Continental Garden Reef Resort

we went to this hotel and could not say a bad thing about it,the holiday was the best holiday i have had. the food ,staff,hotel the, aquapark was excellent ,the quality and variation of food was excellent every thing was clean.anyone saying they did not like this hotel do not listen to them .this was the first time in years we have been away for 2 weeks dident think i would like it but it was my hubbys 60th and they made a cake and danced around him and sang happy birthday they did it to every one who had a birthday.the staff smiled all thie time and did anythig to help they would go out of there way to help ,ally barma was a lovey man got bit by mozzies and he went away and in 5 mins was back with a spray for the room the next night he had a spray to to put on my arms and legs and would not take enything for them but all the staff were exellent they work hard all day running after you and some people were not very nice to them, it made me so mad but this time it was not the english that were nasty. if you are going to this hotel you should love it we did and if you are going with kids they will love the pools with the slids but please take sun cream dont get it at the little shop at the hotel we got a facter 90 and i was puting on my grandson all day and used the bottle and he blisterd but he is ok thank god .we all had a excellent holiday .

2 readers found this review helpful

I thought i had better add a more recent review of this hotel since the only other one is a a bit out of date. We visited this hotel thinking that it would be the best for our honeymoon as it is rated a 5 star. unfortunately the hotel was not up to our expectations at all. First of all the hotel looks fantastic from outside grand entrance clean friendly security guards who unfortunately cannot speak any English to you it doesnt get any better from there on in. Your met at the gate by the hotel porters who come an take your luggage which we thought was fantastic thought that it would be great from there on in but we got to the reception desk and the staff could hardly speak a word of english to you apart from 2 of them. the porter who treks you round all the resort to your room expects a tip for taking your luggage but you have no choice but to let him take it as he wont let you take it yourself. We went to the olive tree resteraunt which serves breakfast lunch an dinner for all inclusive and its the only one that will serve guests for bed and breakfast. There we had the biggest dissappointment. there ws no variety of food at breakfast except eggs done 3 different ways toast or melon it was the same every morning we only went twice before we got bored so for the breakfast we starved--- the lunch menu consisted of 3 types of rice cold veg as a salad???? chicken but its only boned chicken no breast basically it would be the chicken that i would give my dog. and bread with soup and once i picked up a breadstick an you could have knocked someone out wiht it it was that hard. dinner was basically the same every night rice potatoes chicken or beef served cold and no variety for the kids whatsoever. the drinks ar even worse , inside the drinks are reasonable outside at the top pool bar they are served warm there is fridges but there not used. all the spirits are local and served warm . the beer is from draught but the glasses you get it in is cleaned in there local water which you are not supposed to drink the soft drinks are pepsi an fanta which are usually flat by the time you have your third glass as they are from bottles also, the staff at the bar dont speak much english either and are very slow althought they will try. After 3 days of upset stomaches and ear infections which was from the pool we gave up and spent the rest of the holiday eating from mcdonalds ( life saver) and pizza hut. we also didnt realise that the hotel was NOT within walking distance from naama bay it is a 15 mins bus journey which the hotel puts on 3 times a night starting at 20.15 pm and the last bus back to the hotel is at midnight . you have to book the bus that morning BEFORE 9 am as the bus fills up quickly if you dont make the bus then basically your stuck in the hotel with not much else to do as the so called disco bar doesnt start until 11.00pm and finishes at 1.00 am we wernt told about the bus it was another guest that told us they didnt tell us anything there was no welcome meeting no one knew about the reps where they would be anything not even where to get a taxi from should we need it. ALSO PLEASE BE AWARE that EVERYDAY there is aqua gym at the top pool they walk around pestering you to come an join in they have scouts that tout business for watersports and snorkeling and massage even if they have seen you the day before they still come an ask you if your there to relax they still try an talk to you if your sleeping!!! the resteraunt el Hamera i wouldnt touch with a ten foot bargepole there is 2 menus set menu 1 or 2 you get one visit per stay the soup was fine but the salad and mixed grill was appaling so much so that it looked like a roasted mouse and piece of rat on our plates we walked out when the main meal was served it was just disgusting. the standard of the rooms was great the housekeepin manager was excellent he could speak english but our fridge didnt work very well and 3 times they told us they would fix it it never got changed. the air conditioning leaked but was fixed that same day we reported it. the supermarket doesnt sell food or water you have to go to naama bay for that all they sell is perfume souvineers or handbags or shoes its awful. the only good thing about the shopping centre is the pharmacy he is excellent he knows exactly what to give you (maybe because every guest has been in for the same thing) the hotel is for russians who eat enything and drink everything without a complaint and thats where the standards lie all the staff presume that your russian an talk to you in that language i would avoid this hotel like the plague unless you want to try it for yourself the hotel looks beautiful in pics but its standards are as an egyptiaN shop keeper told us iT only a 2 star compared to the four seasons over there which is the best hotel apparently in sharm el sheik which is rated a 7 star.
for anyone who wants to try it the number for mcdonalds is 069 3602110 believe me it will come in VERY USEFUL and the pizza hut number is 069 19000
if you want any more details let me know id be happy to help please dont let this spoil your visit to sharm el sheik as its a beautiful place to visit and experience just not in this hotel.

My son aged 13 and I have just returned from a week here. We had a great time.
The food on half board was really good-buffet breakfast and dinner. Excellent quality and variation. The service was good- barring language difficulties but if you ask one of the waiters in red shirts they are good at English and sort things out.
We went for a warm break - temp 32 and gentle breezes -
And to do some further diving, having last done my open water course in 2004 at the ocean club in Sharm with a very miserable female instructor who, despite passing my open water with ease-made it rather an unhappy time for all of us.
My son had never dived before and did the 2 day junior scuba course which he enjoyed. The dive club had had some problems - don’t know what - but a new owner had just started the week we arrived so things were a bit hectic. However - I was VERY nervous about diving again having left it so long - but I was lucky to get a kind dive master - Sam - to who I shall always be grateful for getting me back into such a beautiful sport - as well as catching me a Spanish dancer - thank you. He gently reintroduced me to the spectacular garden reefs all just on the hotel beach.
The dive staff were lovely smiley helpful boys, who took the tanks down the jetty for you-helped you with putting on etc which made a big difference to me as I am tiny!
The snorkeling is superb.
The main drawback for us was that having booked independently we had no rep so didnt get to meet up with friends in the evenings as there was nothing really going on! We were so tired we usually went to bed around 9pm, but being on my own would have liked to have been able to join up with others in the evening for bottle wine/dancing etc. We went to Naama bay just for a change to eat at a restaurant I'd been to before-do try it- the Dananeer- just ask for directions! Excellent food and service.
Hard rock cafe very overrated- you need to book day before really or be prepared to wait ages and its just usual American/burgers etc- better to go to Maccy D's if you are desperate!
However I have to say I really don’t like Naama bay- just Blackpool on Egypt really and hard work avoiding the constant harassment as a woman!
Do have a massage from Sawsan - she is excellent.
I would love to stay at this hotel again but as a five star it is quite pricey when you add on all the drinks etc - I much prefer all inclusive. I would try to get a room nearer the beach and go with friends/family.
It is a very large complex so you have a lot of walking from the beach to reception etc so if you can’t be bothered ask for a room near the lower pool. The rooms are top class-excellent service and all the staff were so helpful smiley and kind.
I shall miss all the staff as they became like friends to me and Charlie that week so if you do go please tell Anwar, Sam, Sawsan and the boys in the Dive Club & the restaurant manager Kate & Charlie say thanks & how much we miss them already!

1 reader found this review helpful

Sharm el Sheikh is one of the best holidays I’ve been on everything was perfect ,the hotel was lovely the overall holiday was lovely I cannot complain about anything. I went in October 2004 booked on the last minute off eBay, I have never wanted to go to Egypt but I am glad I went and I will be going back