Reviews of Beach Albatros Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh

It was a nice and a good hotel.

The food was nice and the people were friendly.

This was our first time to Egypt and had a fantastic time! The weather was fantastic - too hot some days!



Although this hotel isn't particularly grand on arrival (especially when compared to others in Sharm) we could not fault how clean the place was.



The room we had was a little basic, but had the biggest bed! The guy that cleaned the room was very friendly and made all sorts of creations with our towels and blankets!

There was also a mosque with a loud speaker behind our room which kicked in around 4am, but we soon got used to that!



The hotel staff were very friendly and worked extremely hard - especially the ones in the restaurant and beach bar. We were treated very well and I think they liked the fact that we were polite, as the Russains could be very ignorant!



The food was OK, but sometimes a little odd (carrots for breakfast?!). There was quite a bit of variation in the main restaurant as they tried to theme the nights. We didn't go hungry anyway! The beach bar also served pizza and sandwiches most of the afternoon, but you did have to pay if you wanted anything different. They also do a BBQ night down on the beach (which you have to pay extra for - I think it was around 250 Egyptian pounds fort two - but that was including drinks). We enjoyed it and thought it was worth paying extra for especially because of the entertainment they put on.



The best pool (we thought anyway!) was the one overlooking the beach and mountains. It was the cleanest and had the best view and it also seemed a lot quieter than the main pool. There was also quite a nice welcoming breeze as it was on top of the cliff.

The beach was lovely too, and you were always guarenteed a sunbed, although there sometimes could be quite a walk to the bar for drinks depending where you were.

The sea was beautifully clear and the snorkelling fantastic!



There are loads of trips you can choose - you are best getting them from the rep though - which may be a little dearer than the guys selling on the beach - but at least you know where you are with your rep.

We did the submarine trip (which you can buy a little cheaper from the guys in the hotel running the desk near to the big pool) and we did the camel ride in the desert. They take an armed guard with you to the desert which was a bit un-nerving, but all part of the experience! You don't need a visa to trips around Sharm, but you do if you venture further afield to Cairo and Luxor.



We also took a couple of trips to the old market (about a 15 minute walk from the hotel). Definately an experience, but you soon get fed up of being hassled!



We both got dodgy bellies. I was ill at the end of the holiday (stomach cramps the lot) and was told it was due to being in the heat and then going into cold air conditioned rooms, or the pool/sea. The pharmacy is a short walk down the road (left out of the hotel) and ended up with some powerful tablets that sorted me out in less than 2 hours! These cost 120 Egyptiian pounds, but well worth it!



A couple of words of warning! The roads are very scary! There is no organisation or control, they drive as fast as they like, how they like! The hotel is also overun with Russians! There were only a handful of English people there. There were also a lot of French, Swiss and Germans. Some were very friendly and we got chatting (sort of!) with a few couples.



Also, on the last day they took my boyfriends wristband off him at midday when he handed the room key back in and told him that the AI was over! We weren't flying until 10.30pm. Luckily I kept away from reception and managed to keep mine until we left and was still able to get food and drinks - so make sure one of your party keeps their wristband!



The transfer back to the airport was also a massive cock up! We kept asking reception for our pickup time as we were supposed to get a fax through. Nobody seemed to know and the rep had disappeared. Eventually we were told that we would be picked up at 8pm. This never arrived. A few telephone calls later and an argument with a taxi driver, a car picked us up and got us to the airport at 9.30pm. Check in had closed and we told by the airport staff that we were very lucky to get on the flight!



All in all, we really enjoyed our time in Egypt, and would definatley go back.

Not to this hotel, but only because to try somewhere different

I don't know why people are saying this place is horrid? It's not!!!

My mother and i went to beach albatros for my mothers birthday and we both loved it!!!

The staff were so lovely and friendly , so unlike england! the room was basic but clean, the food seamed a bit repetative but one thing i liked is that they catered for all countries, english food, german food, italian food etc... and greek nights!!!

I wouldn't listen to what is written, I'm deffinetly going back to egypt and i'd only stay at this hotel!

Oh yeah and the view! is AMAZING!! Pure bliss!

We have nothing but praise for the hotel. It is a beautiful location on a cliff top overlooking the small bay of Sharm el Maya and facing the sunsets ! There are two lifts down to the beach which is very well kept and has a bar and snack restaurant. You only need to go waist deep to swim with the fish and there is a reef to follow about 20 feet out that gets beter the further out of the bay you go. The food was a very good buffet style with plenty to choose from and that was breakfast, lunch and dinner. We found the staff very friendly and helpful and after a couple of days that would greet us like friends. If you manage to use a couple of words of Arabic like - shukran for thank you and - salam for hello, they are pleased you made the effort. The grounds are very nicely kept among gardens with two pools, one large and one smaller but overlooking the bay.

I have visited Egypt three times and this was the best yet. I would recommend this to anyone who wanted to visit Sharm el Sheikh in preference to staying in Naama Bay that has become so commercialised. We will go back next year for sure.

In a party of 6 adults we stayed at this hotel for the 2nd time in January. Although we do not think this is a 4 star rated hotel, we all found the staff very friendly and accommodating and respectful. Rooms were cleaned every day and water put in the fridge. Although you could not swim in the pool because it was to cold, although the sea was quite warm. No complaints about the hotel and the views are fabulous. Went to Italian restaurant at the exit to the bazaar excellent food well worth the visit (Valentino's). We would have no problems recommending this hotel to friends but don't expect 4 star accommodation.

We've just returned from our holiday at the Beach Albatros and generally had an excellent time.



GOOD BITS:

The hotel is in one of the best locations if you are interested in snorkelling, with some fantastic coral reefs just off-shore. The hotel seemed to be the only one that faced west, and therefore enjoyed maximum sunshine in the afternoon, with some great sunsets in the evening. Friendly and helpful staff who appreciated our attempts to communicate in Arabic, although most spoke reasonable English. Good selection of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Daily change of menu, and full marks for the hotel-baked breads - they were delicious. Rooms cleaned every day and clean sheets and towels supplied.



NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD:

Hotel is at the top of a cliff and access to the beach is by lift or walking down 156 steps. Fresh orange juice and ice cream are not included in the AI price. Some hassle from people wanting to sell things on the beach - diving trips, massage sessions, henna tattoos, etc, but it wasn't too bad or persistent.



NOT SO GOOD:

Rather basic rooms. Unheated pool - way too cold to swim in January.



SUMMARY:

Generally a good hotel and one we would definitely consider re-visiting - mainly because of its position and access to the reefs. Food and staff were excellent, but the chalet rooms need upgrading. Good value for money.

This hotel was sold to me as a five star hotel which it clearly is not. I was very disappointed in the room and particularly the bathroom which looked as if it had been put together by an apprentice tiler. After using the face cloth on the first night it took exactly 1 week before it was replaced. The entertainment in the evening was dire.



The food on the whole was ok if you liked vegetables/salads. Fridge was empty except for the litre of water which was delivered every day, I found this rather unusual as we were all inclusive. Diet Pepsi had to be asked for and was not given freely. There were no brand drinks on display in any of the bars and I believe that the selection was very limited. Clients with disabilities had real problems getting around due to lack of lifts in the building and in my opinion the makeshift (concrete) ramps were not ideal. Myself and another client fell in the restaurant due to the floor being washed and no wet floor signs being displayed.



The use of cards for beach towels was another strange procedure (selected opening hours) etc and why do all inclusive clients have to carry these cards. I visited Hurghada in 2006 and the 5 star resort I stayed in was exactly that and I expected the Albatross to be of the same standard and it clearly wasn't. The Thai restaurant wasn't open for the duration of our stay. We did eat in the fish restaurant at the beach and the food was delicious.



On a positive note the staff were friendly, cheery and helpful. This hotel has a lot to do if it wishes to become a 5 star establishment. I will certainly be back to Egypt as it is a fabulous country but I will not be back at this hotel.

I absolutely agree with a previous review, after reading the ratings, I too was dubious about going to this hotel; well the pictures that I found don't do the place justice.



My family and I arrived back on 10th September 2007 after a two week all inclusive my husband, 16 year old son and 14 year old daughter, and we all thought it was very good, yes our room was basic, two bedrooms, living room, bathroom.



Terrace on the front, and a back garden with a tree in that was paved. It was cleaned daily and 4 bottles of drinking water was left every day in the fridge (we never got woke up by the praying although we did hear it during the day).



The camel ride in the dessert is a must; we never stopped laughing from getting on to trying to get off.



The hotel staff were very friendly, and the food was excellent. If you do get a taxi outside the hotel, be aware that they ask if you want a return price, say no as they drop you at their ' friends shop' and believe me they are very persuasive, there are taxis galore on the road so you will never be short of one.



Five minutes walk away is the aqua park which is well worth a visit, I have been to many, and this one is beautiful inside lovely and colourful. There are a couple of bars along this front, if on an evening you want a change from the hotel.



On the whole this was a very nice hotel and would recommend it.

My husband and I, 2 daughters aged 16 and 13 and our 8 year old son have just returned from a fantastic two week holiday at the beach Albatros. (Last two weeks of August 2007).



I was a little concerned after reading some of the reviews, but can truly say that we all had a brilliant time and the kids are asking if we can go back again next year.



We booked through sun master, over the internet and everything went smoothly, with our tickets arriving two weeks before we were due to fly. We had booked our transfer with med hotels and they were very efficient.



We were met at the airport and the mini bus was waiting to take us to the hotel. The check in procedure was quick and our cases were taken to our rooms.



The hotel; although it isn’t modern, it is very clean and be no means shabby. We stayed in chalets with beautiful views over the Bay and mountains (Rooms 6005 and 6009) There are patio’s with seating and tables outside each of the chalets.



The air condition worked well in both rooms and we found that we had to turn it off on occasions, as we were getting too cold.



The rooms are cleaned daily and the cleaners make the most amazing things out of your towels, i.e. crocodiles, hearts, peacocks, flowers. There is also a hair dryer and shower gel in the bathroom.



There are two pools each with separate children’s pools. However they could do with more sun loungers as we were having to get up earlier than we would have liked, to put our towels down. They could take some from the beach, as there are more sun lounges there, which are never filled. Towel cards are issued, and guests can get one towel per person.



The grounds are very well looked after with beautiful bushes and flowers. There is also a garden area with children’s play park equipment.



I would suggest taking ear plugs for several reasons. The air condition is quite noisy and the Muslims are called to prayer at about 4.30am. The ear plugs allowed a good night sleep. Also our son was in the pool most of the day which resulted in him getting an ear infection. Fortunately he could still go in the pool because of the earplugs but we could probably have avoided this if we had made him use them from day one.



We visited the doctor at the hotel with regards to My son’s ear infection and my husband suffering with tummy cramps and diarrhoea. The medicines were delivered to the hotel and both of them were feeling a lot better the next day. The medical bill was about £54.00 but that was for antibiotics, eardrops, pain killers, having his ear syringed and tablets (Antinal) for my husband. We were provided with documents to enable us to claim this back from our insurance.



The staff; On the whole they are very friendly and very willing to help.



The animation team run the kids club. I was a little dubious at first, as it didn’t seem as well organised as some of the others that he has been to. However, my son loved it, and the staff were extremely good with the children. They would take them to the beach, or play in the pool or do painting in the club house. They also take the children on a glass bottom boat ride and to the local water park for an extra charge.



The animation team organise volleyball both on the beach and in the pool. They also teach dancing on the beach in the afternoon.



Most evenings there is a children’s mini disco followed by some entertainment. It’s not the best I’ve seen but they try hard to involve all the nationalities. There is a disco on the beach from 11.30pm every night apart from Monday. It is not very busy but quite fun if there is a group of you.



Drinks at the disco must be paid for or charged to the room.



In the café bar there is entertainment several nights a week, being either a singer, saxophonist or guitar player.



The beach is great with plenty of space and an abundance of sun loungers. The sea is very clear but I would suggest beach shoes, as the sea floor is very rocky due to the coral. These can be bought at the beach. We paid 160 Egyptian pounds for 4 pairs. (Just under £4.00 each).



The fish are amazing. As you are knee deep in water they are swimming around your legs. I have been scuba diving in several countries but never seen such an abundance and variety of fish.



We went on several boat trips. The first was “The Almeria” which we booked through the med hotels rep “Nassar“. It was quite pricey but well worth it. The wooden sail boat took us to Ras Mohamed. The staff on the boat were wonderful hosts.



The second boat trip we booked on the beach. This was on a model yacht and took us to Turin. Although the coral and snorkelling was better it was a lot less organised and a lot of waiting around at sea for the scuba divers. The atmosphere on the boat was not as good. But still a great day out, and a lot cheaper than the Almeria. If you are lucky Dolphins are sometimes seen on the trip to Turin.



You will be encouraged to attend the beach bar b queue, where you will be entertained by a belly dancer and other traditional dancers, although it was more like African tribal dancing! This was an additional charge and not really worth it. The dancing could have been seen from the bridge to the lift, and the food was just as nice in the restaurant.



We ate at the Italian restaurant one evening. We were giving an outside table with beautiful views. We received a 50% discount, as we were guests at the hotel. 3 lasagne, 2 pizzas, 5 salads, garlic bread and extra bread and it cost £7.75 English pounds for all of us, less than £2.00 each.



We had a McDonalds delivered one evening (you can ask reception for the telephone number) The meals were huge and less than £2.00 English pounds each including delivery.



Naama Bay and the Old Market is worth a visit. Be prepared to be called in all directions, but the people are friendly if you are friendly to them.



Naama Bay has many bars, restaurants, shops and I think some night clubs too, but we haven’t got firsthand experience of these.



We Visited the new Aqua park which is over the road from the hotel. It isn’t finished yet but there is still lots of slides open. We booked this through the rep and it cost about £20.00 English each. This included lunch. We had a brilliant day and would have gone again had we had made our first visit earlier in the holiday.



None of us wanted to come home and we would happily stay at this hotel again.

Stunning views from this lovely clean hotel situated on cliff with lift to the beach. Short walk from old Sharm or a £2 taxi ride.



Rooms big enough, hair-dryer, TV (2 English film channels), air con, fridge (2 bottles of water put in each day by cleaner on all inclusive) usual wardrobe, chest of drawers etc.

Rooms cleaned daily including clean towels etc.



All hotels very clean and well kept, 24 receptions, safe deposit,



2 pools, both with bar, additional bar over looking sea (chill out during day/entertainment in evening), beach bar open all afternoon.



Water polo etc during day in first pool - no problem getting sun lounger/chair - hotel supplies clean pool/beach towel every day.



Dining room is lovely and clean with wide choice (crepes and eggs freshly cooked at breakfast), theme night couple of nights per week. Italian restaurant which you pay for but about £3 per head for three course meal and fantastic view of sunset. Beach bar has fresh pizza in afternoon all included.



If you get bored of food (usual in 2 week holiday) loads of restaurants in Old Sharm expect to pay around £8-10 per head including drinks.



Beach has disco after midnight until about 1.30. Bar available but you have to pay or sign for (not bad price).



Take Euros as everything is priced in them, also keep small Egyptian notes for tips etc.



Everyone friendly but most want to sell you something, go with the flow and buy if you want but don't be afraid to say no as no offence taken.



Go on boat trip great value (£15-16 per person for full day with lunch).



Cairo fantastic but long trip.

I and my partner went to the Beach Albatross for two weeks all inclusive.



We didn’t pay for transfers from the airport to the hotel as we thought that we would save some money, never again! The taxi ride was truly shocking my partner cried all the way to the hotel.



The hotel itself isn’t that bad really, we were expecting a right dump from reading other reviews.



It’s kept tidy and clean apart from the ants they are everywhere. The rooms are very basic but clean. If you ask the cleaner he will make you different shapes with your towel every day.



The showers are really bad they either scald you or they are freezing cold we ended up washing from the basin.



When you get to the hotel don’t just accept the first room given to you, we booked a room with a pool view but they tried to fob us off with one facing a football pitch and a busy road. We asked politely and they gave us a room with a pool view.



The pools aren’t heated so beware I jumped in straight away and nearly died they are freezing. There are two pools all together. A big one and a small one. The big one was full of kids and families so we sat around the smaller pool which has fantastic views over the bay and the mountains and it was very peaceful apart from the prayers.



The worst thing about this hotel is that it is close to a mosque and the prayers wake you up at about 4 in the morning. We both seemed to get over this after a few days and slept through them.



The worst one is on Friday around midday; it last for about an hour and it is so loud.



The food is ok. They have a different choice for each day of the week but they tend to be a bit repetitive over the two weeks. I would be careful with the fish. I had it one night and for the next couple of days I had sickness and the runs really bad, but if you go to the local chemist they will give you something for it and it clears it up straight away.



The entertainment is really crap apart from a Wednesday when they got some sword dancers and fire breathers in and they are awesome. I would make an effort to see them and join in its really funny we were both in stitches watching them.



The hotel is over run by Russians, Croatians, Ukraine and Germans but most of them are really nice apart from the Russians who are rude and arrogant. They think they own the place and they have never heard of queuing they just barge you out of the way.



I would recommend this hotel for the older generation only as it is really boring on a night time and its miles from Naama bay.



Next time we go to Egypt we will definitely stay in Naama bay. I hope I hope this is helpful to you and just go there with an open mind.

My mother and myself have just arrived back from Egypt. We stayed at beach albatross hotel, all inclusive! Oh, was we looking forward to it, myself and my mother, both needed a break badly. So we went on a holiday of a life time......OR SO WE THOUGHT!!



We paid for a suite which had a sea view, that slept 2/4, without having to worry about money, apart from tips! We have arrived home, after being put in a room, with one bed, that my mother and myself had to share. We arrived on the 14th march, about 9.30, and we were both hungry and tired so we went for something to eat, after eating because we were so tired and it was dark, we just went straight back to the hotel room.



We awoke next morning, to find that we had been flea-bitten from a dirty mattress, I fetched this to the manager’s attention and he assured us the mattress would be changed. 3 days later they changed it, this hotel is supposed to be 4 ****, all inclusive, everybody was complaining!



We did not just put up with it, we explained and told them, but to no avail, we ended up spending nearly400 euros on injections from the dr. I am now sat here with over 50 receipts from an all inclusive resort, due too the flea bites myself and my mother developed cellulitus, my mother acutely, so she was advised to stay in the room, so she did. as we was all inclusive, and my mother being advised too stay in her room, my mother did not expect to get charged 2 euros a time for water, or a glass of milk, but we was!



Sharm, is a beautiful place, with some fantastic locals who cannot do enough to help you. As for beach albatross hotel, my honest recommendation is DO NOT BOOK TO SLEEP THERE, after all your accommodation is central and paramount to your vacation. We found it too be dirty, no respect for women that holidayed alone, and we was ripped off left, right, and center, I was told whilst we were there that, some people had read bad reviews about beach albatross hotels but these people thought it was just people being fussy!



I promise hand on heart, nobody wanted to help us, it was dirty, we were given a room with one bed, no matter what we said they would not help. Mine and my mothers requests were completely ignored. If you do go to sharm in Egypt, sleep at a clean hotel, it makes such a big difference, I would like to say that for the amount of money, we have paid, we should have photographs and memories of a lifetime, instead it was a complete nightmare.



Please do not rely on what you see in a booklet or on the internet. I am so very disappointed and sore (and not from a suntan,) my advice is be careful.

This was the first trip to Egypt and unfortunately was not up to the standards expected.



The hotel was clean throughout and the room was spacious, with a nice view over the bay towards Old Sharm.



There seemed to be quite good entertainment for kids. That's about all there is to say that was positive...



The food at best was unimaginative, with the same things on night after night; unfortunately a lot of it appeared to be reheated - including things like rice, which may account for numerous (at least 10 that we spoke to) stomach upsets.



Despite being informed that the disco was on the beach we discovered it was right next door to our room and was loud enough for glasses on the dressing table to vibrate. When we called reception to complain we were told "Tough luck..." before being hung up on.



We called at reception the next day and were told initially that there were no other rooms available, before being offered one which was smaller (too small for our party of 4) and just as close to the "tent" which would have been almost as noisy.



The staff, as stated by another reviewer, seemed only to be motivated by how much you were willing to tip them, which given the service offered wasn't much; there were a few exceptions: our room cleaner Ahmed was courteous and helpful.



The staff on the beach insisted on hassling us constantly, one in particular tried his best to chat my step daughter up despite being told she wasn't interested (and her boyfriend was sitting next to her).



All inclusive was a little misleading - if you wanted fruit juice you had to pay for it, same with ice cream. Although you only found this out after you’d finished it and you got the bill.



The entertainment was woeful, there was supposed to be a show every night and in the “tent” was a man, who we took on the first night to be a karaoke artist, who sang songs badly, whilst reading the words from his laptop – this happened every night and was so bad it became (almost) funny.



When we tried to bring our concerns to our rep he was nowhere to be found, the telephone number we were given for him was either unavailable, engaged or just rang out. We wrote to Med Hotels on our return and were basically fobbed off.



All in all we wouldn’t recommend this hotel; we did speak to a few people who’d stayed at other places so we might venture back to Egypt in the future though.

We've never been on holidays in January before but I would highly recommend it.



Beach Albatross was a clean and friendly atmosphere, where the staff could not do enough for you.



They even carried our cases upstairs to our room - they wouldn't let us do it ourselves.



The Old Town, yes the shopkeepers were asking "you look in my shop" but politely smile and say thank-you and they were nice enough.



Highly recommended was the quad bike ride in the dessert - the boys went twice it was so good!!



The weather was great 30 - 35 degrees in the day but take jeans and a jumper for the evenings - they were chilly.



The food was brilliant and we paid and went to the restaurant on site for the seafood - which was out of this world. Highly recommended.

Our family of 5 (45, 41, 17,15 and 13 years old respectively) spent the pre-Xmas week here, having booked approx 4 weeks before.



On booking the holiday we were totally horrified at the comments and wondered if we could change things. We decided to stay put with what we had arranged and were not disappointed.



Our accommodation was in the bungalows (on showering and changing in the hotel rooms on our last day, we much preferred the bungalows).



We found all the staff helpful, kind and attentive. Our 13 and 15 year old are girls, and whilst we had the how many camels kind of jokes, these all seemed to be in good humour and not too intrusive.



The Hotel was kept spotlessly clean. Although there seemed to be problems with both of the pools, each evening there were big holes being dug to sort out some problems.



It has to be said that both my husband and son had ear infections, maybe this was the pool.



The beach was wonderful, the sea warm with a myriad of fish, octopus, and turtles not a stones throw away. We found by far the best place for snorkeling was beyond the marine police patrol, where there is a large reef, it is where the yellow submarine stops, well worth the short walk try it once and you will be there a few times a day!



As far as the weather was concerned it was actually much warmer than I expected, we all came back with a healthy looking tan. The evenings were not as chilly as I had been led to believe. Although we had two days of very strong wind, but it was not cold.



We stayed in the hotel for the whole week apart from a day trip to Ras Mohamed national park, on a trip booked with the hotel guys down on the beach. They were really nice, the trip was disappointing because there was so much sea life right on our 'doorstep', it was the day after the bad winds, so maybe that had an effect.



We all just needed a chill out week and this is exactly what we got. Would totally recommend you give it a try, if you get a good deal.