Reviews of Cinderella Beach Hotel, Marsa Alam

We were very concerned when we booked this holiday, due to all the bad reviews, but i must say we have had a very enjoyable holiday. The rooms were clean, staff very friendly, plenty of food and drink. You must be aware if you want to go snorkling there is a very strong current and uless you are a strong swimmer i would not advise going into the deep water. If you want a lively nite life then dont go here. If you want a relaxing, quiet holiday, with plenty of sun then i would recommmend going anywhere in marsa alam.

Where to start - this hotel was a complete shambles and had we not been moved to another hotel in the second weekour holiday would have been completely ruined.



There was a major infestation of ants, and other insects, in the room. The air conditioning either didn’t work at all, or was so loud that it was impossible to sleep. Several of the hotel’s other guests took to sleeping by the swimming pool.



The running water was prone to stopping at any given time, and when it did work, the pressure was very low, and there was an awful smell from the plugs and toilet which permeated the room each day.



There were at least two power cuts a day, leaving us with no electricity. The toilet seat was broken when we arrived, and despite us reporting this to reception nothing was done. There were no fittings in the rooms as advertised - no hairdryer, no safe in the room, no iron or board and no remote for the air conditioning.



There was no security at the back of our room - just a very low wall that looked out across the open desert which a child could have easily scaled, and which left us feeling vulnerable and open to burglary.



When it became obvious that a group of us wanted to complain, I enquired if I could use the PC facilities in the lobby. I was told there was no internet access. I asked if it would be possible to fax something instead. I was told that there was an international fax machine but it didn’t let you fax out.



The food was awful - it was of a poor standard, there was never enough to serve all of the guests, and it made both me and my girlfriend ill. We resorted to surviving on bread as there was nowhere else to go such as shops or restaurants.



Following a surprise visit from the travel company's area manager, the kitchen was condemned, the chef was sacked and the lunch that had been prepared was declared unfit for consumption. She also found that the gardens were watered using recycled water from the toilets. The swimming pool was condemned for using inappropriate or unsafe chemicals. Guests were told to stay away from the pool, and staff were told that it needed to be closed for two hours and sorted, but by the next morning, nothing else had been done and other guests continued to use the pool.



All in all - a total shambles. When we booked this trip, we were told that the hotel was four star. However, it could be said that given the examples above, this hotel would barely scrape one star. It could be argued that one gets what one pays for, but as a customer, I have the right to stay in surroundings that are clean, comfortable, and above all, safe. I know this would not have been the case had we stayed on at the Cinderella Beach Hotel.

- To add, many complaints about the beer n drinks being sereved in small glasses, to be far to the staff on this one, if it had been in big ones, u wouldn't be able to drink it, it gets very warm, very quickly, but it was true about running out of wine, this happened on 2 nights & the pepsi was out a couple of days as well.

Well were do I start, we arrived in hotel complex early evening, most of British holiday makers who were already staying here, advised us not to unpack n either be transferred to another hotel or go back home. I now wish we had done one of them.



We were told be the travel agents (Not Thomas Cook), that was a 4+ star hotel, we wouldn't have rated it has a 2 star.



The rooms were cleaned every day, towels etc and the staff are friendly enough, that is where the good points end...



Nearly everyone was ill, the food is terrible, if you like rice n bread you will be ok. the pool is cleaned out.. while people are swimming, the gardens are watered everyday.. with recycled toilet water, try not to imagine the smell in 45 degree heat. The beach is private and very pretty, but do NOT swim in the sea, it goes from o - 80 metres in about 2-3 steps. The beach bars are not in use. We came home Thursday 23/7 and still ill. Although this is a complex there is NOTHING to do, no evening entertainment, unless you can speak German or Italian. We were acutally counting the days to come home. This is run for the German & Italian tourists. We also went on the shopping trip to Quiser, 1 street with a few shops, although the people are friendly, ladies do not go by yourselves. Got to see to believe. Take plenty of books n ipod. U have been warned.. we could have ben transferred but we were only there for the week, oh now we wish we had..

IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND THE FANTASTIC SNORKELLING THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORST HOLLIDAY OF MY LIEF.



THE APARTMENTS ARE BASIC AND CLEAN BUT HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING INSTEAD A FAN THAT IF YOU ARE LUCKY WILL ACTUALLY BLOW COLD AIR.



ALL INCLUSIVE - NOT REALLY JUST POT LUCK

FOOD WAS BASIC AND CATERED FOR THE MORE EASTERN BLOCK COUNTRIES DRINKS WERE NOT CHILLED AND TO SOME EXTENT RESTRICTED. ON SPEAKING TO THE TOUR REP HE ADVISED THAT THE HOTEL WAS BEING SQUEEZED ON PRICE HENCE THEY WERE TRYING TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF DRINKS BEING SERVED. THIS HOWEVER SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN OF THE PAYING CUSTOMER WHO HAS PAID FOR ALL INCLUSIVE. BAR STAFF WHERE OFTEN RUDE AND CHALLENGED YOU IF YOU RETURNED FOR ANOTHER DRINK BUT DID NOT BRING YOUR GLASS WITH YOU (GLASSES WHERE IN EXTREMELY SHORT SUPPLY)



THE HOUSE RODENTS WHERE IMPRESSIVE AND COULD BE SEEN QUITE OPENLY IN THE RESTAURANT AREA.



IN GENERAL A POOR SERVICE AND NOT A FOUR STAR HOTEL.

we went for a week for a lazy week on beach in grass hut every day which beach boys had matresses waiting for us and we found very good they coudnt do enough for us the snorkling was brilliant but you need beach shoes as a lot off rocks and urchins in there rooms were very clean towels grey and shabby but on the budjet they must have they did well as changed daily food was better than expected after reading some reviews bit same most days but lots of fresh veg enough to varie a bit does need air con in reastaraunt and reception but rooms had it ; once they do more improvements the prices will probably reflect this all in all my husband and i had a good week exellent value for the money we spent on it .

Cinderella Beach! - more ugly sister. Was sold this as 4* recently refurbished and upgraded. Rooms, towels grey/ frayed/shabby. Shower fittings/curtain disgusting. Restaurant - one main, b.fast/dinner -not enough fans, very hot and unpleasant. Crockery shabby/chipped, cutlery in short supply mostly. Pretty much the same mediocre food appears at all mealtimes. Beach restaurant - same comments apply. 'Bar' - just a room off restaurant with a counter serving limited supply of drinks - alcohol plus beer/ sprite/coke/fanta which regularly ran out. No ice, short supply of glasses which were sometimes rinsed under tap water before refilling, or refilled without washing even if drink was changed.. Did not see pool cleaned in 1st four days there. Hygiene is really poor all round.Reef dangerously difficult to access for snorkelling which was main purpose of trip - no pontoon. Told rep I wanted to move - this seemed difficult to do but eventually he managed to get us other hotel for three nights for end of week (own cost). In meantime during early hours of night three sister and I became violently ill - lasted days - expect maybe a gyppy tum sometime during trip (usually sorted with Imodium) but have never had anything like that. lost money due to cancelled trips. Had 6 previous trips to Egypt all fantastic. would never return to C.B.

the hotel just makes a 3 star and is not a 4 star as we were told it was the food was ok and hot if it was served inside but if they serve it near the beach where it can be very windy as you can guess its cold and the beer is served with big heads and half full they run out of beer some nights and can run out of vodka at 9.30 the beach is nice but not user friendly in all you get what you pay for but if i was going again i would go to another hotel , ps there is no to go outside this hotel only sand for miles

We got a very good deal for our holiday and loved every minute. The weather was great, staff were fantastic and made the best out of bad situations and were very friendly. Rooms were very clean, food was good, no Pork or Lamb though but plenty of hot food. There are two resturants one in use at a time dependant on weather which one was open. There is one main bar, that is open from 9am till 12pm and a beach bar that is open for soft drinks and tea and coffee. The animation team MoMo and his assistant Ahmed tried really hard to entertain us and were the most friendly people you will ever meet. We plan to go back every year, ideal for a base for snorkelling and diving, the hotel is always being improved, if you have a suggestion on how things should change, they go out of there way to change things. This hotel is a 3 star and you get what you pay for, but in our opinion just fantastic!!!

Have to admit I wondered what I'd let myself in for when I read the review from November but was pleasantly surprised! The hotel is very nice, staff were overall very attentive and as it wasn't full there was no problem with things such as sunbeds.

The food was fine-not haute cuisine by any means but for what we paid we were quite happy. The free bar included beer, wine and spirits-and although the measures were small there was no limit on how many drinks you could have.

It really is very quiet-and there is nowhere else to go apart from the hotels a taxi ride away on either side-but if you want to chill it's ideal.

The day trip to Luxor was fab-but very long with a pick up at 05.15 arriving back at 23.00 but well worth it. The chef even had food waiting for us when we returned!

So if you want a quiet holiday with a beautiful beach and clear blue sea then this is ideal.

Have had holidays in Egypt many times without a hint of a complaint, but our recent visit to the Cinderella hotel breaks the mould.



This was supposed to be a fully inclusive deal. What a laugh a minute that was! Drinks served in kiddie cups. Wine served in shot glasses. On 3 evenings "wine ran out!" before 8pm. On 2 days we were unable to even get soft drinks served before mid day.. They are supposed to be available all day and night long.



Food selection here was poor. Generally about 4 choices of meal type...you need to get in early as unlike most quality hotels, when the food gets low there is no replenishment...what didn't get eaten each day appeared the next day and the day after that in a new guise!



We became very attached to the 3 barracuda that was offered on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun.



The pasta and rice dishes most certainly were just being reheated each day! My wife finished the holiday with food poisoning.



The staff in general at this hotel were rude, unless you were Italian or German. Lots of Russians at this hotel as well...normally the staff earn their tips. At this hotel they base their level of service on what you tip them in advance. English tourists seemed generally unwelcomed and we were made to feel very uncomfortable during our stay!



The rooms here were ok and a nice size, however the bathrooms were generally run down. The showers featured a sunken shower tray and just a hanging curtain.. Great care needed when using the shower - getting in and out of it and generally very easy to slip in the shower itself - shower fittings, electrical plugs, and lights were loose or hanging/pushed back into walls.



Our room was serviced and cleaned every day, but others in our party had a hit and miss service.. Take your own toilet paper.



Definitely not a hotel for families with kids...



The pool at the hotel was great and cleaned every day.. Thankfully as we witnessed another guest (east European) gobbing into the pool!.. Lovely eh?



Entertainment at this hotel is nonexistent. Barring watching the incompetence of the staff.



The complex shuts down at 10pm and there is nothing outside of the hotel.. The hotel boasts pool table and table tennis...LOL.. Do I need to say any more?



Do yourself a favour and avoid this hotel like the plague.. There are better choices at similar prices nearby.. Carnelia, Arkassa, Utopia..just to mention a few



Hotel good points - not many!

Although the hotel was small and friendly, the all inclusive package was a joke. The bar did not open until 12.00 and closed at 10.00pm. The first night I had 3 (very small) glasses of white wine and was then told they had run out. Next day after 4/5 very small glasses of wine they said they had run out. I found the manager who said "impossible" and then found some.



The staff were then not quite so friendly as they had a bit of a telling off. Food was very much the same every day. The hot food cooked in front of you by the chef, alternated between spaghetti one day, pasta shells the next. Quite a few Russians staying at the hotel, who were very rude, but obviously tipped the staff on arrival as the service they received was very much better than us 7 english!



This is my 4th visit to Egypt; all having been all inclusive, if this had been my first visit don't think I would have gone back. Definitely not the best.

We spent a week at this small friendly hotel. The rooms were spacious and clean and the housekeeping staff could not do enough for you. The food was varied and even being a veggie I always found something to eat. There was one bar that also doubled as a disco and entertainment area at night. The beach and pool are all within walking distance of the rooms.



If you walk onto the beach and turn right you will find the only neighbouring hotel. They have a security guard on the beach but he will let you in if you are going to the scuba diving centre. The diving centre speak fluent English and is run but a German lady. They do a number of boat trips each day and you just add your name on the board if there is space and off you go. They also have the most fantastic house reef. You kit up at the centre and it is driven to the pier. It is a wall dive that had loads of marine life and goes down to about seventy metres.



For a cheap hotel is was a great break away, there is not much to do but if you are looking for a week of doing nothing in the sun and diving this is a perfect place. Just one tip is to buy your visa from the official desk at the airport as the holiday rep attempted to charge me double having said it was the same price.

Absolutely lovely hotel, very very quiet area just right for a relaxing week of sun and snorkelling.



The food was varied always hot and plenty of it. The hotel is based on its own private beach from where the snorkelling was fantastic.



Staff very very very helpful, the usual guests are Italian, so the hotel entertainment is keyed up for the Italian but the hotel made us feel very welcome.



Excellent value for money.