Reviews of Sofitel Taba Heights Hotel, Taba, Egypt

Arriving at Taba's military...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss E Mellish

Comments:

Arriving at Taba's military airport we were pleasantly surprised to see that we were the only flight arrival.



Passport control was quick and easy (you can get cheap visa's here if you want to go to Cairo etc...)And there's only one carousel so baggage is easy to find!



The transfer to the hotel took about half an hour and there is a passport check-point as you enter (and leave) the Taba resort.



After checking in at the hotel we were escorted to our room & our bags followed about 10 minutes later. Although it was dark (at 6pm!) we could see some lovely views from the balcony across the pool area and out to the Red Sea.



We found the La Sultana bar and then found that a £1 tip really does go a long way with the waiters, and ensures your drinks are continually renewed throughout the evening!



Sakara is the beer on tap which is acceptable and the is a limited cocktail menu (the pina colada's are lovely!!)



The buffet restaurant has theme nights every night and the food is of a good standard.



The a la carte restaurant (part of a "Dine Around" scheme which allows you to try restaurants in the other hotels) is quite expensive, especially as you have to buy your drinks despite being all inclusive.



The snorkelling is amazing especially around the hotels' own beach and it’s as good as you'll see. We took a boat trip to snorkel and (although it rained a little and was cloudy) what we saw was no better than what we had for free at the beach!!



The hotel grounds are beautiful and the whole place is spotless. The beach is very comfortable and there are windbreakers if you get down there handy. There are 3 pools - 1 freshwater, 1 salt water & 1 heated, plus 2 Jacuzzi’s set around the pretty pool area.



There is very little to do in the resort although a shuttle bus will take you around the hotels & up to a couple of souvenir shops & bars.



The golf course is well kept but quite difficult. If you do want to play, remember to take your own glove, balls & tees as none of these are provided & are expensive to buy there!



The evening entertainment was minimal with a bit of dancing by the hotel staff, but they also have belly & traditional dancing and karaoke. Pool tables are available at a small charge & the belly dancing lessons around the pool are really fun!!



The full body Thai massage topped off my week of relaxation & was totally worth £30. We had a great week & would recommend it to anyone who wants a quiet break.



Trips are available to Cairo, Jordan & Israel & perhaps next time we'll get to try some of them!

Just returned from 2 week...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr N Smith

Comments:

Just returned from 2 week holiday at the Sofitel (16 Feb - 2 Mar).



We went with our 2 year old daughter. Had a fantastic time.



Weather - Excellent, a few windy days but still very hot



Food - Very international but very good, we used the dine around (discount from other restaurants within the area) for the Pub Tandoori and the Sofitel own Japanese. Both are highly recommended.



Staff - The best ever, at first you feel awkward, asking yourself why are all these people being nice to me, what do they want, RELAX they are JUST being nice



Hotel General - clean, new well designed and laid out.



Will definitely be booking to return later in the year.



If you have small children they are well looked after by the staff, nothing is too much.



Abdul the head chef cooked chips for my daughter every night, especially for her. Any thing you want just ask and they will make it for you.



Entertainment - This was as expected, just enough to keep you looking towards the stage, but that’s what we expected. We run a hotel in Blackpool and just wanted to relax and that’s what we did.



100% Recommended.

Just got back from Sofitel, Taba...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S M Reid

Comments:

Just got back from Sofitel, Taba Heights. It was fantastic. Such good value for money!



Our weather from the 2nd Feb- 9th February 2007 was not brilliant but it did not spoil our stay.



The hotel is beautiful. My husband and I had a wonderful time. The staff can't do enough for you.



We intend to go back.



Not sure I want to tell more people about this place, I would like to keep it to myself!

We got home from Taba and the...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs B Gibbins

Comments:

We got home from Taba and the Sofitel, last night, and I just felt the need to let people know my opinions on this hotel and the area.



I took 2 special needs children, and a third child (my boyfriend). We had an absolute blast. Ignore the comments that you get on some reviews and make your own opinions when you get there.



Service - Excellent



Rooms - Excellent



Staff - Excellent



Entertainment - A little lacking but it is considered winter (plus we didn’t need it)

Excursions - Great but expect to spend money. It is a holiday after all.



Food - At every meal I could easily find something I liked. Plenty of choice for ALL worldwide clientele. So don't expect 500 British meals to suit you. Expect them to account for ALL people.



The only things we really considered lacking, was as I said above, the Evening entertainment. It didn't start until 10pm (which was an attempt to keep you in the bar past the 11pm All Inclusive deadline) and was very scarce. We as a family didn’t need it though, so wasn't really a worry.



There are no facilities in the room for self service. E.g. kettle. So take a travel kettle. Also, you cannot actually purchase drinks from the on site shop. They are not allowed to sell them.



This is to encourage people to pay for drinks outside of the All Inclusive times of 11am-11pm. Although you could get drinks if you went into the restaurant outside of these times, e.g. 6am at early breakfast starting times.



This really is a struggle to find fault though. You could buy drinks (soft drinks etc) outside of the hotel at the Three Corners shopping area and take them into the hotel. (Which we were told wasn’t allowed at the other hotels in the resort).



You regularly were stocked with a LARGE supply of water in the room (each day) and the fridge in the room was overflowing. We have every intentions of going back, with or without the children. Absolutely stunning resort.



It is never going to be a "get up and go" place, from what we could tell, but, if you made it known you wanted to "get up and go" the staff were more than willing to fulfil your needs.



Absolutely fantastic!

Overall a wonderful holiday....

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Libra Holidays

Submitted By:

Mrs J Dawson

Comments:

Overall a wonderful holiday. Taba itself is very peaceful. All the hotels in this resort are fairly new & therefore offer good facilities.



The Sofitel itself was excellent value for money. The room was beautiful, with a huge double bed, walk in shower & TV with about 5 English channels. The bedding is changed daily & the room was always cleaned well.



The food was excellent, much better than I expected with service to match. They had a theme each day, so for example French day offered predominately french cuisine.



The Hotel had three pools & its own private beach area.



The weather was a little windy at times, but the beach offered sunbeds with wind shelters, so you could still relax in the glorious sun!



There are small jetties from the beach into the sea in order to gain easy access to the reefs, for some excellent snorkeling.



Would fully recommend if you are looking for a quiet sun holiday, but night life is minimal in this resort & the entertainment in the hotel itself was pretty basic, although the staff are very friendly & the service was fantastic.

Just returned from Christmas in...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs RL Chapman

Comments:

Just returned from Christmas in the Sofitel Hotel.



Wow, best holiday we have ever had! The hotel really went to town celebrating Christmas. Every palm tree had lights, there were Christmas trees in every restaurant and bar - it was fab!



The food was absolutely superb. Lots of choice and really delicious - and as for the desserts - heaven! Even my finicky 6yr found plenty to eat, although I must apologise if there is a shortage of chocolate ice cream when you go - all inclusive is the best invention ever, when you have kids.



The staff were amazing, the hours they work and yet they always had a smile on their faces. Nothing was too much trouble and we felt like royalty at the way they looked after us.



Mohammad in the restaurant was great. From picking flowers for my daughters every morning to making sure our glasses were never empty, he was exceptional! Fouad in the Sultanna bar (aka my son-in-law to be, he bought my six year old for 50 camels!) came every morning to see us and really looked after us, yet again with alcohol! My one tip is to take a little blonde 6 year old with you - Fabulous!



The kids club were great, they did a show in the bar on Christmas day with the children - it was amazing, 4 costume changes and the choreography was awesome!



Try the aqua aerobics, its great fun and the dancing at the end is a real laugh. We made a lot of new friends in Taba, tourists and staff alike and none of us wanted to leave - we got a lot of kisses!



I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to completely relax and be pampered. We are already booking next Christmas at the Sofitel. Roll on December!

The resort is a new one,...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Patpayton

Comments:

The resort is a new one, although the hotels were all built and running but the golf course was still very much in the making. The resort is small with a free buggy ride to take you to other hotels and the diving and activity centre.



There is little to do in the evening, any entertainment is centred around the hotels so not a holiday for those looking for a lively, 'fun' time.



Having said that, we had a lovely relaxing holiday. The pools were nice and there was plenty of room; no fighting for sun beds. The hotel is right on a sandy beach with big umbrellas and windbreaks, not that we had any wind.



The beach is on the reef and the water is shallow enough to stand in for quite a way so safe for children. The snorkelling is excellent and my husband went diving and was impressed by the professionalism.



There was a good choice of food, usually well cooked. Maybe not up to 5* standards but perfectly good. The all inclusive goes from 11 am to 11 pm but the range of snacks available out of mealtimes was very limited. The attention from staff was excellent but never intrusive and they were unfailingly polite.



We went on the Bedouin Feast trip which was OK but the trip to Petra in Jordan was worth every penny. It is a long day and the walking down, and especially up the gorge in Petra is tiring and anyone with mobility difficulties would be well advised to think hard before booking.



The weather in October was hot, but certainly not oppressive and warm enough to sit outside in light clothing in the evening.



If you are looking for a relaxing time, this could be the holiday for you. My children are now adult but I would think that older children and teenagers would find the range of activities limited and get bored, so I would probably recommend it to couples.

A few days ago my boyfriend and...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs K L Thomas

Comments:

A few days ago my boyfriend and I returned from 2 fabulous weeks at the Sofitel in Taba Heights. Having read some reviews, we were not quite sure what to expect but I'm pleased to say that all my hopes of a great relaxing holiday came true.



If you don't like the weather too hot, then this isn't really the place for you because Egypt is one hot place! Throughout our holiday, the temperature didn't ever go below 43 degrees and even at night in August, it is 30 degrees with extremely hot winds. Having said that everywhere is air conditioned and the tan you get is great.



Our holiday was brilliant. The hotel is spotless and the attention to every detail is superb. Our room was lovely over looking the sea and I have never slept in such a huge bed before (not to be missed!) All the staff couldn't do more for you and when they earn so little but are so helpful and courteous, you really don't begrudge them hearty tips which they really appreciate.



Again, we had read some poor reviews about the food and how the all inclusive guests were treated badly and slowly when waiting for drinks; this is totally untrue. There is something for everyone by way of the food and being a French hotel; in the main the food especially the pastries were excellent. It doesn't serve pizza and chips and frankly we were pleased about that. There is an Asian restaurant which you have to pay for and it is expensive but it is worth it.



We had a lovely Thai meal and we really enjoyed it. The drinks waiters whether in the restaurants, bar or by the pool serve you quickly and are really friendly. We made friends with the two Mohammeds' in the bar and we never had to ask for a drink because as soon as our glasses were empty, they were promptly replaced. They were a scream.



The comments about the beach are unfounded. There is a lovely sandy beach with plenty of loungers and parasols and as you enter the beach there are pebbles but because of the coral you need to have something on your feet anyway. The hotel shop sells diving shoes which cost £4 and are a bargain as well as essential for snorkelling. The coral and snorkelling are superb in Egypt and everyone has to do it. We hired some kit for about £5 for two sets all day; great value!



We didn't venture to Cairo as it is too far away but we did have a day snorkelling on a boat trip which was out of this world. I have never seen such underwater sights and fish and I strongly recommend everyone to try it. We also did a double parasail too which was awesome. Again not to be missed.



The pools too were fabulous with plenty of parasols and loungers and the recreation team will put your towels down for you so no problems there either.



This holiday was fantastic and well worth the money that we paid. The only grumble that we had was unfortunate. It just so happened that in the middle part of our holiday, the hotel was very busy with visiting Israeli's because it was their bank holidays.



There were many families and most of the Brits got pretty tired of their bad manners, rudeness and eating habits which were appalling. After a while many of us were fed up with their pushing into queues and greediness. Even the Egyptian staff moaned how badly the Israeli's treated them.



But apart from that, the holiday was excellent and we got the complete rest that we so badly needed and the place is highly secure for anyone who is worried about going there. Even having satellite TV with great films and Premiership football matches was a bonus that we chose to watch sometimes. We would really like to go back so I hope other people will choose to go there to experience what we did.

I've just returned from my...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Longwood

Submitted By:

Not Specified

Comments:

I've just returned from my holiday on Monday. I booked two weeks at the Sofitel, with an All-Inclusive board basis. When we arrived, we were taken to our room and my boyfriend and I were really pleased with the standard of the room, not to mention the beautiful view from our balcony. It was very spacious and you have your own little safe, which comes in handy to put away your passport, etc.



When we booked our holiday, we specifically asked about the beach as one of the main things I look for when booking is a hotel on the beach front with a beautiful sandy beach. However, I was quite disappointed with the beach. The hotel is on the beachfront, however there is no sand! It is all pebbles. I went in the sea once with my flip flops on but could still feel the pebbles. Even when you go further into the sea, there are still many pebbles. We were very disappointed with what we were told about the beach and what we got. We were told the beach was 'beautiful. The sand is gorgeous. There are no stones or pebbles'. If you are looking for a sandy beach and you like sitting on the beach than at the pool side, then this is not the resort for you.



The food was nice - I can't believe how much I ate! At meal times, you had to wait quite some time for your drinks but we ordered 4 cokes to save us from waiting.



Daytime entertainment is good - u've got belly dancing on the beach (but I didn't go due to the state of the beach), you've got aqua aerobics in the swimming pool, volley ball on the beach, etc. At night time, they call in professional dancers, entertainers, etc. and this usually lasts about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Then the DJ starts from about 11:15pm - 12:30am.



Overall, the hotel was beautiful; it's just a shame about the beach. Taba heights is a very quiet resort with just hotels. There are no night clubs so you have to make do with the hotel entertainment. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful and relaxing holiday with nothing to do but chill, then this is the place for you.

I took my Husband and two...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs M Cunningham

Comments:

I took my Husband and two daughters along with my Grandson and my eldest daughter's boyfriend for a week of relaxation to celebrate 25 years of married bliss. I paid extra for the all inclusive deal so I would not have any worries whilst basking in the sun. The weather was beautiful, so too the 5 star hotel.



Staff friendly and only too willing to help. We could not understand why they were not in your face all the time, however it was not until nearing the end of our holiday that we discovered if you wanted service, you was to beckon the waiter/waitress over to you. We will know for next time. Scenery, location and rooms beautiful. No there was not much to do, but that’s what I went for the peace, quiet and relaxation. The snorkeling by far the best I have ever done, I don't think anything can beat it. The sea warm and clean.



The beach area was a little disappointing as I thought the sand would be softer, like in the Caribbean, but still nice. The mount Sinai mountains breath taking. We did not venture out of the hotel much because we didn't want to. My husband and I plan to return to Taba heights towards the end of the year for some more peace and relaxation. If you love beauty, the sea, fish and coral this is the place for you.



A big thank you to all the staff at the Sofitel for making our stay so pleasurable. This is a 5 star hotel and believe me I have stayed in 5 star plus and they do not compare.

Two weeks in this lovely hotel...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Peltours

Submitted By:

Debi

Comments:

Two weeks in this lovely hotel was exactly what the doctor ordered! A most relaxing, enjoyable stay in a very spacious and well looked after hotel.



The snorkeling is not to be missed, neither is the fabulous trip to Petra in Jordan - definitely the two highlights of the holiday.



We also did the Jerusalem trip, which although a very long day, would have been a very interesting trip if it hadn't been conducted at the speed of light! (Due to having to catch up after a hold up at the border because of people with temporary passports and Egyptian surnames - say no more).



Going back to the Jordan trip - I cannot speak highly enough of the Jordanian people and the tour guide Hussein. An amazing day in every respect, the scenery is just spectacular and has to be seen to be believed! I know where my next holiday is likely to be anyway...



Perhaps the Egyptian's could take a leaf out of the Jordan Tourist guide book and treat their guests a bit more like they do! To explain...



Although the hotel generally, the bedrooms, the beach, the gardens, pool etc are all fabulous - but I'm afraid the Sofitel really lets itself down badly with some members of their staff. Namely the bar staff, restaurant staff and the management - trying to get a glass of water or a coffee in the restaurant was not easy!



Unfortunately with the hotel offering half board and all inclusive, the AI guests were left feeling a bit like second class citizens. This was felt by many other people we spoke to whilst there - waiters would walk past the table several times, ignoring us until we shouted and waved (and probably looked a bit dehydrated). Tables were not properly cleared or made up and as for the flying cutlery, take a hard hat. If we had wanted to have the same ice-cream as the HB guests, we would have had to pay extra!!



The management unfortunately seem to be the weak link - if present at all, they only ever seemed to wonder around looking. Which would be good if they took anything from it and made improvements! The waiters were generally friendly and helpful when asked - perhaps just a bit of training wouldn't go amiss?



The reception staff were good, as were the entertainments team and the gardeners work like Trojans and other members of staff were very helpful indeed.



The Peltours rep was elusive to say the least.



So in summary, if you can put up with a bit of slack service on the food/drink front, this hotel is really very good. The resort on the whole is very quiet, but seems to be developing nicely, has potential in a few years time I think.



As for returning - maybe one day, but not until I have been back to Jordan.

This is a wonderful hotel if you...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Norrington-Davies

Comments:

This is a wonderful hotel if you wish to chill out and relax, there is very little to do outside the hotel unless you take some of the trips that are on offer.



The hotel has only recently started offering all inclusive and they are working hard to get the formula right. Everywhere is spotless and the Managers are continually in evidence checking the facilities and talking to guests. They listen to constructive comments on improving the already high standard of service, which is most refreshing.



The staff are very courteous and friendly, the food was of a high standard considering the numbers that they cater for with plenty of choice. The design of the hotel is lovely, big airy spaces with plenty of room for all, large bedrooms which are well equipped all with sea views. Snorkeling was fantastic as the coral reef is virtually on the beach.



We will definitely return to this hotel in the future.

Great holiday for a rest Food...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

johnstonemo

Comments:

Great holiday for a rest Food very nice and plenty to choose from. The staff made this holiday very pleasant. The weather was mostly warm:)

The Thai massage was really brilliant. Lots of rest.



Entertainment was cheesy but friendly and not offensive.

The only complaint was the tour company back here!



My friend and I tried snorkelling for the first time which truly made this holiday so special. We upgraded to beach front room which was so cool.



Would recommend it. Safe environment. Beware of flashers! Just use the bus provided.



The views are awesome the sights you see 3 county's at the same time. Will be going back this time with my family!

The Sofitel Taba has a wonderful...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2005

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Mrs D Barton

Comments:

The Sofitel Taba has a wonderful 'moorish' feel to it. Its a huge hotel, every room has a sea view and its spotlessly clean. The staff are very friendly.



We arrived at Taba military airport. Beware the airport loos. There's a man outside who offers you 2 squares of paper and then puts his hand out for a £1 coin. I refused the paper for washing my hands and wiped them on my jacket instead in case he wanted another £1. Everyone who does anything for you wants a 'baksheesh' (tip, usually £1 coin) so take a stock of about 10 with you.



This includes for someone who may take your case off the conveyor, another who loads it into the coach and another who takes it off. It's very strange for first time goers. Once in the hotel everything is signed to your room and you pay at the end of the holiday with credit card or sterling or dollars. Everything was so cheap. We also used room service a few times as it was only a few pounds and excellent value. We didn’t buy a visa as we weren't leaving the resort to go to Cairo or anything. They can be bought at the airport. Make sure you stand in the right queue, one is for passport control. There are staff there who help but tour operators are not allowed inside the airport.



The sea was warm in November, the sun was hot, 30degs some days, wear high sun factor. The hotel was busy but far from full, or didn’t appear that way. The food was also very nice but not if you prefer English food. It was varied with different themes, Asian, Mediterranean, Barbeque, etc etc. We had no problem finding enough to fill us up. We only tipped waiters at the end of the week after good service rather than after each meal. We had a massage in the hotel spa area. Book in advance. I had a Thai and my daughter had a Swedish. Both charged to the room. What a wonderful experience that was, we will be going back to the hotel this November if only for the massage.



The pool was amazing, huge, clean, free towels exchanged for card. The towel staff are wind up merchants and they're a good laugh. The entertainment team work hard in the day and at night. We did belly dancing lessons, keep fit, water aerobics......yes we were on holiday but it was something to do and we enjoyed it. There are loads of sunbeds so could pick and choose where we went. This was just intended to be a chilling holiday and that’s exactly what we did. Take plenty of books if you're not into snorkelling or diving. We didn’t go for the sea although we did walk out as far as the reef to see what we could see. Take surf shoes though as there is a bit of stone along the waters edge. Not a problem if you have tough feet....lol



We had such a lazy holiday it was wonderful. I only took £30 Egyptian cash with me from this country as its easier to get smaller notes in the hotel and the rate is better, but I brought my English currency back home with me as I had nowhere to spend it. It was wonderful. Our bill at the end of the week only came to £140 and most of that was the Chinese meal we had and the massage.



We went on a jeep safari into the desert and had tea with the Bedouins and lunch in a little hamlet by the sea. That was a nice day out, just to get a feel of the place.



Each hotel has its own stretch of the beach and if you want to visit the other two hotels, Hyatt or Marriott, its best to go the front way rather than walk along the beach, and take your passport. It's advised not to walk along the beach onto the other hotels stretch as you will probably get stopped by their security guards. Its nice to know that the security is so high, and although some people moaned I would rather know they were being vigilant at all times.



We are definitely going back this November. And definitely back to the Sofitel.

Having arrived at Taba (via...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2006

Tour Operator:

Libra Holidays

Submitted By:

Ms C Coleman

Comments:

Having arrived at Taba (via Sharm El Sheik) a three hour transfer which the Operator for Direct Line advised was a 45 minute transfer, many security check points and a very lonely road I was pleasantly surprised at the standard of the hotel.



We were checked in fairly quickly and our our luggage taken to our room. There was a plate of cold meats and bread rolls awaiting us - we had missed dinner for that evening!!! The rooms were large, clean and comfortable. Exactly what you would expect of a 4+ star hotel.



We upgraded from half board to All Inclusive as the cost of the drinks and the lunches made this a more cost effective option. However they have not grasped the concept of "ALL INCLUSIVE!" They still offer half board and there is a different level of service given to those clients. Going All Inclusive was like being a poor relation. Snacks which were supposed to be readily available consisted of a piece of pizza, ice cream and if you were very lucky a barbecued piece of meat.



The food on the whole was buffet style although there was a dine-around option with a nominal £20/30 Egyptian pounds allowance and could only be used once or twice depending on length of stay. All inclusive guests got their drinks served in plastic glasses as opposed to glass like half board guests. The food was of a good standard but after a week became boring and towards the end of the week the standard went downhill, it was not as varied or good. Lunches appeared to be leftovers from the night before!



The area itself is magnificent for diving, it is hard to swim as to get to the sea you have to walk over lots of large sharp stones and have to go quite a way out before it becomes deep enough to swim in, there is also quite a strong current and as I am not a strong swimmer I gave up trying and swam in one of the many pools. If you are looking to take children for a beach holiday, in my opinion this is not the place.



There is nothing to do in the evening and very few local shops, to get anywhere involves long excursions. I ventured to Cairo which started at 3 in the morning and finished at 1230 in the evening. You end up not having a breakfast (although a breakfast box is provided) or evening meal, and although well worth it is totally exhausting.



They are planning to build a golf course and add shops etc over the next few years which will be to the benefit of Taba. They have a pub and restaurant at the Three Corners which is part of the soon to be golf resort. The Pub Tandoori does a very good if not limited Indian menu - well worth a visit if you like Indian and do try their Mixed Grill.



If you are looking just for a chill out holiday then this is definitely the place to go. However if you have been all inclusive before do not expect to much from this one otherwise you will be bitterly disappointed.



Finally if given the option fly direct to Taba but make sure that your tour operator have advised the airline otherwise you will be in for a 5 1/2 hour flight without food!!! This is what happened on our return flight with Excel airways!!!!



Would I return to Taba - It would be interesting to return in 5 years to see how it has changed but it is not somewhere where I would want to hurry back.