The hotel was just as we expected, having been to Egypt (Sinai area) three time before. A bit like a lunar landscape with a selection of low level buildings scattered around a marble and glass main complex, which leads to a large pool and wonderful beach.
The thomson rep was on another coach so we were left to check in unaided. An easy ,quick and pleasant introduction to the friendly staff of the hotel. Our spacious room was near to the main building and had a king size bed ,TV, balcony, good size shower room and wardrobe with safe.
Time for a quick walk around to explore before a couple of sundowners and our first evening meal overlooking the well lit pool area.
5 am wake up call when the swing fog man decides it is a good time to crank up the machine (it feels like its outside our room)and obliterate the odd mossie. He must be doing something right as never saw one all fortnight. Good job we like to be up early.
The beach is lovely, lots of beds with screens to reduce the light breeze if you really wanted to bake.. the pontoon is now complete and has two access points , which is great ,if like me you are reassured when you can touch the sea bed and still be able to breathe unaided by scuba gear.
The fish and coral are amazing and even in the waist height depth of the sea you feel as though you really are snorkling.
A beach restaurant and bar area give plenty of opportunities to keep the water intake high as the heat was lovely and hot. We didnt eat here but there did seem to be lots who had the usual chips and snadwhiches at lunch. A couple of evenings it was used as a seafood restaurant, but again we didnt use this.
The entertainment was the same every night with the kareoke king. he is so bad its funny, script writers could have a field day. he waves to the ladies and has perfected the stereotype cheesy grin and wink. The songs that he doesn't murder himself he encourages guests to come along and sing with him. Is x factor to blame for the number of people of all nationalities who wilingly subject themsleves to nightly humiliation?
Two nights we also briefly had a belly dancer followed by a whirling dervish outside the restaurant.
the animation team did organise a "show" in the ampitheatre each night from 9 is but its not our bag so no idea what it was like.
We arrived on the wednesday and on the first Sunday pharoahs revenge hit me hard. I can hardly remember anything until wednesday, although the on site DR. gave me injections and lots of tablets. Two days later and no improvement, more tablets from DR.(is he really qualified???)and at last the strong griping pains subside. no food since sunday just water. the waiter told me on the friday to drink anise tea so i gave this a go. At last able to go sit on the beach for an afternoon a week without food leaves you quite weak. the same day my husband caught the bug- which is apparently nothing to do with poor food served warm instead of hot, just us getting used to the sun.
We have used AI hotels before in many diferent countries but never had such poor quality food served up luke warm at best. the chefs cook pasta to order and sometimes strips of fish.stick to this as at least it is hot. the rest must be festering for hours before meal times. even the soup is luke warm.choice is very limited, usually a stew for lunch or dinner.
its such a shame as the poor catering standards let the whole hotel down.lots of people,all nationalities, were ill and the staff party line was very definately that it was the heat. We came back this morning and are still not over the problems. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone until the catering is significantly improved. i lost a week and half of my holiday and my husband 5 days.its not what we expect or want from what should have been a relaxing break.
