Your rating of this hotel:
8.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
About myself.
From Moscow. I have been to Egypt 7 times. Almost on all excursions and resorts was. I prefer a quiet beach holiday interspersed with excursions and trips. The main thing for me is a great coral reef at the hotel. In second place - a good area to rest the eye, the sea to the horizon, hassle-free service, quality food.
Accidentally stumbled upon a chain of hotels www. redseahotels. com (was at their Grand Resort Hurghada hotel (5 on "HB"). Girls from travel agencies do not know anything about him - they did not advise. But we took a chance - and we liked it so much that this year we went to their new hotel ( opened in May 2008) in Sharm - Grand Hotel Sharm (5-ka on "All inclusive"). Actually about this hotel below.
By myself I know how hard it is to choose a hotel - so I wrote in detail (sorry if I went too far))))
We went through TezTour, chose through their website and ordered directly from them.
For two, standart dbl in early July for 14 days = $ 2.300 with all surcharges for fuel, etc. , which, in my opinion, is inexpensive, but considering the quality of the hotel - cheap.
The flight was TRANSAERO from DME. A flight there in the afternoon (late arrival), a flight back in the evening (late flight) is a good decision. And there and back, and borders and customs - flew by very quickly (oddly enough). Airplanes are also fun.
Boeing 747-200 there, 747-300 back. These are such two-story Jambo-Jets - it's normal to fly.
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HOTEL
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The hotel is located in the HADABA area, 10 kilometers from Naama Bay (by taxi - 20 pounds and 7 minutes drive). 2 minutes to the market part of the old city - Old Market (and accordingly close to the Ras Mohamed reserve). If you stand facing the sea - on the left is the DREAMS VACATION hotel, on the right - something is being built. Then not far to the right Solimar, Iberotel Grand sharm.
The territory is good. It somehow reminded me of Le Meridian Dahab - only in this case - much more.
The hotel descends to the sea with terraces. There are about 5 or 6 of them. Each terrace has a pool and several buildings. The buildings are beige, two-story, the balconies are finished with dark brown wood.
It looks very nice in combination with pools, palm trees and greenery. The pools are finished in the style of this hotel chain - with some edges not only tiles, but also sandstone stones - it looks pretty, but neat, so as not to succumb. Rooms with balconies, some balconies are open.
The upper level of the hotel is the hotel lobby (main building).
At street level - the main hall with fountains and reception and the El Sheikh restaurant (I would call it a snack restaurant - the choice is small, BUT! it is open until 23-30 - which is very convenient for late entry or after returning from excursions)
One floor above the reception to the right is the MAIN restaurant, upstairs is access to the hookah ROOF baR (Open bar on the roof with a stunning night view of the hotel and comfortable wicker sofas), and the second roof is an open-air disco and animation hall with a bar.
Below the reception - up the stairs - a place to hang out in the evenings - TERRACE BAR with very pleasant wicker sofas, armchairs with footrests, 2 billiard tables, 2 table tennis tables. Nice view of the night hotel - beautifully illuminated. Chip - two sofas of the "Bed" type - where you can fall apart with a company of 5 people. In the evenings, in a pleasant voice (it seems Italian), he sings jazz standards to a good arrangement.
On the same floor is the Fusion restaurant. It's kind of like a-la-carte (not a buffet, but a menu).
The beach is the lower terrace of the hotel.
In the hotel you have to walk NOT very long stairs. BUT people with sore feet and so on - I do not recommend. For those who have a lack of walking in life - that's it!
Only thanks to snorkeling and walking I came from an all-inclusive + 3kg and not +7 ))))))))))))))
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ALL INCLUSIVE
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The hotel works on ALL INCLUSIVE. There is no need to tip anyone. (You can leave the room if you wish). All are benevolent.
When they meet, they smile and say hello. Drinks in any quantity. Food - in 3 restaurants or 5 bars. each bar with its own chips - somewhere different burgers, somewhere pancakes with fillings, somewhere kebabs.
You can pour drinks on your own, as I understand it, at breakfast and at lunch in a restaurant. In other cases, you need to go to the bar - and ask for any number of glasses - they will pour it with a smile. Or catch the waiter and bring it (without a tip and with a smile, which for me visiting Egypt 7 times is also amazing).
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Animation
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Animation is modest. There are few young people. There are also few pensioners. The hotel has middle-aged people 30-40 years old, some with children (quiet, oddly enough). Snorkeling lovers feel everything - the hotel has a gorgeous coral reef.
There are Germans, but judging by everything, some of the GDR (I met one while playing billiards - an electronics teacher from an engineering university) - a pleasant GDR sheep, who remembers the USSR well and treats Russians (oddly enough) with sympathy, considers Russian students very sensible.
So the crowd is normal.
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ALCOHOL
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Alcohol card (included in all-inclusive) is normal. There is always something to choose from, clean drinks and cocktails. In the evenings - a good cocktail like Pinacolada (red-sea-special) or Cuba-libra (lime, dark rum, cola). In general, the drinks are in order. But alcohol is local. And I sometimes preferred to sit on the balcony after the beach before dinner with something purchased in duty free. So I recommend all the same to take something (martini, tequila, cognac). Imported drinks at the hotel - paid. On average, 40 pounds per serving (in terms of a dollar, 23 rubles and a pound 5.3 = 170 rubles somewhere).
All-inclusive wines are too (to put it mildly) simple for my taste. Excellent local wine "Omar Heim" (duty free on departure = 10 dollars per bottle) - also somewhere around 40 pounds per glass.
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Near the hotel.
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There is nothing special near the hotel.
When leaving the hotel - to the left 70 meters supermarket (masks, fins, caps, water, chips, underwater cameras, etc. ), a shop with excursions, a souvenir shop.
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ROOM
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I recommend buying a portable DVD with you, but in this case, you must take a SCART adapter with you. TVs do not have a conventional AV input.
They don’t spoil with sockets either - I recommend taking a tee for a deep socket.
There is nowhere to buy an adapter or a tee. not at the reception either.
In the hotel for 2 weeks there were 2 power outages - they cut off for 5-10 minutes - I attributed this to the fact that this hotel is new, it only opened in May.
Upon entering the room there was no water in the sink.
Repaired - began to pour on the wall. I called the reception and asked the question "That water did not pass, but now it passes, but it pours along the wall onto the floor, how is it? " - they joked "May be its a good luck? " I laughed. Then a council of plumbers came, dug for half an hour - there were no more problems with the number.
When we checked into the room, there was no light in the room offered to us. While we were waiting for another one (there was interest in us in the form of $ 10 at the reception), we spent 15 minutes talking with a nice Arab girl from Guest Relations by the pool on the topic of who will be after Mubarak, since the current president - the guarantor of the stability of the region - is quite old still (it is believed that his son), but I love the Red Sea and the Egyptian health resort in general (compared to an excursion to Israel) - green, understandable and cheap.
Cons - there is not much greenery in the hotel yet, but in general it is enough.
Not all rooms have a good view - some windows overlook other buildings.
Some rooms are small.
Another minus - in our room was a very narrow shower. The curtain sticks. You remove it - water gets on the floor and flows into the room (if you splash like a seal, of course)))))
I handed over the $10 anyway (although I've carefully avoided it for the last two trips and still got good rooms) and they gave me room 414 with a view of the sea and the pool.
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LATE CHECK-OUT
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We had a late check out. Rooms Check out at 12-00 noon. The option is either to pay an extra $26 and the room is extended until 18-00, or to leave at 12-00, hand over things at the reception and after the beach get the keys to the shower room to wash and change. We chose the second option. No problem all day at the beach. Received at 18-30 shower-room. Then we even had dinner (from 19-00) and at 19-40 we left for the airport. Tez tour this time, like Transaero - they worked without delay at all - this is the first time this has happened to me.
By the way, the Shower-room was some kind of 900th room, next to the Main Building - there is a large shower and a large room and a gorgeous view - of the greenery and the sea.
So not all rooms are small as it turned out. Although perhaps it was not standard.
Or maybe they save it for the Germans. (Although at the Grand Resort Hurghada they gave a chic room without any money).
Otherwise
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BEACH
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With the exchange of beach towels (by the way new ones) some garbage. Initially, towels are given in a beach bag in the room (a feature in this network). And offer to change - leaving dirty in the room. But if you leave them in the evening - who will change them?
For example, I generally like to sleep until 11-12 days.
I got 4 towels by cunning)))) I caught the janitor's guy downstairs - I stole two more towels from him. 2 were taken to the beach, 2 were left in the room - and with such a cunning maneuver in the evening they received 2 fresh beach towels for the next day.
How else they change - I honestly do not understand.
The beach is located, as it were, in a recess on the coast, the walls of which are quite nicely finished with sandstone. The wind gets just enough to not feel the heat.
(I specifically write Guava - through "F" - when you speak through "V" - for some reason they do not understand the first time)
Guafu is poured from juice bags - it tastes okay. Ice in glasses is completely safe. Food only - at the bar (you can not eat on the sunbeds). Salads, pizzas, fruit plate, etc. Everything is completely edible. Delicious vanilla ice cream - like a sundae 48 kopecks in childhood))))) (but there are different things to choose from).
With squeezed juices, some kind of nonsense. By the pools there is only freshly squeezed orange for 20 pounds (= ~ 90 rubles), there is also at breakfast. There are no other squeezed juices (((((((I didn’t understand why. The bar has pretty bamboo furniture with multi-colored napkins and waterproof pillows.
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Beach animation
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SEA and REEF
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The beach ends with a small ledge 1.5 meters high and goes into the sea for 5 meters with a coral reef. There are a couple of picturesque boulders near the shore.
After the reef - the depth of 20-30 meters.
The entrance to the water is by stairs.
The coral reef is amazing. The richest of all 7 of my trips to Egypt. Species 20 or 30 fish. Not frightened - swim 5 centimeters from the mask.
People saw a healthy manta, a turtle. I saw a barracuda a couple of times - they swim to brush their teeth to our reef - while the barracuda hangs over the reef, small fish clean its jaw (long and toothy like a pike =), I also saw a tail like a shark - but they seem to be harmless (judging by the book) . The bolder snorkelers lined up in a chain about 20 meters from the shore and waited for her to swim. One Russian shared his impressions of how he touched her by the tail and took a picture. There are also two fish patrolling the reef at a depth - they look like dolphins.
In general, it is safe - more talk))))))))))))))))))
In general, there are a lot of large fish, the length of an arm - this is very interesting.
I also recommend buying a mattress. At first, on the beach, they gave especially timid lifebuoys (there are 10 of them on the shore), then they stopped giving them.
There are three points on the beach (at the edges and in the middle) where guys sit on judges' chairs - they watch all day so that no one drowns.
In the evening, a guy with a pipe on strings levels the beach - for beauty.
At 18-00 the descent into the water is closed. Somewhere at 20-00, bleach is poured into the pools. So there is a problem with night swimming.
A couple of times there were sensitive waves in the middle of the day, they calmed down at the end.
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SANDY BEACH (in Naama)
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For lovers of sandy entrances and shallow water.
There are two more hotels of this chain in Naama Bay.
On 2 lines - Ghazala Gardens - decorated in their style - a very pleasant hotel too (with a horizontal territory). We went for a special walk. But their beach hotel Ghazala Beach is just a quiet horror. Hut type "Crimean Dacha".
How he got into their network is not clear. But it is green and has a sandy beach. From the GRAND HOTEL to GHAZALA they carry it for free (at 9 am there - at 14-00 back).
Vacationers from Grand Sharm can get free drinks (tried) and (like even) food - on the territory of these two hotels.
But the beaches in Naama Bay are of little interest to me personally. Noisy, cramped, hot.
From the entertainment in Naama - picking algae from the ropes and feeding algae balls - a big blue striped fish, looking like a contented lazy cat in a sly grin )))))))))). You can still walk along the Laguna beach back and forth along the palm alley - and burn powerfully (I recommend for July and walks under the sun - cream with protection "30-40")
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FOOD & FRUIT
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Dinner is available on the beach. They offer seafood or individual fish for 17 euros. But as I understand it, this is more of a scam, although I didn’t try it myself - we ate all the time in the Main Restaurant.
Once we went to Fusion - although it is free - there is a lot of pathos, but there is little and not much food. In the snack restaurant near the reception - I even found sushi a couple of times. Absolutely nothing.
And so - basically ate in the main restaurant.
What is good - whenever you come - at least 5 minutes before closing - the fruit plates will be full, and the chefs will still fry something.
Chefs recommend to beautiful girls what to take tasty (however, they don’t argue about tastes) =))))
Everything is ok with fruits - watermelon, 2 types of melon, 2 types of grapes, peaches, apples, pears, sweet (brown) dates. Chicken in all forms is normally made from food. You can make different salads for yourself - a lot of dressings and fillings. Battered fish and battered zucchini, squid rings - they do very well. Meat doesn't always work. Minus - no food on an open fire.
Drinks peddling (free, no tip). cola, fanta, sprite, tea, coffee, juices like Jupi, local wines, BEER (very pleasant), bottled water 0.
5 (you can take it with you at night, although a complimentary 1.5 liter bottle of water is put in the room every day for brushing your teeth) and other alcohol.
Hookah in the rooftop bar for a fee - it costs 4 euros (a little expensive for Egypt, cheap for Moscow)))) This is somewhere around 40 pounds, in the city the hookah costs 15 pounds. However, something happened to the hookah skills of the Arabs - neither in Naama Bay nor in the hotel the hookah can be called good. Zero pleasure. in Moscow now they do, I would say, better - both more fragrant and better smoked (it's just amazing).
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Animation in the hotel
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There is some kind of animation around the pools. We didn't go. In the evenings on the roof of the Main building - some scenes, numbers. Once there was Las VEgas Show - apparently Russian girls, feathers, nice costumes, good figures.
The rooms are simple but pleasing to the eye.
The chip of the hotel - the photographer walks all day - clicks everyone who comes across.
In the evening - the animators show the "life of the hotel" on the big screen with a general gathering of people. There are funny pictures. =))
But in general, the animation, of course, is a dull city, like everywhere else in Egypt))))))))))
However, this is not important for me.
From walks. Since there is no beach line, you won’t be able to walk along the beaches. But you can walk to Naama in the morning or in the evening. From the Hotel at 9 am (at 2:00 pm back) and at 9:30 pm (at 00:30 am back) a free shuttle bus to Ghazala Beach (right in the center of Naama Bay) leaves for Naama Bay.
It's comfortable. We went ourselves - they caught a taxi for 20 pounds, garbage. Apparently it can be cheaper, because they quickly agreed.
On the way back taxi drivers confuse Iberotel Grand ShArm, Creative Grand Sharm and our hotel, which is just GRAND HOTEL SHARM. And since our hotel opened in May, they are mistaken and are being taken to the wrong place. But all three are nearby. Therefore, when you see your own, you need to tell the taxi driver where to go.
In the hotel itself, from entertainment - both "pool" tables eternally occupied by teenagers.
It is more realistic to play table tennis (killed rackets are exchanged for new ones - which is nice). Backgammon is not issued, sorry. Lucky you brought your own. So you can play backgammon and cards in the evening, listening to jazz and sipping a cocktail. Or go to Naama Bay for discos and parties.
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TOURS
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There are two interesting excursions
To Israel (Jerusalem and the Dead Sea) and to Jordan (Petra)
It makes no sense to go to the Ras Muhamed reserve - the local reef is worse than the reef at the hotel. Although we went to Rasmukhamed from nothing to do. They took us across the street ($25 from the nose on the bus) - and we were put in a group with Italians. It was interesting because they are funny))) and the Guide - also lit up)) Ras Mukhamed on the boat - it's the same. They bring it there. They just don’t show mangroves (we actually went to see them).
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ISRAEL
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It costs $180 per person to travel to Israel via Tez TOUR
This is a bus tour.
Departure at 10 pm - 2.
5 hours bus ride to TABAH (border town 230 km from Sharmel Sheikh)
Around 00-30 border
get off the bus and cross the border on foot
first customs and passport control - Egyptians. through 70 meters - customs and passport control of the Israelis.
They quickly crossed the border - in about an hour, I was even surprised
Everything is well organized and clear.
It's fun - all Russians with pillows (scientists already, the backs are hard on the bus))))). A crowd of people with pillows crosses the border))))))) - I was already whinnying from afar - these are definitely ours)))
The visa is slapped at the border with the postscript ONE DAY ONLY. Well, actually it is - this is a one-day excursion.
Then they put me on an Israeli bus. It takes about another 40 minutes - an hour
then 3-4 hours driving around Israel. Around 6 am - Breakfast near the Dead Sea. I thought we would swim in the morning, but for some reason not, after breakfast they were taken to Jerusalem.
apparently there is no morning swim - because the Dead Sea cream shop is not open at this time yet (why the hell do we need it, I ask)
There Observation deck, then by bus past the Garden of Gethsemane to the Old City. For some reason, they are being driven past the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, where the room of the Last Supper is located. Why Tez Tour does not deliver there is a mystery (they are allegedly imported from street travel agencies)
In the Old City - general plans of the Fortress of King Herod, the remains of his Palace
Walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (built over two shrines - Calvary (small dome) and Tomb (Big Dome). Finishing the Tomb - with the money of Russian tsars (the guide calls the figure 3 million gold chervonets).
In the Temple there are services of all Christian denominations. We got to the organ music of Catholics, the reading of prayers in Latin and monks in brown robes with hoods (pure Middle Ages, very impressive).
Inspection of Golgotha, the place where the cross stood, the plates on which Jesus was wrapped in a shroud, inspection of the Tomb, where the sacred fire descends; a fragment of a stone with which the entrance was littered.
They also later examined the crack after lightning on the column at the entrance - where the fire came down when in the 15th century they tried to wait for it without Greek churchmen. And finally, an inspection of the crack in the rock, through which the blood of Jesus flowed from the cross to the grave of the first person. As it turned out, Adam was buried under Golgotha. And this is symbolic (on Icons, if you remember, a skull and bones are always depicted under the cross - and now it has become clear why).
And the Garden of Gethsemane is called - because in Hebrew it means a place where there were presses for crushing olives - in fact, this is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
So from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - the transition along the roofs of the Jewish quarters - to the Wailing Wall. (the roofs are the streets on the upper level, as it were). You go over the market (sort of like) of the time of Christ.
It is clear that the roofs themselves are a remake of the mid-20th century. Some sights generally look a bit fake. And the facts presented are somewhat strained. But who knows ....But in general - everything is sooo interesting. On the roofs you come to the Wailing Wall. She is a symbol of the loss of the temple built 3000 years ago by King Solomon.
The Wailing Wall is just a small section of the fortress wall that stretches further for a kilometer and surrounds the Old City.
The temple of King Solomon survived until the time of Christ, and he was there, but the temple was destroyed by the Arabs, apparently in the 7th century, in its place now is a golden-domed mosque.
Near the Wailing Wall, the Jews do not cry, but pray fervently (They cry, according to our aunt-guide, only in the tax office =))) ))))))) The tour turned out to be very memorable - thanks to her. O )))
Then moving to Bethlehem (there is no street travel agency in Bethlehem, as I understand it).
Swimming there is about an hour (at 14-30 it’s not pleasant to swim - it’s hot. Plus the Met Sea - the lowest point on Earth, sort of. My video camera refused to work - it just went crazy. I cooled it - it seems to work.
The Dead Sea itself is very beautiful early in the morning (a mirror in the haze at dawn). And as a physical phenomenon - very interesting. You lie down on the water and lie - the water is like water, but it holds you like a float. Getting back on your feet is not easy. It’s better not to taste it - the tongue burns terribly, you have to immediately get out under the shower.
On the beach - showers with fresh water and a shop with creams and mud.
Then drive back to the border.
At the hotel around 23:00
(One of the restaurants is open until 23-30, you can have a quiet dinner).
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EXCURSIONS THROUGH THE "STREET"
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On the street - in local travel agencies - the same excursion to Israel for some reason $ 100
And this is the only tour with such a price difference of almost 2 times
let's say you can go to JORDAN in PETRA for 235 dollars - through a guide, and for 225 - through a street firm.
That is, judging by Petra, there is no difference. Why in Israel the difference is 2 times is not clear.
BUT what TEZTUR does not have (for some reason) is a spirit-day excursion ISRAEL-JORDAN
And in street firms there is (next to the hotel there is a firm - there I was offered such a double excursion for $ 325 per nose, and in NAAME BAY (the central part of the city) - the double one also cost more for some reason - 385).
But I didn’t dare to go through a street company with my ending passport - and went for 1 day through TEZ-Tour
In addition, one-day Israel was enough for us. Although it is 5 degrees cooler in Israel, you still get a little tired during the day)))
There is also a two-day Israel. And there is Israel on the plane. I don’t remember the prices for them - but it seems to be within $ 300.
At the border to Israel, they may be denied a visa - if there are UAE visas in the passport or if relatives worked in law enforcement agencies (the latter is not a fact, but from our bus of 25 people - 3 people were not allowed in, and one girl was not allowed in precisely because these grounds - that her husband worked (as they found out) in some bodies
I generally traveled with an ending passport (2 months before the end)
But they let me into Israel without any problems. And most importantly, they let me go back too))))))
From Moscow. I have been to Egypt 7 times. Almost on all excursions and resorts was. I prefer a quiet beach holiday interspersed with excursions and trips. The main thing for me is a great coral reef at the hotel. In second place - a good area to rest the eye, the sea to the horizon, hassle-free service, quality food.
Accidentally stumbled upon a chain of hotels www. redseahotels. com (was at their Grand Resort Hurghada hotel (5 on "HB"). Girls from travel agencies do not know anything about him - they did not advise. But we took a chance - and we liked it so much that this year we went to their new hotel ( opened in May 2008) in Sharm - Grand Hotel Sharm (5-ka on "All inclusive"). Actually about this hotel below.
By myself I know how hard it is to choose a hotel - so I wrote in detail (sorry if I went too far))))
We went through TezTour, chose through their website and ordered directly from them.
For two, standart dbl in early July for 14 days = $ 2.300 with all surcharges for fuel, etc. , which, in my opinion, is inexpensive, but considering the quality of the hotel - cheap.
The flight was TRANSAERO from DME. A flight there in the afternoon (late arrival), a flight back in the evening (late flight) is a good decision. And there and back, and borders and customs - flew by very quickly (oddly enough). Airplanes are also fun.
Boeing 747-200 there, 747-300 back. These are such two-story Jambo-Jets - it's normal to fly.
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HOTEL
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The hotel is located in the HADABA area, 10 kilometers from Naama Bay (by taxi - 20 pounds and 7 minutes drive). 2 minutes to the market part of the old city - Old Market (and accordingly close to the Ras Mohamed reserve). If you stand facing the sea - on the left is the DREAMS VACATION hotel, on the right - something is being built. Then not far to the right Solimar, Iberotel Grand sharm.
The territory is good. It somehow reminded me of Le Meridian Dahab - only in this case - much more.
The hotel descends to the sea with terraces. There are about 5 or 6 of them. Each terrace has a pool and several buildings. The buildings are beige, two-story, the balconies are finished with dark brown wood.
It looks very nice in combination with pools, palm trees and greenery. The pools are finished in the style of this hotel chain - with some edges not only tiles, but also sandstone stones - it looks pretty, but neat, so as not to succumb. Rooms with balconies, some balconies are open.
The upper level of the hotel is the hotel lobby (main building).
At street level - the main hall with fountains and reception and the El Sheikh restaurant (I would call it a snack restaurant - the choice is small, BUT! it is open until 23-30 - which is very convenient for late entry or after returning from excursions)
One floor above the reception to the right is the MAIN restaurant, upstairs is access to the hookah ROOF baR (Open bar on the roof with a stunning night view of the hotel and comfortable wicker sofas), and the second roof is an open-air disco and animation hall with a bar.
Below the reception - up the stairs - a place to hang out in the evenings - TERRACE BAR with very pleasant wicker sofas, armchairs with footrests, 2 billiard tables, 2 table tennis tables. Nice view of the night hotel - beautifully illuminated. Chip - two sofas of the "Bed" type - where you can fall apart with a company of 5 people. In the evenings, in a pleasant voice (it seems Italian), he sings jazz standards to a good arrangement.
On the same floor is the Fusion restaurant. It's kind of like a-la-carte (not a buffet, but a menu).
The beach is the lower terrace of the hotel.
In the hotel you have to walk NOT very long stairs. BUT people with sore feet and so on - I do not recommend. For those who have a lack of walking in life - that's it!
Only thanks to snorkeling and walking I came from an all-inclusive + 3kg and not +7 ))))))))))))))
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ALL INCLUSIVE
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The hotel works on ALL INCLUSIVE. There is no need to tip anyone. (You can leave the room if you wish). All are benevolent.
When they meet, they smile and say hello. Drinks in any quantity. Food - in 3 restaurants or 5 bars. each bar with its own chips - somewhere different burgers, somewhere pancakes with fillings, somewhere kebabs.
You can pour drinks on your own, as I understand it, at breakfast and at lunch in a restaurant. In other cases, you need to go to the bar - and ask for any number of glasses - they will pour it with a smile. Or catch the waiter and bring it (without a tip and with a smile, which for me visiting Egypt 7 times is also amazing).
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Animation
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Animation is modest. There are few young people. There are also few pensioners. The hotel has middle-aged people 30-40 years old, some with children (quiet, oddly enough). Snorkeling lovers feel everything - the hotel has a gorgeous coral reef.
There are Germans, but judging by everything, some of the GDR (I met one while playing billiards - an electronics teacher from an engineering university) - a pleasant GDR sheep, who remembers the USSR well and treats Russians (oddly enough) with sympathy, considers Russian students very sensible.
So the crowd is normal.
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ALCOHOL
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Alcohol card (included in all-inclusive) is normal. There is always something to choose from, clean drinks and cocktails. In the evenings - a good cocktail like Pinacolada (red-sea-special) or Cuba-libra (lime, dark rum, cola). In general, the drinks are in order. But alcohol is local. And I sometimes preferred to sit on the balcony after the beach before dinner with something purchased in duty free. So I recommend all the same to take something (martini, tequila, cognac). Imported drinks at the hotel - paid. On average, 40 pounds per serving (in terms of a dollar, 23 rubles and a pound 5.3 = 170 rubles somewhere).
All-inclusive wines are too (to put it mildly) simple for my taste. Excellent local wine "Omar Heim" (duty free on departure = 10 dollars per bottle) - also somewhere around 40 pounds per glass.
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Near the hotel.
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There is nothing special near the hotel.
When leaving the hotel - to the left 70 meters supermarket (masks, fins, caps, water, chips, underwater cameras, etc. ), a shop with excursions, a souvenir shop.
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ROOM
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I recommend buying a portable DVD with you, but in this case, you must take a SCART adapter with you. TVs do not have a conventional AV input.
They don’t spoil with sockets either - I recommend taking a tee for a deep socket.
There is nowhere to buy an adapter or a tee. not at the reception either.
In the hotel for 2 weeks there were 2 power outages - they cut off for 5-10 minutes - I attributed this to the fact that this hotel is new, it only opened in May.
Upon entering the room there was no water in the sink.
Repaired - began to pour on the wall. I called the reception and asked the question "That water did not pass, but now it passes, but it pours along the wall onto the floor, how is it? " - they joked "May be its a good luck? " I laughed. Then a council of plumbers came, dug for half an hour - there were no more problems with the number.
When we checked into the room, there was no light in the room offered to us. While we were waiting for another one (there was interest in us in the form of $ 10 at the reception), we spent 15 minutes talking with a nice Arab girl from Guest Relations by the pool on the topic of who will be after Mubarak, since the current president - the guarantor of the stability of the region - is quite old still (it is believed that his son), but I love the Red Sea and the Egyptian health resort in general (compared to an excursion to Israel) - green, understandable and cheap.
Cons - there is not much greenery in the hotel yet, but in general it is enough.
Not all rooms have a good view - some windows overlook other buildings.
Some rooms are small.
Another minus - in our room was a very narrow shower. The curtain sticks. You remove it - water gets on the floor and flows into the room (if you splash like a seal, of course)))))
I handed over the $10 anyway (although I've carefully avoided it for the last two trips and still got good rooms) and they gave me room 414 with a view of the sea and the pool.
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LATE CHECK-OUT
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We had a late check out. Rooms Check out at 12-00 noon. The option is either to pay an extra $26 and the room is extended until 18-00, or to leave at 12-00, hand over things at the reception and after the beach get the keys to the shower room to wash and change. We chose the second option. No problem all day at the beach. Received at 18-30 shower-room. Then we even had dinner (from 19-00) and at 19-40 we left for the airport. Tez tour this time, like Transaero - they worked without delay at all - this is the first time this has happened to me.
By the way, the Shower-room was some kind of 900th room, next to the Main Building - there is a large shower and a large room and a gorgeous view - of the greenery and the sea.
So not all rooms are small as it turned out. Although perhaps it was not standard.
Or maybe they save it for the Germans. (Although at the Grand Resort Hurghada they gave a chic room without any money).
Otherwise
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BEACH
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With the exchange of beach towels (by the way new ones) some garbage. Initially, towels are given in a beach bag in the room (a feature in this network). And offer to change - leaving dirty in the room. But if you leave them in the evening - who will change them?
For example, I generally like to sleep until 11-12 days.
I got 4 towels by cunning)))) I caught the janitor's guy downstairs - I stole two more towels from him. 2 were taken to the beach, 2 were left in the room - and with such a cunning maneuver in the evening they received 2 fresh beach towels for the next day.
How else they change - I honestly do not understand.
The beach is located, as it were, in a recess on the coast, the walls of which are quite nicely finished with sandstone. The wind gets just enough to not feel the heat.
(I specifically write Guava - through "F" - when you speak through "V" - for some reason they do not understand the first time)
Guafu is poured from juice bags - it tastes okay. Ice in glasses is completely safe. Food only - at the bar (you can not eat on the sunbeds). Salads, pizzas, fruit plate, etc. Everything is completely edible. Delicious vanilla ice cream - like a sundae 48 kopecks in childhood))))) (but there are different things to choose from).
With squeezed juices, some kind of nonsense. By the pools there is only freshly squeezed orange for 20 pounds (= ~ 90 rubles), there is also at breakfast. There are no other squeezed juices (((((((I didn’t understand why. The bar has pretty bamboo furniture with multi-colored napkins and waterproof pillows.
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Beach animation
-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- so-so - volleyball in the corner of the beach, darts. A game with heavy iron balls (I played with the Czechs for the first time - interesting. The goal of the game is to get from 3-4 meters with an iron ball as close as possible to the red ball thrown by the first player)
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SEA and REEF
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The beach ends with a small ledge 1.5 meters high and goes into the sea for 5 meters with a coral reef. There are a couple of picturesque boulders near the shore.
After the reef - the depth of 20-30 meters.
The entrance to the water is by stairs.
The coral reef is amazing. The richest of all 7 of my trips to Egypt. Species 20 or 30 fish. Not frightened - swim 5 centimeters from the mask.
People saw a healthy manta, a turtle. I saw a barracuda a couple of times - they swim to brush their teeth to our reef - while the barracuda hangs over the reef, small fish clean its jaw (long and toothy like a pike =), I also saw a tail like a shark - but they seem to be harmless (judging by the book) . The bolder snorkelers lined up in a chain about 20 meters from the shore and waited for her to swim. One Russian shared his impressions of how he touched her by the tail and took a picture. There are also two fish patrolling the reef at a depth - they look like dolphins.
In general, it is safe - more talk))))))))))))))))))
In general, there are a lot of large fish, the length of an arm - this is very interesting.
I also recommend buying a mattress. At first, on the beach, they gave especially timid lifebuoys (there are 10 of them on the shore), then they stopped giving them.
There are three points on the beach (at the edges and in the middle) where guys sit on judges' chairs - they watch all day so that no one drowns.
In the evening, a guy with a pipe on strings levels the beach - for beauty.
At 18-00 the descent into the water is closed. Somewhere at 20-00, bleach is poured into the pools. So there is a problem with night swimming.
A couple of times there were sensitive waves in the middle of the day, they calmed down at the end.
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SANDY BEACH (in Naama)
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For lovers of sandy entrances and shallow water.
There are two more hotels of this chain in Naama Bay.
On 2 lines - Ghazala Gardens - decorated in their style - a very pleasant hotel too (with a horizontal territory). We went for a special walk. But their beach hotel Ghazala Beach is just a quiet horror. Hut type "Crimean Dacha".
How he got into their network is not clear. But it is green and has a sandy beach. From the GRAND HOTEL to GHAZALA they carry it for free (at 9 am there - at 14-00 back).
Vacationers from Grand Sharm can get free drinks (tried) and (like even) food - on the territory of these two hotels.
But the beaches in Naama Bay are of little interest to me personally. Noisy, cramped, hot.
From the entertainment in Naama - picking algae from the ropes and feeding algae balls - a big blue striped fish, looking like a contented lazy cat in a sly grin )))))))))). You can still walk along the Laguna beach back and forth along the palm alley - and burn powerfully (I recommend for July and walks under the sun - cream with protection "30-40")
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FOOD & FRUIT
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Dinner is available on the beach. They offer seafood or individual fish for 17 euros. But as I understand it, this is more of a scam, although I didn’t try it myself - we ate all the time in the Main Restaurant.
Once we went to Fusion - although it is free - there is a lot of pathos, but there is little and not much food. In the snack restaurant near the reception - I even found sushi a couple of times. Absolutely nothing.
And so - basically ate in the main restaurant.
What is good - whenever you come - at least 5 minutes before closing - the fruit plates will be full, and the chefs will still fry something.
Chefs recommend to beautiful girls what to take tasty (however, they don’t argue about tastes) =))))
Everything is ok with fruits - watermelon, 2 types of melon, 2 types of grapes, peaches, apples, pears, sweet (brown) dates. Chicken in all forms is normally made from food. You can make different salads for yourself - a lot of dressings and fillings. Battered fish and battered zucchini, squid rings - they do very well. Meat doesn't always work. Minus - no food on an open fire.
Drinks peddling (free, no tip). cola, fanta, sprite, tea, coffee, juices like Jupi, local wines, BEER (very pleasant), bottled water 0.
5 (you can take it with you at night, although a complimentary 1.5 liter bottle of water is put in the room every day for brushing your teeth) and other alcohol.
Hookah in the rooftop bar for a fee - it costs 4 euros (a little expensive for Egypt, cheap for Moscow)))) This is somewhere around 40 pounds, in the city the hookah costs 15 pounds. However, something happened to the hookah skills of the Arabs - neither in Naama Bay nor in the hotel the hookah can be called good. Zero pleasure. in Moscow now they do, I would say, better - both more fragrant and better smoked (it's just amazing).
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Animation in the hotel
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There is some kind of animation around the pools. We didn't go. In the evenings on the roof of the Main building - some scenes, numbers. Once there was Las VEgas Show - apparently Russian girls, feathers, nice costumes, good figures.
The rooms are simple but pleasing to the eye.
The chip of the hotel - the photographer walks all day - clicks everyone who comes across.
In the evening - the animators show the "life of the hotel" on the big screen with a general gathering of people. There are funny pictures. =))
But in general, the animation, of course, is a dull city, like everywhere else in Egypt))))))))))
However, this is not important for me.
From walks. Since there is no beach line, you won’t be able to walk along the beaches. But you can walk to Naama in the morning or in the evening. From the Hotel at 9 am (at 2:00 pm back) and at 9:30 pm (at 00:30 am back) a free shuttle bus to Ghazala Beach (right in the center of Naama Bay) leaves for Naama Bay.
It's comfortable. We went ourselves - they caught a taxi for 20 pounds, garbage. Apparently it can be cheaper, because they quickly agreed.
On the way back taxi drivers confuse Iberotel Grand ShArm, Creative Grand Sharm and our hotel, which is just GRAND HOTEL SHARM. And since our hotel opened in May, they are mistaken and are being taken to the wrong place. But all three are nearby. Therefore, when you see your own, you need to tell the taxi driver where to go.
In the hotel itself, from entertainment - both "pool" tables eternally occupied by teenagers.
It is more realistic to play table tennis (killed rackets are exchanged for new ones - which is nice). Backgammon is not issued, sorry. Lucky you brought your own. So you can play backgammon and cards in the evening, listening to jazz and sipping a cocktail. Or go to Naama Bay for discos and parties.
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TOURS
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There are two interesting excursions
To Israel (Jerusalem and the Dead Sea) and to Jordan (Petra)
It makes no sense to go to the Ras Muhamed reserve - the local reef is worse than the reef at the hotel. Although we went to Rasmukhamed from nothing to do. They took us across the street ($25 from the nose on the bus) - and we were put in a group with Italians. It was interesting because they are funny))) and the Guide - also lit up)) Ras Mukhamed on the boat - it's the same. They bring it there. They just don’t show mangroves (we actually went to see them).
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ISRAEL
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It costs $180 per person to travel to Israel via Tez TOUR
This is a bus tour.
Departure at 10 pm - 2.
5 hours bus ride to TABAH (border town 230 km from Sharmel Sheikh)
Around 00-30 border
get off the bus and cross the border on foot
first customs and passport control - Egyptians. through 70 meters - customs and passport control of the Israelis.
They quickly crossed the border - in about an hour, I was even surprised
Everything is well organized and clear.
It's fun - all Russians with pillows (scientists already, the backs are hard on the bus))))). A crowd of people with pillows crosses the border))))))) - I was already whinnying from afar - these are definitely ours)))
The visa is slapped at the border with the postscript ONE DAY ONLY. Well, actually it is - this is a one-day excursion.
Then they put me on an Israeli bus. It takes about another 40 minutes - an hour
then 3-4 hours driving around Israel. Around 6 am - Breakfast near the Dead Sea. I thought we would swim in the morning, but for some reason not, after breakfast they were taken to Jerusalem.
apparently there is no morning swim - because the Dead Sea cream shop is not open at this time yet (why the hell do we need it, I ask)
There Observation deck, then by bus past the Garden of Gethsemane to the Old City. For some reason, they are being driven past the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, where the room of the Last Supper is located. Why Tez Tour does not deliver there is a mystery (they are allegedly imported from street travel agencies)
In the Old City - general plans of the Fortress of King Herod, the remains of his Palace
Walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (built over two shrines - Calvary (small dome) and Tomb (Big Dome). Finishing the Tomb - with the money of Russian tsars (the guide calls the figure 3 million gold chervonets).
In the Temple there are services of all Christian denominations. We got to the organ music of Catholics, the reading of prayers in Latin and monks in brown robes with hoods (pure Middle Ages, very impressive).
Inspection of Golgotha, the place where the cross stood, the plates on which Jesus was wrapped in a shroud, inspection of the Tomb, where the sacred fire descends; a fragment of a stone with which the entrance was littered.
They also later examined the crack after lightning on the column at the entrance - where the fire came down when in the 15th century they tried to wait for it without Greek churchmen. And finally, an inspection of the crack in the rock, through which the blood of Jesus flowed from the cross to the grave of the first person. As it turned out, Adam was buried under Golgotha. And this is symbolic (on Icons, if you remember, a skull and bones are always depicted under the cross - and now it has become clear why).
And the Garden of Gethsemane is called - because in Hebrew it means a place where there were presses for crushing olives - in fact, this is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
So from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - the transition along the roofs of the Jewish quarters - to the Wailing Wall. (the roofs are the streets on the upper level, as it were). You go over the market (sort of like) of the time of Christ.
It is clear that the roofs themselves are a remake of the mid-20th century. Some sights generally look a bit fake. And the facts presented are somewhat strained. But who knows ....But in general - everything is sooo interesting. On the roofs you come to the Wailing Wall. She is a symbol of the loss of the temple built 3000 years ago by King Solomon.
The Wailing Wall is just a small section of the fortress wall that stretches further for a kilometer and surrounds the Old City.
The temple of King Solomon survived until the time of Christ, and he was there, but the temple was destroyed by the Arabs, apparently in the 7th century, in its place now is a golden-domed mosque.
Near the Wailing Wall, the Jews do not cry, but pray fervently (They cry, according to our aunt-guide, only in the tax office =))) ))))))) The tour turned out to be very memorable - thanks to her. O )))
Then moving to Bethlehem (there is no street travel agency in Bethlehem, as I understand it).
Swimming there is about an hour (at 14-30 it’s not pleasant to swim - it’s hot. Plus the Met Sea - the lowest point on Earth, sort of. My video camera refused to work - it just went crazy. I cooled it - it seems to work.
The Dead Sea itself is very beautiful early in the morning (a mirror in the haze at dawn). And as a physical phenomenon - very interesting. You lie down on the water and lie - the water is like water, but it holds you like a float. Getting back on your feet is not easy. It’s better not to taste it - the tongue burns terribly, you have to immediately get out under the shower.
On the beach - showers with fresh water and a shop with creams and mud.
Then drive back to the border.
At the hotel around 23:00
(One of the restaurants is open until 23-30, you can have a quiet dinner).
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EXCURSIONS THROUGH THE "STREET"
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On the street - in local travel agencies - the same excursion to Israel for some reason $ 100
And this is the only tour with such a price difference of almost 2 times
let's say you can go to JORDAN in PETRA for 235 dollars - through a guide, and for 225 - through a street firm.
That is, judging by Petra, there is no difference. Why in Israel the difference is 2 times is not clear.
BUT what TEZTUR does not have (for some reason) is a spirit-day excursion ISRAEL-JORDAN
And in street firms there is (next to the hotel there is a firm - there I was offered such a double excursion for $ 325 per nose, and in NAAME BAY (the central part of the city) - the double one also cost more for some reason - 385).
But I didn’t dare to go through a street company with my ending passport - and went for 1 day through TEZ-Tour
In addition, one-day Israel was enough for us. Although it is 5 degrees cooler in Israel, you still get a little tired during the day)))
There is also a two-day Israel. And there is Israel on the plane. I don’t remember the prices for them - but it seems to be within $ 300.
At the border to Israel, they may be denied a visa - if there are UAE visas in the passport or if relatives worked in law enforcement agencies (the latter is not a fact, but from our bus of 25 people - 3 people were not allowed in, and one girl was not allowed in precisely because these grounds - that her husband worked (as they found out) in some bodies
I generally traveled with an ending passport (2 months before the end)
But they let me into Israel without any problems. And most importantly, they let me go back too))))))
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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