Oriental Resort

We stayed at the Oriental Resort for 2 weeks the last week of Febuary and 1st week of March.
We had a Fantastic holiday. The hotel is definatly 5 star . The staff who work their are the friendliet nicest people you would wish to meet . They cannot do enough for you at that goes for everyone not just the women guests . The food was lovely it was always freshly cooked and lots of variety for everyone, the rooms were spotless and cleaned every day. The pools were lovely and clean and you always had a clean towel even if you had been in the pool and needed a dry one. We met lovely people on this holiday and we would go back tomorrow . We went on a snorkling trip and that was booked with the boys from the beach we would hightly recommend this . We also had an egyption massage in the health suite and I had a facial I felt fantastic after this.
All in all it was a fantastic holiday Sharm el Sheikh is a lovely part of Egypt and the Oriental Resort is a fabulous hotel We hope to go back very soon.

Me and my family went to the oriental resort in february and we had a very good time. Before we went, i was worried about how the food would be and whether it really is a 5 star hotel. But the hotel was wonderful and the staff were very friendly. the atmosphere was good, and all the waiters and the chefs were friendly and talked to us. there was good entertainment there at night, and we made a lot of egyptian friends. We didnt always like the way they cooked the food, but still there was a lot of choices.
Outside the hotel (in Naama bay, 15 mintues from the oriental) was a lot of shops ,bars and belly dancing.
We really enjoyed our stay in sharm el sheikh and hope to go again.

SUPER DUPER TO VIST would love to come again staff honest friendly super kind and thoughtful it is same to go out and vist other places shops opposite macdonalds,timberland,souviner shops
nama bay is lovely
drivers a bit fast.
but a lovely super town
all your soviners in 1 place
i dont reccomend letting people cross over the road as they take in shops and force and show you perfume
shame i dont live there or went for longer
beach and sea is super lovely just the right teamperture
pyramids are super to vist.
i dont recomend the desert trip a too cold b boring c to expensive just stand on sand see thourgh a tesclosope,in the dark and eat cold food and costs about £200 its called the stargazer if you want go.
SUPER PLACE 2 GO 2
food is ok but not super

1 reader found this review helpful

Me and my partner spent one week in Dec 07, we got to the hotel around 10pm, first impression of the hotel, clean, big and the staff were friendly. We checked in and found the rooms were spacious, comfortable and were cleaned everyday.
Staff were very friendly, well too over friendly with women especially, but we found service level good, very helpful, would carry your plates for you, always smiling. Generally all the men in Egypts came across as perverts, they didn't really care if you're with your partners!
Well food level was ok, had good selection of salads, fruits and desserts.
My husband loved watching TV there as they did have English channels with good movies to watch and a music channel too.
Naama bays about 25 mins drive from the hotel, we went twice for a meal and to look around. You can book the shuttle from the hotel for less or book a taxi which will cost you about £20 return. We booked about 3 excursions from our tour operators and we enjoyed all three.
Overall we enjoyed our stay at this hotel but its not really a 5*, more like a 3*, but a really comfortable hotel to stay in.

1 reader found this review helpful

We returned from this hotel on the 2nd January this year 2008, and the money we paid for a weeks holiday was not worth a quarter of this!
The hotel although clean was certainly not a 5 star resort, the only good thing about the place is the poor waiters who work very hard for little money.
The loud music by the large pool was enough to drive you insane, the food was something to be desired, my partner had a bad stomach the first night after eating seafood in the restaurant. The drinks were watered down, and the wine was horrendous!
I would never recommend this hotel to anyone and would certainly never return to this hotel, in fact it has put us off Egypt for life. There was never any hot water for showers, and when it did flow, it was dark and not appealing to wash in.
All in all this hotel is not worth the money anyone pays for it and to say it is a 5 star is a total joke!

2 readers found this review helpful

The overall impression of the hotel from the moment we entered reception at approx 9.15pm on 20 Dec 07 was that of a lack of management and efficiency. Where we booked 2 rooms, they only had one! We had to wait until 0015 next day to eventually get our two rooms.
From the very first meal, breakfast on 21 Dec - the cooked food was served warm, not hot. On the second evening we demanded to see the chef via head waiter to inform him of the matter. He said there had been "problems in the kitchen and bain maries' were not working as well as they should" - which was obvious to us! Despite promises, there was little improvement during our 7 days stay.
Having booked as [quote] All Inclusive including festive meals [unquote] - we were asked to pay in excess of £30 each for the Christmas Eve special meal - we refused, explaining it was included. The manager, despite our efforts, would not let us in, so we had no meal that evening. I consider this to breach of contract and am following it up with the Travel Agent to whom we paid all monies.
The hotel is not considered worthy of its 5 star rating. It is the norm for guests to arrive for dinner in flip flops, tee shirt and shorts. There are no lifts for elderly guests, stairs and steps abound both in and outside. I got my foot entangled in a loose cable on the outer steps, had a fall on the first day and it cost me 85 euros in medical fees by the in-house doctor; having to have antibiotics and daily dressings for the whole time I was there (so couldn't even have a swim).
The only good point was the wonderful nature and humour of the junior waiters and domestic staff - they brightened the week. Some elder staff were pleased to be given "backhanders" for better service.
The All Inclusive bar is a joke, often run by only one barman, with about 650 guests - it kept running out of glasses (the restaurant ran out of saucers and teaspoons).
We await the result of a investigation into our complaints!
Torbay Tug

1 reader found this review helpful

This is NOT a 5 star hotel. I would suggest 3 star.
There is no dress code; guests appear for dinner in flip flops & tee shirt. Food is invariably served warm. There are no facilities for aged/infirm - no lifts, but lots of stairs & steps, which are unsafe due to cables outside & overhanging rugs at the top of main stairs (about 20+) to restaurant.
Young waiting staff are excellent, very attentive, more senior staff expect/look for tips. There is only one smallish bar serving "all inclusive" - for about 600 + guests. Glasses were at a premium. The restaurant ran out of saucers and teaspoons.
Managers tried to get as much money out of guests as they could. Tour rep was hopeless.

1 reader found this review helpful

30.12.07-06.01.08 This hotel is NOT a 5* hotel at all, its a 3* to say the least.
The water ran orange in the shower, the smell in the gardens was horrible, there was no night time entertainment (well not after the effort that they made for New Years Eve anyway), they made loads of effort for this which was a great night guys.
The Russians are a JOKE, rude- cant say please and thank you. Don't know how to queue.
The food was ok but after a while you get sick of the same things.
The staff are great there don't get me wrong and if it wasn't for this then the holiday would have be some what worse.
Don't eat the steak baguettes round the swimming pool it made me ill for 3 days.
If your going to tip them- tip them in English money for some reason they like this better!
We had a lovely time don't get me wrong and the room was ok too, but when you are told its going to be 5* that is what you are expecting- not like a 5* I have ever stayed in thats for sure.
I read these reports before I went and was dreading it - but it isn't as bad as I may sound.
ENJOY

1 reader found this review helpful

Seasonal Holiday 20-27 Dec 07. The flight over (First Choice) was cramped and noisy. Upon arrival in hotel reception things started to go downhill. It took 3 hours to obtain the accommodation booked. We arrived just after 9 pm (local time) and got to our rooms at 0010am next day.
The room was comfortable and spacious, decor - rather plain. Small patio with two chairs, one of which had about 1 inch of rusty nail projecting from the seat and a dirty table that remained unwashed during our stay.
After a breakfast, with cold scrambled egg on toast that took about 5 mins to brown when you had queued up for your turn at the toasters.
Sandra went off to get some sun, whilst I unpacked - We were too knackered the night of arrival! I went down to join her at the lower pool and on approach, fell down the four steps because a lighting cable was strewn on the first step down. Hitting my (R) hand on the wall as I fell, there was blood in abundance! (I had only had two coffees...). The pool attendant came over with a first aid kit and washed and bandaged my hand. He was very concerned and helpful, taking me, with Sandra to the Clinic where the resident Doctor removed loose skin with a scalpel, gave a course of antibiotics and daily change of dressing at the Clinic. Needless to say, I didn't go swimming or on any trips! It added 85Euros to the Bill. On two or three occasions Sandra had to pull back two rugs at the top of the stairs from Reception to Dining area (about 30 steps), as they were dangerously overhanging the top step.
On the 2nd Evening we decided to complain to Head Waiter regarding cold meals being served to guests, he brought over the Head Chef who explained there was a problem within the kitchen and the Bain Marie heaters were not working properly, but it would be rectified (not in the week we were there)! To be fair, the meals were well cooked and presented, but cold by the time we got them, also lacking in variety.
On Christmas Eve there was to be a Gala Dinner, they wanted us to pay more than £30 each for it. We explained that we were "all inclusive and Christmas and New Year festive meals are included" as stated in our booking literature! The waiter took £24 for wines off us and told us we would be seated with another British group - when we went to partake, we were refused entry unless we signed for the meal [and have added to our final Bill]. We refused, got our wine money back and departed! We had no meal on Christmas Eve... Sandra asked to see the owner, who we knew was seated at a table next to us in the restaurant. Next evening, the manager came to see us and gave us a free Irish Coffee and a chocolate (no, not a box, or a bar of chocolate - a sweet!). We didn't see the owner for the rest of our stay!
There is only one quite small "all inclusive" bar, serving approx 650 guests. It rarely had more than two staff, often only one when the other went off to find glasses - which they were continually running out of! The restaurant even ran out of saucers and teaspoons.
In general, junior waiting and bar staff plus cleaners were quite helpful and charming. Senior staff tended to expect "backhanders" for more attention. There is no dress code, it is the norm to come to dinner in flip flops T shirt and shorts. Management are just not focussed on things that should matter. The so-called Tour Rep from Hotels4U was a joke - he did no appear when he should and failed to confirm flights - I spent 5 hours trying to confirm taxi and flight details, but I did have to pay for the telephone calls!
We are awaiting comments from our Travel Agent, who did all the booking - "Travel Bank World Choice".......
By no stretch of the imagination is this a 5 Star rating - I think 3 Star nearer the mark.
Happy 2008! Tug

1 reader found this review helpful

Read the reviews laughed, went with open mind.
THE GOOD BITS:
Hotel itself very nice.
The food was very good, plenty of variations.
Staff were very polite and helpful (not all wanted money).
Room was very nice (we did have 2nd floor with sea view). Rooms kept spotless!
The broken handles have been changed.
Their effort for Xmas is amazing! Put us to shame over here
Cairo 2day coach trip (not recommended for kids), too much in a week. But we did it! It has to be done for the experience; there were only 15 people on our coach so you could spread out. Would have been nightmare if 50 people had been on there. Hotel you stay in overnight brilliant. The trip itself good value.
The Egyptian guides are very good.
The instructor on speed boat trip snorkelling very patient, very good, nice guy no hand held out at end either! That’s how it should be!
THE BAD AND RIP OFF BITS!
Fully inclusive it is not!
Pool pump (that is what we were told it was) starts at 4am.
The reps are not over helpful once they have your money for trips.
Trips promoted by them are expensive! Except 2 day coach trip.
A one day flight to Cairo by them £165, in Naama Bay £95(you are still picked up at hotel)
Beware of police at pyramids, they want money! Alas so does everyone.
Quad biking £35, Naama bay £15 each.
The Nile cruise £35, 2hrs at most, food substandard, drink prices not included, (3 cokes and one rum/coke £22) you are stuck in middle hence view restricted. Russians have window tables (Russians another story) Entertainment good though. Time you have eaten you are back at moorings
Think First choice should review these?
Plus when you pay for these trips they convert cost into dollars?
No one told us to take sterling or dollars? Their exchange rate for Egyptian pounds when paying is different! Hence you end up paying more.
Hotel pools FREEZING! One heated? Yes if you are an Eskimo!
I like music, but 2 different tunes belting out at same time at the pools, hence overlapping?
Fully inclusive? Every little item has costs added on, everybody expects tip...
Return journey pay £6 each to sit together?
ALSO BEWARE YOUR CASE WILL WEIGH MORE COMING BACK ACCORDING TO EGYPTIAN SCALES. Our friend’s case was lighter than ours, but different queue...£35 excess charge!
CONCLUSION
Beautiful resort...Coral Sea Hotel Oriental.....spoilt by Russians (ignorant to the staff) unfortunately so are some British, who have big mouths and loutish behaviour, who belong back in Costa whatsit! God help us all if drinks were stronger.
I was told the Russians get their holidays at half the cost of ours as well? So why put up with them Coral Sea Hotel?
Would go again, to area, but not so late in year.
Avoid Naama Bay for shopping, you could feel very intimidated.
Not for peaceful sunbathing, or people who like no hassle.
Entertainment? Hi De Hi, come on do something about it!