We loved this hotel. Yes near to airport but in main hotel could not hear any noise. In the sports hotel YES you could (very good if you were plane spotters). I was on holiday to relax as we both live busy lives.

1). Booked with Thomas Cook.
2). Had no probs at airport.
3). 15 mins to hotel
4). Booked in paid extra for sea view in main hotel.
5). Room was massive, spotless cleaned every day, clean towels for room and sun beds.
6). Pool area was busy but always found somewhere to relax.
7). Russians did not bother us (when in Rome etc).
8). Food, we always found something to eat (if you have any complaints go and
see the HEAD OF THIS DEPARTMENT and complain he is always there to listen
don't come home and complain. I will warn you there is NO steak and kidney pie
it is EGYPT.
9). All the staff were very pleasant. I would recommend this hotel we were only
there for 1 week we relaxed and could if we wanted to go to bed at 11.30pm
(not as we did) and could not hear a pin drop.
10). Tipping is the norm in EGYPT depends on yourself.

Can only say everything went well for us, can't wait to go back.
(Sue & Jim - West Mids)

The Concorde El Salem is rated as a 5 star but it is really only a 3 or 4 star....having said that we upgraded to a sea view room and the room was fantastic...two big single beds that were made up into one huge double bed, firm mattress but comfortable, good wardrobe space, tv and spacious bathroom...shower over the bath but good water pressure and lots of hot water..bath was a little small but adequate ...I do love to have a bath after a day in the sun/sea...air conditioning worked well and the view from the balcony was wonderful.

The infinity pool was brilliant ...about the only holiday where I have swam in the pool EVERY day...water was cold when you first got in but deliciously refreshing after a few seconds acclimatisation...the edge of the infinity end of the pool was a photographers heaven and nearly everyone succumbed to a photo during the week..me included...also as the pool was not deep..only about 4 feet deep...you could walk through the water to the pool bar, get your drinks and then walk back with the drinks..a real shortcut..beat walking around the whole pool area. Also there were loads of sunbeds and free towels that were changed every day.

My main problem was with the food and the so called entertainment. All meals were taken in the one big air conditioned dining room which was ok but the outside area where it would have been lovely to sit for meals was covered over by a plastic roof which made the area unbearably hot and stuffy for breakfast and lunch and in the evenings when it was cooler and it would have been bearable to sit outside they used the centre of the area for the entertainment. Personally it was too loud and repetitive and you couldn't get away from it...even inside the dining room you could hear it...and it went on and on.

Breakfast was good...cold meats and cheeses, breads, pastries, eggs - freshly fried or omelettes made to order, boiled or scrambled - the usual bad bacon and sausages and other hot choices, the fruit juices were wonderful and fresh not made from powder, cereals and fresh fruit, tea or coffee...so enough for anyone to have a good breakfast.

Lunch and dinner in the dining room were very similar buffet meals...lots of things to choose from but repeated most days...even the salads were samey....the red wine was good, the white ok but a bit warm and the rose awful but there was always someone there to bring you another glass ...you could also have beer and soft drinks by the glass and even spirits if you wanted so no complaints there.

The drinks were available all day from 9.00am to 11.00pm although the pool and beach bar closed at sunset each day...water was free by the glass but if you wanted a bottle you had to pay for it..(you could also buy 2 litre bottles of water -as well as other drinks- at the shop just outside...so we bought some for the room)....we tended to drink glasses of sparkling water all morning then a quick beer before lunch when we drank the red wine...the spirits being local brands were very disappointing....the vodka, gin and rum all tasted the same ..awful...they had "premium" brands by the glass but you had to pay for them....we had brought a bottle of duty free whisky with us so tended to have a "proper" drink on our balcony before dinner....however the brandy was surprisingly good and became my after dinner tiple with accompanying coffee which we took on the terrace outside the piano bar...about the only decent place to sit outside if you wanted waiter service for your drinks.

The find of the holiday was the Italian restaurant for lunch..it was brilliant...not only was the food excellent but the view was to die for...the outside open air seats however were at a premium so either you had to be there at 1.00pm on the dot or sit inside (defeats the object) or have lunch at 2.00 or later to catch a second sitting...limited menu but excellent...buffet salad starter with breads, but different combinations of salads everyday..even flaked tuna, anchovy and eggs were included which were sadly lacking at the main dining room...then a choice of freshly cooked 3 or 4 pasta dishes and 3 pizzas...all self service so you could have bits of each or just loads of one...up to you. Deserts looked fabulous but I never eat them so cannot comment...I had fresh fruit....free wines and other drinks the same as in the main dining room...and coffee to finish...as eating outside is why I go on holiday this made the holiday for me. You could also have continental breakfast at the Italian which we tried a few times....just juices, croissants, breads and jams with coffee or tea but there was THAT VIEW..!! Evening meal at the Italian was a la Carte and you had to pay for the meal and the wine/drinks....which when you are All Inclusive seems a bit daft...those that ate there had only good things to say...but as we had italian for lunch EVERY day I didn't really fancy italian again in the evening.

The management and staff were all friendly and helpful and the hotel itself was spotless inside and out....all areas were always being cleaned and the gardens well tended everyday.

This could not be said for the Sports Hotel part of the Concorde El Salem which was across the road at the back...we only visited it once...about a 5 minute walk from the main hotel reception area...the grounds and gardens were tatty and not well maintained and the swimming pool area was a bit dirty with paint peeling off the inside of the pools...I assume that with all the sporting facilities available people did not mind if the other areas were a bit lacking...it was also right next to the airport perimeter so was quite noisy at times. Make sure you know which part of the Hotel you want to be in when you book...the Main hotel or the Sports hotel...or you could be disappointed.

Finally the beach...there isn't one....this is what really spoiled the holiday for me....I love to walk along the beach and paddle in the sea....there were only about three places where you could paddle in the sea and none of them was more than 10 feet across..the rest was rocks....very disappointing. However everyone said the snorkeling off the pontoon was brilliant.....just not my thing.

Overall we had a good holiday...the weather, the room, the pool, the italian restaurant were all great...but no beach, the fact that the entertainment is not away from the eating area so you have a choice whether you want to hear it or not and the samey buffet food in the main dining room swayed the decision as to whether or not we would go back to this hotel to a NO.

We travelled to Sharm on 1st May this year and having had the bombs go off in Dahab the previous week we were a little sceptical. However, the airport, the hotels and generally out and about were so security conscious that we felt completely at ease during our entire stay.

Our first impression of the hotel was good and the reception staff were very efficient. They provided us with food boxes on arrival containing water, juice, rolls cakes and fruit because our plane had been delayed.

The rooms are very spacious and immaculate, but air conditioning varies from room to room and ours wasn't as cold as it could have been.

The overall All-inclusive features of this Hotel is where we found it lacking in comparison to other resorts we have stayed. Water is only available by the cup - they do not provide bottles to have in your room. There are no cocktails available under all-inclusive but you can order a non alcholic cocktail and a shot of vodka etc on the side and make your own! The choice of places to eat is poor - buffet, buffet and more buffet. To eat in the Italian A La Carte costs, apart from a Sunday when once again it's buffet. On the day of check out All-inclusve finishes at 3p.m. irrelevant of what time you are due to leave, so from 3 onwards you have to pay for everything which we found a complete farse.

Although we were staying in the main hotel we prefered to go over to the Sport Hotel during the day - less people, nice breeze and great pool attendant.

All staff were very attentive especially in the first week we were there, however, we had decided to not tip as we went but tip at the end of our fortnight. Big mistake - if you don't tip them regularly they soon lose interest.

Evening entertainment doesn't even warrent a mention excpt for Egyptian night which is well worth a look.

When booking excursions from here do not use your Tour Operator use 'Shaggy'. He can be found wandering around the pool perfecting his rhyming slang! He was brilliant, much cheaper than any of the tour operators and can't do enough to help. We booked Cairo and Quad bikes with him both of which were fantastic and we would highly recommend. Whilst in Cairo he regularly sent us texts and stayed in touch to make sure all was ok. Shaggy doesn't accept credit card but Egyptian pounds, Sterling or US Dollars are all fine.
Shaggy is definately the man to see!

If this Hotel is your first all-inclusive experience you will find it amazing but as seasoned travellers overall we were a little disappointed.

The best holiday we(my husband and I) have ever had. I chose this Hotel from what I had read on Tripadvisor. We were not dissapointed. We had booked a sea view room 5227 and it was beautiful. We had towel art most days and our room was left spotless. We tipped a couple of dollars every day.
Ahmed at the beach bar is wonderful our glasses were never empty, he is very polite and always smiles. All the staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The manager is very nice he is often seen walking round talking too guests
There was a huge choice of food in the buffet resturaunt and the italian is also very good
There was no poultry avaliable because of the bird flu thing.
Yes there are alot of russians and they are very rude and arrogant to the staff.
The entertainment was ok, we liked to go to the piano bar and relax and chat
We booked the Quad biking in the dessert with Shaggy it was "wicked".
We also did snorkling trips to Ras mohammed and Tiran Island and had a great time on both.
My husband did the advanced divers course with " Pirate Divers" in Naama Bay he had a
great time.
We went into Naama bay a few times had a good time with a shisha pipe
Friends of ours came out for the second week and they loved it too. We are all going back next year with our teenage kids. We would reccomend this hotel to anyone.
If you would like to email me with any questions, please do so. i will do my best to answer them.