Sofitel Taba Heights Hotel

11 readers found this review helpful

My partner and I have just returned from a wonderful 14 day holiday at the Sofitel. I could not fault one aspect of this holiday. The staff literally could not do enough for you. The hotel and the grounds are kept immaculate. The weather was fantastic...the list is endless!!
The hotel is situated directly on the beach and has stunning views of the sea and neighbouring countries. All rooms have a pool and sea view. We had no complaints about the choice of food, but if you fancy a change of scenery, we would highly recommend 'Al Frego', the mexican restaurant in the centre of Taba, which is a 10 minute, free bus ride on the "Taff Taff". Here you will also find a supermarket, shops, other restaurants and a pharmacy for those with a weak stomach!!
We chose Taba for a lovely relaxing holiday and we certainly were not disappointed. We would highly recommend the V.I.P cruise, which gave us the opportunity to leave the hotel for the day where you sail around various points in Taba and snorkle. We were very lucky that we got to see a SHARK!! Brilliant!! U are also provided with a wonderful BBQ lunch and drinks all day. You do not have to lift a finger, just simply sunbathe for those of you that are a little less adventurous!
Best holiday we have ever had!!!

7 readers found this review helpful

Just got back from sofitel taba heights and what a lovely place this is .If you want a chillout holiday with sun this is the place .staff all very freindly and geniune as well.all incluisive food was bit repetive but you will never go hungry and the puddings to die for.
We had our 14 year old with us and was bit board at nights .
Pools was very clean and beach was on our door step.
If you havnt been to egypt before and a main land spain person egyption hotels are a class above, value for money you will find it hard to beat.

8 readers found this review helpful

Me and my partner have just returned from our two week holiday at the sofitel. Before booking our holiday we read all of the watchdog reviews and felt really confident that sofitel would be a perfect choice. The reviews are correct and our holiday was completely relaxed and we loved sofitel.
The hotel was currently undergoing an extention and there is now a new block of rooms, just to make sure you are all aware, these new rooms do not have a sea view. However, they do have a really good view and brilliant access to a new pool. By the time we left the new block was virtually complete.
When we arrived at the hotel we were checked in really fast and taken straight to our rooms. Our flight had been delayed from Manchester and the hotel had kept the main restaurant open so we were able to have something to eat when we arrived.
We were extremely worried about the food before we went as we had heard alot of stories about food related illnesses in Egypt. In the whole of our stay we never heard of anyone becoming ill, the food was always throughly cooked and presented to a high standard.
The only down side about the food is that it was too fancy for us. This may sound weird as we were staying at a 5* hotel, but as fussy eater it was often hard to find something other than bread and pasta to eat. However, the pastas are lovely and are cooked to order before you and are lovely. During the day pizzas are available from 12-5 and these are all cooked fresh to order.
The hotel staff are fantastic, they are more than helpful and extremely polite. Your first impressions of egyptian men will be given at the airport when they expect you to given them £20 because they lifted your suitcases onto the coach, we gave them a smaller tip and said it was all we had. But this is the exception rather than the rule, all of the locals we encountered in taba were very freindly, and not constantly trying to sell you something like in some other countries.
Our first weeks stay was not during the school holidays and sun beds were easy to gain, however the hotel became extremely busy in the second week and people were often having to accept beds on the beach away from the pool and the bar. the recreational staff will reserve you sunbeds so you dont need to get up early to save them, we gave them £1 a day to do this and they were happy to help.
From reading the reviews we were ok with the fact that there would be very little to do, however we did expect the hotel bar and entertainment to be better than it was. The atmosphere was not inviting and alot of people were in bed/in their rooms at 2230.
The hotel also kept having power cuts due to the strong winds, these would take place during your meals and mainly at night as winds do pick up. They usually lasted around 10 minutes.
The location of the hotel is fantastic. We had amazing views of the gulf of aquaba, and could see Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia all from our balcony! The reefs were beautiful and the snorkelling was amazing. Please follow our advise and buy the snorkelling gear before you get there as one set cost £30 without flippers. The shop at the hotel is very small and there is a small super market in the town, these two shops will only provide you with basics but they were handy from buying snacks such as crisps for your room (the mini bar only supplies a bottle of water per person per day).

Our stay was completly relaxed and we definatley would recommend the softiel to anyone.
Excursions;
Cairo by coach(£85pp) by air (£169)-must obtain visa at airport on arrival to Egypt £15pp
jerusalem (£99pp+border fee £14)
Petra(£130 +£10 border fee)
Quads (from £36pp for an hour)-amazing
St Catherines Monastery (£32pp)
Cruise (from £39pp)
Eillate fun day and dolphin swim (£65pp + £35 to swim with dolphins + £14 border fee)
Star and dinner (£35pp)
Must excursions require coach travel from 1 hour upto 5 for Cairo.

2 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from a two week total chill out -- fantastic --
the 5 hour flight on EXL was very good with lots of leg room in all seats. The airport at Taba is very basic, the staff were very helpfull in making sure everyone knew what was expected and all travel documents were thoroughly checked.
It was a great pity that we arrived in the dark as the coach trip in convoy down through the mountains to Taba Heights would have been spectacular, however the return trip at dusk went some way to make up for this, the colours of the rocks etc was stunning.
Check in at the hotel was very easy and quick, we had a standard room that was on third floor in block 2. Huge super king size bed, massive balcony, lots of wardrobe and drawer space. We did have to call housekeeping for coat hangers and they were delivered to the room within 10 minutes. All rooms have sea view and we watched the twinkle of lights across the water from Jordan every evening.
Being all inclusive can sometimes be a worry, i.e. what if we didn't like the food!! We were very pleased to find a wide range of cuisine from tasty pasta cooked whilst you watched to spicy mexican and aromatic arabian dishes, there was something for everyone. The omlette chef surpassed himself every breakfast time keeping 6 pans on the go with all sorts of omlettes and easy over eggs.
The only down side was that the main restaurant for AI was not really big enough for the number of guests and became very busy with 300 people all trying to eat in the same two hour period. They are about to complete an extension to this which is hoped will alleviate the problem but they are opening a new wing of the hotel October so with the extra guests I don't think it will.
The 5 hotels in the area have a 'Dine Around' system where you can go eat in another hotel taking with you a credit voucher given by the hotel you are staying in and you pay the extra amount yourself. It is well worth it just to have a night out and see what another hotel is like.
My husband was ill for 24 hours in the middle of the holiday and I can't speak highly enough about the Dr and the medical treatment he was given. The Dr is on 24 hour call and the hotel has it's own 'clinic' for treatments. For two IVs, 5 injections and medication to take afterwards until he could see his own doctor at home the total cost was £45 stirling - very cheap.
All the hotel staff were very friendly and helpfull nothing as too much trouble and a few tips works wonders. The waiter Ibrahim was fanastic in always ensuring that we had a glass of wine at dinner without us having to ask.
The snorkelling is fantastic you just have to swim off the beach or piers to see all sorts of beautifully coloured fish and coral. The Sofitel has it's own pier and so does the Hyatt.
All in all an excellent place to 'chill' and yes we will be going again next year.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just returned from a fab weeks holiday of total relaxation at the Sofitel in Taba Heights. From reading other reviews before leaving, we were a little worried about what to expect in terms of the food etc particularly when you pay the costs for an All Inclusive holiday. However we needn't have been concerned !
Taba Airport is very basic and remember to have a 50p or £1 for the baggage men who put your cases on the coach as otherwise you have to stand to the side and wait until they have sorted everyone else first. The convey through the mountains is fine and not half as bad as we had expected.
The hotel itself is really lovely and the rooms are nicely furnished. However be careful about what is left in your room at the time that the cleaners come in as they tend to throw items away that aren't rubbish such as our tablets for the bug plug-in even though these had been left on the side. Luckily we were not affected or bitten by any bugs anyway!
The food is very good and although the dining area can get packed at times, the staff are very prompt and clean the tables very quickly. There is always a choice of several main meals with potatoes, veg and rice twice a day. I can understand that if you were there for two weeks it would get repetitive but for a week it was fine and you do always have the option of paying extra to eat elsewhere on site or at the other hotels. They do a basic BBQ twice a week in addition to the evening meals with koftas and chicken for example but again very well cooked and no issues with the ice or the salads/fruit.
We found that the hotel staff were perhaps a little pushy at meal times about people attending the Bedouin night which is held on a Thursday at a cost of $36 per adult and half price for children on the beach in front of the hotel. We did sign up and whilst the food was good, the service was slow and for the money it would probably have been better to join the groups of people who had come down from the hotel to sit on the grass and watch the dancing for free.
The staff at the hotel work really hard to keep everything clean as well as working very long hours but certain staff always had a smile and not necessarily in the hope of getting tips ! Mohammed who looks after the towels and sunbeds is happy to put out towels for you in a certain spot for the length of your stay either around the pool or by the beach.
The kids club was handy but we had concerns that although we signed to say that our 7yr old daughter was not allowed to leave the club on her own, the lady who runs the kids club didn't seem to have much control over what the children were doing and where they were. We also found it strange that when the children were brought round to the main swimming pools to play as part of the clubs daily activities that she would disappear to get towels and to get changed whilst leaving the kids in the water. Also leaving a child queuing for an ice-cream whilst taking the others back to the club on the other side of the main hotel buildings.
Longwood Holidays were very good and whilst we didn't go on any additional trips only being there for a week, we would certainly book through them again. We arranged with the hotel for a late check-out on the day that we flew back although this can only be arranged the day before as they need to check availability and the cost was $25.
A really nice and very relaxing time - Would certainly go back there again.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just returned from a fabulous relaxing weeks holiday.
please ignore comments from Mr Malone - totally ridiculous - if you do your research before you go you should know what to expect!
5 hour flight therefore worth considering if you generally go to the Canaries for a winter break.
Taba Airport - very new and very basic - passports are checked thoroughly and stamped so there can be a delay passing through passport control - no conveyor belt on the other side.
Coaches then proceed in convoy to the resort - 40 min journey. Take travel sickness pills if you are a delicate passenger as the road is very windy through the mountains.
Hotel - check in is very quick and you are taken to your room - your luggage is delivered about 10 mins later. We had a standard room - all are sea facing, huge bed, TV , mini bar [ empty due to all inc apart from 2 bottles of water left daily], good size wardrobe [ take extra hangers], bathroom with large shower - no bath.
room cleaned daily
facilities - lovely pools, towels provided - beds will be reserved by staff for you, icecreams , drinks, pizzas and pasta on tap!
very enthusiastic animators - aqua aerobics, volleyball, basket ball etc
food - always found something to eat - cakes fantastic!
the gym isn't huge and the air conditioning is a bit poor - if you like to jog they have laid a jogging path along the sea shore - its worth a go
snorkelling fantastic - walk to the Hyatt and use the jetty its well worth it -
the sea is very safe for children and non- swimmers as it is shallow for a good way and the fish can still be seen
had a round of golf - breathtaking scenery - the staff are very helpful and drove around offering us drinks and provided ice cold flannels when we finished. if you are a non golfer try booking a lesson or going to the free trials on sundays at 4 - its a great opportunity in magnificent surroundings.
the staff can't do enough to help and never ask for tips but you should tip the ones who have been particularly helpful - nothing much - take dollar bills its really appreciated and they work very long days and leave their families for a month at a time before they have time off yet they always smile and their english is great!
all in all if you are looking for a total chillout its the place for you - the sea, sun, views and a couple of vodkas are all you need to feel totally refreshed!

1 reader found this review helpful

just got back from taba feeling totally relaxed the hotel is spotlessly clean the staff carnt do enough for you the beach and snorkelling fantastic food good you can always find something you like had a massage that was very good shuttle bus takes you to the three corners were you can do some shopping or have a meal we even got to watch a football match at the tandori weather brilliant

A wonderful, quiet holiday. The hotel was delightful, staff very professional and friendly, obviously very well trained. The food was always buffet-style but to a high standard. Weather was a bit variable but generally good - would have been even better with less wind. Sofitel has the best arrangement for snorkeling and the fish (and octopus) were fabulous - never saw less than 200+ and saw more than 20 types each dive, always something new. Day trip to Petra in Jordan was expensive but fascinating. Very high levels of security around the hotels. Don't go unless you can make your own entertainment.
Make sure you book your transfers to the hotel before leaving the UK!

1 reader found this review helpful

Having just returned from the Sofitel Taba Heights Hotel i thought i would share my views with you.
The airport, being a military site, was not exactly the most welcoming the arrivals hall was a bit of a scrum but here is a tip if you are not planning on leaving the resort then you don't need a visa, also, the airport workers are helpful but do keep demanding for sterling as tips. The transfer is about 40 minutes long. On the return there is little duty free shop and also some where to get crisps sweets and drinks but very basic and a little bit primitive.
The hotel reception were great they processed our check in very quickly and we were shown to our room by a member of staff and ten minutes later our cases were delivered to our room.
The room itself was fantastic the wardrobe space is bigger than what we have at home!the bathroom had a fantastic walk in shower, and the force of the water from the shower head was better than our power shower. We had a patio area and grass outside our room with stunning views of the sea and views of Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
We had 2 double beds as we had our 8 year old daughter with us. The room was cleaned everyday as was the bed linen towels are changed at your request. The tap water is safe enough for teeth brushing but not for drinking but you do get sealed bottled water everyday in your fridge.
There are 3 pools one sal****er, 1 cold water and 1 warm water the towel attendant was helpful and for a small tip would save you a bed if you wanted. The beach is fantastic there are these brilliant willow type wind breakers that are real sun traps.
As this was our first all inclusive we were a bit sceptical but on the whole the food was good OK they are not going to be able to please every single person but there was plenty for everyone. I would say that breakfast was the most repetitive, though i would recommend the made to order omelet, cooked in front of you. The lunches had plenty of salad and different accompaniments, they did great soup and had hot choices. The evening menu was theme related ranging from french to oriental. The dessert counter had a lot of choice. There was also fresh fruit. I normally steer clear of seafood and fish but i ate it and this was the first foreign holiday where i haven't had an upset stomach.
If you are peckish in between meals the pizza from the snack bar are really tasty. For children and adults alike the free ice cream is rather moorish.
Drinks served with the meals are fruit juices, tea, coffee, named fizzy drinks. During lunch and tea they serve red,rose and white wine which is more than drinkable and beer which my husband says was not bad at all. You could also try the local alcohol cocktails - worth a try! There are sterile water containers around the complex which are fine for refilling bottles etc.
I cant really comment on the evening entertainment as having our daughter with us we never made it past 9.30!!!!
The kids club although we never used it was very popular as we were there for half term.
We took the courtesy bus (TafTaf) to the town the Mario market, which was cheaper than the hotel shop but the shops on a whole were disappointing.
I would advise you to buy snorkeling gear before you go as they are pricey in resort my husband went a few times and says it was amazing.
All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our week in the Sofitel would we return, yes we would, would we recommend it to people, yes if you want a quite holiday , just sitting back and relaxing than this is the holiday for you.

we returned from a wonderful week at the sofitel taba heights in january and have booked again for august. we have never wanted to return to the same hotel before.
we are taking the grandchildren this time.
an excellent chill out holiday