We have just returned from two wonderful weeks in Helioland Beach Club.Like many others who were there it was not our hotel of choice,for some undisclosed reason YOU Travel had changed us from Utopia beach club,we were expecting the worst.However the hotel and its people were superb.It caters predominantly for Italians,there were only sixteen English speakers there, well fourteen really,my wife and I are from north of Hadrians wall.Which is quite funny really bearing in mind it was originally Italians who built it for the locals.
We were there over Christmas and New Year and it exceeded all our expectations.The food over Christmas was brilliant and at New Year a huge marquee was constructed on the beach,carpeted throughout and decorated .
Internally with flags and externally with lights and fireworks.THE FOOD WAS GLORIOUS My wife and I are 65 plus and my daughter and friend are 37ish.If I could work this thing with a modicum of skill I would put some of our cracking photographs on display.To Trevor sorry you never got your pie and chips. Yours
Bill and Helen Murdoch

overall the hotel needs a good face lift it is very tired, but we paid £500 for 2 adults for 2 weeks we could not have gone to the coast in the UK for that price and we would not have had the sea and sun.

you have to ask for a glass plastic is ok on the beach and poolside but not in the dining room and reception bar, we did not see any or hear any drunks. staff have aprob with pouring beer so take 2 at a time 50% beer 50% head, but hey it is a/I, the spirits are 80% alchol and 20% mixer, so be warned if you do not have a head for drink. getting a coffee is not that easy it took ages for them to make you one but it was ok when it came.

the rooms are tired and need a general update, there is limited English tv we lost the sound to CNN so the world could have disappeared and we would not have known.

They are building a jetty out to the reef at present you walk over a path of dead coral which is a shame, in the lagoon there is plenty to see, and when you go over the reef there are conger eels, reef sharks etc etc, take a camera, in the lagoon you ay be lucky to see the octopus and blue ray's.

Food overall OK had 1 day with a bad tum but i could have got the bug on the way out as it was on the 2nd day, did not hear of anyone else being ill.

The area seems to have a problem with flies and mozzies it is not just that hotel when we got to the airport others complained about them.

The flight out was cramped and not very warm, we also had to pick up from London so it was a long journey, on the way back we was not classed as a night flight although we did not land until 0130 as such they would not dim the lights, mor give out blankets, you could buy a pack though, once again we hasd to go via London they dimmed the light for the last 30 mins, and no leg room, so suggest buy the extra leg room on the plane.

if you want to be going shopping forget it you are a taxi drive away from town, only time we came back having spent nothing, hisband thought that was great. Duty free at airport limited and perfume expensive so buy on way out not on return.

Overall £ for £ can not complain will go to the resort again but not the hotel until it has had a face lift. If you want to be in a busy resort go to sharm, but if you want a chill out in the sun with safe swimming in the laggon go to marsa

There was 5 of our family who went to this hotel, (8th-22nd dec]
we should have been staying at the pensee down the road but got change to hear, there are lots of English people this has happened to as you travel have had a big falling out with a few hotels in the marsa alam region.?
Food was always hot with chicken beef and fish and plenty of different things to go with it.
Beer ,spirits and beverages to choose from but you have to pay for wine [about £18 a bottle).
none of us had a bad stomach.
This is an Italian hotel but don't worry the animation team are very helpful, the kids club is good and my 11 year old had a great time, they all can speak a bit of English.
The snorkeling is very good, the inner reef has got lots of live coral and deep sections to explore with lots of different fish.
in 2 weeks we had 6 calm days to snorkel the deeper reef, we saw reef sharks, Congo eels and dolphins passed bye a few times.
We paid £1600 for 5 of us, yes there is some bad points but not enough to harp on about, enjoy your self and don't worry about all the bad stuff that is being said.

Just returned from the Helioland, and quite frankly we had a good holiday, we also got moved to this hotel with friends,
Yes there are a few things that could be improved on, but cant every hotel.The accomadation was basic clean and everything worked,no problems there.
Location, stuck in the middle of nowwhere. so what. again no problems.
Swimming pool and Beach we found to be very good staff very helpful and always smiling, if you are nice to them they return it with interest, as i dont do much snorkling i cant really compment.
Other tourists. Yes there were Russians there, and yes they do drink a lot and treat the staff badly, however let them get on with it we had no problems with them, Italians again no problems.
improvements, the all inclusive is not, no wine or bottled water, and the plastic cups, ok by the pool and beach, but not in the evening or in the restaurant.
Ok on to the food dont go to Egypt if you want 1st class food this was our 5th visit and this was no better or worse than any where else, there was always something to eat and it was hot.
Weather. sunny sunny and sunny, this is why we go to Egypt.
Summary. For the cost this was a good hotel for a week, just go for some wintershine and to not to comlain at the slightest thing.