Taba, Radisson SAS Resort

There was a mouse in the dining room over a 4 night period, when we went to the rep she said she would sort it out and she never. There was a rat in the pool bar which i find disgusting, the gardener brought out an rat in a cage from a bush that was behind the hildrens play area then proceded to show to passing people and children. The food was repeated day after day. The staff couldn't do enough for us. Also the room was imaculate.

Nice hotel staff were nice and rooms were clean. The food wasnt the best but if you looked you could find at least one thing that you could eat. The sea was really good with tropical fish and snakes in it! Camel rides on the beach were good too. Went with our 2 year old and he loved it. Would go again

The Radisson Sas Taba is absolutely amazing. I got back weds 27th, but didn't want to go home. All the staff are really nice, although you should watch out for sales techniques. The Italian restaurant was amazing, we ate their every night as the other food place was always packed. It has a great atmosphere in the Italian, the manager was absolutely lovely and a great help. I was a vegetarian so he helped me see what I can eat and showed me around. The beach has bars on it so you can keep hydrated whilst sunbathing. The staff come up to you and see if your okay, I think they are called recreation. I also made friends with the animation team when I was there. They were all lovely and I miss everyone lots. The cleaner leaves you animals on your bed, which are a shame to ruin, but you get a new one everyday. I can honestly say I will go again with pleasure, it was worth the long flights and money. x

A great relaxing holiday!!

The weather was heaven, there was a constant breeze from the sea and constant sunshine........On the last two days of our holiday the sea breeze stopped and the temp rocketed to over 40 degree the breeze that did blow felt like a fan on hot setting, so when we do venture back to this part of the world we shall make sure we don't go any later that mid June.

There was plenty of shade by the pool for my son and friend (fair and ginger variety LOL) and the swim up bar was put to use.

We indulged in Aqua Aerobics and Belly Dancing by the pool - We usually avoid the Hotel Entertainment when we go away but Memo, Ahmed and the rest of the Animation Team were really great and if you didn't want to join in they didn't pester you. We watched a fantastic evening show 'Man of Steel' which made you wince cringe and gasp but I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone so enough said. However, the singers in the Coral Bar were awful. It was karaoke at it's worst if you go to see them do it for a laugh like we did!!!! The beach party music was too loud. All distorted and you have to pay for drinks after you have used your vouchers included in ticket price which no one wants to do on an all inclusive package!! The busiest evening entertainment was watching the world cup in the amphitheatre - what an atmosphere.

My son was happy to play in the pool and sit in the shade with his Gameboy and that's what a lot of the other children did, only on one occassion did he try the kids club and there was a grand total of three of them in there doing some clay modelling and drawing. He also spent time with his holiday chums on the adventure frame on the beach which if you pick a good spot by the pool you can still keep an eye on them.

And we agree with the previous review the staff are all very friendly, helpful and polite, especially the staff at the pool bar and the restaurant. There may be some males who are slightly over friendly, but - and this includes my friend who was single at the time we found it was all done in a good humoured way and no offence was meant.

There was a good variety of food every day - limited if like my seven year old you like everything plain with no sauce or seasoning. The lunch buffet by the pool area was ideal for fussy kids every day there would be pizza, chips or hotdogs and burgers and on the occassion when the evening meal in the resturant all had sauces and spices they did prepare a plain dish of chicken and potatoes without a hint of it being a problem. And at no point during the holiday did we suffer 'Taba tummy'.

The trips were expensive and involved a lot of traveling, so we only went on a boat trip which included lunch and snorkling, we had never done this before but really enjoyed and got some great photos.

The rooms were cleaned and checked at least twice a day, the furnishings were a little old and worn but as I said before clean. I was a little disappointed at this that. The 5 star quality was not what I expected.

Overall a relaxing holiday we really enjoyed and would do again.

RADISSON SAS TABA

MAY 19TH - 26TH 2006

THOMSON ALL INCLUSIVE

Having just returned from Taba, I thought I best set the record straight!

Before we went I'd done all the usual - read all the reviews, thought phew when I'd read a good one and lay awake worrying when ever I came across a bad one. I can safely say now there is no need to worry!

The hotel is a total paradise; it's literally an oasis in the desert!

The rooms are large, well equipped with TV, safe, fridge, bath and power shower and clean. In fact the whole hotel is very clean, and there is a constant stream of staff cleaning and tidying.

The rooms are scattered throughout a beautiful setting of lush grass, palms trees and shrubs.

Back in the main hotel there are 3 bars, 2 restaurants and several shops. From the coral bar you can enjoy a sundowner watching the sun set over Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

If you are looking for total R 'n' R then this is the place for you. There is nothing to do all day but lay in the sun and relax, and I do mean nothing. You can't even leave the hotel complex for a walk. You are literally in the middle of nowhere. Taba Heights is just 10 minutes in a cab, but there is nothing much there. The Radisson does have a few shops on site, and a fabulous man who makes sand pictures and will make any design for you, and very cheap too.

There is some entertainment during the day - twice daily water polo and water aerobics, and camel rides on the beach.

We found all the trips very expensive, so we chose not to do them, but those people who did seemed to enjoy them, but the Cairo and Petra ones were very long and tiring.

The staff are all very friendly, helpful and polite, especially the staff at the pool bar and the restaurant. Yes, there may be some males who are slightly over friendly, but if you are married or clearly with someone they will respect that, and we found it was all done in a good humoured way and no offence was meant.

The food in the all-inclusive restaurant is good. There is a wide range of different food is available, with a different theme each night. Getting drinks can be a bit slow, but slip the waiter 50 Egyptian pounds (£5) on your first night and you will find a huge improvement in the service. Our drinks were poured out as we walked in on the second night, and they were kept topped up all night.

We did have a touch of Taba tummy, but I would put this down to the different content of the mineral water more than the food.

The entertainment is rather poor, and it was the same band every night in the coral bar, but we find the evenings best spent after dinner watching a movie under the stars in the amphitheatre.

All in all we had a fabulous holiday, and we would defiantly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for total relaxation and recuperation, but if you do have any issues when you are out there it's reassuring to know the guest relations manager is an extremely helpful English lady. We did find the usual set of people who were determined to pick holes in the place and moan, but I don't think they'd know a good holiday if it came up and bit them! And talking of bites; they spray the resort every night, so there is no need to worry about mossies and bites.

Our top tips:

1 - A little tipping goes a long way.

2 - Take plenty of sun cream - it's very expensive (£10) to buy in the shops.

3 - Put on your goggles/mask before you go in the sea - it is really salty and will really hurt your eyes.

4 - Go for dinner at the start of service not during the second sitting. The quality of the food is so much better.

5 - Get your towel on the sun bed early (before breakfast). The best position is in front of the pool bar; not to the side.

This was the best holiday we have ever had, and one week was not enough. The staff at the Radisson SAS Resort hotel in Taba, Egypt are wonderful, friendly, fun and helpful. The resort was well laid out, and we enjoyed playing tennis and jogging around the jog path. The sea was out of this world for snorkeling. We did a two day trip to Cairo to see the Cairo museum and the pyramids, although this was tiring, we were very well looked after. We will definitely be going back.

We had a fabulous time at the Radisson SAS Resort hotel in Egypt. Initially we were quite put off by some of the reviews, but they are rubbish. None of us were ill. Rooms are cleaned daily, and our suite was lovely. The animation team try their hardest, but it's too hot to get people really motivated. My kids loved them, and joined in pool games etc. The kids made a lot of friends. (Thanks to Abraham etal). Radisson SAS is an experience, multi national and quite beautiful all times of the day and night. I advise you to turn off the air con, eat normally, don't drink too much (advice given on Nile cruiser in 140F last year, and it works. Your body does a back-flips otherwise) and you will be fine. Don't be put off by the drive in to Taba. It's a dump and a building site. This resort could be something else in a couple of years.

The sea is the real star! Go snorkeling and marvel. I would recommend the boat trip to Pharoah Island, as the water is incredible. I also recommend the Egyptian night barby at Mirage bar. They had fab Belly dancers and a Spinning man. Will probably go back to Red Sea but to Sharm, to try it out. But would definitely go back to the Radisson.

One more thing. Do not underestimate the SUN. It will burn through factor 20 as I found out - painfully! Enjoy. I wish I was still there!

The Radisson SAS Resort hotel in Taba is very big, and it has its own jogging track, which will let you know roughly how big it is. The beach is lovely and very close to the hotel complex. The restaurant food is the usual all inclusive food, which is buffet style food kept warm in bain-maries (wasn't too bad, sometimes cold). Although this hotel has a wide variety of live cooking stations which will cook you pasta/spaghetti to your liking, you can also get freshly cooked food, including pizza in one of the restaurants, which was lovely. You have to pay separately for this, but it was worth it.

The staff are very hard working and quite pleasant, and we found that if you tip openly in the early days then you will receive a better service - all tips are pooled and shared out equally with all staff, which is pretty decent, so if you tip them individually you will see them place the money in the tip boxes displayed around the hotel.

The scenery around the hotel is just fantastic.

The sea was very cold at this time of year, so if you are interested in swimming in the sea and viewing all the sea-life, which is plentiful and very beautiful, then I would go later in the year when it is warmer.

We would return to this hotel, as we had a very good time.

If you are just planning on staying in the hotel then you do not have to buy a visa at the airport in Egypt, but you will have to if you plan on leaving the resort and going on any trips. A visa is priced at £13.00 each.

We have just returned from a vacation in the Radisson SAS Resort Taba...and truely cannot sing its praises loud enough!!

The hotel is so well thought out, the staff are absolutely wonderful at all levels. Kind and Courtious, polite and genuinely helpful.

The food....again, catered for every taste....

The beach.....the pools.....just perfect.

We really loved our stay....and intend to return later in the year....for us this says it all as we never go to the same place twice....in respect of the Radisson SAS Taba....we intend to become regular guests. Enjoy!!!! We certainly did.

The Radisson SAS is what you would expect. Little things which make a difference - such as your baggage being taken to and from your room. If you are a wine drinker, take some with you as this is only served with your meals. To buy wine there is very expensive as I said in the bad points, £15 is the cheapest bottle they have. Also if you would like a cup of tea or coffee in your room, take a travel kettle and all the necessaries as these are not provided in the package. Towels are provided for the pool and the beach, which is great as this leaves more space in your suitcase for the wine!