Sea Star Taba Hotel

We stayed here for my 40th birthday and Christmas. First the positives... The staff were very helpful and friendly, particuarly Ashraf who looked after us at the pool. The hotel is well laid out & clean. The room (1403) was spacious & clean. The decoration and bathroom are a little 'tired' but the view to Jordan was spectacular. We didn't get the towels put into animal shapes but we didn't tip the cleaner until the end of the holiday. Bewarned though, the pool & tennis table rooms are below these rooms & it could stay noisy until the wee hours. The pools areas are kept immaculate (not heated though!). Now for the down sides. Noone is exagerating when they say it's in the middle of nowhere, Taba Heights is a 20-30 min taxi ride. We paid £18 for a return trip & the driver waited for us (between 7), they don't charge you to go in the hotels, the Flying Carpet & the Tandorri restaurants are well worth a visit. The shop keepers are very pleasant & if you go inside for a look & don't buy anything they are OK with it so give it a try... We were all inclusive, the food is mainly chicken, fish & beef & a lot of it is leftovers rehashed but that said there were only 80 of us & there was a lot of food everyday leftover, the waiters were fastideous as were the chefs so it was unfortunate that we & a number of others developed upset stomachs, we've been to Gambia & not needed medication but we did here. People who had been there the week before had been OK up to Christmas Eve, some had it worse than others, but we all managed to have a laugh despite the cramps! Thanks to Shaun, Julie & Graham for their company & hope to see you soon.

This is a lovely hotel, and area in general, fantasic sun, clear waters... however be aware that it is not near any other hotel in Taba. When you arrive you will go right and everyone else will go left! We were there for a week and enjoyed a 100% stress free time literally splitting our time between the beach and the pool. Luckily we were happy to do this but a week was enough I may have gone a bit stir crazy if we had been there for two. There were some trips but nothing that really grabbed us. Needless to say we were extremely pleased to be all inclusive - I have no idea what those who were half-board did - there was no where else to eat near the hotel. However the food was nice and pretty varied. OK for veggies which was a nice surprise. We never went hungry. On a more positive note all the staff were very friendly, and the hotel, towels, beach and pool were spotlessly clean - a great plus in my book. I was a little worried about the temperature as we were there in August and it was in the 40s everyday but we stayed out of the sun at lunchtime which solved the problem. There was a lovely breeze which meant the heat was not stiffling. The view across the Red Sea was absolutely stunning. The room was fine and the air/con a god-send. TV was mainly limited to films but this was fine with us as well. If you want nothing but to lie by the pool/beach, read your book and have a few drinks in the evening then this is a good solution. If you need more (nightlife without a taxi ride!) this is maybe not the place for you - turn left and go further into Taba!

Me and my boyfriend stayed here from the 11th-19th Nov and we loved everything. Highly recommend it! The hotel is huge , the room we stayed in was exactely as pictured on the website and we had a sea view over the Gulf of Aqaba. If you are staying here go for the all inclusive as there are no other restaraunts nearby as this hotel is 15 mins from Taba Heights, the food was nice, lots of choice, breads, salads, meat and lots of different puddings. The only downside is that you have to go back to the bar if you want a drink, and there half pint sizes, but it isnt really a problem at all. If you are going to the beach then if you ask at reception they will prepare a lunch box and bring it down to the beach for you so you neednt move from your sun lounger at all if you wanted too! The Beach is a 200m walk down the road, but it is lovely , there are lots of sunloungers, a bar, showers, volleyball net, and there is a unused sort of jetty which is a great place to snorkel around as you see so many different types of fish, i saw lionfish, puffa fish, clown fish and more, be very careful not to touch any or get to close to the coral as it is extremely sharp and stings alot if you cut yourself! There is also a mini bus which will take you from the Hotel to the beach and back if you cant walk the 200m, we didnt as you can walk it in less than five minutes! There are excursions to Cairo which is a 4 and a half hour drive, but well worth it, you see the museum, a papyrus making shop, the spyhinx, pyramids and a market, and are taken around by an Egyptologist who explains everything. It was £88 so make sure you take enough to go! Tipping is big here , but dont expect that you have to tip everyone as some will try to take you for a ride, (not in the hotel) When we took our luggage to the coach and they put it on they asked us for a tip, dont feel you have to tip everyone, only those who have actually done something, like the coach driver on the day trips, or the Eygptologist. We would defiantley come back here, it was so peaceful and relaxing and everyone was so friendly, hope this helps!

Just returmed from a week's stay at the Taba Sea Star and had a really nice holiday. The hotel has good facilities, a great pool and private beach, and the service is very friendly. It is the perfect base for a relaxing holiday. It was a bit out on a limb with not much around it, so don't expect to be heading into the local town for a night out. But if you're looking to do some exploring, several really great trips - for example to Cairo and to Petra - are available, and the local dive centre at the Taba Hilton offers amazing diving and snorkeling on local reefs. We were staying on an all-inclusive basis - so all meals and drinks were included. The food was fine, but a bit samey and unexciting. If you like to eat out at good restaurants every night, Taba won't be for you!

I returned from Taba just over two weeks ago and I wish every day that I was back there, I read all the review's on this hotel before booking and would like people to read this review. This has been the most relaxing holiday I have experienced so far. On arrival at Taba airport you have two options with regards to the visa's if you intend to go on the day trips over the border i.e. to the market, pyramids etc then you can buy a visa at the airport for approx. £15 per person (english currency is accepted) If you choose not to do any trips then you can get a local visa at no extra cost, however if you change your mind once you hve left he airport it can be quite costly to change the visa type. The hotel is located on its own but you can get a taxi to Taba Heights which is approx £15, this however is the cost for a return journey and the taxi driver we had escorted us around the shops, we then went for something to eat and the taxi driver waited for us, after 4 hours we returned to the hotel and thought that it was definatley value for money. All the staff at the hotel are very friendly, they like to find out about you, where you are from, what you do for a living etc and they are happy to tell you about their lives. The food was very good, however sometimes repetative and a limited menu, it was still enjoyable and if you eat chips you won't go wrong. The private beach is lovely and again very peaceful, there is snorkelling in the shallow waters for everyone to enjoy. The pools at the hotel are clean and the staff that work around them are very helpful, they are always cleaning the pool and its surrounding area, clearing the glasses away etc. I have already suggested this hotel to various friends and family members to visit and will definatley be returning at some point in the future.

Hello im sam im 15 just came back from a holiday to egypt, people say that kids will be bored in this place but it was great. I had the time of my life, lots to do there !!! We stayed one week all inclusive at the sea star, absolutly fantastic holiday.....The best holiday ive ever had to be ohnest and ive been to some nice places.....About The holiday : The plane service was brilliant with XL airways. And remember to take earphones so you can watch the inflight movie, or you will have to pay £2.50. We arrived late evening on saturday, arrived at the airport and had to pay £15 visas to get into the country, so dont forget this. . Dont forget that egypt is a thrid world country. The staff only get like 10p an hour so they relie on tips. But we tipped the staff on the last day. In this area of egypt they love pounds and euros and egyptian pounds. We had a look around the hotel and sat down and had our meal. The meal was nice it is a buffet all the time. Lots to choose from e.g. Rice, Beef, Chips. When you arrive to the hotel they give you orange juice, also at breakfast dont drink it because it gives you a stomache ache and leads to diorreah, lots of us had it,though all the food is fine and absolutly delicious.......... :( The hotel is absolutly beautiful and the area is fantastic. Nothing to complain about. We was with libra and Ingrid our Rep was fantastic, very nice and helpful. There are lots of excursions that are on offer. The hotel itself has two main swimming pools, one childs pool and one heated pool. There is a private beach where we spent most of our time. Also get a pair of beach shoes or water shoes because there is lots of coral on the beach and you can cut your feet very easily, there were four people in one weeks that cut their foot. Make sure before you go you get a snorkel set and a underwater camera, The snorkelling has got the be one of the best places on earth !!!! Amazing. In taba you are no where near the pyramids so dont be dissapointed. Though there are trips there for £185...... The rooms are very nice, in some rooms there are double beds, some kingsize, but we had two singles.Unfortunatly. We just joined them together. If you like football then you can play everyday atr 4.00pm with the staff, they like it when english people play. There are tennis courts that are good, a pool table and a table tennis table, There are three shops on the resort, one which is just a general souvineer shop and another that is a art shop and a general store with very cheap cigarettes, £15 a box, if you want cigarettes dont get them from the airpot when you leave, even though they are £8.50 they are absolutly unsmokable, i think they could be very good fakes.........Also in the general store dont let michelle rip you off with prices he can be expensive. Taba is also a very hot place with temps of 45 degrees plus, so take sun cream..... Other than that they hotel is amazing with fantastic unbelivable views of the sea and the mountains,You can see 3 different countries from the beach.The beach is a 1 minute walk or you can catch the shuttle bus, every hour, the staff are top class, they work 12hour shifts and are always helping, they speak good english and are just legends......... When you leave the hotel you have to check out of your room at 12.00 pm, leave your bags at reception.. And dont pay £20 for the room, you only get it an extra 4 hours so there is no need, and the all inclusive stops at 3.00pm the day you leave. Anyway like i said absolute fantastic relaxing holiday....would definatly go back again and again, we are thinking about book again early next year....Very please.....Highly Recommended !!!! Have a nice time !! Sam Mazzotta

We stayed at the Sol Y Mar on an all inclusive basis, we found both the hotel and its staff very friendly and attentive. Our room was adequate, with a small seperate seating area and satellite TV (including Sky News). With regard to the all inclusive aspect of our stay, it is a little annoying that all drinks are by the glass so this can involve more than one trip to the bar during meal times but there was certainly no problem with ordering more than one drink at a time. The food is good, an excellent choice of salads and at least five different choices for main course but it is not to Michelin three star standards !! But for $379 per person you would not expect it to be. The overall hotel facilities are excellent with two large pools, big enough to have a 'proper' swim and a very well equiped fitness room, which is the equal of any I have seen in a hotel, there is also a tennis court. The hotel is very isolated, at least fifteen minutes drive from Taba Heights, which in itself is just five hotels in a purpose built complex. But this isolation made for one of the most relaxing holidays we have had. We also took the organised trip to Petra, by sea and land (about 4 hours travelling), which was excellent with at least five hours in the ancient city which really made the holiday special, I highly recommend it. Overall an excellent holiday, with extremely friendly people and generally high standards.

A trip advisor member norwich uk. Sol y Mar Sea Star is a lovely place for relaxing and the staff are so friendly and couldn't do enough for you. It was our first time in Egypt and we didn't really know what to expect but it was wonderful, such a clean hotel with a lovely modern furnished bedroom with pool and sea views. Swimming pools were kept spotless and someone was always tidying the gardens. Food choice was not extensive but there was a carvery each night and a barbeque once a week and everything was of good quality. Stayed there All Inclusive for two weeks with husband, daughter, son in law and granddaughter aged 6 months and none of us had any problems with tummy bugs. Went to Eilat by ourselves and my daughter and son in law swam with the dolphins while husband and i took granddaughter to the modern shopping mall. a good time was had by all. We felt safe the whole holiday, loved the Sea Star and would definitely return for another chill out break.

Booked with holidayclick.com, £399 al inc. Flew in with Astraeuss and out with XL. There's only 4 flights per day at TABA so it is the quickest arrival you will ever have! As I do my research before going ANYWHERE, I knew what to expect. It is very quiet, there is NOTHING to do outside of the hotel (apart form walk to the hotel beach) or take a minibus the the Hilton beach. With regards to the Hilton, which is not even finished yet, there is NOTHING to do there either. We were told there were shops and places to eat, errrr no such shops, thank goodness we took our swimstuff and snorkels as that's all there is to do! There is one pub called the Nelson, but that's it. So, back to the hotel, rooms were large, clean and all had a pool or mountain view. The hotel is about 5 years old, so it is getting a little shabby, but hey, it's only a week (I would not recommend two weeks in TABA unless you are writing a book or something)! The food was nice, but not excellent, the staff were really sweet although I am sure they didn't really speak English! The location is pretty remote. You are 15 mins away from Taba Heights where all the big hotels are but even they were dead wuiet. Some people took a taxi there at night but told us not to bother. My BF is a Dive Master, so I joined im on the dive boat (£39 for me). He dived and I snorkelled, I saw LOADS of amazing fish including two massive Eagle rays and some Turtles, wow! Unfortunatley, the day after the trip, I had the worst tummy bug EVER. The hotels ensure their food is thoroughly cooked and washed in fresh water etc but I am sure the boat people don't, so I ate lots of their food and paid for it afterwards with three days of diarrhea and stomach cramps. The night before our PETRA TRIP, I was writhing around in bed sweating and aching all over and on the toilet for most of the night but hey, I am a tough girl and nothing was going to stop me enjoying PETRA. PETRA involves a 6am coach pick up, to the port, wait around for an hour for all the Russians to arrive! Finally head off for a 2 hour boat crossing to Jordan, that was lovely but I slept as I was so ill. Passports taken off you at Jordan! Coach trip 2 hours, nothing to see apart from barren land, so good time to have a nap. Quick coffee break (small coffee cost £1)! A friendly guide walks you through Petra, horses are already paid for, they are well kept and run by "Brook" horse sanctuary. WONDERFUL trip, take lots of photo's (with all that's going on, it won't be long until we can't go there). There's toilets at the bottom of Petra (for those who need it alot, like me)! Five star lunch in the Movenpick - yummmmmmy! Back to Taba for 10pm. We also did the "Desert stars" evening trip. This involved a two hour coach trip and lots of waiting around. Very interesting, nice food, had full moon though so couldn't see much, bit steep at £32 I thought but I'm on hols! All in all a fab holiday, ideal for lovers to spend time relaxing together, not for the party aniamls of this world!! Heather

We stayed in the sea star during 11 Aug and 19 Aug. The week was hard to kill. Boring would be an understatment! The hotel was terrible the service was worse and even worse than that was the food. If boredum could kill you we would have died ! There was nothing to do, there was entertainment 2 evenings well you had to wait up till 10pm and then it was debatable if the acts were considered to be entertaining! I paid for a 4* hotel the rating I would give it would be below a 2* and quite frankley I wouldn't go again even if it was free. Prior to booking I checked out the reviews and if I had saw an honest review like this then I wouldn't have booked so I really hope I have helped someone making a terrible mistake that I have made with my summer holiday 2006. If you are modertately young and have children then don't book this terrible resort!! There is nothing to do, it's out in the sticks and totally isolated by dessert and almost macarbly the only thing you have to look forward to is the disgusting food, the lunch is the same every day the dinner isn't much better, I didn't mention breakfast because it's not worth mentioning yuk! Same old !