We stayed at this hotel for the first 2 weeks in August of 2005 our party consisted of my husband and myself and our 2 daughters aged 15 and 13. This hotel impresses from start to finish with its immaculate marble reception with comfy sofas and chairs leading to a sweeping double staircases that takes you down to the first pool area and the start of the accommodation blocks. With manicured gardens dotted all over the hotel, intermingled with streams and waterfalls which run from the back of reception to the beachfront this really is a pretty hotel.
First the LOCATION: The hotel is situated about 5 miles to the west of the main resort
of Namma bay and 2 to 3 miles from the old Town of Sharm El Sheikh. It sits on the end of the peninsular next to the lighthouse on Elfinhare Street. With its own private beach front this hotel is in a prime location, with the local night life of Namma Bay only a taxi ride away and costing 25 Egyptian pounds, old Sharm only costs 10 Egyptian pounds or if you feel like a walk there is a small area of shops and restaurants and a few bars just 10 minuets walk up the road opposite the Hilton. Transfer time from the airport takes about 25 to 35 minutes.
THE HOTEL: The renaissance has 4 swimming pools one of which is heated in winter, they are all large and free form with one having a swim up bar towels are provided at each pool and down at the beach. The lack of depth markers and no true life guards may be of some concern to those with small children. A fitness centre with Jacuzzi, Whirlpool and Sauna all of which can be used free of charge by the guests can be fund in the maine building of the hotel on the bottom floor. With 356 rooms and 28 suites this hotel is by no means small, accomodation is no more that 2 storys high and runs from the top of the cliff to the bottom. This is the hotels only true draw back there are approx 150 steps from the top of the hotel to the bottom and that is if you take the direct route, get lost and there are a lot more. Shaded areas with Bedouin type seating are dotted all over to allow you to rest but this is little consolation in the midday heat. There are slopes that run down from the top at reception to the beach and also the hotel does have small golf carts and they will take you up or down if you can find one. There are five restaurants/snack bars to pick from during the day and night if you wish to eat at the hotel but we found them to be on the pricey side with a mid day snack for 4 consisting of sandwich's or burgers with a soft drink costing about £35 pounds, evening meals will cost you £20 to £25 per head not including drinks. You will pay a third of this price if you eat outside the hotel. Our favourite restaurant in the hotel was Acapulco Joe's their fresh sea food cocktails were out of this world.
ROOMS: We had a superior Double room that was large and airy with a big bathroom that had both a bath and a separate power shower. Satellite TV with English speaking channels and music channels. A small mini Bar that was well stocked (you could ask them to unstock this if you preferred so you could put your own water/pop etc in.) and plenty of wardrobe space. Large patio doors led onto a balcony/terrace with table and chairs and a fantastic view of the Red Sea, not all rooms have a sea view and as they look on to the backs of other accommodation blocks or walk ways its worth in my opinion paying extra for a sea view. There are no tea or coffee making facilities in the rooms but if you ask the reception staff or the maid they will put a kettle and cups in your room but you will have to go out and buy coffee etc, there is a small supermarket just past the Hilton that is a LOT CHEAPER than the one in the hotel.
BEACH: Well there is not a beach as such just man made ledges overlooking the sea. Two small coves lead down to the seas edge the first one of these gives you access to the pontoon so you can cross over the shallow coral without damaging it and provides a floating platform with ladders so getting in and out of the water is easy. The house reef at this hotel is fantastic (if you ever go look under the pontoon the fish are even bigger there, than they are out on the reef).
The staff at this hotel are some of the most helpfull and the friendliest that I have ever met nothing seems to be to much trouble and they greet you with a smile and hello every time. The service was second to none and we could not fault it. The hotel was spotless throughout not a spec of dust or a dirty ash tray to be seen, and a view to die for and all the beautiful fish on the house reef just a a step away that you can snorkal with any time you like.
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square metres of landscaped grounds, opposite the beach and three kilometres from water sports opportunities. The 272 guestrooms and suites are decorated with colo...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...