Sunrise Island Garden Resort, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Hotel Information
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
Maxim Plaza & Garden Resort is a 5 Stars Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh zone, located at Marsa El Sedid - Sharks Bay in front of Tiran Island (about 05 Min. from Sharm El Sheikh International airport, 10 Min. from city centre). The Resort encompasses the Maxim Plaza Hotel, directly alongside the beach and the Garden Resort (scheduled for completion later this year, 2004) standing behind the Plaza and separated by a road. The area, fronted by the Red Sea's sandy beach is ideal for divers and for families with children.This Hotel is now known as the Sunrise Island View Suites
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Sunrise Island Garden Resort Reviews
" My partner and I have just come back... "
Submitted By: Miss J Kell
My partner and I have just come back from our two week holiday at the Sunrise Garden Resort (ex Maxim Plaza). We had the most fantastic time and would recommend the hotel and resort to anyone.
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We were a little apprehensive at first due to reading bad reports but upon arriving our fears quickly disappeared! The rooms are very spacious, clean and comfortable and we were very lucky to have fab views of the pool.
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The food in all of the restaurants was of good quality and there is plenty to choose from however, it does get a little repetitive after a week or so. The only down side we found was that wine was only served at meal times and once you had finished your small glass, it was very difficult to get another one. In the end we just opted to buy bottles - much easier and less hassle!!!!
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If you do fancy a change of scenery, the hotel offers a convenient shuttle bus into Naama Bay (at a small cost) and there are a wide choice of excellent restaurants and bars to choose from. I would highly recommend the Mexican, its cheap and good fun!
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The daily entertainment is ok if you like "Water Gym" and "Water Polo" However, the majority of people who take part in these activities are Russian and it can get very competitive.
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Drinks from the pool bar are ok and the spirits are not as bad as people have previously made out but they are served in small plastic cups. We found that we were up and down to the bar quite a lot throughout the day.
I think there are a few important things to mention of you are wanting to book a holiday here, they are:
Please don’t listen to any of the bad comments previously written about this hotel, they are a load of rubbish and these people must of been very unlucky.
Take lots of small denominations of US Dollars and Egyptian pounds for tips. (The staff really do rely on the tips)
If you are planning to get a taxi from the airport, the drivers will want English currency. I think we got stung and ended up paying about £10.
Don’t get conned into to buying the Visa when you land. They are only required if you are going outside of the area. Just tell them that you are staying in Sharm, they wont like it but its better than lining their pockets for no reason!
Definitely try the snorkelling and if you can, the diving. We booked the beginners course for about £50, it was only a 1 day course but it was amusing and its given me a taste for more!!!!!! <br>
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We were a little apprehensive at first due to reading bad reports but upon arriving our fears quickly disappeared! The rooms are very spacious, clean and comfortable and we were very lucky to have fab views of the pool.
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The food in all of the restaurants was of good quality and there is plenty to choose from however, it does get a little repetitive after a week or so. The only down side we found was that wine was only served at meal times and once you had finished your small glass, it was very difficult to get another one. In the end we just opted to buy bottles - much easier and less hassle!!!!
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If you do fancy a change of scenery, the hotel offers a convenient shuttle bus into Naama Bay (at a small cost) and there are a wide choice of excellent restaurants and bars to choose from. I would highly recommend the Mexican, its cheap and good fun!
<br>
The daily entertainment is ok if you like "Water Gym" and "Water Polo" However, the majority of people who take part in these activities are Russian and it can get very competitive.
<br>
Drinks from the pool bar are ok and the spirits are not as bad as people have previously made out but they are served in small plastic cups. We found that we were up and down to the bar quite a lot throughout the day.
I think there are a few important things to mention of you are wanting to book a holiday here, they are:
Please don’t listen to any of the bad comments previously written about this hotel, they are a load of rubbish and these people must of been very unlucky.
Take lots of small denominations of US Dollars and Egyptian pounds for tips. (The staff really do rely on the tips)
If you are planning to get a taxi from the airport, the drivers will want English currency. I think we got stung and ended up paying about £10.
Don’t get conned into to buying the Visa when you land. They are only required if you are going outside of the area. Just tell them that you are staying in Sharm, they wont like it but its better than lining their pockets for no reason!
Definitely try the snorkelling and if you can, the diving. We booked the beginners course for about £50, it was only a 1 day course but it was amusing and its given me a taste for more!!!!!! <br>
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" We had a fantastic time at the Maxim... "
Submitted By: Ms L Williamson
We had a fantastic time at the Maxim Plaza. The room was spacious and very clean. We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful.
I’d recommend taking a plastic card similar to a credit card so you can leave it in the slot so you can have the air con. on all day.
We saw a couple of ants but no cockroaches or big bugs to worry about!
The hotel is not a 5* by UK standards but was of a high standard.
There is a huge array of food and I especially enjoyed the pasta, which was cooked with your choice of ingredients while you waited. There is a wide choice for vegetarians.
There isn't a lot to do in the hotel at night as the entertainment is poor. The Lebanese restaurant was very good. We went out to Naama Bay by taxi every evening and it was nice to look round the shops and have a drink there.
The swimming pool was lovely and it was cleaned every evening.
Despite the close proximity to the airport the noise isn't too bad at all. We noticed it only twice. You will hear more religious chanting than planes.
Don’t miss out on a trip to the Old Market. It’s a bit grubby and shabby but def. worth seeing.
We went on the Bedouin camel trek trip, which was a total con, there are no Bedouins and the Bedouin camp has been constructed for tourists.
It’s very relaxing here, not a lot to do but perfect if you want to switch off in a nice pleasant environment.
I’m going back next year to this hotel, I had a great time.
I’d recommend taking a plastic card similar to a credit card so you can leave it in the slot so you can have the air con. on all day.
We saw a couple of ants but no cockroaches or big bugs to worry about!
The hotel is not a 5* by UK standards but was of a high standard.
There is a huge array of food and I especially enjoyed the pasta, which was cooked with your choice of ingredients while you waited. There is a wide choice for vegetarians.
There isn't a lot to do in the hotel at night as the entertainment is poor. The Lebanese restaurant was very good. We went out to Naama Bay by taxi every evening and it was nice to look round the shops and have a drink there.
The swimming pool was lovely and it was cleaned every evening.
Despite the close proximity to the airport the noise isn't too bad at all. We noticed it only twice. You will hear more religious chanting than planes.
Don’t miss out on a trip to the Old Market. It’s a bit grubby and shabby but def. worth seeing.
We went on the Bedouin camel trek trip, which was a total con, there are no Bedouins and the Bedouin camp has been constructed for tourists.
It’s very relaxing here, not a lot to do but perfect if you want to switch off in a nice pleasant environment.
I’m going back next year to this hotel, I had a great time.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Lastminute
" I recently stayed at the Maxim Plaza... "
Submitted By: Mr Mr Rog
I recently stayed at the Maxim Plaza White Night resort in Sharks Bay, Sharm el Sheikh. Prior to going I read the negative reviews on this website about the hotel, so I was not entirely sure what to expect.
....Well, I had a great time! What I can’t understand is what people expect for the money they pay for a holiday. If you want top class then you pay top class money for your hotel. The ratings levels in Egypt are not on a par with the UK, which I thought would be obvious considering the difference in standard of living.... 5 star there is not a 5 star in the UK. I personally would rate the hotel a good 4 star and would definitely go back.
There are 2 resorts that are part of Maxim Plaza, which isn't always clear on booking, but the White Night Resort is for sure a lot better than the Gardens Resort. Firstly, The White Night Resort is bigger, with attractive features around the rooms and leads directly to the beach and there are 4 pools within this particular resort, 2 with water slides, which were good fun after far too many of the Egyptian Stella! Also It makes life a lot easier as guest from the Gardens resort have to get special tickets in order to have drinks and get food while down at the beach, unlike White Night guests who just wave their wristband.
The food was fantastic, with 3 choices of restaurant... an Italian, also a buffet type restaurant with choices of traditional Egyptian food and some more recognisable options, then lastly an outside carvery type affair. The was also another buffet restaurant at lunchtime down by the beach which was our choice most days for lunch. The salads in general aren’t too great, but the meats and fish were very good. And yes, funny enough there was lots of fish, who’d have thought that when the resort is that close to the sea. If you’re expecting to be able to have steak and kidney pie or other similar English dishes then you will be sadly disappointed... but in all honesty if you expect to have that rubbish everywhere you go then maybe you shouldn’t leave the country to embarrass the rest of us while abroad.
There is no problem with the food there, but what you have to remember is that you are changing your diet, so you may have a day or so of going a bit more regular. But if you are sensible with the tap water and do NOT drink it or clean your teeth with it then you should have no problem. The problem is with the bacteria present in the water, which is the cause of most apparent 'food poisoning' stories. If you are concerned, a quick trip to pharmacy will sort the problem in no time.
A big problem we found was with dehydration due to the dry heat, which is very different from heat in Spain etc. I could quite easily see off 4-6 litres of water during the day without really noticing. So my advice is stock up on bottled water from the supermarket so you have a good supply in your room.
The resort is probably 90% Russian, but they were no problem to us. Most of them keep themselves to themselves. We found a lot of them to be very friendly, especially when you try to make an effort with them and learn some Russian word from them etc... And lastly lots of lovely Russian girls... gorgeous, stunning and perfect bodies... what more can a man ask for!
Outside the hotel you need to haggle for everything, they take all the main currencies, Sterling, US Dollars, Euros and Egyptian Pounds. Taxis to Naama Bay shouldn’t cost anymore than £2-£3 sterling which is about 20 to 30 Egyptian pounds, haggle as they will try it on. The airport is stone throw away but due to strange restrictions and the passing of a ticket on the entrance it does cost a bit more to go there, approx £4-£5.
There is nothing in Sharks Bay apart from hotels, a couple of so-called 'supermarkets' and desert. Naama Bay is a lot more commercialised with outside bars/restaurants down the middle of the walk way and it very own Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds so beware! Anyway… Happy holidays!
....Well, I had a great time! What I can’t understand is what people expect for the money they pay for a holiday. If you want top class then you pay top class money for your hotel. The ratings levels in Egypt are not on a par with the UK, which I thought would be obvious considering the difference in standard of living.... 5 star there is not a 5 star in the UK. I personally would rate the hotel a good 4 star and would definitely go back.
There are 2 resorts that are part of Maxim Plaza, which isn't always clear on booking, but the White Night Resort is for sure a lot better than the Gardens Resort. Firstly, The White Night Resort is bigger, with attractive features around the rooms and leads directly to the beach and there are 4 pools within this particular resort, 2 with water slides, which were good fun after far too many of the Egyptian Stella! Also It makes life a lot easier as guest from the Gardens resort have to get special tickets in order to have drinks and get food while down at the beach, unlike White Night guests who just wave their wristband.
The food was fantastic, with 3 choices of restaurant... an Italian, also a buffet type restaurant with choices of traditional Egyptian food and some more recognisable options, then lastly an outside carvery type affair. The was also another buffet restaurant at lunchtime down by the beach which was our choice most days for lunch. The salads in general aren’t too great, but the meats and fish were very good. And yes, funny enough there was lots of fish, who’d have thought that when the resort is that close to the sea. If you’re expecting to be able to have steak and kidney pie or other similar English dishes then you will be sadly disappointed... but in all honesty if you expect to have that rubbish everywhere you go then maybe you shouldn’t leave the country to embarrass the rest of us while abroad.
There is no problem with the food there, but what you have to remember is that you are changing your diet, so you may have a day or so of going a bit more regular. But if you are sensible with the tap water and do NOT drink it or clean your teeth with it then you should have no problem. The problem is with the bacteria present in the water, which is the cause of most apparent 'food poisoning' stories. If you are concerned, a quick trip to pharmacy will sort the problem in no time.
A big problem we found was with dehydration due to the dry heat, which is very different from heat in Spain etc. I could quite easily see off 4-6 litres of water during the day without really noticing. So my advice is stock up on bottled water from the supermarket so you have a good supply in your room.
The resort is probably 90% Russian, but they were no problem to us. Most of them keep themselves to themselves. We found a lot of them to be very friendly, especially when you try to make an effort with them and learn some Russian word from them etc... And lastly lots of lovely Russian girls... gorgeous, stunning and perfect bodies... what more can a man ask for!
Outside the hotel you need to haggle for everything, they take all the main currencies, Sterling, US Dollars, Euros and Egyptian Pounds. Taxis to Naama Bay shouldn’t cost anymore than £2-£3 sterling which is about 20 to 30 Egyptian pounds, haggle as they will try it on. The airport is stone throw away but due to strange restrictions and the passing of a ticket on the entrance it does cost a bit more to go there, approx £4-£5.
There is nothing in Sharks Bay apart from hotels, a couple of so-called 'supermarkets' and desert. Naama Bay is a lot more commercialised with outside bars/restaurants down the middle of the walk way and it very own Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds so beware! Anyway… Happy holidays!
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Red Sea Travel
" Sharm El Sheikh airport was chaotic... "
Submitted By: Ms J Collings
Sharm El Sheikh airport was chaotic but once through all was great. Tour guide very helpful and knowledgeable about local area. Maxim Plaza is a large resort, very clean and all the staff were extremely polite and helpful. Tipping small amounts every now and again was appreciated. Not very keen on the wine! Red just about o.k. white was undrinkable.
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Outside of the resort be prepared to barter for goods it is expected. Also be prepared to be pestered. We went to Naarma Bay and were approached by every cafe and shop owner trying to get us to go in that got very tedious. You have to ignore them. Take dollars, and just a few Egyptian pounds as most places preferred to be paid in dollars. We went on 2 excursions. Quad biking - 2 hours tearing across the desert getting filthy was fantastic fun - wear the helmet!!
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We went on the camel ride and dinner with the Bedouins, don’t miss this its great. We really enjoyed this holiday
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Outside of the resort be prepared to barter for goods it is expected. Also be prepared to be pestered. We went to Naarma Bay and were approached by every cafe and shop owner trying to get us to go in that got very tedious. You have to ignore them. Take dollars, and just a few Egyptian pounds as most places preferred to be paid in dollars. We went on 2 excursions. Quad biking - 2 hours tearing across the desert getting filthy was fantastic fun - wear the helmet!!
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We went on the camel ride and dinner with the Bedouins, don’t miss this its great. We really enjoyed this holiday
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Olympic Holidays
" Just got back from two weeks holiday... "
Submitted By: Mrs L Ferry
Just got back from two weeks holiday in Sharm, yesterday.
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Wow....fantastic holiday, couldn’t fault the Hotel...staff were great, they couldn’t do enough for you, rooms were spacious and clean, surroundings were beautiful. food was fine, especially the deserts! drinks were fine.
we are definitely going back next year (hopefully to this hotel)
We were very anxious about going there, after reading all the bad reports about this hotel, but it was absolutely fantastic. One of my best holidays ever.
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We went on lots of trips...Cairo by air was a 55-minute journey and was well worth it for £135. including lunch. We left the hotel at 5am and were back at the hotel by 8.30pm.
We went on a camel ride into the desert, boat trips, scuba diving etc.
The snorkelling is amazing off the jetty on the beach!
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If you have any questions please ask......enjoy.
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Wow....fantastic holiday, couldn’t fault the Hotel...staff were great, they couldn’t do enough for you, rooms were spacious and clean, surroundings were beautiful. food was fine, especially the deserts! drinks were fine.
we are definitely going back next year (hopefully to this hotel)
We were very anxious about going there, after reading all the bad reports about this hotel, but it was absolutely fantastic. One of my best holidays ever.
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We went on lots of trips...Cairo by air was a 55-minute journey and was well worth it for £135. including lunch. We left the hotel at 5am and were back at the hotel by 8.30pm.
We went on a camel ride into the desert, boat trips, scuba diving etc.
The snorkelling is amazing off the jetty on the beach!
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If you have any questions please ask......enjoy.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" Having read some of the reviews for... "
Submitted By: Mr M Thomas
Having read some of the reviews for this hotel my wife and I were slightly concerned. When we arrived we were expecting the worse but were pleasantly surprised to find that our fears were unnecessary.
The hotel is situated approx 10 minutes from the airport so you can hear planes taking off and landing constantly but that really wasn’t a problem.
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The hotel has two large pools and one of them has a chute slide which the kids seemed to enjoy. There are plenty of very comfortable sun beds around the pool and a bar serving soft/alcoholic drinks and cakes in the afternoon.
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There are 3 restaurants, which are the main buffet, Italian and the Lebanese, which is situated outside by the pools. We found that the main buffet restaurant did cater mainly for the Russians but there was plenty of choice so we could always find something to our taste.
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The beer is good however when you get one from the pool bar it is served in a small plastic cup (about 3 mouthfuls), a tip is to get friendly with the bar staff at the beginning of your holiday (tip helps) and they will serve your drinks in a glass.
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The spirits take some getting use to but there not that bad and they don’t have diet coke.
The rooms were spacious and cleaned daily. The bathroom only has a shower cubicle, no bath.
The staff were very friendly and helpful and even more so if you tip them. They like the British and are keen to make your stay as enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
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Overall the hotel was 95% Russians but we didn’t have a problem with them, they keep themselves to themselves. I wouldn’t class it as a 5 star hotel probably a 3 star but we had a very relaxing and enjoyable time.
The hotel is situated approx 10 minutes from the airport so you can hear planes taking off and landing constantly but that really wasn’t a problem.
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The hotel has two large pools and one of them has a chute slide which the kids seemed to enjoy. There are plenty of very comfortable sun beds around the pool and a bar serving soft/alcoholic drinks and cakes in the afternoon.
<br>
There are 3 restaurants, which are the main buffet, Italian and the Lebanese, which is situated outside by the pools. We found that the main buffet restaurant did cater mainly for the Russians but there was plenty of choice so we could always find something to our taste.
<br>
The beer is good however when you get one from the pool bar it is served in a small plastic cup (about 3 mouthfuls), a tip is to get friendly with the bar staff at the beginning of your holiday (tip helps) and they will serve your drinks in a glass.
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The spirits take some getting use to but there not that bad and they don’t have diet coke.
The rooms were spacious and cleaned daily. The bathroom only has a shower cubicle, no bath.
The staff were very friendly and helpful and even more so if you tip them. They like the British and are keen to make your stay as enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
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Overall the hotel was 95% Russians but we didn’t have a problem with them, they keep themselves to themselves. I wouldn’t class it as a 5 star hotel probably a 3 star but we had a very relaxing and enjoyable time.
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Olympic Holidays
" I can say that having spent a... "
Submitted By: Mr R Lee
I can say that having spent a pleasant week at the Maxim Gardens Resort (early Feb) some of the more negative reports are very subjective. I think that some people who had isolated problems like theft or injury, would have had any holiday ruined. However the place is very clean, rooms adequate size and well appointed. Service excellent (especially for families) and facilities good.
We paid approx £490-00 (adult) per head all in, and got great sunbathing weather. I guess the problems start if you go higher season when it gets really busy and you pay more, suddenly you raise your expectations. If you’re an egg & chips type then the food may become a problem but its typical for the region, rice, chicken, beef, salads and nice desserts.
The service probably gets worse at the height of the season and I guess they struggle with the numbers. When we went, the place was about ten percent occupied, so the service was brilliant, no queues.
The Russians are OK but don’t really want to mix with the Brits. Not going to ruin your holiday.
Don’t let the bad reviews stop you going, but it’ll probably get very busy by May and if you pay top dollar you may be more critical than me. Good value on a budget. Great for Jan/Feb sun!
We paid approx £490-00 (adult) per head all in, and got great sunbathing weather. I guess the problems start if you go higher season when it gets really busy and you pay more, suddenly you raise your expectations. If you’re an egg & chips type then the food may become a problem but its typical for the region, rice, chicken, beef, salads and nice desserts.
The service probably gets worse at the height of the season and I guess they struggle with the numbers. When we went, the place was about ten percent occupied, so the service was brilliant, no queues.
The Russians are OK but don’t really want to mix with the Brits. Not going to ruin your holiday.
Don’t let the bad reviews stop you going, but it’ll probably get very busy by May and if you pay top dollar you may be more critical than me. Good value on a budget. Great for Jan/Feb sun!
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" There were mainly good, but a few bad... "
Submitted By: Mrs M Griffiths
There were mainly good, but a few bad points about this hotel - it is, I would say, more a 4 star hotel. 3 star would be too low. The rooms were large and very clean (we had a bath!) and nothing was too much trouble for the staff - they love the English and hate the Russians!
I can relate to that - the Russians are so rude - they made up about 90% of the guests, and they have absolutely no manners, which is why the Egyptians like the English better.
I was disappointed there was no beach for my 4-year-old son, just rocks and a jetty with a man-made thin layer of sand. I was also disappointed that ice creams were not included in the all inclusive price, nor were fruit smoothies, which is pretty poor.
The food was good, although the Italian restaurant was appalling, but the main restaurant was consistently good and the service excellent. The main pool was heated which was fine, but the others weren’t and it was too cold to swim in January, a shame as the main pool was packed and we like it quiet.
All inclusive didn’t work for us as a family as dinner was too late, starting at 7pm, our toddler was starving and miserable by then - also there is no real snack bar for during the day - the beach snack bar was gross hotdogs, not to be repeated. There is also only 1 inside bar in the evening and a couple of outside sitting areas, fine for high summer, but the winter months, although warm in the day, it is freezing a night, so again we were bored by the end of the holiday.
I would not go back to this hotel, because it is too geared towards the Russians, although I believe the management is desperate for more British visitors. They need a couple more bars and entertainment, which is not solely in Russian, you can only take so much!
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Also the meal times were wrong for families with no real other choice of snacks (there is nothing to eat in-between!) and also it is miles from anywhere, so you can’t have a walk out anywhere, apart from a very dark road. I never heard the planes though....
Shame about the bad points, as the hotel staff, rooms and food were very good.
I can relate to that - the Russians are so rude - they made up about 90% of the guests, and they have absolutely no manners, which is why the Egyptians like the English better.
I was disappointed there was no beach for my 4-year-old son, just rocks and a jetty with a man-made thin layer of sand. I was also disappointed that ice creams were not included in the all inclusive price, nor were fruit smoothies, which is pretty poor.
The food was good, although the Italian restaurant was appalling, but the main restaurant was consistently good and the service excellent. The main pool was heated which was fine, but the others weren’t and it was too cold to swim in January, a shame as the main pool was packed and we like it quiet.
All inclusive didn’t work for us as a family as dinner was too late, starting at 7pm, our toddler was starving and miserable by then - also there is no real snack bar for during the day - the beach snack bar was gross hotdogs, not to be repeated. There is also only 1 inside bar in the evening and a couple of outside sitting areas, fine for high summer, but the winter months, although warm in the day, it is freezing a night, so again we were bored by the end of the holiday.
I would not go back to this hotel, because it is too geared towards the Russians, although I believe the management is desperate for more British visitors. They need a couple more bars and entertainment, which is not solely in Russian, you can only take so much!
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Also the meal times were wrong for families with no real other choice of snacks (there is nothing to eat in-between!) and also it is miles from anywhere, so you can’t have a walk out anywhere, apart from a very dark road. I never heard the planes though....
Shame about the bad points, as the hotel staff, rooms and food were very good.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Sky Holidays
" We returned last week from the Maxim... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Lane
We returned last week from the Maxim Plaza Hotel and had a wonderful time.
The staff were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for us, in fact they made us feel like royalty. Perhaps the people who didn’t get good service did not give tips. As little as 1 dollar makes a lot of difference to their lives when they are only earning £30 a month.
Clean towels and bedding daily. The beach towels you could change as often as you liked, although only allowed one at a time.
The location is excellent with the beach restaurant overlooking the sea. The snorkelling also was very good. I had never done this before, but my husband made me and I couldn’t get over all the beautiful fish and coral.
There are four swimming pools, one of which is heated.
There were a lot of Russians there, but on the whole they didn’t cause any problems. (No more than the English in Spain
and Falaraki!!)
Yes, the variety of food is limited, but one must remember that this is Egypt, not a western country and I believe they did their best with the food that was available to them, and the desserts were absolutely delicious. The eggs were cooked fresh each morning, the way you wanted them. Also fresh pasta cooked at lunch time, while you waited.
The drinks were ok, one of the down sides being there were no diet drinks, but we did go to the supermarket just across the road and buy some diet coke. There was alcohol available all day, plus excellent cappuccinos, brought to your table by the bar staff, if you were a tipper.
There was a small parade of shops just across the road that sold all the things that you could get it Naama Bay, also some shops in the hotel.
All in all I would say this is a nice hotel and would definitely go back again.
The staff were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for us, in fact they made us feel like royalty. Perhaps the people who didn’t get good service did not give tips. As little as 1 dollar makes a lot of difference to their lives when they are only earning £30 a month.
Clean towels and bedding daily. The beach towels you could change as often as you liked, although only allowed one at a time.
The location is excellent with the beach restaurant overlooking the sea. The snorkelling also was very good. I had never done this before, but my husband made me and I couldn’t get over all the beautiful fish and coral.
There are four swimming pools, one of which is heated.
There were a lot of Russians there, but on the whole they didn’t cause any problems. (No more than the English in Spain
and Falaraki!!)
Yes, the variety of food is limited, but one must remember that this is Egypt, not a western country and I believe they did their best with the food that was available to them, and the desserts were absolutely delicious. The eggs were cooked fresh each morning, the way you wanted them. Also fresh pasta cooked at lunch time, while you waited.
The drinks were ok, one of the down sides being there were no diet drinks, but we did go to the supermarket just across the road and buy some diet coke. There was alcohol available all day, plus excellent cappuccinos, brought to your table by the bar staff, if you were a tipper.
There was a small parade of shops just across the road that sold all the things that you could get it Naama Bay, also some shops in the hotel.
All in all I would say this is a nice hotel and would definitely go back again.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" HHaving read the previous reports... "
Submitted By: Mrs S Bampton
HHaving read the previous reports prior to going on holiday to the Maxim Plaza resort, we thought we would be ready for anything and really just take it at face value. However, I can truly say this was the worse holiday we have ever had the dis-pleasure of taking.
When we made the booking with Olympic / Odyssey we were aware of the 2 differing resorts. We were assured that we had been booked into the White Knight on the beach, as this is what we wanted and all the pictures and information about the hotel in the brochure was geared towards this hotel. When the booking form came through, it said Gardens resort. It took a few calls to get this changed and then the travel agents had to pay the additional costs involved !!
On first impressions the hotel looks nice enough, very clean with lovely gardens and a water feature running through it.... But don’t be fooled. It is definitely not a 5 star resort, more like a 3. Within 24 hours of arriving all our money was stolen from the safe in our room, which is not secured to anything. We reported it to the hotel security, who did take it very seriously and we never saw or heard from our cleaner again. The hotel was not too keen in reporting it to the police and neither was the representative, as she said that after spending hours at the police station it would be very unlikely that we would get a crime reference number. The only good thing was that all our credit cards, mobile phones and passports were untouched.
There are 4 pools at the resort and only one of them was heated, which was totally surrounded by the Russians. The Russians were so rude. I don’t think they had ever learnt manners of queuing and waiting your turn. The hotel totally catered for the Russians mainly as 85% were Russian, 10% English and 5% Italian.
The food was bland, boring and just not safe to eat. Since arriving back my partner is still suffering with upset stomach and pains, 6 days later.
The words All Inclusive should be used very loosely as well. You need to pay extra for a fruit smoothie at breakfast, anything to do with the health spa, including the Jacuzzi and sauna, Seafood restaurant, drinks in the indoor bar and ice creams.
The beach is not what I would call a beach, it is man made and gritty, with desert sand plonked onto a flat surface in the rocks. You can’t just walk into the sea from it. However that said, the snorkelling off the jetty is amazing.
The rooms are spacious and well equipped.
If you are booked to go to this hotel, I really wish you luck !!
When we made the booking with Olympic / Odyssey we were aware of the 2 differing resorts. We were assured that we had been booked into the White Knight on the beach, as this is what we wanted and all the pictures and information about the hotel in the brochure was geared towards this hotel. When the booking form came through, it said Gardens resort. It took a few calls to get this changed and then the travel agents had to pay the additional costs involved !!
On first impressions the hotel looks nice enough, very clean with lovely gardens and a water feature running through it.... But don’t be fooled. It is definitely not a 5 star resort, more like a 3. Within 24 hours of arriving all our money was stolen from the safe in our room, which is not secured to anything. We reported it to the hotel security, who did take it very seriously and we never saw or heard from our cleaner again. The hotel was not too keen in reporting it to the police and neither was the representative, as she said that after spending hours at the police station it would be very unlikely that we would get a crime reference number. The only good thing was that all our credit cards, mobile phones and passports were untouched.
There are 4 pools at the resort and only one of them was heated, which was totally surrounded by the Russians. The Russians were so rude. I don’t think they had ever learnt manners of queuing and waiting your turn. The hotel totally catered for the Russians mainly as 85% were Russian, 10% English and 5% Italian.
The food was bland, boring and just not safe to eat. Since arriving back my partner is still suffering with upset stomach and pains, 6 days later.
The words All Inclusive should be used very loosely as well. You need to pay extra for a fruit smoothie at breakfast, anything to do with the health spa, including the Jacuzzi and sauna, Seafood restaurant, drinks in the indoor bar and ice creams.
The beach is not what I would call a beach, it is man made and gritty, with desert sand plonked onto a flat surface in the rocks. You can’t just walk into the sea from it. However that said, the snorkelling off the jetty is amazing.
The rooms are spacious and well equipped.
If you are booked to go to this hotel, I really wish you luck !!
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Olympic Holidays
" After reading recent reviews on this... "
Submitted By:
After reading recent reviews on this hotel before I went there on 24/01/05 I was really apprehensive about going to Maxim Plaza Gardens. However, all my fears were unfounded. The hotel is clean and spotless. The staff are so friendly and helpful.
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The food was definitely not as bad as reviews made out and the cakes are simply delicious. I put on half a stone!! Ok you can only get wine with your lunch and dinner but waiters offer as much as you like. There is also mineral water provided with your meals. The alcohol is better than you would get in an A/I in Spain.
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Yes, there was a lot of Russians in both hotels but they were mostly in groups and kept to themselves and we had no problems. In fact we had a brilliant night in the Hollywood Bar in White Knight Hotel where 90% of the guests were young Russians and they acted just the same if not better than young folk in the UK. By the way I am a Senior Citizen so if I can handle it I don’t see a problem.
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One tip if you are in the Gardens Resort you must take your towels from there to go on the beach. The towel hut at the beach will not supply them. Also remember to get vouchers for snacks and alcohol when your go over to White Knight. To have a meal at White Knight Beach Restaurant you must book at desk in Gardens on the morning you wish to go. A charge of 2 Dollars is made. They’re also 2 other restaurants in the Gardens - Italian and Bedouin. We went to the Italian - it was lovely but not in the same league as in UK.
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Shuttle bus takes you to the beach and is every 5 minutes.
The bus to Namma Bay is around £2 round trip. If you go to Sharm Old Town get taxi from hotel and get same taxi for return. Should be around 100 Egyptian pounds round trip.
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Personally I preferred Namma for shopping - you don’t get hassled as much.
I say go there with an open mind and I am sure you will have a wonderful holiday.
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The food was definitely not as bad as reviews made out and the cakes are simply delicious. I put on half a stone!! Ok you can only get wine with your lunch and dinner but waiters offer as much as you like. There is also mineral water provided with your meals. The alcohol is better than you would get in an A/I in Spain.
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Yes, there was a lot of Russians in both hotels but they were mostly in groups and kept to themselves and we had no problems. In fact we had a brilliant night in the Hollywood Bar in White Knight Hotel where 90% of the guests were young Russians and they acted just the same if not better than young folk in the UK. By the way I am a Senior Citizen so if I can handle it I don’t see a problem.
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One tip if you are in the Gardens Resort you must take your towels from there to go on the beach. The towel hut at the beach will not supply them. Also remember to get vouchers for snacks and alcohol when your go over to White Knight. To have a meal at White Knight Beach Restaurant you must book at desk in Gardens on the morning you wish to go. A charge of 2 Dollars is made. They’re also 2 other restaurants in the Gardens - Italian and Bedouin. We went to the Italian - it was lovely but not in the same league as in UK.
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Shuttle bus takes you to the beach and is every 5 minutes.
The bus to Namma Bay is around £2 round trip. If you go to Sharm Old Town get taxi from hotel and get same taxi for return. Should be around 100 Egyptian pounds round trip.
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Personally I preferred Namma for shopping - you don’t get hassled as much.
I say go there with an open mind and I am sure you will have a wonderful holiday.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" We had a great holiday but would NOT... "
Submitted By: Sinbad
We had a great holiday but would NOT recommend Fleetway Travel or the Maxim Plaza in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Overall, the hotel was a 5-star in name only. We stayed at the Maxim Plaza Gardens Resort, which is a five minute walk from the Maxim Plaza White Nights Resort. The latter is more extensive and right on the beach and has the advantage of a smallish fitness centre, a kids club and children’s' playground, but it is a lot more crowded and I prefer the pool layout and more relaxed feel of the Gardens Resort.
But frankly I would avoid both hotels. Re Gardens Resort: the service was incompetent and slipshod (too many examples to cite), the water supply unreliable (an afternoon with no water, a couple of evenings with no hot water etc), the food generally disappointing. The hotel is aimed mostly at Russians (generally ok if a bit victimised by latest fashion trends, but a few were ill-mannered), with a smaller smattering of Poles (very civilised) and Brits (ditto). The hotel bar has a bad layout, no atmosphere, no entertainment and no expertise in making mixed drinks. The rooms are ok if a bit smallish, with standard cheapo furnishings and no proper bath. You do hear the aircraft noise late at night due to the hotel’s proximity to the airport - it wasn’t unbearable however.
On the plus side, the pool is very nice, there are great water slides and the activity coordinators are enthusiastic (especially a Turkish guy and a Slovakian woman) even if the activities were fairly basic. The tennis court is sandy and has too many pebbles - lots of funny bounces - and the net has seen better days. Overall, it’s a picture of neglect. The football pitch is next to a building site and there were people who wanted to play other than my son. The grounds are well-maintained and clean, although the White Nights resort has a more interesting landscaping, if that’s your thing.
We were stung by the visa scam to the tune of GBP 12 / USD 17 per person. (Note: the exchange rate given for USD is much more favourable than GBP !!) When you arrive in the terminal, ignore the Fleetway Travel reps directing you to queue for a visa to the left and go straight for your luggage to the right. In fact, you don’t need a visa if you don’t leave Sharm el-Sheikh. I got very angry when I learned this and called Fleetway Travel. I spoke with ‘A member of Fleetway Staff’ who brushed me off and said it’s up to us to get the right visa and that ‘we have been informed that you musty pay for a visa’. She was unmoved when I explained to her that the Fleetway Travel reps had misled us into obtaining an entirely unnecessary visa and that surely Fleetway Travel shouldn’t be complicit in ripping off its clients and has even a duty to give us correct information. Evelyn could scarcely contain her indifference and she refused to pass me to her supervisor ‘Sue’ and she couldn’t be bothered to look into this when I asked her to contact the Egyptian Embassy herself. Fleetway Travel should be re-christened ‘Fleeceway Travel’. AVOID Fleetway Travel for Sharm el-Sheikh.
All that said, we had a great holiday. The pool had two giant water slides providing for hours of fun for the kids. We didn’t mind the lack of entertainment. (If we didn’t have kids, we would have been bored out of our skulls at night.) There is outstanding snorkelling off the jetty at the Maxim Plaza White Knights resort on the beach. The snorkelling was beyond description. And the weather was good. We also took a taxi to Naama Bay (modern, touristy but fun) for LE 40 each way (i.e. about what the rip-off hotel shuttle costs) and to the Old Market (a little more intimidating but not at all threatening and actually very atmospheric - we found a great juice bar there) for LE 75 each way.
In summary, I would return to Sharm el-Sheikh but not to the Maxim Plaza and not with Fleetway Travel.
Overall, the hotel was a 5-star in name only. We stayed at the Maxim Plaza Gardens Resort, which is a five minute walk from the Maxim Plaza White Nights Resort. The latter is more extensive and right on the beach and has the advantage of a smallish fitness centre, a kids club and children’s' playground, but it is a lot more crowded and I prefer the pool layout and more relaxed feel of the Gardens Resort.
But frankly I would avoid both hotels. Re Gardens Resort: the service was incompetent and slipshod (too many examples to cite), the water supply unreliable (an afternoon with no water, a couple of evenings with no hot water etc), the food generally disappointing. The hotel is aimed mostly at Russians (generally ok if a bit victimised by latest fashion trends, but a few were ill-mannered), with a smaller smattering of Poles (very civilised) and Brits (ditto). The hotel bar has a bad layout, no atmosphere, no entertainment and no expertise in making mixed drinks. The rooms are ok if a bit smallish, with standard cheapo furnishings and no proper bath. You do hear the aircraft noise late at night due to the hotel’s proximity to the airport - it wasn’t unbearable however.
On the plus side, the pool is very nice, there are great water slides and the activity coordinators are enthusiastic (especially a Turkish guy and a Slovakian woman) even if the activities were fairly basic. The tennis court is sandy and has too many pebbles - lots of funny bounces - and the net has seen better days. Overall, it’s a picture of neglect. The football pitch is next to a building site and there were people who wanted to play other than my son. The grounds are well-maintained and clean, although the White Nights resort has a more interesting landscaping, if that’s your thing.
We were stung by the visa scam to the tune of GBP 12 / USD 17 per person. (Note: the exchange rate given for USD is much more favourable than GBP !!) When you arrive in the terminal, ignore the Fleetway Travel reps directing you to queue for a visa to the left and go straight for your luggage to the right. In fact, you don’t need a visa if you don’t leave Sharm el-Sheikh. I got very angry when I learned this and called Fleetway Travel. I spoke with ‘A member of Fleetway Staff’ who brushed me off and said it’s up to us to get the right visa and that ‘we have been informed that you musty pay for a visa’. She was unmoved when I explained to her that the Fleetway Travel reps had misled us into obtaining an entirely unnecessary visa and that surely Fleetway Travel shouldn’t be complicit in ripping off its clients and has even a duty to give us correct information. Evelyn could scarcely contain her indifference and she refused to pass me to her supervisor ‘Sue’ and she couldn’t be bothered to look into this when I asked her to contact the Egyptian Embassy herself. Fleetway Travel should be re-christened ‘Fleeceway Travel’. AVOID Fleetway Travel for Sharm el-Sheikh.
All that said, we had a great holiday. The pool had two giant water slides providing for hours of fun for the kids. We didn’t mind the lack of entertainment. (If we didn’t have kids, we would have been bored out of our skulls at night.) There is outstanding snorkelling off the jetty at the Maxim Plaza White Knights resort on the beach. The snorkelling was beyond description. And the weather was good. We also took a taxi to Naama Bay (modern, touristy but fun) for LE 40 each way (i.e. about what the rip-off hotel shuttle costs) and to the Old Market (a little more intimidating but not at all threatening and actually very atmospheric - we found a great juice bar there) for LE 75 each way.
In summary, I would return to Sharm el-Sheikh but not to the Maxim Plaza and not with Fleetway Travel.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Fleetway Travel via Lastminute.com
" If you like Butlins, Russians and... "
Submitted By:
If you like Butlins, Russians and poor service and food then stay here.
Lets get the good points over with first.
The dive centre staff were excellent and very helpful and knowledgeable even though diving in the red sea is very overrated (the sea life centre has better fish!)
The room cleaner was very nice and friendly and so were a few of the other bar staff.
Now for the bad points,
There are 2 separate resorts and this is not made clear when booking, We were told to expect a beech, gym and all the five star facilities, only to find when arriving we were in the garden resort which is a twenty minute walk from the beech and then told we could not have drinks or food at the White knight hotel where the beech is situated. After 2 days of arguing we were moved to the main hotel at a cost and thought we could begin our holiday.
From then on I spent most of my holiday on the toilet. the food is disgusting, repetitive and prepared in a way that isn’t hygienic enough for a dog.
Very few of the staff speak English (nearly all Russian)
The variety of drinks was poor and of a bad quality.
The tap/bath water is brown
AND ALL THE OTHER POINTS RAISED IN PREVIOUS REVIEWS. nothing has improved.
We were there for New Years Eve and they put on a gala dinner in a big tent across the road. We were then told we had to pay for all drinks that night even though we were all inclusive and there were no toilets (which I needed every 15 minutes) so we went back to the hotel to find there was no food or bars open unless we paid. (excellent service again)
Every night we went to Naama bay to eat as the service and food was that bad.
On the last day we checked out at 12 ready for our collection later that day and then went for a drink only to be pounced on by a waiter at 10 past saying we must pay as we checked out at 12.
I cut my foot quite badly at the beech on the last day and after the dive centre staff cleaned it went to reception (10 minute walk unaided) to see the doctor for stitches. The room were they intended to treat me was that dirty I immediately got up and left. Eventually got it seen to and dressed on the plane home.
This was the final straw - we got a taxi to the airport and sat in the far more luxurious quiet surroundings for 7 hours awaiting our flight.
AVOID AVOID AVOID AVOID - I have stayed all over the world and this is the worst hotel by far. It’s a shame because it has the amenities for a very good hotel but is badly run and equally badly staffed.
Lets get the good points over with first.
The dive centre staff were excellent and very helpful and knowledgeable even though diving in the red sea is very overrated (the sea life centre has better fish!)
The room cleaner was very nice and friendly and so were a few of the other bar staff.
Now for the bad points,
There are 2 separate resorts and this is not made clear when booking, We were told to expect a beech, gym and all the five star facilities, only to find when arriving we were in the garden resort which is a twenty minute walk from the beech and then told we could not have drinks or food at the White knight hotel where the beech is situated. After 2 days of arguing we were moved to the main hotel at a cost and thought we could begin our holiday.
From then on I spent most of my holiday on the toilet. the food is disgusting, repetitive and prepared in a way that isn’t hygienic enough for a dog.
Very few of the staff speak English (nearly all Russian)
The variety of drinks was poor and of a bad quality.
The tap/bath water is brown
AND ALL THE OTHER POINTS RAISED IN PREVIOUS REVIEWS. nothing has improved.
We were there for New Years Eve and they put on a gala dinner in a big tent across the road. We were then told we had to pay for all drinks that night even though we were all inclusive and there were no toilets (which I needed every 15 minutes) so we went back to the hotel to find there was no food or bars open unless we paid. (excellent service again)
Every night we went to Naama bay to eat as the service and food was that bad.
On the last day we checked out at 12 ready for our collection later that day and then went for a drink only to be pounced on by a waiter at 10 past saying we must pay as we checked out at 12.
I cut my foot quite badly at the beech on the last day and after the dive centre staff cleaned it went to reception (10 minute walk unaided) to see the doctor for stitches. The room were they intended to treat me was that dirty I immediately got up and left. Eventually got it seen to and dressed on the plane home.
This was the final straw - we got a taxi to the airport and sat in the far more luxurious quiet surroundings for 7 hours awaiting our flight.
AVOID AVOID AVOID AVOID - I have stayed all over the world and this is the worst hotel by far. It’s a shame because it has the amenities for a very good hotel but is badly run and equally badly staffed.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
" We booked from Teletext through... "
Submitted By: Mr LJ Knight
We booked from Teletext through Travelbargains and were told it was a new hotel, my comment is that if you define the Pyramids as old then the hotel was new. It was many years old and frankly shabby.
We paid for All Inclusive and were told that a Xmas Gala Dinner was included in the price. A couple of days before Xmas a note was pushed through the door that it was to be paid for. As far as I know nobody did and it was cancelled.
The rooms were shabby, definitely not my definition of 5 star and we were moved 3 times in one week because of the noise.
All the points without exception written by other contributors are all true. One good thing I will say is that the staff were excellent, especially the ones in the Italian restaurant. The Egyptians were great I strongly recommend Sharm el Sheik but don’t use this hotel no matter how much you pay or should I say how little.
The town of Naama bay is the place to go. My wife and I met a very famous Egyptian there doing his shopping. Mohammed al Fayed of Harrods fame. He was very nice and even let us take our photograph with him.
We paid for All Inclusive and were told that a Xmas Gala Dinner was included in the price. A couple of days before Xmas a note was pushed through the door that it was to be paid for. As far as I know nobody did and it was cancelled.
The rooms were shabby, definitely not my definition of 5 star and we were moved 3 times in one week because of the noise.
All the points without exception written by other contributors are all true. One good thing I will say is that the staff were excellent, especially the ones in the Italian restaurant. The Egyptians were great I strongly recommend Sharm el Sheik but don’t use this hotel no matter how much you pay or should I say how little.
The town of Naama bay is the place to go. My wife and I met a very famous Egyptian there doing his shopping. Mohammed al Fayed of Harrods fame. He was very nice and even let us take our photograph with him.
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- Date of Holiday:Dec 2004
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Med Hotels
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Upon arrival you leave your bags at the steps and check in. Within seconds you have your room and the portar takes your luggage for you, We arrived late and we were starving, the buffet cart was left open for the late arrivals so ate.
Open the door to the room which was just immaculately cleaned, and opened up the door to the balcony to hear the entertainment, 3 minutes later a knock at the door, here are our bags.
The Animation team, most of them from Georgia and Russia try there best to get everyone involved, I will definitely miss the "Water Polo" call at 11 o’clock, the Russian girls are very good looking.......(better not let the wife know I was looking).
We celebrated our anniversary out in Sharm el Sheikh and the room attendant noticed the cards in the room, The guy’s name was "Fathy" he made us a couple of decorations on the bed made from the towels which really one us over.
All the waiters are friendly, showing us to are usual table, for three meals a day. Yes the meals are very repetitive but what would you expect, they have to cater for all these people, I was happy enough with the chicken and rice meals. There are other places to eat, they have a Lebanese restaurant as well as an Italian one which we ate at, although this was the only time we moaned, as the service was extremely slow.
This hotel has a sister hotel which is 5 minutes walk, or 15 if you have heat stroke. The Beach was great, Just a small walk of the plastic jetty (I kidd you not) and straight into the water, This is a must for everyone, even non-swimmers should put on a buoyancy aid and look at the fish swimming around, ideal for snorkelling, for beginners as well as advanced.
All the trips booked through the reps also are great for prices, they also pick you up from outside the hotel doors and drop you back off later.
The Supermarket was only a small walk away and for all those that experience "Egyptian Belly" which you might the chemist is a little further.
The Taxis are great for a laugh, just state your price before you get in and then close the doors and your eyes........trust me, even i had to hold on once or twice. But you will have fun and they don’t earn an awful amount so tip them, and you will make them smile.
We stayed here for 2 weeks and we are looking forward to going back again next year, making sure we book the same hotel, the only down sides to the holiday was getting burnt the first day, do take care the sun is hotter than you think and that it had to come to an end.
Please remember that this is the opinion of one person, everyone has different views, if we all thought the same it would be a very boring world we live in. Go, make up your own mind, but i would give this 9/10. <br>