Have just spent 2 lovely weeks at this hotel and returned on the 10th December 2006. This a vast sprawling complex. It’s extremely friendly and immaculately clean and within a short walk from the centre. One of the reasons we chose it was that the children’s pool was being refurbished so we knew there would be no children. It is a 3star hotel at a 3star price i.e. we paid £640 for 2 weeks B&B. Yes I would have preferred to stay across the road at the Hilton Fayrouz but did not have another £1,0000 to spend. We noted that someone on another travel site had mentioned that the newer part of the complex had bigger rooms so we asked Fist Choice for that area. (First Choice shops will price match the internet site and so you can ask for preferences like this). We had a large room with two double beds, 2 little comfy chairs (which we would carry onto the balcony as the chairs were so hard out there) an excellent fridge (it actually was so cold it froze the water) and a decent size balcony overlooking the large upper pool. We eventually got a kettle after asking 6 times over 4 days. The room numbers in this area are in the region of 2900. The ones near the reception are much smaller are called clusters and the numbers are around 300, 600. The bathroom was a bit tatty and old and they are refurbishing either the bathrooms or the whole rooms. We were disturbed a couple of times by workmen but when I asked them to down tools they did. There are a lot of new rooms being added (this place is going to be huge and I just hope they add another pool otherwise it will spoil it completely) behind this area but we were not disturbed by the noise.
The pool is very nice but freezing. You have free access to 2 beaches, Gaffy beach which is owned by Holiday Inn and is packed and not very nice and Viva Beach (very nice and great snorkelling) which is directly in front of Red Sea Diving in the very centre of Sharm. You collect your ticket from reception each day and exchange this on the beach for a bed and towel. If you tip the beach boy 5 Egyptian (50P) each time he will do his very best to get you a bed in the front in the sun. One day at 11.00am reception told me that Viva beach was full and I could not have a ticket!! I refused to accept this and was told to “please wait”, whereupon a new pad of tickets suddenly appeared and all was fine. Do not expect any help or advise from the First Choice rep, she was completely useless and unhelpful. A small map of the area or the simply advise of, “ the nicest way into Sharm Centre is not along the main road where the taxis toot you continually to get your custom but to cross over the reservation on the first little bridge to the Hilton Fayrouz. Go through the Hilton Fayrouz (yes everyone does this and they expect it and get lots of people buying cocktails and drinks because of it) which is beautiful and simply then walk along the promenade past the restaurants and beaches”. We used this way each time and a nice smile and hello to the guard is nice.
A slight warning, 90% of the visitors are Russian both in the hotel and in the resort. They are hated by the Egyptian but they bring money but don’t ever tip. Breakfast in the hotel is quite entertaining. Each Russian will fill 3 or 5 plates of food. mashed potato, melon, scrambled egg, green peppers, frankfurters, tomato etc etc and cover it with chocolate sauce or yogurt. A huge plate of cakes another huge plate of bread, serviettes full of cheese for snacking on on the beach etc etc. You can easily spend an hour just watching them and also their dress choices!!!! A chef will cook up an omelette or fried eggs while you wait and there is usually baked tomatoes, pancakes and delicious green melon which is very sweet so there should be something there for the British taste at breakfast and in a lovely clean light room. We did have the evening BBQ at the hotel but it was cold and disgusting.
From the centre of New Sharm to Old Sharm is 20 Egyptian (£2.00) no tip and make sure you have the exact money and negotiate this price. Do have a drink on the decking at the Lido at the far end of the bay., a beer will be about £2.20 but the view back is wonderful and in th evening the deck is floodlit and you can see a huge variety of fish. Avoid the Byblos which will rip you off for £6.00 per drink. Do go out on the glass bottom boat £4.00 for an hour. The airport duty free was simply horrid, no prices on individual items and incorrectly marked signs for cheeper goods put against alchocol which was very deceptive. extreme;ly rude and unhelful staff.