This is a hotel dedicated for middle class non European customers - especially for middle class Russians. The more you fit that description - the more you'd be satisfied.

Let's start from the beginning - Check in: you must put 10$ in to the passport, to get the room with the see view, but I'm not sure if you really want that, since between the beautiful sea and the hotel there is a dirty building site.. My friends didn't pay and they got a dark room with view to the pool, but the room was noticeably "less used" - in my opinion looked much better. But both rooms were ok. After 2 days you'll get used to the grout coming from between the costly marble terracotta, as well as the gaps and the odds everywhere...


The food is really low quality, (but nobody got stomach revelations which is very good..) Its more like a dirty, overcrowded eating-house with long queue lines and staff flirting with ladies, instead of working, not a clean restaurant where you'd be served.. Everything is fat or/and fried on too much lowest quality oil. Even simple 2 scrambled eggs are fried on a half ladle of oil! Everything tastes the same. Food is definitely the major issue in that place.
It's good enough for poor people, who cares about quantity, not quality, since you can eat with no limit. And Russians do eat with no limit because its "for free".. so in a way I do understand where that issue comes from.
(A good tip for you -If you drink coffee, get yourself your own coffee maker from home, as the coffee there is really disgraceful!! )


Beach: do not play the beach volley with no shoes as is some places there are rocks under the sand. I did, until I cut myself (staff willing to be empathic, said "oh, it happens all the time, this is why I PLAY IN SHOES"). It was a small cut, but on the next day I got the infection (the sand is dirty). My leg swollen and I got the fever. I had to take antibiotic so I couldn't drink alcohol any more.. Play in shoes!
(by the way: the hotel does not have even a first aid kit, and a doctor's help costs a fortune - so in case... You're on your own).


The water in the sea is not as clear as you'd want it to be. While snorkling you will easily find 2 pipes coming from the hotel to the sea... I did't ask what do they spill to the sea.. Beside in the middle of the hotel beach there is a small marina with the boats that run on fuel, so it can not possibly be the cleanest place to swim.. (by the way: the reef is dead, nothing to admire..).

The sales people on the beach and pool are really pain... They want to sell you staff, and they do not understand if you say "no", but it's the same everywhere.
I do recommend to go for snorkling (30$) and quads (25-30$). The guy that sells quads safari in the lobby is really ok. He supports Arsenal ;) you can trust him. He was honest with me.

Pool: If you are non smoker - you will not like Russians, who smokes everywhere and all the time.. The pool is no exception. All the time somebody somewhere near you will be smoking..
(big tip: watch your beach towels, they get easily stolen! If it happens you must pay 30$ per towel, or... steal another! The staff doesn't care..)


The Animation:
Its the advantage of the hotel. There is plenty activities to to everyday. Especially the girls who played with children seemed to be professional (but I don't have a child).
The guys were not that professional, as they were focused mostly on their fun and being funny. They did teach salsa for example, but it was mostly showing off, not teaching so you couldn't really benefit that much. The same applies to all activities. If you agree to take part in the evening show - do not expect even a "free drink" or ice cream. There is no winnings. But overall - the Animation team makes a good atmosphere. It would be boring place without them.
(tip of the day: a late night disco in Hurghada is a wast of time and money, drinks costs a fortune, and music is a hard core techno..)

There is one more BIG advantage of that hotel - it is located within the walking distance of "New Marina". It is the only one place in Hurghada that you must visit. You will like it. I recommend The Lodge Restaurant, were they play a live music..

The last small advantage is the live music in the hotel - Everyday after the supper there is a guy playing in the piano in the lobby. He plays really beautifully.. It's a pity he plays the same music every night - otherwise I would listen to him every night.

WARNING: Stay away from the shops that are located vis a vi the Army area.
When you go out of the hotel, and turn right to the closest shopping centre outside of the hotel (not the one inside), you will be passing the Army area on your wright. You will meet a short, fat guy that will tell you, its not safe to walk on this side of the road (it's not true). He will be nice so you are likely to go inside his shop on the other (left) side of the road (next to the coffe restaurant) - DO NOT DO THIS. He locks the doors after you and gets aggressive with his friend, until you buy something.. (it happened to us only there in whole Hurghada).


So overall, in November 2011, I paid 500$ (1600 PLN) per person for a week in this hotel (and half of that was a cost of plain from Poland). I have talked with other Polish people from other hotels, that paid around the same price, and the conclusion is sad - it seemed to be the best choice for price 500-600$ because we did not have any stomach problems. Polish in other hotels did get infected, and it seemed that everywhere the Animation program was more poor, or simply non existent..

SO, in the winter 2011/2012 if you are Polish, that can pay more then 600$ (2000 PLN), you can easily find much better place.
For less then 600$ it's ok choice (just don't expect good food).
For less than 500$ is't probably the bargain..



PS.
...and yes, I had a great time there thanks to other people I met there. We had a great week. It would be the same anywhere in the world with this group.. ;)