Sofitel Taba Heights Hotel

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 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 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 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 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 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 '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 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.

We visited Egypt, Taba Heights from the 25th July 2005 to 8th August 2005. We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children – 11 & 8). We travelled with Peltours and stayed at the Taba Sofitel. Peltours use Travel Plus as their representatives in the resort.
On arrival, we got the impression that the hotel was far from full.
For 1st time travellers; Taba heights is not the same as Taba. The two resorts are about 5 Km apart. I don’t know what the travel arrangements are between the two parts of the resort. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to make the trip, in either direction. This is not a criticism, as you will see from the travel info, there is little in either resort.
Taba heights consists of three beach front hotels (Hyatt Regency, Sofitel and Marriott) with the Three Corners Resort about 1Km inland and having a beach location between the Sofitel and the Marriott. Next to the Marriott is the Intercontinental Hotel which is still under construction and due to open in 2006.
Beyond this is the Waterworld water sports centre. The road network around this facility is also under construction. There is other building work around this part of the resort. It is fair to say that we were not aware of any construction noise or dust etc during the whole of our stay.
From the dates above you will see that we travelled 2 days after the bombs in Sharm so security was of paramount importance during our stay. The Egyptian authorities have responded well to the recent problems and security is high profile around the village and resort. Within the hotels it varies widely.
The Sofitel seemed to have the highest level of security with armed guards at the hotel entrance and airport style security at the main lobby. There are armed tourist police in the lobby but this is discreet and not intimidating. The security at the Marriott is similar whereas the Hyatt don’t appear to read the papers and the security at this hotel fell well short of the other hotels.
All three hotels have security to prevent unsuitable access to the hotels along the beach, although the guards at the Sofitel were the only ones who challenged us as we moved along the beach.
The Sofitel is an impressive building with large and impressive public areas although these were open and not air conditioned except in specific areas – the front desk, the main bar and restaurant. The room (we had a family room) was of average size – a Sofitel employee told us that the rooms at the Marriott were bigger – but the shower room (no bath) was small and prone to flooding from the shower, however the water was always hot in the shower.
The room was well decorated but lacked light and a feeling of space. It was single file around the beds. The facilities in the room are basic – 2 double beds a TV, a fridge but with lots of storage space. All rooms have sea view. We missed tea and coffee making facilities in the room (should be standard at 5* level). We took our own but found milk difficult to come by. It can be bought from room service but works out at over £10 a pint.
We had the opportunity to look at a family suite which offered a much better standard of accommodation; three times the floor space, two bathrooms (one bath, one shower), two bedrooms and a living area. Water and fruit provided daily with tea and coffee making facilities in the room. All suites are ground floor with access direct to the gardens or pool. In the UK this upgrade will cost circa £300. In the hotel it trebles to $100 per night so book before you come!! Pointing out the UK cost doesn’t cut any ice with the hotel.
They acknowledge that better rates are available but won’t offer them to guests. We were referred to Travel Plus to get the UK rate but they never got back to us. Cleanliness in the room (it was cleaned daily) was only average and the cleaners tended to arrive at our door quite early. If, like us, you are not early risers then use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ notice.
The restaurant is large and wasn’t crowded. We never had to wait for a table. The food is prepared fresh daily and is of a very high standard. Some dishes re-appear daily but there is a good selection of other dishes which change daily. Add the theme nights to this and the variety is good. It is worth bearing in mind that this is an international hotel and the dishes offered reflect this. UK tourists tend to go to the other two hotels. I don’t know why, the Sofitel is the better of the three overall.
If you are looking for British food only then you may find the choice limited but if you try different dishes then the choice is good. Our first night saw Bird’s tongue soup on the menu – leave prejudice at home and try it, we did, it was very pleasant. One night we tried the a la carte restaurant. This carries a price premium. Frankly it wasn’t worth the extra. This isn’t intended as a criticism, its just that the food in the main restaurant is so good that paying more for excellent food when it is available within the package didn’t seem good value.
If you can’t see what you want then ask, the staff are keen to please and other dishes can be provided although it may be the following day. The wine on offer is very expensive and not too good. The staff in the restaurant, as elsewhere in the hotel, were very friendly and helpful.
Nothing seems too much trouble and the general attitude of staff was good. There was no evidence of the poor staff morale that we read about before we travelled. In simple terms the staff and their demeanour were one of the main contributing factors to our having had one of the best holidays we have ever taken.
The pool area is large as are the pools themselves. The fresh water pools were used but the salt water pools were not. When we swam in one of the salt water pools we found the pool bottom to be slimy and unpleasant. The salt water pools are more popular with the insect community – not a problem with the freshwater pools. We never had a problem getting a sunbed or parasol at any time of day although being on good terms with the recreation staff is well worth it as they will look after guests who look after them. A parasol is essential as there is little shade around the pool.
The pool is all concrete and does get hot as the day goes on so shoes that can be worn in the pool are a good idea. In some areas the concrete is replaced with ceramic tiles. In direct sunlight these get very hot and will burn feet – young children should be protected from this, especially if they use the open air steps to the rooms etc. In the welcome meeting we were told that sun cream was necessary during the heat of the day but not before 11:00am or after 4:00pm. This is rubbish! The sun is very strong and will burn from early morning until it sets behind the mountains.
Don’t take risks, the heat is intense all day. We saw many people, particularly young children with severe sunburn. Our children used factor 25+ all holiday. The heat also dehydrates. As a family, we drank 10+ litres of water per day. At 11 Egyptian pounds (£1.20 or $2) for 2 litres this soon adds up (see note on suites). The hotel also has a private beach. The beach is OK but a bit course. The beaches at the adjacent hotels are better. The pool and beach area is un-crowded and personal space is not hard to find.
The snack bar adjacent to the pools offers light meals and drinks. All drink containers around the pool are plastic to avoid broken glass. If you order drinks you have to ask for ice, also the hotel provides free crisps and peanuts with drinks but, again, you have to ask.
The margin of the sea is stony and uncomfortable to cross but once into the sea the sand resumes. There are designate passages to the reef which is 50 yards off shore. Snorkelling is a must do. The marine life and coral are a joy to behold. We found the best area to be between the Sofitel and the Hyatt. It is harder to access but worth the effort. Swim further out to turtles and larger fish. If you are lucky there are manta rays here too (I was lucky!).
We spoke to other visitors who had been diving on local reefs, they told us the reefs off the hotel are as good as anything accessible by diving and unless you are an enthusiast – I am a qualified diver but didn’t dive on the holiday – go snorkelling. Equipment hire is expensive and if you plan to do this regularly then bring your own gear, its cheaper to buy in the UK than to hire in the resort.
If you like shopping, go somewhere else. There are very few shops in the resort and these are limited in terms of what they sell. The Three Corners resort has the most shops – accessible by free bus – but check for opening times. Even here the shopping is limited. All the hotels have a shop or two but nothing much and prices are high. A small bottle of after sun costs £12 at the Sofitel so bring from the UK. It is also worth noting that the exchange rates are better in the resort than in the UK. All shops accept a range of currencies but be careful as all exchanges in the shops are via Egyptian pounds so you lose out on multiple currency exchanges.
This is particularly the case with water sports where the rates are quoted in Euros. If you pay in sterling then there are two exchanges and the price rises every time there is an exchange. If you plan to do a lot of water sports then bring euros with you – there is also discount for cash payments.
The three hotels have a weekly forum to discuss inter hotel issues. We were told, on arrival, that as a Sofitel guest, we had access to the facilities of the other hotels. One day we visited the Marriott. We were accorded the same service as Marriott guests. We used their pool, which is better than the Sofitel’s, and the staff were as friendly and helpful as the staff in the Sofitel. The Marriott seemed to have more children and more British tourists in residence.
The following day we decided to try the Hyatt. We were aware of adverse comments made about staff morale and attitude at the Hyatt – this was the main reason for us choosing the Sofitel rather than the Hyatt, which has better facilities, generally.
As soon as we arrived we were challenged by the Hyatt staff and told we would have to pay (70 Egyptian pounds per person) for the use of their facilities. When we refused to pay we were asked to leave and then escorted off the premises. This experience was shared by others in the hotel. We were glad we didn’t stay there! A final observation regarding the Hyatt is the maze of paths which are difficult to navigate, we got lost and struggled to find the location we wanted, this is worse at night.
There are wider tarmac routes around the periphery. These are the race track for the golf buggies and care needs to be taken, since these vehicles are electric they are difficult to hear and the vegetation means they cannot always be seen – take care. Golf buggies are only used in the Hyatt, the other hotels are safer, as a consequence.
In terms of entertainment, there are shows in the evening, mostly performed by the resident hotel entertainment staff. These were OK but repetitive. There are no bars, restaurants or night clubs in the resort outside of hotel facilities. The Hyatt has a casino. There is a children’s club in the Sofitel with a range of activities. These are morning and afternoon with a children’s disco in the evening.
The disco is the same every night but the kids seemed to enjoy it. The hotel offers some adult activities. The water aerobics was very popular but beach volleyball was poorly attended (Who wants to play volleyball in 45 degree heat).
We found Travel Plus to be hopeless. If you need to use them then be prepared to chase them relentlessly and check details have been confirmed – we booked to go to Cairo for the day and were left in the hotel lobby when the trip was cancelled and we were not informed, this trip leaves at 5:00 am so getting up for this only to be forgotten is not fun.
We went on the Cairo trip at the second time of asking but took no other trips. There are trips to local tourist venues in Jordan, Israel etc but you need to take a sense of humour with you as the border crossings can be time consuming. We were warned about these at the welcome meeting. The Cairo trip is a long day but well worth it. We took the 1 day option. The two day option includes a trip to old Cairo, we couldn’t see the appeal of this apart from not having to make two 5 hour coach trips in one day. We were also told that it was possible to fly to Cairo but can’t confirm this.
The Pyramids are swarming with tourist police and the warnings about unscrupulous locals should be heeded although the police soon intervene if a tourist is being overly hassled. The trip includes the opportunity to visit a souvenir shop and a papyrus shop, an opportunity well worth declining. The Cairo museum is good but busy and well guarded. We got 2 hours in the museum, a week is not enough although the buildings are not air conditioned and the heat gets too much after a while.
The King Tut exhibition is worth seeing although very crowded. As you miss breakfast, the hotel provides a packed breakfast which is singularly uninspiring and few touched it. The food on the trip was good (and included). The restaurant was closed on our return so some cold food (Bread, meat and cheese) was put in our room. This was a nice thought even though we didn’t touch it. An exhausting day but worth it to see what we saw.
The watersports were good although a bit disorganised. There is a free shuttle to the centre every 30 minutes, you can walk but the heat makes this inadvisable. There are also free scuba trials in the pool of the Marriott and Hyatt (Wonder if the Hyatt charges for this too!) on selected days. Waterworld has a café which serves good food. We didn’t do much in the watersports line so can’t comment much. One observation, If you want to do an activity as a family, make sure this is understood as the staff will try to fill activities and will split you up to suit themselves.
The weather in July/ August is hot (40 + every day), all day; hats are essential. Occasionally the wind picked up in the afternoon and a regular visitor in the evening was a hot dry wind from the north – a bit like sitting in a tumble dryer. We caught a glimpse of a cloud or two in the late afternoon but often remained on the pool side until after 7:00pm when the heat became more bearable.
In summary:
The Taba Heights resort is all about relaxation and leisure. In spite of the apparent lack of activities we were never bored or at a loss and the 14 night went by all too quickly. You will spend most of your holiday within the hotel or at least the resort. If you seek nightlife or shopping don’t go here. The Sofitel’s 5* rating is not accurate from a UK/ USA perspective (more like 3*+) but is a decent standard hotel. The staff are brilliant, always friendly and cheerful. The food is of a high standard. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and came home relaxed and refreshed.
Would we go back? Probably not but this has more to do with a desire to visit other places than not wishing to return. If we did it would be in a suite not a room. We would also wait a couple of years for the resort to be completed. It has the makings of a very sophisticated place, once completed.