Albatros Citadel 5* Albatros Citadel 5*

We arrived at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh hotel for the second time, the first time was in August 2020, at that time it was the height of the corona and half of everything (partially restaurants, hookah bar, nightclub, some bars) were closed due to occupancy hotels by 50%. BUT we didn’t even notice it, because there was enough of everything without it.

Reading bad reviews for this hotel, to some extent I understand the people who write them, I want to say one thing - this hotel is not for everyone. I will try to tell you in detail who definitely needs to visit Albatros Citadel, and who will definitely be disappointed by staying in this place.

So, the first thing you see when you enter the hall are huge arches, and behind them the sea is raging.

I think that this is the most wonderful reception, because it’s not for the sake of helpful staff that you make such a journey, but for the sake of the sea, not nominally “it’s kind of there, but you need to go, go, from this place you can see a piece of water”, if for It is not important for you to see the sea ALWAYS, then you can safely choose another hotel. Because this hotel was created for those who are in love with the sea, the sea wind and freedom, the scope for imagination is huge. There are no barriers in the form of concrete walls, buildings, fences, in the truest sense of the word. The hotel is stretched along the coastline, how much of its length you can see in other sources, there will be no dry numbers. Hotels in Egypt mainly occupy a small part of the beach, and all the buildings go deeper, which means that the buildings or bungalows on the beach with sea views will cost more (I know from personal experience). In Albatros Citadel you can not worry about this, almost any room with a sea view.
We arrived at 10 am, we were asked to wait, everything was very correct, I don’t know, maybe it’s important for someone to dance in front of you, bring cocktails and fawn, don’t expect this here, everything is more than polite, with a smile, but without fluff. Do not forget, sometimes to see a smile, you need to smile first, and the crown will not fall from you. I understand that you paid money, flew in and want a decent level of service, I assure you, here it is more than worthy, just without obtrusiveness and pathos. The same people work here, just like you, but for some reason many people arriving in Egypt and Turkey forget that they are not kings and gods. And it seems to me that those people who are outraged by rudeness (was there rudeness? ) or half-smiles of the staff forget that they are the same employees, workers, leaders in their homeland and oh, how I doubt that they are super friendly and smiling with their guests, customers, customers.
But as they say, you can't see the beam in your own eye.

So, we sat for 20 minutes enjoying the views over a cup of coffee. Then they called us, put on bracelets, left a small tip in the passport, asked for the building (4) in which we were in 2020, because, in our subjective opinion, it has the best location. We received the keys without any problems and they drove us to our room, we looked around the room, everything was in order and so our vacation began.

It seems to me wrong that you come to the sea, and you see the sea only in the morning on the beach and all the meals are held with your eyes fixed on the buildings, walls, fences. For those who want their breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and all possible “kuses” to be with a sea view, you are definitely in Albatros Citadel. There are no restaurants without amazing views. We, for example, enjoy this.

And you won’t have to fight for a free table, because of the huge territory of the hotel, it sometimes seemed that we were alone in the hotel, there were no crowds, no queues, all the tourists were somehow dispersed throughout the territory.

More about the body and its location.
The first thing I want to say is that you will have to walk a lot, a lot (we have an average of 18.000 thousand steps per day, this is without unnecessary walks: room - breakfast - beach - lunch - beach - room - dinner - animation - room. Keep in mind that this it’s not a straight road, it’s endless stairs, ups and downs (tiles everywhere, it’s comfortable to walk) So those who don’t like to walk (+34-37 degrees heat) are definitely not here, this is not a problem for us, but on the contrary we like what we have movement. And a very important point, you make the whole way with awesome views, no matter where you turn, no matter what stairs you go, from everywhere you observe dizzying views of the hotel and the sea. Our eyes were always beautiful, always in general.
Enclosure orientation:
Building 2 above the Marina - located closest to the main building, where the main restaurant, reception, it is also closest to the lagoon where daytime and evening animation takes place, right under this building on the Marina sometimes evening animation also takes place or you can just go down literally 2 minutes and sit near the water (a lot of tables), there is a bar, the waiters offer drinks and ice cream. But the minus for me is the lack of a full-fledged balcony, there are small arches, either a window, or an underbalcony, (of course with a view of the Marina and the sea, but to the left and right of the building), perhaps the rooms are smaller than others, I have not been there, in In general, it's a matter of taste.

3 case is located above the second, i. e. you need to climb the stairs. There are rooms with private terraces without high fences, which is strange for me, because the terraces face the pedestrian road, and if you sit in a towel after a shower, consider that in the first row near the stage))

Those who have children are probably comfortable in building 3 because there are rooms that go directly to the pool, there is also a pool for the little ones, mothers are somewhere in the middle of the calf, there are lifeguards. That is, you don’t need to go down, go anywhere, but the pool immediately came out, there is a bar, music, usually there are a lot of children there, because the sea in this hotel is not for children, depth, corals. On the same level there is another main restaurant where breakfasts and dinners are served. So if with children and the pool suits you (because it’s decent to go to the sea), I would advise considering building 3. But ask for access to the pool.
Building 4, our favorite, is below building 3, you have to go down to the sea, if the beach is on the left, then 4 minutes, if the beach is under the main building, then 7-10 minutes walk, just leaving the building you immediately get into the infinity pool, awesome view opens from this pool (they say that in the winter months it is heated and all the animation takes place here). On average, all restaurants are 7-10 minutes walk. The terrace offers the most beautiful views of the hotel, the sea and the lagoons. Because this building is located high, but it is the closest to the sea. We had a room on the top floor, possibly in the same building, but the floors below will have a different view, but no less beautiful, I'm sure. This building is convenient because, in principle, the distance to all locations is the same, the royal lagoon is located on the left and also about 7 minutes walk.
If you want to explore the whole hotel and choose for yourself the most convenient place where to sunbathe, swim and relax, then whatever you choose, you will be in the center of all events. But you have to walk.

Building 5 is located next to building 4, i. e. further from the main building (restaurants, animation), but closer to the beaches where there are few people and there is a royal lagoon, it is small, but there is sand and a gentle entrance, they say it can be crowded there. Maybe someone will find advantages for themselves. You will have to go to breakfast, lunch, dinner a lot, so be prepared for this. But I know that many people like building 5, but I believe that the fifth building goes to the end of the hotel territory, so there are rooms in the tail, but there are at the beginning, you also need to take into account, open the map and you will understand what I'm talking about.
Further 6 is on top FOR 5, you will also have to walk a lot somewhere there.
7.

Building 8 is really far away, probably without the help of cars that run every 5-10 minutes (according to tourists) you can’t do it, we ourselves never went to these buildings.

You need to understand that there is a possibility that there will be no rooms in the building you need and you will be settled in distant buildings, it is important to be prepared for this so that at this moment you do not overshadow your vacation, we watched how the cars came to the beach, took people away, they in fact, you don’t have to go at all, you just need to get used to the fact that you need to wait for the typewriter.

FOOD, everything was delicious, we are not picky, maybe if you cook new dishes every two days at home, the first second third, then it may seem to you that the menu is not varied).
There was both fish and meat (chicken, beef) all the time. Grill available for lunch and dinner. There was no seafood other than shrimp, but you can go to a paid restaurant on site, they serve seafood.
Desserts, fruits, everything is as usual, quite varied
.

Who can not live without delicious coffee, then it is served in the main building in a cafe, there is a smoking room. And at lunch you can drink coffee at the marina.

Who should NOT choose Albatros Citadel:
- You don't like to walk a lot.
You find it hard to go up and down stairs.
- You don't like the wind (depending on the season).
- It is NOT important for you that the sea is in your field of vision around the clock.
- You are a picky eater and need variety.
- You need a gentle entrance to the sea, sand and a calm sea.
- You need a youth party vacation.

Who should choose Albatros Citadel:
- You arrive at the sea for the sake of the SEA.
- You want to see the sea always.
- You want to feel unity with nature, you want to take a deep breath and hear yourself.
- You want to see fish, a lot of fish, the hotel has its own huge reef and there are no such fish even on off-site excursions (checked), so don't waste money on off-site snorkeling, spend money on a good mask and enjoy the underwater world at the hotel.

- You want to enjoy walking in the evening along the paths along the hotel, which is illuminated so incredibly that it feels like you are not in Egypt, but in a European village.