Crowne Plaza Resort Sharm El Sheikh

This was a fantastic first visit to sunny Egypt and my family had a wonderful holiday as the Crowne Plaza is a fabulous place to stay. The staff were very courteous and nothing was a bother for them.
The rooms were lovely and spacious and we had 2 interconnecting rooms. One of the rooms had fantastic air conditioning while the other rooms were not much good.
However if we kept the adjoining door open but rooms were aired. These rooms were always kept clean.
If you get a sandwich in the bar beware it will actually feed 2 of you, I was shocked at the size of the plates brimming especially when they are reasonably priced. We had loads left over so the next day we just ordered a variety and all shared.
I found that room service was good, they really do have a wide variety of dishes that you can’t get in the bar and it really is cooked to a high standard. This again is really cheap but my favourite meal was the breakfast, the omelettes were divine.
The pools are good and I mainly stayed at the bottom pool as they had entertainment on their plus it was nearer to the jetty and my husband and kids constantly snorkelled. I tried it but then decided that I would rather not know what was swimming near me.
There is a shuttle bus that the hotel runs and this takes you into Naama bay where there is everything from restaurants to souvenirs. It’s great to walk around.
I loved this place and I’m sure that you would too.

This is definitely the hotel for you if:
* You like spending your holiday with rude, arrogant, and ignorant Russians, Poles, & other Eastern Europeans.
* You like food served cold that should really be hot.
* You like drinking tepid tea and coffee at breakfast, lunch, and dinne.
* You like stirring your tepid tea and coffee with your finger as there are no teaspoons to be found.
* You like waiting 20/30 minutes for a plate or dish to put your luke warm food on.
* You like waiting 20/30 minutes for an item of food that a rude, arrogant and ignorant Russian has just taken the last portion of.
* You like returning to your table from the buffet only to find that a rude, arrogant and ignorant Russian has placed his or her mountain of food on your table.
* you like being treated like a second class citizen by rude and ignorant barmen whose main job responsibilities are to chat up as many Russian as they can and ignore your wishes to have a drink you have already paid for.
* you like drinking red wine in a glass that has just come out of the dishwasher and it is so hot you can't even hold it and when you complain the lovely barman, who is still chatting up the Russian crumpet, pours your wine (that is hotter than the tea and coffee served in the restaurant) into a cold glass for you to enjoy.
You then have a choice argument with him explaining that you do not enjoy drinking mulled wine. When he finally pours fresh red wine into a clean cold glass, the time has slipped past 11pm and he now produces a bill for you to pay as all inclusive has finished. Priceless!
* you like spending a large proportion of your time in the loo with a particularly virulent strain of "Delhi Belly"
* you have to wait 2 days for the plumber to come and fix the flush on the loo.
* you then have to wait a further day to wait for the plumber to come back because now that that the loo has been fixed the bath/shower water won't run away.
* you like being dropped off by a taxi 200 yards from the hotel entrance so that the security mans friend can come and pick you up in a buggy that of course requires a tip
Oh, another thing, at the time of booking, we were promised a "special treat" as this trip was to celebrate my 50th birthday. Upon arrival, the receptionist even confirmed this. When it got to the date of "special day" I foolishly waited for my "special treat".
The day passed without one. When checking out, we were told by reception that the "special treat" was a complimentary bowl of fruit in the room upon arrival that consisted of 1 red apple, 1 green apple, 1 unripe peach, 1 over ripe banana.
You have to laugh don't you?
Apart from that, diving was first class and our plane trip to The Pyramids was fantastic.
Think we will stick with 3* Spain in future as you know what to expect.
5* Egypt is not even 3* standard in Spain - beware you have been warned!

Had a fantastic holiday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It really was a place that I would go back to. Everything about the place was top class.
On arrival I was so impressed with the how the hotel looked, it looks so grand and as you driving down its private road. Once you have booked in at reception, one of the guys takes you round on a buggy to your room which gives you even more chance to have a look at the greatness of the complex.
The rooms were fantastic, very spacious even though they have 2 king size beds in, there is complimentary tea and coffee facilities and these are stocked up each day. There is a television and they have great English channels playing all day. The bathroom was very clean and each room has its own hairdryer.
The hotel has 5 swimming pools, one of these is a diving pool though so I never used that one but the others were always kept clean and believe me the weather is so hot so you will find yourself spending lots of time in the water.
The food I give top marks as well, I never once had anything bad to eat. They have such a wide variety of dishes that you really are spoilt for choice. The dining area is really spacious as well so you will always find a seat.
Also if you are into snorkelling then I have to say that this is one of the best places I have been. The hotel has a jetty running into the sea and the water is very clear with coral reefs at both sides of it. There are so many fish to explore that this really could occupy your entire holiday. Its great fun.
I would look to revisit this hotel.

I have never been to Egypt before so was not sure what to expect and I must say that this was the most fantastic holiday ever and I’m definitely going to go back.
It’s amazing I’m actually saying that as when we were there a bomb went off. Although this caused great concern, the hotel staff made us feel completely secure and on the night of the bombing the hotel staff checked that everyone was safe and lots of people from the surrounding hotels then joined us.
The Hotel itself is a dream come true, great atmosphere, 5 pools and the food is to the highest quality.
The rooms were immaculate and the whole feel of the hotel made you feel special.
This is a great place to stay so please don't hesitate to book.

This is a must holiday for anyone who likes the weather to be hot! One night it was still 53 at 7.30pm.
The hotel has 5 pools so there is no trouble when trying to get a sun bed around the pool as there are always plenty. The pool located beside the sea hosts aqua aerobics which is such a laugh, as well as being beneficial and the staff help to make this hotel a great place to stay.
The dining rooms are fantastic and the food was always cooked and served to a high standard.
This resort is probably not great for anyone who has difficulty walking as it’s on a slope and there are many steps around the place.
However anyone wanting to spend time snorkelling cannot go wrong, as the sea is perfect and the coral reefs surround the jetty from the hotel.
The hotel offers a courtesy shuttle bus into Naama bay where the shopping is cheap, plenty of restaurants and you will also be able to buy McDonalds if you have kids. However don’t supersize the food as the meals are big enough and very cheap.
If the kids are happy it makes it much easier to shop for all the bargains. It’s a great hotel and you will love it so book it now.

Went to the Crowne Plaza for a week of diving. Much enjoyed my stay, can’t pick any holes in the hotel really.
The food could have been better, however there is a new Lebanese restaurant and that’s very nice.
Overall loved it, the week went by very quickly and the diving as always was absolutely fantastic. GREAT - Would def consider returning if I can get the money for those flights!
The hotel is very good value for money on the whole. Do not shop in the hotels own shops, they are rip-offs - if you want a nice souvenir I'd head for the old town and drinks can be quite pricy.
A*, I’d question why its 4 star, not 5! ... Recommended!

My husband and I wanted a calm week of scuba diving in the red sea. What we got was far, far better! To sum it up in a short review is impossible, however all I can say is from start to finish everything was perfect.
The staff, the rooms, the weather...and most of all the beautiful coral reef which lies right in front of the hotel. I can't recommend this hotel more, it's perfect and we are already booked for October. Perfect for families/couples, even more ideal for scuba divers! If you come to Egypt I highly recommend learning to dive and the dive team at the Crowne Plaza were so helpful and reassuring. Top marks!

My husband and I have recently returned from our stay at the Crowne Plaza Resort, Sharm.
Before we went off on our holiday we read a few reviews from other people whom had stayed at this resort and there seemed to be varied reviews.
In our opinion, Crowne Plaza was every bit as we expected and more! The weather was fantastic.
On arriving, the complimentary pick up via the Resort was spot on, our driver was there waiting for us at the airport, free of charge, to the hotel, only a tip required at the end, which is up to you but definitely worth it. (You must arrange this, by e-mail seemed the best).
The resort was perfect for a chill out week. We didn't leave the resort at all as it really wasn't necessary, everything we needed was there.
The resort was beautifully kept and so clean. Some reviews of other resorts had a lot of complaints regarding tummy bugs, heard nothing of this at the Crowne.
All the staff were very helpful. Room service was excellent when required, especially after a night at the Spanish Bar, followed by a good dance at the resorts nightclub.
When you read on the details of the resort there is an animation team, it sounds a bit off putting.
This, however, isn't the case. The team of entertainers were great, very friendly, not at all pressurising, as were the staff taking bookings for boat trips, massages etc. They ask, but don't put pressure on at all.
Our holiday was at the end of January and the hotel was fully booked. It was quiet by the pools, considering the amount of people there.
The restaurant was lovely; the food was excellent, staff very friendly and helpful always. The chef in the eggs and omelette department was fab; they also have different things cooked each meal time by the cooking station chef, always very tasty.
There was only one night we felt a bit fed up as the restaurant was full; this was due to a private party in part of the restaurant.
Instead we took our 25% voucher to the Italian restaurant and had a lovely meal. None of the restaurants are expensive anyway so you may as well try them for a change.
The drinks are a little expensive if you're not all inclusive but you would expect that in any decent hotel.
The beach bar staff are great, its worth tipping every couple of days if you have a bar man who has been really helpful, we definitely gained by tipping 50 Egyptian pounds every now and then, after all its only a fiver, our money!
Obviously there always has to be the odd gripe. Ours weren't that bad.
One of the nights in the Spanish Bar there was a rather drunk group of Russian blokes, one of which, walked across part of the bar area where candles were standing, nearly knocked them off.
There were quite a lot of small children around. He then annoyed the dancers whom were performing and it took quite a long time before he was seen the door.
In our opinion he should either have been told to calm it or leave, a bit of a doorman of some kind may be helpful for situations like this as it could spoil some peoples whole holiday.
Our other complaint wasn’t with the hotel. It was with the Odyssey Rep who told us to get on his coach to go to the airport. We weren't that sure we should be on it but he hurried us along.
Five minutes into the journey he told us to pay £20 sterling or he would throw us off in the middle of no-where. We did pay, but I'm sure he would have kicked us off if we'd had no money.
He also made very rude comments regarding women’s underwear which wasn't necessary at all, all in all the slimiest bloke I've ever had to deal with!
We are going back in May with our children; we will sort our own transfer back via taxi.
It's definitely worth arriving at Sharm airport earlier than required as that’s where the best shopping is in my opinion. It's not too busy; items are priced, and are very reasonable.
As I've already said, we are returning early May with our two daughters. We were booked half board but have since changed to all inclusive (arrange this direct with hotel, it’s cheaper and easier). We know they will have a great time, and so will we, although it will be much hotter at that time of year.
I forgot to mention the snorkelling. We decided to save all that for when we have the children, however, who needs a snorkel? Sitting on the manmade jetty was also fantastic, the sea is clear blue and you can see the coral and lots of beautiful fish just by sitting on the side and looking down, it really is lovely.
I also forgot to mention the Lebanese Cafe. You must try the shisha pipes. A shisha boy made us his speciality fruit cocktail, along with a very strong coffee and their version of Tia Maria, what a good night’s sleep we had.
He did say "sweet dreams" as we left! Try it and you'll see! So cheap equivalent of £2.50, we were there for at least an hour.
I would recommend the Crowne Plaza for couples and families; this seemed to be the majority.
I can't wait to return in May, and I suspect we will return again after that.
Don't forget you can't please everyone, you'll always hear someone moaning about something and nothing, in my opinion they shouldn't leave England let alone their own homes!
Happy Holidays!

This was the first year that Jewel in the Crown Holidays had started packages in Sharm and I was pleasantly surprised to see how smoothly everything went.
We booked last minute having never been to Sharm before and with the exception of a crush of people on arrival at Sharm airport everything went smoothly with the transfer.
Once we got to the hotel I was impressed by the sheer size of the complex, the main building was past some gates and at the end of a long date tree lined drive. It is designed in the style of a white washed Egyptian town.
In terms of facilities the place had loads to do. There was a gym with squash courts and heated pool - complete with a beauty spa. There was also four additional pools including one used by the dive centre. Five restaurants and bars as well as a nightclub on site.
Our room was fabulous, the bathroom was more like a wet room and we had a balcony and two good size queen beds. Maid service was impeccable, we really couldn't fault them.
What I would say about this hotel is that there are TONS of steps, we had to go down (and subsequently up!) three flights of stairs to get to the sea - it's certainly not suitable for people with walking issues or folk with kids in buggies. There also isn't a beach but a man made sandy bit with loungers on it next to a pool. There is a tented massage area on the beach though that is lovely.
There is however a jetty that you can dive off and there is some good coral right next to the hotel.
We went only a few weeks after the bombing and the resort and hotel were very quiet but security was very tight which was actually quite reassuring.
Although there are lots of restaurants you would need to go into town as the choices wear thin very quickly. The pizza place is very good though as well as the CView bbq, we particularly enjoyed the Egyptian style cafe as well - it's open until 1 and you can smoke a hookah pipe, drink mint tea and eat baklawa (if you want!). They also have happy hours on drinks and it's possible to just keep moving round the complex from one bar to another as the times are staggered and drink 2-4-1 all night practically.
In town there is a brilliant Egyptian restaurant on top of the Hard Rock Cafe that I would thoroughly recommend. You can sit indoors with the A/C but the roof terrace is stunning, it has a central bar, you sit on cushions and the place is lit by lanterns - very atmospheric. The food's pretty good too!
If you want less of a chilled out holiday then a hotel nearer town would probably suit you better, the hotel do run a free shuttle service into town and its cheap to get back but there are hotels in Naama bay you could walk back from a night out to.
We liked the hotels positioning though because it was completely down to us what we wanted to do and it wasn't rowdy in the least like some of the all inclusive hotels that we saw.
The staff in the whole complex were brilliant, I really couldn't fault it. Oh, if you are going you can swing yourself a late check out by filling in a priority club membership form online before you go or when you get there. It really helps as they do charge for late check out.
We had a great holiday by the way and would definitely go again.

We visited this hotel in October as a last minute decision to go away. The weather was boiling, although the sun tended to go down around 3.30pm and it was almost dark by 5pm.
The rooms were lovely with a mini bar and TV which had lots of English channels and provided lots of films.
Breakfast was odd, with a large variety of different foods, some which I’d never thought of having for breakfast before! Would not recommend the restaurants as these were limited in choice and were often empty by 9pm, I’m not sure where everyone got to! We tended to order room service which was much better.
The complex was lovely with nice clean pools and beaches although some of the beach towels looked like they had seem better days. Snorkelling in the sea was amazing, you'll never sea so many brightly coloured fish swimming around.
This resort is not the place to go if you like to have a wonder around, there is nowhere to go outside the complex unless you take a taxi into Naama bay, Naama bay being an experience in its self!
All in all we had a good time here, I would recommend this hotel to couples who are prepared to a lazy relaxing day and an even quieter night with a film on the TV in your room!