Sol Y Mar Mirabel Beach Resort

Have returned from this hotel, two weeks ago and am still feeling the after effects! I am going to the doctors this week to check that I havent got anything serious.
Me and my boyfriend were ill from the second day that we got to this hotel, with severe diarrhoea, everyone else at the hotel was ill (some people were also being sick)! We got tablets from the pharmacy that cost £15 each. This did help but when the tablets ran out, which is when we were home, it came back!!
The hotel is lovely but the beach is like gravel! Not my ideal holiday, have been put off eqypt for a long time! We were glad that we were only there for a week.

We arrived back from Egypt on Thursday evening today is Saturday after a week at the Jaz Al Mirabel in Sharm El Shiek. My 2 year old has been suffering from the runs for the last 4 days and on return my husband has yet to get out of bed, apart from the regular mad dash he has to make to the toilet! We are waiting the results from the doctors to advise as to the diagnosis. We are gutted, as up to the point of return we were not doing too badly. The hotel is huge although the facilities are very good we were never quite sure what was happening, where or when as far as entertainment. The spa was sooooo expensive for treatments (£60.00 for a masage)that we did not bother, and the food became very mundane.....my little boy lived on pasta and chips with bread for the entire week...All inclusive is a great idea when you have kids but I am not sure that you get the quality.... Another gripe we had was that the mini bar was offered for a charge along with the A La Carte restaurants. A bottle of decent wine cost £50.00 which was crazy and as the local booze was to say the least bearly drinkable we had a very dry week.
The more I write the more dissappointed I am..... the after effects of the trip have probably put me off egypt for good....

1 reader found this review helpful

This Hotel is excellent. I never really wanted to go to Egypt but I went for my husband as he has always wanted to go there, and it really is a brilliant place. We had our two children aged 3 and 7 and they so enjoyed themselves.
The food is fantastic they don’t come much fussier than my two kids and they ate everything, there is lots of choice and there wasn’t a single evening we were disappointed.
We went to the a la carte Chinese one night which you get a set menu for free one per week and we added lots of different food to it and paid a bit extra it was so worth it, and its probably the best Chinese I have ever had.
In the daytime we mainly ate at the pool bar in the park resort as that’s where we were mostly with the kids and the food there was excellent, the kids loved the cheese and tomato pizzas and they did beautiful burgers tuna sandwiches e.t.c .
The staff was very helpful especially the bar tenders who would insist on carrying our food back to our table and playing with the kids.
I would advise that you tip in your first day or two and then you will find they run around after you they like English money so we was just giving them a pound coin or two now and then.
The water slides are superb me my husband and the kids did not get off of them we had great fun.
Evening entertainment is very low key but we met another family so was having a drink and a laugh with them also we went into naama bay a couple of evenings but we didn’t stay too long as its very hard to keep your eye on the kids as its busy and its so so hot there.
Our rooms are nicest we have ever had with a beautiful bathroom and big walk in shower a separate bit for the kids and then our room with door leading out as we had ground floor, which is a lot better with small children.
We will defiantly be going back to this resort and we would stay at the same hotel.

1 reader found this review helpful

After booking this holiday for me and my family - including a 2 and a 4 year old - I was a bit worried when I read the reviews and considered changing it. I am so glad I didn't as we had a wonderful time!
The hotel was gorgeous; the staff was very friendly and falling over themselves to help.
The rooms were spacious and well furnished and the pools were plentiful and clean.
Everything was very child/buggy suitable. There were 2 children’s pools but also a graduated pool so the kids could come a go quite easily while we looked on.
The Thomson day trips were great and not expensive and Sharm itself was great. We will definitely be going back!

I have just returned from a fantastic week in Sharm, staying in the Sol Y Mar Mirabel Beach Resort.
Having booked some months ago, I was pretty worried about what to expect, as there have been more than a few bad reviews of the hotel posted on this site.
However, I have to say that any problems experienced by travellers during the first few months of the resort being opened, are now no longer apparent!
The resort itself is gorgeous, with three hotels in the complex - the Park, Beach and Club (we stayed in the Park). Each hotel has a few pools, a bar, a buffet restaurant and pool bar. Also on site, is a shopping centre with 24 hour supermarket as well as gift, snorkelling gear, perfume etc shops and three a la carte restaurants.
You can only use the all inclusive restaurant/bar facilities in the hotel you stay in. The beach and private jetty is a short walk through the Beach complex and I would advise anyone to invest in snorkelling gear in order to appreciate the amazing marine life there.
The buffet food in the all-inclusive restaurants is lovely, and also varied (in the week we were there they had a Chinese and a Mexican themed menu).
You can only eat free once at the a la carte restaurants, and this was reflected in the fact that those eateries were often very quiet, with people obviously opting to stay at the buffet.
I would really recommend spending the little extra and eating sometimes in the a la carte places. Particularly the traditional Egyptian one was amazing (there is also a Chinese and Italian). I had calamari and it was the best I have ever tasted, as well as the humus and lamb kofte that my partner had - to die for!
The staff at the Mirabel are fantastic. So friendly and helpful and willing to do anything to make your holiday the best it can be.
Also check out the spa, where you can use the Jacuzzi and sauna facilities for free, and pay extra for massage/facial etc treatments. True relaxation, which is what this resort is all about! If you are after a busy, raving holiday then this is not the place for you.
The nightlife in the resort itself is pretty quiet, with only small (fairly poor!) entertainment/cabaret crew, but they amused us none the less!
Head in to Naama Bay if you want bars and night clubs - Mirabel offer a shuttle service.
We did two excursions through Thomson.
The first was a Red Sea Cruise which was amazing, fantastic snorkelling opportunities, good food on board and a friendly, helpful guide that we came to expect during the whole holiday. Very good value for money (£30 for the whole day) and just a lovely, chilled day.
The 2nd trip was Cairo by Air (£170). If you do this trip, BE PREPARED, as it is a VERY long day. I would recommend anyone to spend the extra £35 and get a VIP upgrade. We got picked up at 4.45am (aaahhh! Non- VIP pick up time is 4.15am!) And didn't get back to the hotel until about 9pm and you are walking pretty much all day and it is HOT HOT HOT in Cairo! VIP service gave us private transfer to the airport , and we were chauffeured around Cairo in an air conditioned Mercedes with our personal guide. V posh!
The experience in Cairo is incredible with visits to the Pyramids and Sphinx, Cairo museum and Mosque, Papyrus shop and bazaar, finishing off the day at about 5pm to get a 7pm flight back to Sharm. Exhausting but totally worth it. I needed a stiff drink after the 50min flight in small 50 seater plane, as I’m not a good flyer at the best of times and this is no Boeing 747!
BE WARNED, if you go on a Tuesday, there is chance that you will go do a pickup in Luxor and then on to Cairo, so that’s an extra hour in the air there and back and I would say would add a good couple of hours on travel both ways, what with waiting around and everything.
We went on a Tuesday but were lucky as we went straight to Cairo. I would suggest anyone doing this excursion, to book the Thursday trip if poss, in order to avoid this extra hassle.
All in all, this was such a great, chilled holiday. This is my first experience of both 5* accommodation and all inclusive, so maybe the bad reviews came from people who are used to so much more from these places.
For me and my partner, though, it was just perfect and we were at times overwhelmed by the great facilities and service offered by the Mirabel. This excursion, to book the Thursday trip if poss, in order to avoid this extra hassle.

I spent one week at this hotel with my partner in May 2007; we are both in our late twenties. This hotel was only completed about nine months before our visit, so had that very new feel still.
Rooms:
Spacious with plenty of storage space. Large balcony. Bathroom with very powerful shower. In-room safe for which there is no charge. Toiletries provided. Lovely towel sculptures each day.
Main restaurant Al Flooka:
Variety including omelette/eggs station at breakfast and pasta station at lunch and dinner. Desserts fantastic!
Extremely helpful waiting staff, especially Mohamed Saeid and Mohamed Hassan
Oasis Snack Bar:
Waiting staff bring drinks to you around the pool. Serves snacks such as pizzas and burgers throughout the day - the Tuna Pizza is good!
Tarbouch Lebanese Restaurant:
The hotel lost a point as although there are three a la carte restaurants on site (at the adjoining Mirabel Beach), being Italian, Asian and Lebanese, and only one visit is permitted all inclusive.
However, we were extremely pleased with the all-in meal that we enjoyed, and added a couple of hot appetisers (for £5 GBP). You must try the chicken wings, and the dips.
Mazag Lobby Bar:
Very peaceful, as is the entrance to the hotel, and looks classy. Good service.
Facilities:
Two pools, one heated, and small pool for children. There is also a waterslides area, with five separate slides. For those travelling with children, you will be pleased to know that there are a number of staff on duty here.
Animation Team offer games such as water polo. Volleyball and table tennis. Aqua aerobics classes also take place.
There are a large number of shops on site, stocking anything and everything. There is even a hairdresser where my partner had a very good haircut and cut throat shave.
Spa:
This is between the Mirabel Park and Mirabel Beach hotels. There is a massive Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room which form part of the all inclusive package. Many other services are available at a charge. I was pleased with the pedicure (£15 GBP) and the full body Egyptian massage (£30 GBP) was excellent.
We travelled with Portland which is part of TUI. The rep, Fady, is an Egyptian and was a great source of knowledge.
We only went on one trip. Which was the Red Sea Cruise during which there are various snorkelling stops and a good quality buffet lunch. I would recommend this.
The only foible regarding the tour operator is the flights - very cramped and uncomfortably hot.
I found that what set this hotel apart was the stunning service of the whole hotel team, and the rep.

Sorry this is probably too late for you, but it might help others. My partner & I went in November 2006 the hotel was fabulous though larger than we thought it would be.
It is immaculate the bedrooms are beautiful, the food was excellent, there are 9 bars altogether, 3 on the beach.
Only negatives were though its on the beach, you seem to wade out for at least 1/2 mile (or it seemed like it) to get to the sea, you just walked in 12 to 18 inches of water all the way, we turned back in the end, so it was no good for snorkelling.
The staff were lovely, really helpful but on the last day they were pushy for you to leave a tip especially room staff, though we had already given our room boy money.
They also didn't want to give you drinks at the end of the holiday, they asked for payment, which we have never had to do before on an all inclusive.

We were disappointed with the standard of food in this hotel. Also, the drinks we thought were weak, the short list of cocktails were of very little alcoholic content.
The rooms were of a high standard with courtesy bar, but the contents were not free.
The pool area was kept clean as was the rest of the complex. The staff were friendly but not particularly efficient.
The beach was large but water was shallow with sharp coral rocks. A good beach is a ten minute walk away.
In conclusion, this is not a bad hotel but does not merit five stars.

We have just come back from a very lovely and relaxing week here and have just read the previous review, rest assured just about everything mentioned has been resolved. The spa is open and very nice, the staff seem now to understand the all inclusive concept, in fact to a point that they mention several times that the mini bar is not included! There is a jetty out to sea which does indeed avoid paddling out quite a way before it's anything beyond knee deep.
The rooms and cleanliness could not be faulted, nor the public areas there were constantly men with dusters wiping tables etc.
The food was to a good standard and those cooking fresh options polite and eager to chat and please. We had the odd hiccup, not offered wine one evening and a mix up over choice in the a la carte but these were nothing to put us off, as it is still new you expect the odd little thing.
I have to agree with the previous review that at full occupancy it could be busy, but it is such a spacious complex it shouldn't be horrific, we were lucky that it was quiet and probably half a dozen sun beds each!
All in all a lovely holiday and we are definitely looking to return.

To start with I am glad I am home. The hotel looks great but hides some dark paths. The Pools look great and the water is fresh but considering that it is only 2 months old, the tiles have already chipped away and are black in places the pool water is also warm (not that refreshing). I dread to think what they will look like in a year’s time.
The beach is ok as long as you don't want to swim there is no water there unless you walk for a long time and then join the cargo ships. The one buffet food area is nice but the food is warm, hence the reason that myself and 12 other Brits that I spoke to ended up in their rooms for most of the holiday being sick and having fever symptoms. A trip to the local pharmacy will cost you around 30 pounds to fight back the infection.
All the facilities that were listed are not there except the spa which I cannot moan about it is great for relaxing in (unless you are ill of course). There are plenty of staff that have nothing better to do than wind you up thinking they are funny. A day did not go past without at least 15 waiters asking me if I was German and did I want to marry them! They like to play jokes on you which, when you are trying to relax is annoying. Their English is poor and I never once got what I had ordered.
The drinks are VERY local, the cocktails are mostly water and tasteless but they do a nice cup of tea (if you manage to get milk with it). The entertainment is the same every night with the same singer doing the same songs hope you like the telly!
There are supposed to be 70 shops, I would say there is about 15 the rest have yet to be built as is the disco and two other food areas (which all inclusive are not allowed to use unless you pay).
Considering it is supposed to be 5 star it looks it but I would say it was no more than a 2 star in reality. I have stayed at different hotels in Sharm and enjoy the tan but I would have to say this is the worse hotel I have ever been to with the rudest staff I have ever met. Even when you say please go away they don't. The cockroaches from the building site around the hotel will keep you company though.
The 2 rating I have given is for the Spa and the Room even though every Brit gets the top floor with no lifts. Oh and if you want to keep your room on when you are leaving it will cost you 40 pounds. Your all inclusive wrist band comes off at 12 even if you are not leaving the hotel till the evening you have to pay for your drinks and food after 12 noon.
The Entertainment in the day is useless and boring and there is not much for the kids.
I am sorry if you have already booked this hotel maybe they have improved I hope so what a waste of a lovely looking hotel.