Beach Albatros Sharm

1 reader found this review helpful

I found this hotel average, I won't recommend it in any shape or form if you wanting a quiet location to stay, definitely not a four star, would say about a two. You have two mosques that wake you up at 4.30, 5.00 & 5.30am. The majority of the staff a very unhelpful and walk around as if they have a chip on their shoulders, bearing in mind its suppose to be an enjoyable time going on holiday. There was hidden extras, such as paying extra for the ala carte menu, beach barbacue, tennis, table tennis, pool, and snooker. I have been to Sharm before and would not compare this hotel to the one we stay at last time, the total opposite. Never mind there's always next year, would recommend you have a good think about this hotel. Don't know whether the staff are not treated fairly but did spoil the holiday for me. If you are just wanting to snokel and enjoy the sunshine and forget about the hotel, then its for you.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just returned from our second visit and I can tell you it was just as good this time as last. Fab restaurant with so much food for breakfast, lunch & dinner. All drinks included and at such great unbeatable value. Staff are excellent & friendly. Location superb on a cliff top facing the sunsets with lifts down to a super beach. Step into the sea and you are swimming with the fish straight away. If you snorkel go right to the end of the beach after the sunbeds finish to swim over a coral reef, mind-blowing ! Walk around the bay to Sharm old town for shopping in about 10-15 minutes. We will go back again next year, never done this before, going back to the same hotel but you simply cant beat it.

2 readers found this review helpful

Hi there,
I am not usually one to review hotels and I am also not one to complain, but maybe this will help someone thinking of booking this hotel.
GOOD:
Beach, snorkeling, excursions, friendliness, clean hotel & grounds, weather.
BAD:
Hotel room beds, food.
If you have already booked, here is my advice.
If you have a bad room, ask for a new one and give a tip while asking.
Give a tip for everything, you will be much better treated.
They are very friendly.
BUT
I forgot to leave a tip on the first day and there was no shower curtain suddenly and the cable for the cable tv was unplugged and hidden under the tv.
My husband and I both got violently ill. I suggest going to the pharmacy before leaving and loading up on what you may need for tourista. The clinic there is a complete rip off and the meds they gave only made us worse.
There are pharmacies nearby, I suggest those first.
The food is nice to look at, but really nasty once digested.
The excursions for snorkeling are fantastic!!!!
The St Katherine's monestary is nice too.
If you go to old sharm, be ready to be hassled to go in to each store.
I just wanted to go see what it was like and we came back and were exhausted from being hounded so much.
If you have already booked, I still see no reason that you can't have fun, just make the best of it and enjoy egypt...go on excursions!!!

1 reader found this review helpful

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!

1 reader found this review helpful

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.