Исключительно положительные впечатления Exceptionally positive experience

A few days ago we returned from the Strand Hotel Taba with extremely positive impressions. Despite the fact that we rested for only a week, we gained impressions for at least six months. All this thanks to the optimistic attitude and staff of the hotel.
We arrived at the hotel with my husband around 16:00. After a long flight and a tiring road from Sharm El Sheikh airport, we dreamed of getting to our room as soon as possible. There were 10 people waiting for us to check in, they settled in very quickly, rooms were already prepared for everyone, the keys were laid out at the reception desk. The staff is very smiling and polite. We were taken to a room in the main building on the second floor, they demonstrated the operation of all appliances and a safe. At the same time, the porter did not wait for the tip, the husband called him and gave him a dollar, to which he politely smiled, took the money and left. Those who often rested in Egypt will understand what I mean. Often the local porters don't leave until they get the baksheesh. The room was spacious and comfortable. Normal furniture, comfortable large bed with a quality mattress. Everything in the bathroom is clean, the sticker on the toilet is "sterile". High-quality cleaning, without swans and other unnecessary bed decorations. Every day change of towels, as it should be.
The area is very well maintained and beautiful. Lawns are constantly watered, bushes are cut, paths and paths are cleaned. Despite the fact that the hotel is far from being fully loaded, the staff is always at work, both gardeners and waiters, cleaners, bartenders. The hotel is very large, many rooms, most of them are free. There are several pools, a salt lake, but in summer the water is too warm and not refreshing. The beach is spacious, comfortable sun loungers, clean. Minus the lack of a pontoon. We don't like to beat our feet on stones. At first we bought slippers for corals in the hotel store, but even they were not very comfortable. Then we learned from other tourists that you can dive from the pontoon of the neighboring Sofitel. The main thing is to calmly and confidently go to the pontoon. If you decide to lie down on a sun lounger, they will immediately offer to pay for the use of the beach, something about $ 50. This was the only drawback of our hotel and the advantage of Sofitel, where we will most likely go next time. Walking for 7 minutes under the scorching sun to the pontoon was straining, as well as walking through shallow water in search of depth and corals. In addition, our reef was somewhat poorer in terms of fish.

The food is good, not a five, but a solid four, which is also very good for Egypt. I was pleased that the meat (soft !!! ), chicken and fish were very tasty, there were several side dishes, a certain variety of salads, everything was repeated every three days, the chef and the restaurant administrator constantly walked around the hall and checked the replenishment of containers with dishes and work waiters. Baking was varied, but from the dough of one batch. That is, whatever you take, it tasted the same. There were few fruits: dates, melons, sometimes watermelon, oranges. The waiters are diligent. Drinks are traditionally Egyptian, you can drink water and soda, alcohol only in the form of beer and heavily diluted cocktails. So you need to take your own or buy in duty free. After 23:00 all alcohol becomes paid.
During our stay, the events of July 1 took place, when terrorists attacked the Egyptian army on the border with the Gaza Strip. We learned about this already on July 2 from the news. The hotel was very calm, no one could even think that something had happened somewhere in the Sinai. On the evening of the second day, we had a scheduled trip to Israel-Jordan, which we bought not from the unpleasant guide Anex, but ordered via the Internet from a travel agency Red Sea Travel. Contacted them before leaving, we were reassured. The checkpoint in Taba really worked, and again, we did not see any tension. The tour was just fabulous. Madly liked both places and professional tour guides.
The hotel basically offers a relaxing holiday, although there are animators, they call for sporting events during the day, for evening shows, for children there were children's animators and a kids club. There is no city as such nearby, there is a Heights area with shops, you can get there by tuk-tuk.
We really liked the hotel, the staff is trying, it means a lot, advice to the hotel: build a pontoon, it's very inconvenient to go into the sea on the rocks.