OMG...where do we start, well at the beginning is a logical place. OK this was our second trip to Egypt, all beit our first to Sharm El Sheikh, our first to Taba last year. The first impressions I must admit are scary, the hotel complex is massive. After jumping the queue to book in (VIP's apparantly) we were told our room number and that the bell boys would be bringing our cases so off for a beer whilst we waited. So one (or two) beers later off we trudged through the maze to find our room (20 mins later arrived). That for us was the ONLY down side of this holiday. I cant believe some of the moans that people have made (the sea is too shallow!!!!!!!! what? how can a hotel improve that?). Food is good enough to eat and there is plenty of it, neither of us were bad, yes one or two people did get extremely drunk (but that happens everywhere). The hotel staff could not do enough for you right from our cleaner (mustafa) right up to the Guest relations lady. Everything you asked for you got. One tip mentioned quite a lot is to have your minibar emptied. Once or twice we left the complex by foot to the supermarket over the road for some beer and cig's (£5 for 200) ignore the First Choice reps saying you can only buy them from the duty free shop in naama bay within 48 hours of entering the country.
Made some fantastic friends over there (hello to our fantastic four northern friends you know who you are) and visited to naama bay the one evening and enjoyed our meal at Hard Rock Cafe (this place is dirt cheap) 3 burgers, fajitas, pasta and steak plus 8 pints for under 60 quid!
The rooms are massive and ours consisted of a extremely large hard but comfortable King SIze bed, tv, bedside tables, lamps, seperate table in the main room. A balcony overlooking the sea and also a large bathroom with toilet, sink shower and a jacuzzi bath (paid extra for).
The pool had a poor rating for me to start with on the first day was cloudy, but after a few complaints out came the pool cleaners armed with vacuums etc. After this the pool was superb, extremely refreshing and very clean. There is a pool bar open from 10am until sunset in both the large and small pools and serves soft drinks along with alcohol. The ice cream is to die for and a must recommend.
The food was not exactly to my taste but I am a fussy eater but believe me there is something for everyone. Lunchtime food is served at the Mermaid bar and a selection from Beefburgers (quite nice) to pizzas are on offer. Of an evening its back to the Dine Around where a buffet style meal is on offer, this is themed every evening to a different country.
Overall this holiday was superb, if you are looking for guaranteed sun, temperatures in 40+ and total relaxation then this is the place, the entertainment of an evening was a bit poor but hey what ever happened to the art of conversation.