Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
9.0
Service:
7.0
Cleanliness:
8.0
Food:
8.0
Amenities:
8.0
October 9.2010 Today is the last day on vacation in Egypt, Sharm el-Sheikh (Sharm el Shaikh), and it's time to write a short report; ) We're leaving tomorrow.
Continental Plaza Beach Resort, 5 star hotel, tour operator Coral Travel, meeting party Odeon Tours, 14 nights, standard room, all inclusive.
In the middle of the week, we decided it was time to take a break. On the same day, I phoned the tour operator, arrived for a meeting, chose a tour with a departure for the next Sunday.
Board "Transaero" from Sheremetyevo, double-decker Boeing 747.4h30m flight. On the way out at the windows, I was already met by a local tour operator, took one of the vouchers, issued a visa application form. Immediately you have to take two queues - one for obtaining visas (15 bucks), one for passport control. A plane for 500 people, the queues are immediately very long!
Since the hotel was chosen according to the principle of what was left for the next few days right in Coral Travel, I relied entirely on the choice of the manager. At home, I read reviews on the Internet and was somewhat upset by the negative.
Basically, scolded food and animation. It turned out that everything is not so scary, rather the opposite. We are 100% satisfied with the rest and would not mind coming back here.
About the hotel
The hotel is one of the rare in Sharm, whose beach is located right on the coral reef. The beauty of the sea is indescribable. For her alone it makes sense to go here! The sea is teeming with a wide variety of fish. The most beautiful corals. Entry into the sea or along the sand into the reef, which is not convenient, or from a 60-meter pontoon leading directly to the first slope of the reef. Be sure (! ) to take masks, snorkels, fins and, if possible, a case for underwater shooting for the camera and coral slippers. Double-deck boats are constantly moored to our reef to take divers from all over the area.
The whole sea is like a jar of unsorted sprats ranging in length from 10 cm to more than a meter. The fish are very different and beautiful. You constantly meet large stingrays and emperors. Several moray eels live in the reef.
I met the first one during the first 5 minutes of swimming when I dived closer to the corals. Careless vacationers feed them with eggs from their hands. During the day they are almost invisible, at night, they say, they go hunting for small fish.
Meals at the hotel - in two restaurants, buffet. Short shorts and T-shirts are not allowed for lunch and dinner. The kitchen is incomprehensible, rather with an Italian accent. But the choice is large, enough, very tasty. There were no stomach problems. May I eat like this for the rest of my life! Drinks are free. I drank whiskey and cola and good local beer. The only two minuses were that water was taken into the room from coolers into bottles, and all juices were taken from dry powder. Fresh juices are not pressed. But, after talking with guests of other hotels, I realized that this is a universal problem. Just don't take those juices.
Swimming pools are located near many buildings, there are large slides. There are always places on the beach, at rush hour they are not the best, but there are.
Bars are everywhere, including on the beach and at all pools, beach towels are there.
For young children, everything is implemented very poorly - I do not recommend it. No animation.
Two lines of accommodation in the hotel. Receptionist in the middle. Almost all rooms face either the pools or the sea. Guests from Coral Travel are usually accommodated on the first line. It is important. It makes sense to fight for the sea views from the rooms, proximity to the beach and other joys. We were seated immediately with a view of both the pool and the sea. Extra 10 thousand. we didn't pay extra for seaview in Moscow. By the way, here this surcharge is 100 bucks. Perhaps the tour operator's addition to the reservation played a role: “a good view from the room”, perhaps the fact that the wife asked for a good number for the representative who met us at the Odeon Tours airport.
The room was cleaned every day and of good quality. Every day I made it a rule to leave a dollar under the lamp in the morning. When I was especially pleased, I left two a couple of times.
It must be understood that the average salary in Egypt is 110 bucks, the hotel director receives about 1000, the staff - about 200. Bakshish (tipping) is loved by everyone, but there is no need to give a lot. A dollar is a standard gratitude.
About excursions
From the very first day at the hotel, the tour operator begins to promote guests to buy excursions. We have already been instructed that it only makes sense to buy long-distance trips from a tour operator (with an overpayment), but we tuned in to rest, immediately bought three of them and received a disco as a gift.
1. Trip to Israel (Dead Sea and Jerusalem) for one day and Palestine (Bethlehem). Amazing pilgrimage and excursion in one bottle. We left at 20.00. At two in the morning we crossed the border on foot, from the hands of Odeon Tours fell into the hands of the Israeli tour operator Travel Services.
We met the dawn at the Dead Sea, took a walk through the old city in Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Holy Fire Cave, Calvary, the Jewish Wailing Wall, then Palestine, the Church of the Nativity, the cave where Christ was born, dinner, a trip back with a swim in the Dead Sea . By midnight we were at the hotel. This is short, very tired, but there are many impressions. Highly recommended! - 180 bucks per person, more to buy consecrated things and souvenirs. No matter how much you take, it's not enough. Although, as elsewhere, you can not take anything at all.
2. Hamam - Turkish bath. The wife went. I liked it very much. I paid extra for massages and what else. Came clean, the skin is smooth, as if it had just been born)))). Satisfied! What did they do with her? ; )-
3. Motorcycle safari in the desert. We took the most expensive vouchers for 60 bucks, because we were promised an individual program. Here we pricked ourselves, although we still got a good mood.
Everyone lined up on quad bikes, briefing, let's go. No one is overtaking, they are dragging. We got in 40 minutes to the Bedouin village. They offered dinner - not one of the guests even got up from their seats to look at the dishes! It's hot, everyone drinks water and fanta with cola, although everyone likes it. Camel ride in the desert and return the same way back.
Later, we bought another one for 35 bucks from the boy Pushkin (black-skinned and curly-haired, it seems to be “Pushkin”) for 35 bucks, now a strictly individual tour. My wife and I and a guide on three quads. For three hours we drove through the desert at our pleasure. We drove along a route close to that of the last time. But they cut the hills, stopped in different villages, talked with the Bedouins, met the sunset in the desert. The return journey was at night in total darkness. The wife almost knocked down the camels with the Bedouins. Again they cut circles, jumped from the hills and raced.
Terribly happy gave 10 bucks to the conductor for a tip, dirty, but wildly satisfied returned to the hotel. If only we had more time in Sharm - we would go again! I also highly recommend.
4. Disco (a gift from the tour operator) - none. There was nothing to do there.
They also did windsurfing. 4 hours for two with an instructor - 100 bucks. Wife really liked it. For me, so-so.
My wife went for massages at the SPA center in the hotel - 200 bucks for 4 sessions. Satisfied. Highly recommended. It cannot be compared with Moscow. Especially when they make some blacks. Again wondered what they were doing with her there? ; )
About the city
We must understand that Egypt is a very poor country. All income and earnings are concentrated on the payment for the use of the Suez Canal and tourism. There are two tourism centers on the Red Sea - Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Sharm is a tourist city. An oasis in the background of the rest of Egypt. It all consists of hotels (look at maps. google. com - you will understand everything).
There is nothing to do in the central part of Sharm.
Cafes, discos, boredom. We were more pleased with the Old City. Taxis can be taken from the hotel or directly in the city at any time of the day or night. Tax 10 bucks from end to end of the city. The most interesting time in the city is after 10 pm and before 3-4 am. All shops are open. Dvizhuha. There are not just a lot of Russians, it feels like you are in Abkhazia, not Egypt. Almost all sellers know Russian, many are not bad. And almost everyone knows English.
The most annoying thing about shops is that every shopkeeper stops you with the question “Hi, how are you? ”I had to get used to answering “normal” with a smile on the go, so as not to be completely redneck. Nevertheless, you somehow quickly want to slip past such shops. But we perceived the shop as an oasis, where they simply smiled at us and did not ask any questions. We went in, looked around, talked to the seller and bought souvenirs for 200 dollars there. The shopkeeper guy, when they talked like that, said that he understood the Russians.
They cannot be stopped or directed. Then they will be happy to come to visit.
Bargaining is accepted and strong. It is normal to bring down the price by 30-50%.
Total
Tour - 81.000 rubles. We spent 2.000 dollars here, although 1.000 dollars, including excursions, would be enough to have a good rest. Of these, I spent 30-40 dollars on tips.
Be sure to read, but filter what they write on the Internet about the rest. And do not be a redneck, treat people who serve you humanly. And most importantly, tune in to relax, and everything will definitely be awesome!
Continental Plaza Beach Resort, 5 star hotel, tour operator Coral Travel, meeting party Odeon Tours, 14 nights, standard room, all inclusive.
In the middle of the week, we decided it was time to take a break. On the same day, I phoned the tour operator, arrived for a meeting, chose a tour with a departure for the next Sunday.
Board "Transaero" from Sheremetyevo, double-decker Boeing 747.4h30m flight. On the way out at the windows, I was already met by a local tour operator, took one of the vouchers, issued a visa application form. Immediately you have to take two queues - one for obtaining visas (15 bucks), one for passport control. A plane for 500 people, the queues are immediately very long!
Since the hotel was chosen according to the principle of what was left for the next few days right in Coral Travel, I relied entirely on the choice of the manager. At home, I read reviews on the Internet and was somewhat upset by the negative.
Basically, scolded food and animation. It turned out that everything is not so scary, rather the opposite. We are 100% satisfied with the rest and would not mind coming back here.
About the hotel
The hotel is one of the rare in Sharm, whose beach is located right on the coral reef. The beauty of the sea is indescribable. For her alone it makes sense to go here! The sea is teeming with a wide variety of fish. The most beautiful corals. Entry into the sea or along the sand into the reef, which is not convenient, or from a 60-meter pontoon leading directly to the first slope of the reef. Be sure (! ) to take masks, snorkels, fins and, if possible, a case for underwater shooting for the camera and coral slippers. Double-deck boats are constantly moored to our reef to take divers from all over the area.
The whole sea is like a jar of unsorted sprats ranging in length from 10 cm to more than a meter. The fish are very different and beautiful. You constantly meet large stingrays and emperors. Several moray eels live in the reef.
I met the first one during the first 5 minutes of swimming when I dived closer to the corals. Careless vacationers feed them with eggs from their hands. During the day they are almost invisible, at night, they say, they go hunting for small fish.
Meals at the hotel - in two restaurants, buffet. Short shorts and T-shirts are not allowed for lunch and dinner. The kitchen is incomprehensible, rather with an Italian accent. But the choice is large, enough, very tasty. There were no stomach problems. May I eat like this for the rest of my life! Drinks are free. I drank whiskey and cola and good local beer. The only two minuses were that water was taken into the room from coolers into bottles, and all juices were taken from dry powder. Fresh juices are not pressed. But, after talking with guests of other hotels, I realized that this is a universal problem. Just don't take those juices.
Swimming pools are located near many buildings, there are large slides. There are always places on the beach, at rush hour they are not the best, but there are.
Bars are everywhere, including on the beach and at all pools, beach towels are there.
For young children, everything is implemented very poorly - I do not recommend it. No animation.
Two lines of accommodation in the hotel. Receptionist in the middle. Almost all rooms face either the pools or the sea. Guests from Coral Travel are usually accommodated on the first line. It is important. It makes sense to fight for the sea views from the rooms, proximity to the beach and other joys. We were seated immediately with a view of both the pool and the sea. Extra 10 thousand. we didn't pay extra for seaview in Moscow. By the way, here this surcharge is 100 bucks. Perhaps the tour operator's addition to the reservation played a role: “a good view from the room”, perhaps the fact that the wife asked for a good number for the representative who met us at the Odeon Tours airport.
The room was cleaned every day and of good quality. Every day I made it a rule to leave a dollar under the lamp in the morning. When I was especially pleased, I left two a couple of times.
It must be understood that the average salary in Egypt is 110 bucks, the hotel director receives about 1000, the staff - about 200. Bakshish (tipping) is loved by everyone, but there is no need to give a lot. A dollar is a standard gratitude.
About excursions
From the very first day at the hotel, the tour operator begins to promote guests to buy excursions. We have already been instructed that it only makes sense to buy long-distance trips from a tour operator (with an overpayment), but we tuned in to rest, immediately bought three of them and received a disco as a gift.
1. Trip to Israel (Dead Sea and Jerusalem) for one day and Palestine (Bethlehem). Amazing pilgrimage and excursion in one bottle. We left at 20.00. At two in the morning we crossed the border on foot, from the hands of Odeon Tours fell into the hands of the Israeli tour operator Travel Services.
We met the dawn at the Dead Sea, took a walk through the old city in Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Holy Fire Cave, Calvary, the Jewish Wailing Wall, then Palestine, the Church of the Nativity, the cave where Christ was born, dinner, a trip back with a swim in the Dead Sea . By midnight we were at the hotel. This is short, very tired, but there are many impressions. Highly recommended! - 180 bucks per person, more to buy consecrated things and souvenirs. No matter how much you take, it's not enough. Although, as elsewhere, you can not take anything at all.
2. Hamam - Turkish bath. The wife went. I liked it very much. I paid extra for massages and what else. Came clean, the skin is smooth, as if it had just been born)))). Satisfied! What did they do with her? ; )-
3. Motorcycle safari in the desert. We took the most expensive vouchers for 60 bucks, because we were promised an individual program. Here we pricked ourselves, although we still got a good mood.
Everyone lined up on quad bikes, briefing, let's go. No one is overtaking, they are dragging. We got in 40 minutes to the Bedouin village. They offered dinner - not one of the guests even got up from their seats to look at the dishes! It's hot, everyone drinks water and fanta with cola, although everyone likes it. Camel ride in the desert and return the same way back.
Later, we bought another one for 35 bucks from the boy Pushkin (black-skinned and curly-haired, it seems to be “Pushkin”) for 35 bucks, now a strictly individual tour. My wife and I and a guide on three quads. For three hours we drove through the desert at our pleasure. We drove along a route close to that of the last time. But they cut the hills, stopped in different villages, talked with the Bedouins, met the sunset in the desert. The return journey was at night in total darkness. The wife almost knocked down the camels with the Bedouins. Again they cut circles, jumped from the hills and raced.
Terribly happy gave 10 bucks to the conductor for a tip, dirty, but wildly satisfied returned to the hotel. If only we had more time in Sharm - we would go again! I also highly recommend.
4. Disco (a gift from the tour operator) - none. There was nothing to do there.
They also did windsurfing. 4 hours for two with an instructor - 100 bucks. Wife really liked it. For me, so-so.
My wife went for massages at the SPA center in the hotel - 200 bucks for 4 sessions. Satisfied. Highly recommended. It cannot be compared with Moscow. Especially when they make some blacks. Again wondered what they were doing with her there? ; )
About the city
We must understand that Egypt is a very poor country. All income and earnings are concentrated on the payment for the use of the Suez Canal and tourism. There are two tourism centers on the Red Sea - Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Sharm is a tourist city. An oasis in the background of the rest of Egypt. It all consists of hotels (look at maps. google. com - you will understand everything).
There is nothing to do in the central part of Sharm.
Cafes, discos, boredom. We were more pleased with the Old City. Taxis can be taken from the hotel or directly in the city at any time of the day or night. Tax 10 bucks from end to end of the city. The most interesting time in the city is after 10 pm and before 3-4 am. All shops are open. Dvizhuha. There are not just a lot of Russians, it feels like you are in Abkhazia, not Egypt. Almost all sellers know Russian, many are not bad. And almost everyone knows English.
The most annoying thing about shops is that every shopkeeper stops you with the question “Hi, how are you? ”I had to get used to answering “normal” with a smile on the go, so as not to be completely redneck. Nevertheless, you somehow quickly want to slip past such shops. But we perceived the shop as an oasis, where they simply smiled at us and did not ask any questions. We went in, looked around, talked to the seller and bought souvenirs for 200 dollars there. The shopkeeper guy, when they talked like that, said that he understood the Russians.
They cannot be stopped or directed. Then they will be happy to come to visit.
Bargaining is accepted and strong. It is normal to bring down the price by 30-50%.
Total
Tour - 81.000 rubles. We spent 2.000 dollars here, although 1.000 dollars, including excursions, would be enough to have a good rest. Of these, I spent 30-40 dollars on tips.
Be sure to read, but filter what they write on the Internet about the rest. And do not be a redneck, treat people who serve you humanly. And most importantly, tune in to relax, and everything will definitely be awesome!
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THE HOTEL
- Have a nice rest
- Excellent hotel for its price category
- The holiday was a success!
- did not like
- Hotel for 3, the owners are very greedy!!!!
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