Grand Rotana Resort

1 reader found this review helpful

this was our 6th visit to sharm but our first to the grand rotana. we normally stay at the hyatt. on landing we expected a complimentary limo to pick us up as stated on our confirmation. no-one came and it took 5 phone calls to get someone to collect us and then they wanted to charge us 100le. we upgraded to the rotana club as the description sounded similar to what we were used to. how wrong we were.the room was good, servicing the room wasn't . two nights in a row we got back to find no clean towels. we called housekeeping four times and the club reception twice but it was still two hours before we got any and by that time the complimentary drinks and snacks had finished. also asked for ice and never recieved any.also serious lack of space for clothes. one single wardrobe ,no drawers.room wasn't cleaned properly. i'd left some open sugar wrappers on the tea tray, they stayed there for three days. biggest problem is sunbeds. you can't get a decent sun lounger unless you get up at silly o'clock. we got up at 4am at one stage. people were actually having to lay on the grass near the lido as they couldn't get a space round the pool. the pool and jacuzzi were lovely and clean.
went to silk road once. my other half is an award winning chef so we're both particular about our food. it was just okay. the sky lounge was excellent and the belly dancer was lovely(and russian).you can get draught lager here(the coldest beer on the entire resort).
the one person who stood out for me was mohamed at the pool bar. his charm and cheeky smile really lifted our spirits.
i would also like to say check your bill. we were charged room tax of 24% twice this would've added an extra £560.00 onto our holiday. really confusing when changing usd into le but we're glad we checked. they did sort it out eventually.
as far as we are concerned, the view and grounds are lovely but the service standards and food are not. this is not a five ***** hotel its a three and a half at most. we would never go back to this hotel.

4 readers found this review helpful

My wife and I have just returned from our best holiday yet, we booked through Longwood holidays and have to say our rep Maxine was great. When we arrived our room was not ready and we had to wait quite a while, plus there was a mix up with a meal. When we told our rep the next day, she spoke to the manager and quickly sorted it all out. The result was a room upgrade and a complimentary meal.
From then on everybody was helpful and very friendly. The hotel and complex is fantastic, the food was very good with a selection of restaurants, including Italian and Chinese. We found the hotel to be clean and the staff friendly. The infinity pool is a must for warm water and good views.
If you go into Nama Bay, try asking at reception for their limo service (S class Merc) we paid £5, approx £50 Egyptian.
Two great places to eat out are: The 'Camel hotel' restaurant where you can sit outside by the main street and watch the world go by and a place called 'On the deck' you literally sit on a timber decking which is elevated over the water. The water is lit up at night so you can see hundreds of fish swimming around while you eat. The food and service is great at both places.
I would definitely go back to the Grand Rotana hotel.

I went here with my boyfriend for my 21st, was my best holiday so far. Hotel was lovely, didn’t shift a finger the all time was there. Staff were friendly, hotel was constantly cleaned. Had a birthday cake in room on arrival.
Massive hotel - hairdressers, shops, 3 floors with different type foods on each floor – Chinese, Indian, Italian, and Egyptian buffet all were nice. Complimentary bus every evening to and from Naama Bay - put name down in hotel.
Only bad experience was had a milkshake at side of pool and gave me a bad stomach for a day.

Wonderful holiday, excellent hotel, facilities, rooms, food and staff all 5-star plus.
Would definitely go again, peaceful surroundings and nothing was too much trouble for the staff.
Avoid using the Bedouin taxis, or agree a price outside the car from Sharks Bay to town should be no more than £5 or 35 Egyptian!
Hard Rock Cafe in Naama is fantastic, great food, floor-show and atmosphere at great prices.
Silk Road and Mezzaluna restaurants in Rotana are top class with tasty food and good discreet service, though the alcohol prices are quite dear.
Excellent experience all round.

This hotel definitely deserved five stars. It was beautiful, clean and had the most charming staff throughout.
Our bedroom on the second floor had good views of the pool and sea and was reasonably well managed. We always had replacement towels and sheets but sometimes the smaller replacements like shampoo were overlooked.
The staff overall try so hard to please that it is difficult to remember that they may not necessarily speak as good English as you would think.
The downside for us on this holiday was that there were a lot of steps to get down to the sea and although there is plenty of seating overlooking the sea, it is not easy for the less nimble to swim - you have to walk into the sea on a pontoon to swim but if you do this.
The sea is very clean and there are loads of fish to see if you snorkel. Watch out for El Sayed, he is one of the beach assistants whose job it is to come and clean your sunglasses for free three times a day. Very five stars.
We found the food good though paid pretty much English prices for it however; there is a free shuttle bus from the hotel into Naama Bay (takes about ten minutes) where the food is good and often very inexpensive.
We had problems with the water in our room, it was absolutely scalding but after reporting it to the management, the maintenance men were already sorting it out before we had even returned to our room.
Overall, this was a luxury holiday with excellent weather at a very reasonable price and we would go back.

I have just returned, literally, from the Grand Rotana and feel completely refreshed and relaxed - what a lovely hotel.
The staff could not have been more courteous and happy to be of service. The views from my immaculate room were absolutely stunning. The swimming pool (although cold) was clean and there was plenty of space to relax and unwind with gentle background music i.e. no clubbing beats blaring out.
The beach was beautiful and again, clean, tidy and plenty of choice of location to settle in for the day. My only complaint with regards to the food would be that the lobster I ordered from the beach bar was not cooked properly however, this was easily rectified with the minimum of fuss.
Having travelled to Sharm alone, I felt completely secure within the hotel and did not feel that I was unnecessarily hassled nor did I feel intimidated by the local men who all seemed to be well mannered and professional - in all areas of the hotel including the bars and the nightclub!

Me my mum and big sister stayed at this luxurious hotel at May 26th - June 5th, I can honestly say after lot of places I have been to this is the 2nd best place the 1st best would be Azia Beach Hotel it was just PREFECT! My big bro meet a girl of girls aloud! And he got her mobile number
The Hotel:
When we got there we were upgraded to a sea view front, and had been greeted nicely and got cold flannels and a glass of wine or something.
Then we went in this golf caddy or something to out room and got shown around everywhere.
Good points: Excellent views, nice people, lots of choice of breakfasts, lovely bedrooms nice and big nice bedrooms but didn’t like the bit where you could see into. It was VERY CHEAP!!
Bad points: stones for sand, the pool were freezing and there was suppose to be a steam room a sauna it was either being made or knocked down. And loads of scary people. And load of Muhammad. The worst place was Namma Bay, horrible place where you can’t go 5 steps without being stopped. Had something wrong with food or water gave bad stomachs to me, mum and sister
Very Nice:
The rooms were VERY modern and very nice have took loads and loads of pictures.
Food:
Best thing it was very CHEAP! A massive (Absolutely) plate of chips for 15.00 Egyptian pounds - only £1.50 but took about 20minutes to make! You could order anything there were all types of drinks and food. Nice restraints at buffet different styles of foods every night.

Night Time:
Was very entertaining at 10pm we went to the amphitheatre where they had very funny things on there was more entertainment at the roof bar where there was belly dancing and some smoke things.
I would return to the Grand Rotana anytime when the sauna or steam room would be finished.
We will recommend the Hotel.

We were not impressed with this resort.
Good points: Nice views, clean pool area, ok breakfast.
Bad points: Beach is sharp stones. Almost No hot water for bath. Toilets would not flush, Rooms not clean, lots of steps and uphill trekking. Pool was ice cold so only for looks, diving was not prepared for guests.
Resort shuttle bus failed to pick us up at the given time/location, He said he left 10 min early thinking no one was coming? Tried to charge our resort room for items that were not ours! The tackiness of the most staff took away from our enjoyment. The men always have their hand out for tips and once you pay one well you will never be left alone.
We will not recommend the not-so- Grand Rotana.

My husband & I stayed at this luxurious hotel in October 2005, I can honestly say that after 6 trips to Sharm in the past 2 years Rotana Grand is the most impressive hotel.
Leather everything, amazing rooms with excellent views of the pool or the beach.
We stayed before the hotel was officially opened i.e. had their grand opening in Nov 05 so the resort was quiet and at times we were on our own at the pool and for breakfast..
So little atmosphere, however I did say I would love to return when they are fully open and I am in May 2006. I am excited to see everything finished and open and really look forward to my 7th stay in Sharm. This is the only hotel I have returned to more than once...as I like to try different ones, have tried:
The Savoy, The Hyatt, The Domina, Hitlon Waterfalls, Grand Rotana & Pyramids, but Grand Rotana is by far the most impressive resort.

Had a wonderful 2 week holiday at the Grand Rotana. The hotel is massive and so clean. The staff are polite and friendly.
The food was always nice. Although sometimes, the breakfast items could be a bit cold and there were a lot of flies in the restaurant in the mornings. (I think this is the case in most hotels).
The pool is huge, but it was freezing! The beach area is lovely, the beach has a bar which also serves snacks. The only problem I had with the beach area was the music, sometimes it was really loud cheesy dance music. The pool area was lovely and peaceful though. Sometimes, me and my partner would be the only people on one side sunbathing and most days I was the only person in the pool (bear in mind it is the size of three Olympic size pools).
Naama Bay is about 15 mins in a shuttle bus, which is provided free by the hotel, but only at certain times and you have to pre book.
Our toilet had to be fixed three times during our stay, but each time they sorted out the problem immediately. Water pressure was quite low. Again, this is probably the case in most hotels.
The hotel wasn't quite finished when we were there, but we did not hear the builders once, they were discreet. The nightclub, spa and dive centre was yet to be completed.
I would return to the Grand Rotana!