Taba, Mariott Taba Heights Beach Resort Review

Overall Rating

Just returned from the Marriot Hotel at Taba and as we'd used this guide prior to going it is only fair that we give our tuppence worth in return.

Location:- A new resort on the Red Sea being financed to the tune of billions of dollars by Egypt's largest conglomerate as they set about developing the 'Red Sea Riviera'.
Taba airport is about 40 minutes drive away over an amazing road cut through the rocks. The resort is miles from anything and you are unlikely to leave it except perhaps for an excursion and those lose a great deal of attraction in the summer heat.

The resort:- 4 big 5 star hotels, a golf course, a town centre - which one day might have shoppers, an assortment of newly constructed apartments and a diving centre. This covers a large area of ground and shuttle buses are laid on - these don't work to any obvious schedule or planned route and 2 or 3 come along at the same time after having waited an age. If they just gave hotel residents one of the wee golf buggies to run around in everything would be sorted.

Security:- very visual - if you have been on the shuttle bus and you're being dropped off at your hotel, after being at the three others, your bus will be getting mirror checked for bombs for the fourth time - access to each hotel is through an airport security style door though not seriously enforced for obvious holidaymakers. There was also a presence of security around the pool area at the marriot at times - yet no lifeguard.

Rooms:- very nice indeed, air conditioning a blessing. Do not use the mini bar - take their stuff out and fill it with your own. The chocolate costs an absolute fortune so take your own.

The staff:- excellent. None of this looking for a tip all the time stuff that you experience elsewhere in Egypt and they are so happy if they are making you happy.

The food:- The big dining room:- trying to please the whole world - bread lovely, sweets tasty and lots of choice, main courses - never anything particularly great - you tend to take a bit of everything and end up with a mish mash.
Tuscany Restaurant :- lovely ambiance, good service, reasonable value, food ok but just ok.
El Fuego:- in the town - run by the marriot - food decent - service decent - great value.
Beach Bar - great kebabs at lunchtime.
Deep Sea World :- the food there is fantastic - the veal piccata is to die for - far superior to Tuscany's.

The Beach:- wonderful - private - no hassles and the sea is clear and warm and the best bit is that only 100 or so yards offshore you can walk out to the coral beds and snorkel around them awesome - and open to everyone.

Overall - you can read 3 books in a week - it's a place for a rest and a place to chill out - only go if that's what you need.

Would we go back?

Yes, for sure.