Tropicana Grand Azure Resort, Sharm El Sheikh
Hotel Information
Hotel Description:
The Grand Azure five stars hotel lies like a mirage direct on the seacoast, 6 km North of Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and 18 km from the famous Naama Bay. At Nabq, there is the biggest mangrove forest in Sinai and the most Northern one of the whole Red Sea-Indian Ocean Region. Grand Azure Resort is a set of extensive landscape ground overlooking the panorama view of Tirana Island and The Sinai Desert and mountain and the main building is grouped around the swimming pool.Nearby Hotels Viewed by Other Travellers
Tropicana Grand Azure Resort Reviews
" "Grand" time and "Azured" of a nice time "
Submitted By: Edgeand found the resort very clean and friendly. All the staff were extremely helpful, kind, curtious and trustworthy.
The complex although quite spread out, bit of walking from the Reception to the beach, was very well maintained and clean, ok there is a train that will take you to the beach if you don't feel like walking and it runs throughout the day.
Pools & Beach - The main pool just outside from the reception is very large, has lots of sunbeds, we had no problem getting one and has a Greek / Lagoon theme with fountains. The beach is at the far end of the complex with sunbeds, toilets, eating/bar close by and a jetty out to sea where you can see lots of exotic fish.
Rooms - were spacious enough for 2 were cleaned daily and fresh linen every day.
Food -There was a different theme everyday and enough choice to suit all palettes and all ages. Never once during our 10 day stay did we suffer with upset stomach.
Tour reps (First Choice) were in the hotel in the morning/evening, were there for any question / queries and were very helpful.
The 4 A La Carte resturants are very good and must be tried whilst there at no extra cost but must be booked the morning before.
The only negative side of the hotel was being asked everyday whilst at the pool was about Spa treatments but no was acknowledged and they left you alone for that day.
Overall it was great holiday in a wonderful location, would definatly go back.
Advice: Worth a stay
Activities:
Good for: Beach
" greedy and indifferent management "
Submitted By: shieldsduoOne good point about the hotel is the short transfer time from Sharm El Sheikh airport – twenty minutes max – but the downside is that the hotel is directly under the flight path, so aircraft pass directly overhead starting at 5am and continuing until midnight and beyond.
The friendliness of the staff is exceptional. Nothing is a bother when they are asked and they don’t openly tout for tips although gratuities are expected and gratefully received. There are some exceptions but they should not detract from the general level of service.
The management, however, are a different proposition and their greed to make additional money is objectionable. To upgrade from a standard room to a superior room is 10 US$ per person per night – that works out at an additional 280 US$ on the cost of a holiday for two when staying two weeks. As we had already paid the brochure price of £800 each, this additional cost was considered unacceptable.
I should explain that the standard rooms and superior rooms are exactly the same size and have the same facilities and differ only in location and decor. The standard rooms are acceptable and adequate and would meet most visitors’ expectations apart from their location. Even their location could be tolerated if it wasn’t for the problems adjacent to the blocks as I will explain.
The complex has 22 blocks of 2/3-storey buildings (called Clusters). Four of these blocks are categorised as “standard” with the rest being “superior” and above. The superior blocks face inwards into the pool areas and the four standard blocks are located behind the superior rooms and they are right on the boundary walls of the complex and next to the service roads. Immediately beyond the service roads are new hotels at various states of construction. Within only a few yards of our room in Block 21 was a compressor from a building site and that compressor NEVER shut down in the 14-days we stayed in this hotel; it worked 24 hours each day!! I will return to this problem after describing our initial booking-in at reception.
The first room we were allocated had no safe and, because the hotel made it quite clear they would not be held responsible for any losses or theft if the safe wasn’t used, we elected to change rooms. The second room also had no safe despite the hotel’s computer saying it did! The second room also had ants (a previous complaint in this forum). The third room did have a safe but it was just lying on a shelf in the wardrobe and was not secured to the wall. When I queried this with reception they said it was OK!
So in the first two hours of our stay in this hotel we had been allocated three rooms – but all in the same block. We accepted the third room but overnight we realised that the compressor was going to be a major problem for us. Like several others, we then tried to exchange rooms to a quieter location within the complex. Keep in mind that there were 18 other blocks within the grounds and the hotel was just over half-full. And that’s how we found out about the additional charges for changing rooms. It appears that the standard blocks are allocated to some Brits (Thompson and Thomas Cook bookings) and to some Russian guests and I therefore hold both those UK companies negligent in their duty to oversee the hotel’s attitude and to enforce better locations for their guests when adverse conditions prevail. We don’t go on holiday to be housed next to a building site!!
The problem was discussed with the Thomas Cook hotel rep but he was a waste of space. Could he do anything to change the intransigent attitude of management re room allocation – especially as the compressor noise could be negated by moving further away from the hotel periphery? Answer: we had booked a standard room and this is exactly what we had been supplied with. What about the unsecured safe? Answer: the hotel will have to take responsibility if the safe is carried off out of the room. Not the responsibility of Thomas Cook! No complaint raised or volunteered and no feedback to management. He was just not interested in our problems and him being Egyptian probably made him more sympathetic to the hotel than a British rep would have been.
And now for our room experiences: I will point out firstly that blocks 21 and 22 are relatively new as they don’t even feature on the huge complex map in reception. They were built on what had previously been waste land within the hotel perimeter. The quality of the standard room is 3-star status at best. Our bath had been previously damaged in two areas and had been repaired with fibre glass patches. The wash basin had been similarly damaged and had a huge star crack. The bathroom door was hinge-bound and made an awful noise every time the door was closed. This was rectified by jamming a lump of cardboard between the door jamb and frame to stop the woods rubbing against each other. The wardrobe door was similarly hinge-bound against an adjacent shelf and the third day into our holiday three of the four hinges popped out and the door collapsed. Now that was beyond my do-it-yourself inspiration and maintenance had to be called to fix the door back in place.
Neither the bath or washbasin or bidet had a plug and the mechanical levers that had previously acted as plugs had long since been broken. We had to ask the room cleaner for replacements. Would you expect to find a chipped water glass or badly cracked teacup in a 5-star room? We did and these were similarly replaced – but why should we have to ask?
I did mention the compressor and aircraft noise didn’t I? Well thought I, by keeping the balcony door tightly shut at night it may minimise the problem – no such luck as there was a big air gap between door and frame so no effective seal and no noise reduction there.
All this would not have been so irritating if the complex was described as an average 3-star hotel, but it isn’t and even 5-star Egyptian standards should not be this low.
There were a lot of Russian guests during our two weeks here and they outnumbered the Brits – but it was some of the Brits in our block that made late at night/early in the morning a bit of a problem as they noisily made their way back from the bars. Another aspect of all-inclusive that has to be expected I guess, the surfeit of alcohol means boisterous behaviour – so you have been warned!
The food. The variety and quality was good – but after 14 days the sameness of the variety was very evident. A lot has been mentioned in these forums about the four theme restaurants that are included in the all-inclusive package: Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean, and fish restaurants. We tried them all and only the Italian restaurant served a very good meal – the other three were ok, but only ok. The menus never change and it is the same limited number of choices each and every night. The meal times are set out in two sittings each night – but it was fairly clear that they expected everyone to arrive at the start of the sitting rather than a time of your choosing. Service was fast, too fast, and does not allow for a relaxing meal despite what the theme write-ups may infer.
I give you a good example: the Chinese had a five course menu that started with soup, then mixed deep-fried appetisers, then salad, followed by main course and desert. Sounds good. Orders are taken for everyone in the restaurant and delivered from the kitchen in the same way on huge trays. The soup, appetisers, and salad are all served together and laid out in front of you so better start eating! The main course was soon to follow. Ours was delivered before the starter dishes had been removed from the table. A guy opposite me was still eating his salad when his main course was set down in front of him. Totally unacceptable in my view and please don’t suggest that they be told to hold back and give you some breathing space; your meal may be taken back to the kitchen but there it would remain until served.
We have stayed in several Egyptian hotels in the past but never had this type of “efficiency”. Our recommendation would be to stick with the main buffet restaurant for the majority of the meals where you can eat at your own pace and with a greater variety of food; albeit self-service.
However, all the above pales into insignificance when compared to the havoc and damage done by the mother of all storms that hit us one night. This complex was not unique, it has to be said. Most other hotels were similarly affected. The main reception lobby has a huge circular seating area and this was under water. The electricity failed and the majority of rooms were flooded. The tiled floor of our room was totally under water and there was nowhere for it to run away – and we were on the first floor!! Imagine the scene: 2am and needing to visit the toilet; having to leave our bed (like a little island) and paddle through one inch of water to get to the bathroom, and then back again with cold wet feet and nothing to dry them on (the towels having futilely been used to block the water coming into the room from the hallway and from the balcony).
The polished marble floors in the rooms when combined with water is a lethal mix as evidenced by a couple we met. She had got up in the night, not knowing that the room had been flooded and immediately slipped and damaged her spine. The doctor charged her 160 Euros for injections and pain killing gel. Would the hotel cover the cost of this? Not a chance as that’s what insurance is for – but what about the 60 Euros excess??? Another example of cynical greedy management.
The staff did wonderfully to get things back to normal in as short a time as possible. Did we get any apology from management for the inconvenience? No. Did our Thomas Cook rep come around to see if we were ok or needed to make insurance claims and the like? No chance. In all our years of travelling we have never met a representative who is so disinterested in his job or his guests. We did, however, get letters through our door trying to persuade us to go on his excursions!!
Apart from this aberration in the weather, January is a fine time to visit the Red Sea as the temperature is good and the hotels are not at capacity so finding a sunbed anywhere is not a problem. Would I recommend you book into this complex? Not at brochure prices. If you can get a good deal then go for it but at brochure prices there are much better hotels available on the Red Sea. Also be prepared to pay additionally for a superior room if your standard room is next to a building site! Pound for pound this hotel is disappointing and not value for money.
Advice: upgrade from standard to superior if you want a decent room
Activities:
Good for: Beach
" Lovely hotel but horrid men. "
Submitted By: Miss Lou HarrisAnd I don't mean those outside the hotel despite the fact that a taxi driver stopped by our group and requested personal favours from us.
After a night out to the local club we returned back to the hotel and made our way back to our room but was stopped by one of the pool men who also requested personal favours from us.
Most of the staff were wonderful and very respectful but there were some that once they discovered three girls staying on their own make it clear they are only thinking of one thing and believe you are willing to give it to you.
If you travel to Egpty I suggest you go in a large group if you are all girls or make sure you travel with a man.
I don't want to ruin anyone's future hoilday here but at times it made myself feel dirty and uncomfortable.
Good for: Beach
" lovely hotel "
Submitted By: zoewalkerAdvice: It is lovely place to be
Activities:
Good for: Beach
" Lovely hotel, great food, very nice pools "
Submitted By: tamara_dThe bars were always busy but that was to be expected. You generally got served within 2-3 minutes or 5 being the most.
The pools were brill, i really liked them as they all has various depths. The fountain main pool was my favourite as it was the biggest and i liked the swim up bar. They were all very warm aswell but thats no wonder when the temps outside are 45degrees.
The rooms were fine, very clean, tidy and little extras like toiletries and tea+coffee making facilities were good. TV with english channels, good air con, free safe and fresh towels everyday.
The only main annoyances i had was the evening entertainment or lack of it and the fact people got up at 6am to resevre sunbeds when the hotel stated you were not allowed to reserve them. The entertainment was poor, you had to make your own or get the free shuttle bus into naama bay, taxis onyl cost 50egyptian pounds back (£5.50).
The hotel is in nabq bay which has a mcdonalds, kfc, starbucks, clothes shops, restaurants, and a big metro supermarket.
The beach is nice plenty of loungers unlike the pools and the jetty was long so you could see plenty of fish on your walk along it. The sea didnt get very deep until it dropped off and got very deep were the diving was done.
I would deffinately go back to this hotel although i would probablt like to upgrade to VIP as you get your own restaurant, upgraded spirits and a few nice extras.
Advice: nice place, hot weather, very cheap
Activities: loved the chinese restaurant in the hotel and the peking outside the hotel
Good for: Beach
" tropicana grand azure "
Submitted By: zaramactips
*always get a taxi from the hotel limo service or the shuttle bus on a evening! do not get in a local taxi after dark i honestly thought i was going to die!
* try the a la carte resturants
*go on the quad biking over the desert
*tip well and the service is fantastic we were always first to be served.
*be aware the hotel is on a very large scale and when its hot its abit of a trek.
the hotel is really nice and i am a trael agent and very hard to please at the end of the day you get what you pay for and this hotel is well worth abit extra. i have already booked to return in 2010!
Good for: Beach
" not 5 star by any means "
Submitted By: GORDY1Advice: nice people even though they can be a nuisance, just say LA SHOKRAN WHICH MEANS NO THANK YOU
Activities: MEDDITERANEAN, ITALIAN AND CHINESE. AND ALSO DO GO TO FANTASIA BUT DO IT YOURSELF MUCH CHEAPER BY TA
Good for: Beach
" Best Holiday "
Submitted By: katiewilson1. save room in your suitcase and dont pack towels. You get towel cards which you hand in each morning and get a fresh new towel for the day.
2. Change the bulk of your money in egypt as you get far more for your money there is a bank just outside the hotel entrance to your right. We just changed £50 at home so we had a small amount of money to start us off
3. Dont tip the staff english coins as they cannot change them in banks as they will only change notes.
4. Try and put your towels out before 9.00am as the pools get pretty full quickly!
We did the Cairo trip while here to see the pyramids which was amazing (a little expensive at £200 each) well worth it! Again Cairo airport is horrible, just a free for all but dont be put off!
If you have children be prepared for the staff to fuss round them. Its nothing offensive they just love kids and as they work in Sharm for 30 days then go back to Cairo for a week to see their family they dont get much time with their own families. The men within the hotel do look at girls but no more than any other man, however out of the resort they are quite sleezy so beware! The hotel staff do not expect or ask for a tip and are gratefull for anything but again outside of the resort they will hassle you to give them money for rubbish soveniers. You just have to say "NO!" sternly! We only tipped the bell boy and we left the cleaner a tip at the end of the week.
We are both 22 years old but the hotel had such a wide array of people, children, young couples, older couples, families. A mixture of english, german and russian.
Amazing place and very diffreent to any where i have ever been! Have fun!
Advice: amazing experience, opens your eyes to a very different culture
Activities: The pyramids are a must see if you go here!
Good for: Beach
" lovely hotel "
Submitted By: jacqui1972Good for: Beach City Breaks
" Grand Azure take two! "
Submitted By: Jo Bloggs1. Hassle from Shop owners - In and around the hotel I would occasionally get someone trying to coax me into his shop. But this was done in a friendly, polite manner, and a simple "No thanks, I'm not interested" would suffice. I think there are a lot of tourists (mainly English) who think they have the god given right to strut around someone else's country, then moan like drain when they encounter some of the local culture.
If you thought it was bad by the hotel, take a trip up to the pyramids in Cairo....!
2. Food poisoning/upset tummy - I'm sorry but I would bet my right ball that in 99% of cases it's dehydration. Have a look at the top 5 symptoms of unabated dehydration. We all like to hit the sunbeds when we're away in a hot sunny climate, and so we should. But I can guarantee nearly everyone doesn't drink enough water whilst sunbathing. It is advised to drink between 3 and 4L of water a day in a hot climate, not taking into account you could be sat in the sun for up to 5 hours. Add to that, most people like a tipple at the pool bar throughout the day, it's no wonder people are Ill. People need to use a bit of common sense and not blame their ignorance on the hotels cuisine...
3. Women being hounded/"looked at" by the locals - If they were dressed appropriately in, what is, a Muslim country that wouldn't happen. How many local women did you see while you were away? Nope, I didn't see many either, so it's no wonder the local men don't know where to look when scantly clad westerners trot past.
Anyway.... Having just got back from our second trip to The Grand Azure, myself and the girlfriend had an even better time than last year. The food was good last year, by no means Gordon Ramsey, but good. It was even better this year, and there seemed to be even more choice. Also a lot more of the food seemed to be cooked in front of you (e-coli accusers take note) and seemed a lot fresher.
I will agree that the hotel entertainment is as bad as ever. I was also disappointed at how long you had to wait at the main lobby bar if you queued for your own drinks. The table service is all well and good, but none of the guys seemed to have any real experience of how to run a bar, which by 10 o'clock equated to mayhem! The snorkeling was stunning at the end of the pier, and I even used the gym this time round, which was adequate.
If you want a nice relaxing break, in lovely surroundings, being looked after buy some very friendly people, you'll do well to beat this place for value for money.
I would however advise booking 2 weeks either side of school holidays as our tranquility was thwarted by the influx of about 30,000 kids during the last week of term time. Also if you plan to do any excursions, don't book ANYTHING through your tour operator. The mark up they charge is astronomical, definitely head into Namma bay and have a shop around. And never take the first price, I usually halved their offer (they'll look at you like a piece of dog dirt though) and barter from there...
Enjoy!
Oh one more thing. Apparently a 2 year deal the hotel had with a Russian Tour company has now expired. We hardly encountered any this time round..... Lovely.
" this hotel highly recommended "
Submitted By: jacdoddexpect,but needn't have worried as this place is fantastic. The hotel certainly is grand
the swimming pools, water slides wonderful safe fun for children, but also quiter areas for
adults. The landscaped gardens are extensive and full of flowers and green lush grass going
right down to beach. The food is of high standard and lots of choice as to where and when
to eat. The staff are extremley helpfull and friendly. You will not be disapointed with this hotel.
Good for: City Breaks
" Lovely Hotel But Got Arrested / Wife Injured ! "
Submitted By: chocoWe arrived at a very bust airport terminal and then we ushered to a coach at the top of the Car Park.
Arrived at a beautiful Hotel 10 min later along a wonderful stretch of road out of airport, We went to reception helpful polite charming warm & friendly.
Our rooms very clean & spacious & a delight with exceptional views
Our large family were advised to book Trips via Churchills Cafe attached to the Hotel, Quote he will give you a better deal (Fully Insured) i get better commission from them rather then use First Choice Quote You will be safe & there British.
How wrong we booked Quad Biking for there to be an accident family member broke Shoulder Arm & damaged a leg, In hospital three days what a disgrace tried getting the Rep did not want to know, went to Churchills Not a Sorry or howes your father, We have reported this to First Choice Head Office & No response as of yet we are seeking legal action, make no mistake.
Alarm bells should of rung when i left there cafe two nights earlier after having a beer and the Police stopped me i was took to Tourist police for over an hour its now apparent they have no licence if you are caught drinking there or they are caught serving you , you end up arrested i was Fined 500.00 Egyptian pounds because i drank in Churchills Cafe, I warn others steer cleer, I reported this to First Choice again & was told i choose to drink there.
Also steer cleer of a Company Called Lion Resorts ( Time Share ) They jump out of cars & give you a scratch card Blonde Divies, Youve won youve won they say come with us and collect your prize, its a farce they want you to sign up for a time share, i was there 4 hours and had to pay for my own transport back...
LTI Grand Azure in general is lovely the beaches food and people are kind and caring shame you cannot say the same for the British Cafe
Advice: Steer Clear of Churchills
Activities: Old Sharm
Good for: Beach
" 10/10 deffiently returning "
Submitted By: footymadThe hotel was massive with seven pools it was brilliant for the kids never once did they get bored and were constantly entertained. The hotel itself was spotless the room was amazing and each day we 2would come back to another animal on are bed that would be made up of towels. The food in the hotel was standard nothing to fancy but by far edable and alot to choose from we stayed for 2weeks so near the end of the second week some food was being repeated but you expect that anyway.
As for the reps in the hotel for kids entertainment cant get better but foer anything else i advise people not to use them. We went to the welcome meeting and were advised by them not to use any tour companies outside the hotel as there not insured not to use the blue and white taxi's use the limo service from the hotel and not to go into some places of sharm el sheikh because it wasnt safe excuse my language but what aload of crap.
We had read a number of other reviews before we went on holiday and in alot of reviews St George's Bar came up and how good the english guy is and how cheap his trips were so we decided to go for a wonder down after already seeing the reps prices for trips. We wanted to do the quad biking, tiran island snorkling and cairo by bus and the kids also wanted to do the water parks. The reps gave us a pricing of £25 single quad and £30 double for 2hour quad biking tiran island snorkling was £45 adult £35 child cairo by bus £90 adult and child as it was still a seat on the coach and water parks £35 adult £30 child ticket only. We met the English fella himself nice enough guy also met his daughter and son its a family run bar and pete also said they would accomany us on the trips apart from cairo as he couldnt travel to cairo everytime someone booked it. He gave us his prices list which was very good price considering what the reps had gave he accompanied us on all the trips as promised and made are holiday so much more cheaper and so much more fun so anyone whos goin to sharm i would deffiently stop off and see him.
As for the limo services dont use it, its a normal care just that they charge you 100le each way to namba t the taxis costing 50le each way or a shuttle bus for 3le to nambabay each way. As for your not safe in some parts of sharm dont believe it youyr totally safe yeh theres hassle and bassle but nothing dangerous theres police everywhere but for your safety i would rate this holiday 10 out of 10 and would reccommend this hotel to anyone and everyone
Advice: brill
Activities: st georges
Good for: Beach
" Great Hotel Shame Cannot Trust Brit Owners "
Submitted By: chocoArrived at Airport what a joke its like a cattle market no organisation what so ever, queuing pushing shouting and police everywhere what a joke..#
We had to walk 1/2 mile to get bus it seemed First Choice Reps were no where to be seen ( Do not buy Visa Do Not Listen to Reps )arrived at the Hotel 30 min later.
The Hotel is Beautiful and like a palace the Food is plentyful Fresh Well Presented & Plenty of Choice, Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Amazing ( Do Not Believe Reviews About Food )
The pools Surrounding area & Beach was magnificant & beyond our families dreams, We booked various trips ( Do Not Trust First Choice or Churchills Cafe )There seems to be a scam Rep does a welcome presentation then takes you to one side has a quite word, Tells you First Choice use Churchills Cafe attached to Hotel for trips & that they are fully insured and to book direct and save money(THEY ARE NOT) My son had anaccident on a quad biking trip broke his shoulder when the bike he was using had no brakes, he spent two days in hospital & CHURCHILLS are NOT insured & the Rep has no right to say they are FIRST CHOICE want nothing to do with it.#
After my son was released i spoke to another guest who booked trips & were not collected told they need to reclaim, there money when back in UK, beyond there control..
Churchills is a disgrace English Run with a respectable name if only it lived up to the tittle..STAY Well clear.
Holiday apart from the latter was great hotel was amazing staff & everything else a dream come true believe in the Egyptians yes they hassle you but do not lie or Rob you...
First Choice & Churchills alais Arran & Tony are a Joke...
Advice: Beautiful
Activities: Mahoneys
Good for: Beach















Advice: stay away
Activities: