Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
7.0
Service:
8.0
Cleanliness:
8.0
Food:
9.0
Amenities:
10.0
If you want to get away from the bustle of the city, plunge into the fantastic underwater world of the Red Sea, swim with turtles, relax, then you are here!
This is not the first time in Egypt with my husband. The hotel was chosen deliberately.
Firstly: Marsa Alam is a windy coast, the strength of the wind and its direction changes during the day, and in this hotel the beach is in the bay! For all 7 days of rest, even with a strong wind, there was a green flag.
Second: turtles! They are here, you don't have to go anywhere. I have personally seen five. Between the two reefs is sand and algae, which turtles like to profit from. Two turtles - with fish - stuck. And there is one old turtle that gnaws on corals. Do not rush to dive to them, wait a bit, they periodically emerge to take in air. And then you can swim a little with the turtle, even stroke it. It's very funny to watch them. We also saw a crocodile fish, a black triangular stingray, my husband saw a huge, according to him, 2-meter moray eel.
The third reason: nearby, within walking distance, is Braika Bay, according to tour operators, there is the best reef on the coast, where I also wanted to swim. (But my husband and I went only 1 time, there are really two beautiful reefs, but smaller and, unfortunately, you don’t have time to enjoy it, because there are sooooo many people, like in Zatoka or Gribovka in July, you constantly bump into or hurt someone last, it was very annoying).
A few tips.
- Be sure to purchase special shoes, even if you choose another hotel, 90% of the entrance to the sea is rocky. (There is no pontoon here, and this is good, because if there is a pontoon, then the entrance to the sea is only from it, and since, I repeat, it is always windy there, the entrance to the pontoon is often closed and a red flag is hung out).
- Buy fins with an adjustable heel that can be worn over your shoes. You will have to walk 40-50 meters, and only then put on flippers. There are two reefs and they are long. And it will be difficult to swim with turtles without flippers.
- Don't be lazy, get up early. The best snorkeling is from 7 am to 9 am. After lunch, the sea is cloudy. At 18:00 it is already dark.
- Swim in a T-shirt or special clothing, no super waterproof cream with 50 protection will save you. The sun is ruthless and you can't feel it in the water!
- Don't buy a waterproof case for your mobile phone. Under water, the sensor does not work, it is impossible to take a photo, the screen is black under water, nothing is visible, all buttons are pressed in a row, except for those that you need. I managed to shoot a couple of videos, but, you know, fish, turtles and dolphins do not wait until I set up the phone. Buy the right equipment for underwater photography or just watch and enjoy!
Tours. Another one of my goals was dolphins! They are near Sataya Reef and at Dolphin House. The last one is farther, more expensive and travel on certain days. To Sataya - in a day, if there is no strong wind! (I bought at a diving center for $75, and met a family from another hotel, the three of them bought for $180, so be sure to bargain). Our group was lucky, we swam with several flocks of dolphins, there were dolphins with cubs, it is very touching. It seemed that the dolphins also had an excursion to people)). I got great pleasure, it's an indescribable feeling! Too bad it's not enough.
It is worth considering that the road is tiring, from the hotel to the port is about 110 km, then on the yacht it takes 2 hours 20 minutes, where the rocking is sooooo strong! Take water in a bottle so that it is nearby (there is water on the yacht, but it is not easy to get to it - strong pitching! ), It is hot, you want to drink all the time. On the yacht they offer pills to prevent motion sickness. Take a hat and windbreaker. It's hot to go there, but back - the sun sets, the wind is colder, and you have a wet head. I didn't regret taking the windbreaker.
(By the way, we were frozen on the plane, the air conditioner was working, it was blowing from all the cracks, many flew to Hurghada with snot. So take a couple of warm clothes with you on the plane too).
Also on the yacht you will be forced to buy a ticket to the National Park for $ 3, check with those who sell you an excursion (I suspect this is another scam from the locals). And then they will still collect tips for the captain)). Many got off the green yacht, do not take the children.
The animation there is boring and it seemed to me paid! Every evening they begged us for money either for a disco or for some contests.
Food. Local, monotonous, in all hotels the food is the same. We weren't hungry, we had everything!
Internet is paid. In the diving center we bought an excursion to the Sataya reef, there is Internet there, but you have to ask for a password, we were not refused. We checked the mail, contacted the relatives.
TV. There are no Ukrainian or Russian channels. We watched one channel in English.
Finally, I want to describe a funny incident that once again amused me and my husband. Oh those locals! I repeat, this is not the first time in Egypt, there have never been problems with settling in a room. Neither the view from the window, nor breakdowns, did not spoil our rest. (The hotel really needs a refurbishment, but we are not one of those tourists who take pictures of stains, cracks, toilets)). When we went to this hotel, we were warned that the room would be small and the hall and balcony would have to be shared with someone else. It didn't scare us as we only sleep in the room. But at the reception, we were immediately offered a super large room, in which we will be alone and for only $ 10 per night, that is, $ 70. I said that the last night we do not spend the night, they threw off up to $ 60.
We asked to see the room, we were refused. Bargained for $35. As a result, they brought me to a room on the 1st floor with a huge hall (why do we need it? ), Where is the kitchen (which we don’t need), a bar counter, a sofa, two chests of drawers, no TV, no balcony, view from the window - bushes, shower +toilet and a small cozy bedroom with air conditioning and TV. Of course, we didn’t like it, we returned to the reception, they gave us the same room, but in another building, with check-in after 18:00, it is lighter, but we don’t need this huge hall, kitchen !! ! We returned again, at the reception the guy tried to persuade us for a long time, but he returned the money with displeasure and settled us in a small cozy bright room on the 2nd floor, overlooking the bay!! ! So do not overpay, small rooms are also good with all amenities. Egyptians are just such a people!
Have a nice holiday!
If you are going to Marsa Alam, I already kindly envy you! )
This is not the first time in Egypt with my husband. The hotel was chosen deliberately.
Firstly: Marsa Alam is a windy coast, the strength of the wind and its direction changes during the day, and in this hotel the beach is in the bay! For all 7 days of rest, even with a strong wind, there was a green flag.
Second: turtles! They are here, you don't have to go anywhere. I have personally seen five. Between the two reefs is sand and algae, which turtles like to profit from. Two turtles - with fish - stuck. And there is one old turtle that gnaws on corals. Do not rush to dive to them, wait a bit, they periodically emerge to take in air. And then you can swim a little with the turtle, even stroke it. It's very funny to watch them. We also saw a crocodile fish, a black triangular stingray, my husband saw a huge, according to him, 2-meter moray eel.
The third reason: nearby, within walking distance, is Braika Bay, according to tour operators, there is the best reef on the coast, where I also wanted to swim. (But my husband and I went only 1 time, there are really two beautiful reefs, but smaller and, unfortunately, you don’t have time to enjoy it, because there are sooooo many people, like in Zatoka or Gribovka in July, you constantly bump into or hurt someone last, it was very annoying).
A few tips.
- Be sure to purchase special shoes, even if you choose another hotel, 90% of the entrance to the sea is rocky. (There is no pontoon here, and this is good, because if there is a pontoon, then the entrance to the sea is only from it, and since, I repeat, it is always windy there, the entrance to the pontoon is often closed and a red flag is hung out).
- Buy fins with an adjustable heel that can be worn over your shoes. You will have to walk 40-50 meters, and only then put on flippers. There are two reefs and they are long. And it will be difficult to swim with turtles without flippers.
- Don't be lazy, get up early. The best snorkeling is from 7 am to 9 am. After lunch, the sea is cloudy. At 18:00 it is already dark.
- Swim in a T-shirt or special clothing, no super waterproof cream with 50 protection will save you. The sun is ruthless and you can't feel it in the water!
- Don't buy a waterproof case for your mobile phone. Under water, the sensor does not work, it is impossible to take a photo, the screen is black under water, nothing is visible, all buttons are pressed in a row, except for those that you need. I managed to shoot a couple of videos, but, you know, fish, turtles and dolphins do not wait until I set up the phone. Buy the right equipment for underwater photography or just watch and enjoy!
Tours. Another one of my goals was dolphins! They are near Sataya Reef and at Dolphin House. The last one is farther, more expensive and travel on certain days. To Sataya - in a day, if there is no strong wind! (I bought at a diving center for $75, and met a family from another hotel, the three of them bought for $180, so be sure to bargain). Our group was lucky, we swam with several flocks of dolphins, there were dolphins with cubs, it is very touching. It seemed that the dolphins also had an excursion to people)). I got great pleasure, it's an indescribable feeling! Too bad it's not enough.
It is worth considering that the road is tiring, from the hotel to the port is about 110 km, then on the yacht it takes 2 hours 20 minutes, where the rocking is sooooo strong! Take water in a bottle so that it is nearby (there is water on the yacht, but it is not easy to get to it - strong pitching! ), It is hot, you want to drink all the time. On the yacht they offer pills to prevent motion sickness. Take a hat and windbreaker. It's hot to go there, but back - the sun sets, the wind is colder, and you have a wet head. I didn't regret taking the windbreaker.
(By the way, we were frozen on the plane, the air conditioner was working, it was blowing from all the cracks, many flew to Hurghada with snot. So take a couple of warm clothes with you on the plane too).
Also on the yacht you will be forced to buy a ticket to the National Park for $ 3, check with those who sell you an excursion (I suspect this is another scam from the locals). And then they will still collect tips for the captain)). Many got off the green yacht, do not take the children.
The animation there is boring and it seemed to me paid! Every evening they begged us for money either for a disco or for some contests.
Food. Local, monotonous, in all hotels the food is the same. We weren't hungry, we had everything!
Internet is paid. In the diving center we bought an excursion to the Sataya reef, there is Internet there, but you have to ask for a password, we were not refused. We checked the mail, contacted the relatives.
TV. There are no Ukrainian or Russian channels. We watched one channel in English.
Finally, I want to describe a funny incident that once again amused me and my husband. Oh those locals! I repeat, this is not the first time in Egypt, there have never been problems with settling in a room. Neither the view from the window, nor breakdowns, did not spoil our rest. (The hotel really needs a refurbishment, but we are not one of those tourists who take pictures of stains, cracks, toilets)). When we went to this hotel, we were warned that the room would be small and the hall and balcony would have to be shared with someone else. It didn't scare us as we only sleep in the room. But at the reception, we were immediately offered a super large room, in which we will be alone and for only $ 10 per night, that is, $ 70. I said that the last night we do not spend the night, they threw off up to $ 60.
We asked to see the room, we were refused. Bargained for $35. As a result, they brought me to a room on the 1st floor with a huge hall (why do we need it? ), Where is the kitchen (which we don’t need), a bar counter, a sofa, two chests of drawers, no TV, no balcony, view from the window - bushes, shower +toilet and a small cozy bedroom with air conditioning and TV. Of course, we didn’t like it, we returned to the reception, they gave us the same room, but in another building, with check-in after 18:00, it is lighter, but we don’t need this huge hall, kitchen !! ! We returned again, at the reception the guy tried to persuade us for a long time, but he returned the money with displeasure and settled us in a small cozy bright room on the 2nd floor, overlooking the bay!! ! So do not overpay, small rooms are also good with all amenities. Egyptians are just such a people!
Have a nice holiday!
If you are going to Marsa Alam, I already kindly envy you! )
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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