodka etc.
Sakara is the local bear a must try bear included in AI. Be warned that some alcoholic drinks are really expensive in Egypt. Baileys and Jack Daniels are £130 a bottle! There are 2 pools. A big one that is freezing and no one ever went in it and a small one that was lovely. There’s also a mini freezing kids pool. Rooms are in blocks. There’s about 5 blocks in the hotel and 3 floors on each one. There mainly Russians there and a few Germans.
The maids did a different towel art everyday and you got a free 2 litre bottle of water a day since you cant drink from there tap since there are to many minerals in it for us but its ok for washing and teeth. Dinners were good and there was a lot on offer. There is always tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juice available in dinner and soft drinks and beer are also there for lunch and dinner. In breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 they make you fresh donuts, croissants and a man makes you pancakes and omlettes right in front of you.
They have a bacon like food which is more like gammon a kind of thick bacon. For lunch 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner 19:00 to 22:00 there’s a pizza man who makes a pizza for you any type. At dinner they sometimes have a bbq outside with liver, kebabs on sticks etc. They also have big legs/breasts of turkey, beef, meat loaf, lamb and pork for lunch/dinner. All meals take place in the blue marine restaurant except a light lunch is served at the beach bar from 13:00 to 16:00. They do French fries, steak, chicken burgers and you can get as many as you want.
There is the dine around option which is only valid once a day where you can dine at a restaurant in Makadi bay and get £35 Egyptian pounds (3.50 BBP) off your meal each and 1 free alcoholic and 1 free soft drink each. Stay clear of sofra there special is stuffed pigeon. Just ask reception for a voucher for the dine around service. When you 1st get there they give you a green band that they place on your arm. This is to show you are all inclusive at that hotel. Other hotels in the Makadi bay complex in the middle of the desert with shops etc by the sea, they have different colour bands. You must wear the bands or you must pay. Its £4 English for Bacardi and coke!
The Tropicana bar by the pools is open all day. All inclusive is only from 10am to 12 midnight. They have a garden chess set with a floodlight to play with. There is the animation team who do all the activities and entertainment. They have darts, sports, water aerobics, archery, bowls and more... all in your AI program.
On valentines day when we were there all the staff got dressed up in suits and the restraint was decorated with bows and when it was someone’s birthday... they all got Egyptian clothes on and did some Egyptian music singing and danced around the room. Then they gave the cake to the persons who's birthday it was and they all sang happy birthday. You get to keep the cake and eat it. Fresh made by the chefs. The reception speak very good English and help you as much as they can. They are so nice. They give you a free safety deposit box that you have to sign for each time you open.
Its in a little hidden room behind reception. They are big longs things about a meter long and 6 inch wide. You can go on the computer for 10p a minute or rent a wireless internet laptop for £10 English pounds a week. They display all the weather latest news and hotel information on a notice board for you. They have a thing called a tuf tuf which is a train like bus thing that is free for you to use. It comes every 20 mins and takes you all the way around the complex which is very large it takes a good 30 minutes on the tuf tuf to go all the way round.
There is also a shuttle bus to Hurghada which is £4 there and back per person under 12's £2. It drops off near McDonalds in Hurghada 40 minutes away by the bus. McDonalds is 50p a happy meal! Very cheap. There are lots of little kids with no shoes begging very sad. If you see these zip up your bag because there parents pick pocket you while your back is turned feeling sorry for the kid who is begging for money. The bus is only 3 times a day and you can only spend 2 hours there. Thomson do trips to Cairo and Luxor (we went on the Luxor overnight and would recommend it) and the prices were:
TO LUXOR:
£116 - Two night trip Overnight stay in 3 star hotel. go to Karnack temple the largest place of worship in the world, Colissi of Menmon, valley of kings (3 tombs only), queen hagipsuit temple, papyrus factory, alabaster factory and Karnack temple again for the sound and light show.
TO LUXOR 1 DAY:
£65 - valley of kings and Karnak temple only no sound and light show
It’s a 4 hour drive there and you set off at 5pm on both trips.
you can have an add-on to this trip with a air balloon over the west bank of Luxor for £150 each
CAIRO:
8 hours by road
1 hour by air and internal flights are prone to around 10 minute delays
£113 CAIRO OVERNIGHT:
Pyramids, sphinx and some other attractions
One day trip is available but I cannot remember the price sorry
£30 quad biking in desert. 16 or over only. You have 15 mins to practice if you are not good they do not allow you to go. Its a full day trip and you see the Egyptian people who live in the hut houses in the desert
There are many more. if you go you will see them as your rep Dave will give them on a sheet to you
Air conditioning is included and satellite TV. Channel 8 mbc 2 has films yet to come out in the uk on it. Balcony in any room and there all en-suite. They have the towel policy that if its on the floor they change it if its on the hook they don’t.
Wash your hands after handling there money as they use there left hand to wipe the bottom so never shake there left hand!!!
Be warned of the supermarket across the road it was £2.50 for a packet of crisp like the sensations size.

We went here in early feb for sun and sea. Myself and my 17 yr old daughter. We loved it.
Loads of choice for food usually hot and refilled often. Every where clean and staff very helpful more Russians than English but makes a change from Germans!!!!!!
My daughter went out with friends she made to a disco and she was safe its a lovely area. Its now our favourite place.