Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
8.0
Service:
9.0
Cleanliness:
7.0
Food:
8.0
Amenities:
8.0
I was in this hotel twice with a difference of a month - in December 2016 and January 2017. The first time we flew with a large company, the second time we were alone with my mother. The hotel was chosen based on location and reviews. The reviews, however, were contradictory, which was a little scary. However, in reality, everything turned out to be very decent. I hope that my review will help someone with the choice of hotel.
I’ll make a reservation right away, those who expect this hotel to meet the notion of “5 stars” (and all this at a tour price of $ 240 per week per person) can expect severe disappointment here. The level of service in the hotels of Egypt is still more in line with the price tag, not the star rating. For the month of January, Sharm Plaza was the second in terms of the cost of the "fives" of Sharm (from cheap to expensive). For my taste, the ratio "price / quality" here is just fine.
Air flight. We took the tour through Join Up, departure from Kyiv. Luckily, they flew without problems and delays. If seats on the plane are important for you (for example, if you want by the window or vice versa) and you are flying from Kyiv, I highly recommend using the online check-in and registering your seats in advance (one day before departure). They don’t give food on the plane, they only give water and tea (but we had it with us : )) At the Sharma airport, having climbed the escalator, everyone queues up for the representative of the tour operator who issues migration cards and tries very hard to convince you that he will fill it out for you for 5 dollars. In fact, you can go to the passport control window and take the migration card there (and not stand in line). I needed a visa (we were going on an excursion to Cairo) and I approached him, asked about the visa, he took our passports and ordered us to go to the back of the hall for a visa. When I returned with a paid visa stamp, he still tried to fool me for $ 5 for a visa (probably to stick it on), but I made a surprised face, he fell behind. In fact (as I now understand), we don’t need it at all, we approach the passport control window, take and fill out the migration card, if we need a visa, we ourselves go to the end of the hall to the window where it is issued.
Settlement. We arrived at the hotel in the evening. The first time we were offered to drink something at the bar while they were completing the paperwork, the second time we were offered to go to dinner first, then to the settlement. Nobody extorted any money for settling with us either the first or the second time. The second time, since I was here again, I was entitled to a compliment from the hotel as a regular guest. In the room there was a letter from the administration and plates of sweets (a trifle, but nice). They settled me for the second time in the next room with the one where I was in the past (they had it written down in which room I was). Of the two hotels, only Sharm Plaza is currently operating, that is, 5 stars, everyone who takes vouchers to the Sharm Resort 4 stars is still accommodated in the Plaza.
Number. We lived in the fifth building, this is the main building, where the main restaurant is located on the second floor, and the reception is on the third. I read in the reviews that there are “good numbers” in buildings from the first to the third, but, in my opinion, the fifth building has its own merits. I highly recommend living here (floor B2 of the fifth building) to those who are critical of walking up the stairs (like my mother, for example). Directly from the corridor of our rooms it was possible to go to the road that goes to the sea (quite a smooth descent), you can take the elevator to the main restaurant and the reception. The room had a balcony door to a veranda overlooking a beautiful green garden. The only drawback of this location is that you can hear the music from the evening animation here. At 11 p. m. everything calms down, but if you are sensitive to noise and go to bed early, I recommend taking rooms in buildings lower and closer to the sea, it is much quieter there. Indeed, the furniture in the room is not new, but solid. The beds are large with comfortable mattresses, the bed is clean. The safe in the room is medium in size, a laptop would not fit, but all our equipment fit there, including a large fotik. There was hot water all the days (I read in the reviews about interruptions with it, I don’t know, maybe it’s easier with it in the main building). There were days when cool water ran at first, and then, after 15 minutes, hot water (here either the second person is lucky, or you just need to let it drain). All towels were present in the room, bottles with shower gel, shampoo, balm and body milk were placed in the bathroom.
Cleaning. For the first time, we came across a cleaner, in the understanding of which it is good to clean - it means to arrange all things in size. Having entered the room, seeing that all our jars, small things, etc. were arranged in size, mixed up where whose, we experienced a slight shock. Having sorted out this “order”, I went up to the reception and asked the employee to write a note to the cleaner in Arabic, thanking him for cleaning and asking him not to touch our things. In the morning they left a note on the bed, along with a dollar. Returning to the room, they found the cleaner there. The note, folded and unfolded again, lay on the bed (apparently, he consulted the instructions). I smiled at him again, explained in English and sign language what I liked and what I didn’t like. He did not touch our things anymore, but he sculpted swans, hearts and crocodiles from towels for us. Once I found two swans on my bed, which instead of a tuft had hryvnia folded like an accordion (bills of 20 and 1 hryvnia). The next morning I put one of the birds in its place, instead of the hryvnia, folding the “van dollar” like an accordion. Such is the communication. The second time he didn’t sculpt anything for us (once he put flowers on the bed), he didn’t touch things, but cleaned them properly, made the bed, changed towels. I washed the floors, I caught it once. I didn’t always refill bottles of gel, once they asked at the reception to add it, everything was in the room in a few minutes. They left a baksheesh worth one dollar or a chocolate bar "Alenka". Once they hung a “do not disturb” sign on the handle, there was no cleaning, no one came in.
Nutrition. I read a lot of terrible reviews about the food in this hotel, but then I contacted one tourist (thank you, Valentina), who recently returned from the hotel, it was relieved from my heart. At the moment, the hotel is filling up due to record low prices for tours, which results in a regime of austerity. In general, there is a lot of food and it is quite varied, the main thing is to find what suits you.
Meat lovers in large quantities here, perhaps, is not easy. No, there were both meat and fish, but, probably, not enough for the full nutrition of a meat-eater. Often the meat was given out in portions by the cook, a small piece in hand. Somehow she asked her friend to put not two, but three pieces (she is on a protein diet) - they put it. I liked the food. There were a lot of vegetables in different variations, both raw and stewed, pickled, baked and so on. Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, green bell peppers, zucchini, regular and sweet potatoes, etc. There have always been variations of rice and beans (I haven't tried the latter). Several local cheese options, including their soft salted cheeses, are interesting enough. My favorite mix is melon with cheese (I took melon separately, separately cheese and mixed it). It was a barbecue evening.
There were a lot of sweets, both all kinds of buns and biscuits with various layers. I liked the cinnamon rolls, always fresh and warm. There were fruits, although not in abundance - melon, guava, oranges, bananas, grapefruits, etc. The main restaurant has a buffet, and on the outdoor terrace there is a stove and a cook, where food is prepared and served in portions. In the morning they cooked scrambled eggs and scrambled eggs. I loved omelettes, with additions of tomatoes and onions, very good. Eggplants are also deep-fried or fried on a brazier (a chic meal for January), and falafia is a national dish, green minced meat, which is deep-fried and turns into a meatball, quite tasty, worth a try.
In addition to the main restaurant, there are many options where you can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is a second restaurant on the beach where you can dine without an appointment. Very convenient, you do not have to leave the beach for a long time, eat and go back to the sunbed or swim in the sea. Yes, the open area of the restaurant is quite democratic - just stretched an awning, like a scarf, reminiscent of our pavilions in the summer. But it’s convenient, the choice of food is sufficient, they gave pasta cooked in front of you, “shawarma” - pieces of meat and vegetables stewed on a brazier.
For drinks, there is also a classic set - powdered juices, cola, sprite, etc. Drinks are brought by the waiter, only powdered juice can be collected from the cooler yourself. Tea bags. Many wrote in the reviews that there was not enough sugar and tea - it really happened. If you like a particular tea or coffee, it's better to take it with you. Instant coffee, which was offered, I could not drink.
There were additional restaurants by appointment. We went to Italian, the pizza is quite tolerable, not the most luxurious, but edible. I do not recommend pizza with tuna, it is better with grilled chicken. The rest of the restaurants have not tried, but they are available and available for booking. You need to sign up a day in advance, there is a specially trained friend at the counter next to the guest relays. You can sign up for breakfast in a restaurant opposite the main one, but we didn’t go there either. If the food in the restaurant by appointment does not suit you, you can go to the main restaurant and eat there.
From three to five in the afternoon, the Italian restaurant offered pancakes and ice cream. Ice cream is usually of two types - chocolate and fruit. A small ball on a waffle cup, generally edible. Pancakes are baked right there, honey, chocolate or jam are added to them. As for me, quite tasty, my mother and I liked it.
Paper napkins are in short supply here. They are, and even with the corporate logo of the network, but for some reason they quickly end. Cloth napkins are widely used. Someone wrote that they are not washed, this is not true, I personally saw how they brought a batch of washed and ironed napkins. But if you need paper ones for comfort, it is better to take them with you.
I have never noticed anywhere that I have doubts, rotten or sour food. Neither I nor my mother (and she has digestive problems and no gallbladder) had "forced fasting or body cleansing. " When I was also no one got poisoned, neither from our company, nor from the vacationers with whom I spoke. Maybe I'm so lucky.
What was really lacking was good coffee. For a surcharge (25 pounds), you could order an espresso, but I didn’t find Turkish coffee, which is so cool to drink in Egypt, even for dollars. No, that's all, as they told me, "it's just walking. " In the city, of course, you can find delicious Turkish coffee in any eatery. Why not offer tourists boiled coffee for a surcharge is a mystery to me.
I haven’t tried alcohol, I don’t drink it in Egypt, so I can’t say anything about the quality. But people actively drink both beer and tonic. There is a bar near the reception, there is on the beach. It offers an assortment of alcohol and cocktails, both "inclusive" and for a fee.
In general, many drinks are offered for an additional fee. Fresh juices, cocktails and more were carried right along the beach. Once I took fresh mango in the main restaurant for $ 2, I didn’t like it and I didn’t experiment with it anymore. You can order a hookah. The price is 3 dollars, if they offer for 4, you have to bargain. All prices for additional services are about 30% higher than in cafes and restaurants in the city, but that's why it is a hotel. In the city you can drink mango juice (very good, pureed mass, you feel that it is not diluted with anything) for 15 pounds in the Old City and 25 in a decent cafe or restaurant (we went to Fares and Minced meat). Hookah 40-45 pounds in Minced meat, for how much you can get in a simple eatery, I was not interested, we did not go there.
Drinking water in sufficient quantity. The cleaner leaves 1.5 liters per day, at the bar near the reception you can take 0.5 liters of water. 1 bottle in hand, the number of "approaches" is not limited. If you arrive in the evening, I advise you to be sure to stock up on water from the evening of arrival. We didn't, and the bar is open from 10, the water was a bit short. Of course, as elsewhere in Egypt, you also need to brush your teeth with bottled water.
Staff. The hotel has two Russian-speaking girls gestrelations. I corresponded with one of them before the trip, as I was worried that we had a room for three and what an extra bed would be. They promised a cot, I panicked. I asked to send me a photo of a folding bed, a photo was sent (by the way, it looked pretty decent, a folding bed with a good mattress). What's nice is that they are quick to respond to questions. About the heated pool, of course, keep silent. It is, of course, warmed up, but not enough to swim in it.
Reception. Very responsive guys. For all the requests that I addressed, they helped me. The safe was closed when moving in - engineers were called. They asked for shower gels - they brought it, the card was demagnetized - they replaced it. Even once they gave iodine for a broken knee (previously they suggested calling a doctor for insurance). Especially got from my requests to an employee named Shnoda. Very kind guy, always sincerely trying to help, pleasant in communication. No one hinted at the need to give baksheesh, although they did not refuse chocolate.
Waiters. The comfort of the tourist largely depends on the waiter, as they deliver drinks (this is at least). When we arrived as a group, on the first day we had a conflict with the waiter. He tried very hard to force drinks on us for an additional fee, he was pressurized and was quite familiar. We asked for a manager who came over immediately. He apologized very much, reined in the waiter, in general, he adequately got out of the situation. When we arrived for the second time, I did not notice any reprehensible behavior behind this waiter, which means that staff training is being carried out. In general, the waiters in the main restaurant left a very pleasant impression. On the first day I ordered a cola, on the second day it was already on my table. A very pleasant impression was left from the waiters Ramzi and Ali. Loved the atmosphere during afternoon pancakes at the Italian restaurant. The guy who gave out ice cream is very friendly and cheerful. A couple of times I saw how the waiters in the main restaurant congratulated tourists on their birthday. It was a whole show, with songs and balloons.
Baksheesh (tip). Of course, generous tips given by Europeans are pleasing to the hearts of the staff. It's no secret that everyone feeds their family and their salaries are scanty (a cleaner or a waiter gets about $40), the whole calculation of earnings is baksheesh, that is, tips. Therefore, for the tip, the waiters are extremely attentive, this is true. But no one canceled a good attitude, a smile, a kind word (even better if in Arabic). We were treated very well and it's not about tips (although we gave according to our Ukrainian capabilities), but about attitude. When I arrived at the hotel for the second time, I was generally greeted like a native, many employees recognized me, even those whom I did not remember. To be honest, this is surprising for me, since the flow of tourists in the hotel is quite large. Chocolates as a form of encouragement are also welcome here, they love our chocolate very much, I always take a supply with me. My advice is to tip whenever you can, be friendly, smile, and never show contempt. And you will be served with joy, and baksheesh will be just a nice addition.
Animation. She is here. During the day, sports activities are offered - exercises, volleyball, darts, bocha, etc. In the evening, they invite you to evening animation - Miss Hotel, etc. After 23 offered to go to paid discos. Once was offered a disco in the hotel. For my taste, relying only on animation every night is boring. Evening Charm is full of entertainment and my favorite oriental flavor. And so the animation team of Sharm Plaza is quite cheerful. Ukrainian girls, a Ukrainian guy and two Egyptians. The Egyptians are very colorful, cheerful and sociable. There is a children's animator Nadyushka. We were without children, but I saw how she deals with children, watched a children's disco. It was very funny, especially when she began to involve adults to diversify the dance (something they depicted there).
There is only one negative character in Sharm Plaza for me. This is a hotel guide from Join Up named Mohammed Ali. However, he behaves like almost all Sharma hotel guides, their job is to lie and intimidate. Even in the transfer to the hotel, they are strictly ordered to come to a meeting with the hotel guide, arguing that he must register your tickets. This is a complete lie. Tickets are already registered at the time of purchase. But people are afraid not to fly away and go to meet the guide. The meeting is usually at beach time, as usual. Further, tourists are slipped a questionnaire, where there is a fad that they agree that their insurance does not work for excursions not bought from a guide. This is also complete nonsense, insurance is provided by an insurance company, it has its own conditions and where it operates is indicated there (we wrote “world”). And extreme sports and drunken accidents are not covered by insurance, even though you make the guide rich. Further, the guide begins to intimidate tourists, saying that it is dangerous to leave the hotel by yourself, it is dangerous at the Old Market and generally dangerous everywhere that is not with him. His task is to sell excursions to tourists twice as expensive as those of local agencies. And it is desirable that you pay him immediately and for all excursions. If you change your mind, of course, no one will return the money to you. My advice is don't visit him at all. It won't hurt you, trust me. The first time we filled out his questionnaires (to calm the soul of the team), the second time we simply ignored him. Seats on the plane on the way back also do not depend on the guide - they are distributed by the airport employee on the spot, and you must ask him if you have any wishes.
Another unpleasant moment with the guide - he distributes dry rations. According to the contract, dry rations are given to the tourist without any problems, even if he is going on an excursion, even if he is sitting in the room. But the guide does not give rations to tourists who do not take excursions from him. We had a funny experience. We went on an excursion to Mount Moses (naturally, not through it) with our big company. After consulting, we decided not to waste our nerves, and not to beg the guide for rations. We knew from other tourists that he would not give. When we gathered in the lobby, an employee came up to us and asked: “Are you on a tour? How many rations do you have? " And gave us rations. We shrugged and took it. Then, on the way to the exit, Mohammed caught up with us, out of breath, along with the employee who gave us rations, and shouting: “Give us rations, these are rations for MY tourists, ” he began to snatch rations from our hands. We laughed at him and gave him rations. Ridiculous, but taking away rations from tourists is shameful for such a hotel. Of course, our tourist can quietly stash buns in the dining room and eat on excursions and not waste his nerves : )
Excursions were taken for two trips a lot of different. We traveled through the desert on ATVs, to the Ras Mohammed reserve individually by car, climbed Mount Moses, went to Cairo by bus. All excursions were taken from the local company Maro tours, they work through the website on the Internet and social networks (FB, in contact). The price tag is very pleasant, the owner is an Egyptian who speaks very good Russian, his name is Tamer (or more familiar to our ear, Timur). An individual excursion to Ras Mohammed is a bomb in general for him, he shows such reefs where tourists are almost never taken. But in winter, you need to carefully choose the day for this trip - on a cool day you can freeze. And when buying excursions, tourists are entitled to bonuses, for example, a local SIM card with the Internet, which is very convenient. Estimated price level: ATVs - $ 10 per person, Israel - 65, Cairo by bus - $ 55 (plus 10 - boating on the Nile). It is clear that if you take a lot of excursions, they can give in a little more, but not drastically.
Taxi and transfers. The hotel is located close to Naama Bay. There is a hotel taxi, they can take you there and take you back. The price tag is higher than in the city, but not by much. If you are traveling with a large group and don't want to bother, you should use it. For large companies there is a minibus. The disadvantage of a hotel taxi is that when traveling to the Old Market, drivers try to take you first to their friend’s shop, arguing that then they will call your driver and he will come for you. They really will call, but they will impose "look at my shop. " If you don’t have a local connection, for example, a viber, you have to put up with it. If the viber works, the hotel taxi dispatcher gives his number and call him directly. On the way back, you have to wait for the car to pick you up (sometimes up to 30 minutes). There are taxis outside the hotel gates, if you bargain well with them, you can leave cheaper than with a hotel one. If you walk a little more to the highway, you can take a local minibus, it is very cheap. Price level. To get to the Old Market without straining and without haggling (for example, by a hotel taxi) - $ 5 one way per car, 10 two ways. You can bargain with taxi drivers up to 3-2. In a local minibus, we traveled for 5 pounds one way per person, this is half a dollar in both directions. To Naama Bay - $ 6 in two directions by hotel taxi. Before Hadaba, we took a hotel taxi for $ 4 for a car there and 70 pounds (that's three and a half dollars) back by taxi (I think it was still possible to bargain). Transfers to Soho are free and are provided by Soho itself, not by the hotel. The bus stops at several hotels, then takes everyone back. This transfer was ordered by the owner of a local travel agency, from which we took excursions. I suspect that any employee can order this transfer, you just need to call. You can ride every day. The hotel guide, of course, will tell you that only he can order a transfer for Soho, this is a lie. Hollywood Park is within walking distance.
There is a local businessman (George Clooney) who organizes a trip to his shop twice a day at his own expense. There you can buy almost the entire range of the Old Market at average market prices. Many (including my mother) go. A good option for those who do not like the Old Market with its local flavor. If you are happy to walk around the local shops, bargain with taste and enjoy the flavor of the oriental bazaar (like me), I do not advise you to go there, just waste your time.
Internet. The reception has Wi-Fi, weak and unstable. Doesn't work at night. I used it on my first visit. Write home via viber that everything is ok, I had enough. There is paid Wi-Fi in the rooms with a password. Like, 12 dollars for three days, I did not try to use it. If you still need the Internet, the most profitable option is a local SIM card. We had Vodafone. In the hotel shop you can buy for $ 10 with 2.5 GB of Internet. I had a SIM card presented by a travel agency as a bonus for excursions. This SIM card is only for the Internet, you can’t call on it, even within Egypt, but it cost only 30 pounds for 1 GB to top it up in the city. If you buy it, it costs approximately $ 1.5. With me it was connected and activated. I had enough with my head. Look for Vodafone signs, there are a lot of them around the city (at the Old Market, Naama Bay, etc. ) 3G Internet, quite stable, even caught 4G in Cairo.
Sea and beach. A beach of three levels with coarse coral sand (more precisely, it is a desert grain). The bay is well protected from the wind, there are no strong currents (it was in the bays of Sharks Bay, where it was much windier and Ras Nasrani, where there were strong currents, so there is something to compare with). Even if the wind blows from the coast on the territory of the hotel, it is not on the beach, especially if you go down to a lower level, closer to the sea. The rocks create a wonderful microclimate. There are two pontoons. One plastic with metal (rather slippery) handrails. It was very hard for me to climb it, my hands slip. A couple of times she broke down and painfully hit her foot on the step. I would very much like the pontoon handrails to be wrapped with a rope, this greatly facilitates its use. The second pontoon, IMHO, is more convenient. First, the descent along the wooden stairs, then the horizontal flooded path (as it looks like in the photo), the handrails in the water. Getting out is much easier. Everywhere immediately deep. There is no smooth entry into the sea on the sand (as in most Sharm hotels). There is a place where you can go down the stones and there is sand and depth to the waist (or knee-deep at low tide). This is the left edge of the beach, if you are facing the sea. This is not an official entry into the sea, but you can splash around with children or people who are afraid to swim.
Sunbeds, umbrellas and mattresses on them are quite old.
Towels are issued on cards, we calmly left towels and things when we went to dinner, no one took anything and I did not hear about cases of theft. I have no reason to think that towels are not washed, I saw how the employee of the "centre towel" folds them and how they are taken away in the evening and brought in in the morning. Foreigners take sun loungers closer to the sea. I got up every morning at dawn and occupied sun loungers (put pareos), there were no problems with this. I like the places to the left of the stairs to the flooded (right) pantone, it is quieter there (both in terms of the wind and the beach barkers).
Some paid services are constantly offered on the beach. Massage, spa, paid cocktails, hookah, henna on the arm, parachute, etc. It's a little annoying at first, but then you get used to it. The guy from the spa center very persistently invites for a massage, offers to massage his hand (for free). If you do not want a massage, it is better to immediately refuse categorically, it will be less annoying later. If massage is included in your plans, the reviews are not bad, many were satisfied.
Separately, we should highlight the guys from the diving center, very pleasant and professional people. You can rent equipment from them (masks, fins, life jackets, etc. ) I think you can also take a wetsuit if you wish. They communicate well and can help with advice. For example, they said that if you hurt yourself on a coral, you need to smear the damaged area with something acidic (vinegar, lemon, grapefruit, etc. ) so that there is no inflammation and irritation (burns) from the corals. I have long dreamed of learning how to dive (without scuba gear, freediving). I took a lesson from an instructor. Instructor Tony explained and showed me everything in great detail and patiently. He even told the psychology of immersion (“you need to free your head”). They also offer diving on the hotel reef (many times I saw people go diving, then everyone was happy) and trips on a yacht with a dive to Tiran Island. I think that you can dive safely with Tony, he is a very reliable and likable person.
The reef in the bay is gorgeous. Gardens Bay is not called so for nothing - the local reef is a real coral garden, and not just a wall, as in other bays. The depth is shallow, the bottom is clearly visible. Corals grow in islands, columns, intricate crevices. Very nice, I have something to compare. If you stand facing the sea, to the left is the reef of the Reef Oasis hotel, to the right - two hotels Continental and Hyatt Regency. Near the plastic pantone, the reef is poor, between the pantones there are quite interesting coral columns, but most of the corals here are dead. The most beauty begins if you swim to the right, towards the Continentals and Hayat. It is there that every day yachts bring tourists to see one of the most beautiful reefs of Sharm for money (and we enjoy it every day). From the second flooded pantone to the right, first comes the blue plastic pantone of the Continental, then two of their own wooden ones, then the blue plastic Hayat. Continentals are now closed, there are very few people in Hayat. If you wish, you can get out on someone else's pantone and relax, we were not driven away. To Hayat swim about 850 meters one way. According to my observations, the very beauty begins from the first plastic pantone of the Continental and further to Hayat. If you are sailing next to yachts, stay close to the edge of the reef, yachts never come close to coral. Fish, as many say, every year in Sharm is less and less. There were quite a lot of fish here. Butterfly fish, puffers, clownfish, lionfish and many others. On the last day Napoleonchik appeared to me, swimming very close by, looking askance at me with an intelligent eye. The greatest chances to catch Napoleon in the morning, from 8-9 o'clock should be looked out for. I saw a lot of stingrays at the bottom. Of course, in order to swim to all these beauties, you need fins. If you don't have your own, rent one. I think going to Sharm Plaza and not snorkeling is the greatest stupidity. That amazing underwater world that opens up here for snorkelers is beyond description, it beckons and fascinates.
Departure from the hotel. We rented a room at 12.00, the bracelets were cut off, but they gave us lunch (on the first day we didn’t have lunch, we arrived late), according to the contract we have such a right. The suitcases were placed in the reception hall, warm clothes were put at the reception (Mustafa put them behind the reception desk, thank you very much). On the way back at the airport in Sharm enhanced security measures. Twice everyone is forced to go through the frame, things shine through. They force you to take off your shoes (if you disdain, take shoe covers with you, they will definitely come in handy), they feel everyone with their hands (women are felt by women). All luggage is brought to the plane, put on the ground, and everyone finds their own suitcase and puts it on the cart. You just need to be mentally prepared for this.
Total. For the price, the hotel is not only good, it is beautiful. Of course, you should not expect "level luxury" from Sharm Plaza. I really liked it here. The staff was friendly and welcoming to me, the food pleased me with taste and variety, and the wonderful location in a windless bay with the most beautiful coral world made my winter vacation just magical. An optimist who does not pay attention to minor inconveniences (oldish furniture or chipped tiles on the steps), but, on the contrary, enjoys his rest here well. To a person who does not see in the staff slaves who endlessly owe him, but, on the contrary, people who feed their families and do their work, sometimes difficult, while smiling at the same time, who is friendly and smiling with the staff, shows respect for the Egyptians , great attitude here. If it works out, I will be happy to come to Charm Plaza again.
Hotel wishes: please make Turkish coffee (preferably with spices) for a fee in the bars and on the beach. Take away the opportunity to order dry rations from the hotel guide, give tourists the opportunity to do it themselves (well, a disgrace and a breach of contract). I wish the hotel prosperity and the best tourists, it deserves it.
Thanks to everyone who read this text to the end, I hope it was useful to you.
I’ll make a reservation right away, those who expect this hotel to meet the notion of “5 stars” (and all this at a tour price of $ 240 per week per person) can expect severe disappointment here. The level of service in the hotels of Egypt is still more in line with the price tag, not the star rating. For the month of January, Sharm Plaza was the second in terms of the cost of the "fives" of Sharm (from cheap to expensive). For my taste, the ratio "price / quality" here is just fine.
Air flight. We took the tour through Join Up, departure from Kyiv. Luckily, they flew without problems and delays. If seats on the plane are important for you (for example, if you want by the window or vice versa) and you are flying from Kyiv, I highly recommend using the online check-in and registering your seats in advance (one day before departure). They don’t give food on the plane, they only give water and tea (but we had it with us : )) At the Sharma airport, having climbed the escalator, everyone queues up for the representative of the tour operator who issues migration cards and tries very hard to convince you that he will fill it out for you for 5 dollars. In fact, you can go to the passport control window and take the migration card there (and not stand in line). I needed a visa (we were going on an excursion to Cairo) and I approached him, asked about the visa, he took our passports and ordered us to go to the back of the hall for a visa. When I returned with a paid visa stamp, he still tried to fool me for $ 5 for a visa (probably to stick it on), but I made a surprised face, he fell behind. In fact (as I now understand), we don’t need it at all, we approach the passport control window, take and fill out the migration card, if we need a visa, we ourselves go to the end of the hall to the window where it is issued.
Settlement. We arrived at the hotel in the evening. The first time we were offered to drink something at the bar while they were completing the paperwork, the second time we were offered to go to dinner first, then to the settlement. Nobody extorted any money for settling with us either the first or the second time. The second time, since I was here again, I was entitled to a compliment from the hotel as a regular guest. In the room there was a letter from the administration and plates of sweets (a trifle, but nice). They settled me for the second time in the next room with the one where I was in the past (they had it written down in which room I was). Of the two hotels, only Sharm Plaza is currently operating, that is, 5 stars, everyone who takes vouchers to the Sharm Resort 4 stars is still accommodated in the Plaza.
Number. We lived in the fifth building, this is the main building, where the main restaurant is located on the second floor, and the reception is on the third. I read in the reviews that there are “good numbers” in buildings from the first to the third, but, in my opinion, the fifth building has its own merits. I highly recommend living here (floor B2 of the fifth building) to those who are critical of walking up the stairs (like my mother, for example). Directly from the corridor of our rooms it was possible to go to the road that goes to the sea (quite a smooth descent), you can take the elevator to the main restaurant and the reception. The room had a balcony door to a veranda overlooking a beautiful green garden. The only drawback of this location is that you can hear the music from the evening animation here. At 11 p. m. everything calms down, but if you are sensitive to noise and go to bed early, I recommend taking rooms in buildings lower and closer to the sea, it is much quieter there. Indeed, the furniture in the room is not new, but solid. The beds are large with comfortable mattresses, the bed is clean. The safe in the room is medium in size, a laptop would not fit, but all our equipment fit there, including a large fotik. There was hot water all the days (I read in the reviews about interruptions with it, I don’t know, maybe it’s easier with it in the main building). There were days when cool water ran at first, and then, after 15 minutes, hot water (here either the second person is lucky, or you just need to let it drain). All towels were present in the room, bottles with shower gel, shampoo, balm and body milk were placed in the bathroom.
Cleaning. For the first time, we came across a cleaner, in the understanding of which it is good to clean - it means to arrange all things in size. Having entered the room, seeing that all our jars, small things, etc. were arranged in size, mixed up where whose, we experienced a slight shock. Having sorted out this “order”, I went up to the reception and asked the employee to write a note to the cleaner in Arabic, thanking him for cleaning and asking him not to touch our things. In the morning they left a note on the bed, along with a dollar. Returning to the room, they found the cleaner there. The note, folded and unfolded again, lay on the bed (apparently, he consulted the instructions). I smiled at him again, explained in English and sign language what I liked and what I didn’t like. He did not touch our things anymore, but he sculpted swans, hearts and crocodiles from towels for us. Once I found two swans on my bed, which instead of a tuft had hryvnia folded like an accordion (bills of 20 and 1 hryvnia). The next morning I put one of the birds in its place, instead of the hryvnia, folding the “van dollar” like an accordion. Such is the communication. The second time he didn’t sculpt anything for us (once he put flowers on the bed), he didn’t touch things, but cleaned them properly, made the bed, changed towels. I washed the floors, I caught it once. I didn’t always refill bottles of gel, once they asked at the reception to add it, everything was in the room in a few minutes. They left a baksheesh worth one dollar or a chocolate bar "Alenka". Once they hung a “do not disturb” sign on the handle, there was no cleaning, no one came in.
Nutrition. I read a lot of terrible reviews about the food in this hotel, but then I contacted one tourist (thank you, Valentina), who recently returned from the hotel, it was relieved from my heart. At the moment, the hotel is filling up due to record low prices for tours, which results in a regime of austerity. In general, there is a lot of food and it is quite varied, the main thing is to find what suits you.
Meat lovers in large quantities here, perhaps, is not easy. No, there were both meat and fish, but, probably, not enough for the full nutrition of a meat-eater. Often the meat was given out in portions by the cook, a small piece in hand. Somehow she asked her friend to put not two, but three pieces (she is on a protein diet) - they put it. I liked the food. There were a lot of vegetables in different variations, both raw and stewed, pickled, baked and so on. Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, green bell peppers, zucchini, regular and sweet potatoes, etc. There have always been variations of rice and beans (I haven't tried the latter). Several local cheese options, including their soft salted cheeses, are interesting enough. My favorite mix is melon with cheese (I took melon separately, separately cheese and mixed it). It was a barbecue evening.
There were a lot of sweets, both all kinds of buns and biscuits with various layers. I liked the cinnamon rolls, always fresh and warm. There were fruits, although not in abundance - melon, guava, oranges, bananas, grapefruits, etc. The main restaurant has a buffet, and on the outdoor terrace there is a stove and a cook, where food is prepared and served in portions. In the morning they cooked scrambled eggs and scrambled eggs. I loved omelettes, with additions of tomatoes and onions, very good. Eggplants are also deep-fried or fried on a brazier (a chic meal for January), and falafia is a national dish, green minced meat, which is deep-fried and turns into a meatball, quite tasty, worth a try.
In addition to the main restaurant, there are many options where you can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is a second restaurant on the beach where you can dine without an appointment. Very convenient, you do not have to leave the beach for a long time, eat and go back to the sunbed or swim in the sea. Yes, the open area of the restaurant is quite democratic - just stretched an awning, like a scarf, reminiscent of our pavilions in the summer. But it’s convenient, the choice of food is sufficient, they gave pasta cooked in front of you, “shawarma” - pieces of meat and vegetables stewed on a brazier.
For drinks, there is also a classic set - powdered juices, cola, sprite, etc. Drinks are brought by the waiter, only powdered juice can be collected from the cooler yourself. Tea bags. Many wrote in the reviews that there was not enough sugar and tea - it really happened. If you like a particular tea or coffee, it's better to take it with you. Instant coffee, which was offered, I could not drink.
There were additional restaurants by appointment. We went to Italian, the pizza is quite tolerable, not the most luxurious, but edible. I do not recommend pizza with tuna, it is better with grilled chicken. The rest of the restaurants have not tried, but they are available and available for booking. You need to sign up a day in advance, there is a specially trained friend at the counter next to the guest relays. You can sign up for breakfast in a restaurant opposite the main one, but we didn’t go there either. If the food in the restaurant by appointment does not suit you, you can go to the main restaurant and eat there.
From three to five in the afternoon, the Italian restaurant offered pancakes and ice cream. Ice cream is usually of two types - chocolate and fruit. A small ball on a waffle cup, generally edible. Pancakes are baked right there, honey, chocolate or jam are added to them. As for me, quite tasty, my mother and I liked it.
Paper napkins are in short supply here. They are, and even with the corporate logo of the network, but for some reason they quickly end. Cloth napkins are widely used. Someone wrote that they are not washed, this is not true, I personally saw how they brought a batch of washed and ironed napkins. But if you need paper ones for comfort, it is better to take them with you.
I have never noticed anywhere that I have doubts, rotten or sour food. Neither I nor my mother (and she has digestive problems and no gallbladder) had "forced fasting or body cleansing. " When I was also no one got poisoned, neither from our company, nor from the vacationers with whom I spoke. Maybe I'm so lucky.
What was really lacking was good coffee. For a surcharge (25 pounds), you could order an espresso, but I didn’t find Turkish coffee, which is so cool to drink in Egypt, even for dollars. No, that's all, as they told me, "it's just walking. " In the city, of course, you can find delicious Turkish coffee in any eatery. Why not offer tourists boiled coffee for a surcharge is a mystery to me.
I haven’t tried alcohol, I don’t drink it in Egypt, so I can’t say anything about the quality. But people actively drink both beer and tonic. There is a bar near the reception, there is on the beach. It offers an assortment of alcohol and cocktails, both "inclusive" and for a fee.
In general, many drinks are offered for an additional fee. Fresh juices, cocktails and more were carried right along the beach. Once I took fresh mango in the main restaurant for $ 2, I didn’t like it and I didn’t experiment with it anymore. You can order a hookah. The price is 3 dollars, if they offer for 4, you have to bargain. All prices for additional services are about 30% higher than in cafes and restaurants in the city, but that's why it is a hotel. In the city you can drink mango juice (very good, pureed mass, you feel that it is not diluted with anything) for 15 pounds in the Old City and 25 in a decent cafe or restaurant (we went to Fares and Minced meat). Hookah 40-45 pounds in Minced meat, for how much you can get in a simple eatery, I was not interested, we did not go there.
Drinking water in sufficient quantity. The cleaner leaves 1.5 liters per day, at the bar near the reception you can take 0.5 liters of water. 1 bottle in hand, the number of "approaches" is not limited. If you arrive in the evening, I advise you to be sure to stock up on water from the evening of arrival. We didn't, and the bar is open from 10, the water was a bit short. Of course, as elsewhere in Egypt, you also need to brush your teeth with bottled water.
Staff. The hotel has two Russian-speaking girls gestrelations. I corresponded with one of them before the trip, as I was worried that we had a room for three and what an extra bed would be. They promised a cot, I panicked. I asked to send me a photo of a folding bed, a photo was sent (by the way, it looked pretty decent, a folding bed with a good mattress). What's nice is that they are quick to respond to questions. About the heated pool, of course, keep silent. It is, of course, warmed up, but not enough to swim in it.
Reception. Very responsive guys. For all the requests that I addressed, they helped me. The safe was closed when moving in - engineers were called. They asked for shower gels - they brought it, the card was demagnetized - they replaced it. Even once they gave iodine for a broken knee (previously they suggested calling a doctor for insurance). Especially got from my requests to an employee named Shnoda. Very kind guy, always sincerely trying to help, pleasant in communication. No one hinted at the need to give baksheesh, although they did not refuse chocolate.
Waiters. The comfort of the tourist largely depends on the waiter, as they deliver drinks (this is at least). When we arrived as a group, on the first day we had a conflict with the waiter. He tried very hard to force drinks on us for an additional fee, he was pressurized and was quite familiar. We asked for a manager who came over immediately. He apologized very much, reined in the waiter, in general, he adequately got out of the situation. When we arrived for the second time, I did not notice any reprehensible behavior behind this waiter, which means that staff training is being carried out. In general, the waiters in the main restaurant left a very pleasant impression. On the first day I ordered a cola, on the second day it was already on my table. A very pleasant impression was left from the waiters Ramzi and Ali. Loved the atmosphere during afternoon pancakes at the Italian restaurant. The guy who gave out ice cream is very friendly and cheerful. A couple of times I saw how the waiters in the main restaurant congratulated tourists on their birthday. It was a whole show, with songs and balloons.
Baksheesh (tip). Of course, generous tips given by Europeans are pleasing to the hearts of the staff. It's no secret that everyone feeds their family and their salaries are scanty (a cleaner or a waiter gets about $40), the whole calculation of earnings is baksheesh, that is, tips. Therefore, for the tip, the waiters are extremely attentive, this is true. But no one canceled a good attitude, a smile, a kind word (even better if in Arabic). We were treated very well and it's not about tips (although we gave according to our Ukrainian capabilities), but about attitude. When I arrived at the hotel for the second time, I was generally greeted like a native, many employees recognized me, even those whom I did not remember. To be honest, this is surprising for me, since the flow of tourists in the hotel is quite large. Chocolates as a form of encouragement are also welcome here, they love our chocolate very much, I always take a supply with me. My advice is to tip whenever you can, be friendly, smile, and never show contempt. And you will be served with joy, and baksheesh will be just a nice addition.
Animation. She is here. During the day, sports activities are offered - exercises, volleyball, darts, bocha, etc. In the evening, they invite you to evening animation - Miss Hotel, etc. After 23 offered to go to paid discos. Once was offered a disco in the hotel. For my taste, relying only on animation every night is boring. Evening Charm is full of entertainment and my favorite oriental flavor. And so the animation team of Sharm Plaza is quite cheerful. Ukrainian girls, a Ukrainian guy and two Egyptians. The Egyptians are very colorful, cheerful and sociable. There is a children's animator Nadyushka. We were without children, but I saw how she deals with children, watched a children's disco. It was very funny, especially when she began to involve adults to diversify the dance (something they depicted there).
There is only one negative character in Sharm Plaza for me. This is a hotel guide from Join Up named Mohammed Ali. However, he behaves like almost all Sharma hotel guides, their job is to lie and intimidate. Even in the transfer to the hotel, they are strictly ordered to come to a meeting with the hotel guide, arguing that he must register your tickets. This is a complete lie. Tickets are already registered at the time of purchase. But people are afraid not to fly away and go to meet the guide. The meeting is usually at beach time, as usual. Further, tourists are slipped a questionnaire, where there is a fad that they agree that their insurance does not work for excursions not bought from a guide. This is also complete nonsense, insurance is provided by an insurance company, it has its own conditions and where it operates is indicated there (we wrote “world”). And extreme sports and drunken accidents are not covered by insurance, even though you make the guide rich. Further, the guide begins to intimidate tourists, saying that it is dangerous to leave the hotel by yourself, it is dangerous at the Old Market and generally dangerous everywhere that is not with him. His task is to sell excursions to tourists twice as expensive as those of local agencies. And it is desirable that you pay him immediately and for all excursions. If you change your mind, of course, no one will return the money to you. My advice is don't visit him at all. It won't hurt you, trust me. The first time we filled out his questionnaires (to calm the soul of the team), the second time we simply ignored him. Seats on the plane on the way back also do not depend on the guide - they are distributed by the airport employee on the spot, and you must ask him if you have any wishes.
Another unpleasant moment with the guide - he distributes dry rations. According to the contract, dry rations are given to the tourist without any problems, even if he is going on an excursion, even if he is sitting in the room. But the guide does not give rations to tourists who do not take excursions from him. We had a funny experience. We went on an excursion to Mount Moses (naturally, not through it) with our big company. After consulting, we decided not to waste our nerves, and not to beg the guide for rations. We knew from other tourists that he would not give. When we gathered in the lobby, an employee came up to us and asked: “Are you on a tour? How many rations do you have? " And gave us rations. We shrugged and took it. Then, on the way to the exit, Mohammed caught up with us, out of breath, along with the employee who gave us rations, and shouting: “Give us rations, these are rations for MY tourists, ” he began to snatch rations from our hands. We laughed at him and gave him rations. Ridiculous, but taking away rations from tourists is shameful for such a hotel. Of course, our tourist can quietly stash buns in the dining room and eat on excursions and not waste his nerves : )
Excursions were taken for two trips a lot of different. We traveled through the desert on ATVs, to the Ras Mohammed reserve individually by car, climbed Mount Moses, went to Cairo by bus. All excursions were taken from the local company Maro tours, they work through the website on the Internet and social networks (FB, in contact). The price tag is very pleasant, the owner is an Egyptian who speaks very good Russian, his name is Tamer (or more familiar to our ear, Timur). An individual excursion to Ras Mohammed is a bomb in general for him, he shows such reefs where tourists are almost never taken. But in winter, you need to carefully choose the day for this trip - on a cool day you can freeze. And when buying excursions, tourists are entitled to bonuses, for example, a local SIM card with the Internet, which is very convenient. Estimated price level: ATVs - $ 10 per person, Israel - 65, Cairo by bus - $ 55 (plus 10 - boating on the Nile). It is clear that if you take a lot of excursions, they can give in a little more, but not drastically.
Taxi and transfers. The hotel is located close to Naama Bay. There is a hotel taxi, they can take you there and take you back. The price tag is higher than in the city, but not by much. If you are traveling with a large group and don't want to bother, you should use it. For large companies there is a minibus. The disadvantage of a hotel taxi is that when traveling to the Old Market, drivers try to take you first to their friend’s shop, arguing that then they will call your driver and he will come for you. They really will call, but they will impose "look at my shop. " If you don’t have a local connection, for example, a viber, you have to put up with it. If the viber works, the hotel taxi dispatcher gives his number and call him directly. On the way back, you have to wait for the car to pick you up (sometimes up to 30 minutes). There are taxis outside the hotel gates, if you bargain well with them, you can leave cheaper than with a hotel one. If you walk a little more to the highway, you can take a local minibus, it is very cheap. Price level. To get to the Old Market without straining and without haggling (for example, by a hotel taxi) - $ 5 one way per car, 10 two ways. You can bargain with taxi drivers up to 3-2. In a local minibus, we traveled for 5 pounds one way per person, this is half a dollar in both directions. To Naama Bay - $ 6 in two directions by hotel taxi. Before Hadaba, we took a hotel taxi for $ 4 for a car there and 70 pounds (that's three and a half dollars) back by taxi (I think it was still possible to bargain). Transfers to Soho are free and are provided by Soho itself, not by the hotel. The bus stops at several hotels, then takes everyone back. This transfer was ordered by the owner of a local travel agency, from which we took excursions. I suspect that any employee can order this transfer, you just need to call. You can ride every day. The hotel guide, of course, will tell you that only he can order a transfer for Soho, this is a lie. Hollywood Park is within walking distance.
There is a local businessman (George Clooney) who organizes a trip to his shop twice a day at his own expense. There you can buy almost the entire range of the Old Market at average market prices. Many (including my mother) go. A good option for those who do not like the Old Market with its local flavor. If you are happy to walk around the local shops, bargain with taste and enjoy the flavor of the oriental bazaar (like me), I do not advise you to go there, just waste your time.
Internet. The reception has Wi-Fi, weak and unstable. Doesn't work at night. I used it on my first visit. Write home via viber that everything is ok, I had enough. There is paid Wi-Fi in the rooms with a password. Like, 12 dollars for three days, I did not try to use it. If you still need the Internet, the most profitable option is a local SIM card. We had Vodafone. In the hotel shop you can buy for $ 10 with 2.5 GB of Internet. I had a SIM card presented by a travel agency as a bonus for excursions. This SIM card is only for the Internet, you can’t call on it, even within Egypt, but it cost only 30 pounds for 1 GB to top it up in the city. If you buy it, it costs approximately $ 1.5. With me it was connected and activated. I had enough with my head. Look for Vodafone signs, there are a lot of them around the city (at the Old Market, Naama Bay, etc. ) 3G Internet, quite stable, even caught 4G in Cairo.
Sea and beach. A beach of three levels with coarse coral sand (more precisely, it is a desert grain). The bay is well protected from the wind, there are no strong currents (it was in the bays of Sharks Bay, where it was much windier and Ras Nasrani, where there were strong currents, so there is something to compare with). Even if the wind blows from the coast on the territory of the hotel, it is not on the beach, especially if you go down to a lower level, closer to the sea. The rocks create a wonderful microclimate. There are two pontoons. One plastic with metal (rather slippery) handrails. It was very hard for me to climb it, my hands slip. A couple of times she broke down and painfully hit her foot on the step. I would very much like the pontoon handrails to be wrapped with a rope, this greatly facilitates its use. The second pontoon, IMHO, is more convenient. First, the descent along the wooden stairs, then the horizontal flooded path (as it looks like in the photo), the handrails in the water. Getting out is much easier. Everywhere immediately deep. There is no smooth entry into the sea on the sand (as in most Sharm hotels). There is a place where you can go down the stones and there is sand and depth to the waist (or knee-deep at low tide). This is the left edge of the beach, if you are facing the sea. This is not an official entry into the sea, but you can splash around with children or people who are afraid to swim.
Sunbeds, umbrellas and mattresses on them are quite old.
Towels are issued on cards, we calmly left towels and things when we went to dinner, no one took anything and I did not hear about cases of theft. I have no reason to think that towels are not washed, I saw how the employee of the "centre towel" folds them and how they are taken away in the evening and brought in in the morning. Foreigners take sun loungers closer to the sea. I got up every morning at dawn and occupied sun loungers (put pareos), there were no problems with this. I like the places to the left of the stairs to the flooded (right) pantone, it is quieter there (both in terms of the wind and the beach barkers).
Some paid services are constantly offered on the beach. Massage, spa, paid cocktails, hookah, henna on the arm, parachute, etc. It's a little annoying at first, but then you get used to it. The guy from the spa center very persistently invites for a massage, offers to massage his hand (for free). If you do not want a massage, it is better to immediately refuse categorically, it will be less annoying later. If massage is included in your plans, the reviews are not bad, many were satisfied.
Separately, we should highlight the guys from the diving center, very pleasant and professional people. You can rent equipment from them (masks, fins, life jackets, etc. ) I think you can also take a wetsuit if you wish. They communicate well and can help with advice. For example, they said that if you hurt yourself on a coral, you need to smear the damaged area with something acidic (vinegar, lemon, grapefruit, etc. ) so that there is no inflammation and irritation (burns) from the corals. I have long dreamed of learning how to dive (without scuba gear, freediving). I took a lesson from an instructor. Instructor Tony explained and showed me everything in great detail and patiently. He even told the psychology of immersion (“you need to free your head”). They also offer diving on the hotel reef (many times I saw people go diving, then everyone was happy) and trips on a yacht with a dive to Tiran Island. I think that you can dive safely with Tony, he is a very reliable and likable person.
The reef in the bay is gorgeous. Gardens Bay is not called so for nothing - the local reef is a real coral garden, and not just a wall, as in other bays. The depth is shallow, the bottom is clearly visible. Corals grow in islands, columns, intricate crevices. Very nice, I have something to compare. If you stand facing the sea, to the left is the reef of the Reef Oasis hotel, to the right - two hotels Continental and Hyatt Regency. Near the plastic pantone, the reef is poor, between the pantones there are quite interesting coral columns, but most of the corals here are dead. The most beauty begins if you swim to the right, towards the Continentals and Hayat. It is there that every day yachts bring tourists to see one of the most beautiful reefs of Sharm for money (and we enjoy it every day). From the second flooded pantone to the right, first comes the blue plastic pantone of the Continental, then two of their own wooden ones, then the blue plastic Hayat. Continentals are now closed, there are very few people in Hayat. If you wish, you can get out on someone else's pantone and relax, we were not driven away. To Hayat swim about 850 meters one way. According to my observations, the very beauty begins from the first plastic pantone of the Continental and further to Hayat. If you are sailing next to yachts, stay close to the edge of the reef, yachts never come close to coral. Fish, as many say, every year in Sharm is less and less. There were quite a lot of fish here. Butterfly fish, puffers, clownfish, lionfish and many others. On the last day Napoleonchik appeared to me, swimming very close by, looking askance at me with an intelligent eye. The greatest chances to catch Napoleon in the morning, from 8-9 o'clock should be looked out for. I saw a lot of stingrays at the bottom. Of course, in order to swim to all these beauties, you need fins. If you don't have your own, rent one. I think going to Sharm Plaza and not snorkeling is the greatest stupidity. That amazing underwater world that opens up here for snorkelers is beyond description, it beckons and fascinates.
Departure from the hotel. We rented a room at 12.00, the bracelets were cut off, but they gave us lunch (on the first day we didn’t have lunch, we arrived late), according to the contract we have such a right. The suitcases were placed in the reception hall, warm clothes were put at the reception (Mustafa put them behind the reception desk, thank you very much). On the way back at the airport in Sharm enhanced security measures. Twice everyone is forced to go through the frame, things shine through. They force you to take off your shoes (if you disdain, take shoe covers with you, they will definitely come in handy), they feel everyone with their hands (women are felt by women). All luggage is brought to the plane, put on the ground, and everyone finds their own suitcase and puts it on the cart. You just need to be mentally prepared for this.
Total. For the price, the hotel is not only good, it is beautiful. Of course, you should not expect "level luxury" from Sharm Plaza. I really liked it here. The staff was friendly and welcoming to me, the food pleased me with taste and variety, and the wonderful location in a windless bay with the most beautiful coral world made my winter vacation just magical. An optimist who does not pay attention to minor inconveniences (oldish furniture or chipped tiles on the steps), but, on the contrary, enjoys his rest here well. To a person who does not see in the staff slaves who endlessly owe him, but, on the contrary, people who feed their families and do their work, sometimes difficult, while smiling at the same time, who is friendly and smiling with the staff, shows respect for the Egyptians , great attitude here. If it works out, I will be happy to come to Charm Plaza again.
Hotel wishes: please make Turkish coffee (preferably with spices) for a fee in the bars and on the beach. Take away the opportunity to order dry rations from the hotel guide, give tourists the opportunity to do it themselves (well, a disgrace and a breach of contract). I wish the hotel prosperity and the best tourists, it deserves it.
Thanks to everyone who read this text to the end, I hope it was useful to you.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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