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“Feel let down and drained from illness”

written by mark654699 on 02/08/2013

This was our first family holiday abroad. Consisting of my wife and three daughters aged 11,15,and 17.
On arrival at airport, passport control and customs were OK. The coach trip to the hotel was well organised. At the hotel it took ages to check in and get to our rooms. Groups of guests were herded around different blocks, and dropped off at rooms one set at a time until we were last to be introduced to our rooms and quite exhausted.
Our rooms were pretty good, with sea views, our daughters room was nearby and a balcony opened onto a pool area.
From the first moment we arrived it was stressed that we must not drink tap water. Bottled water was freely available at the bar near reception.
If you want to get a lounger near a pool or with a sea view, then reserve it early. I was in two minds about doing this, but I checked with the pool attendant and he said it was fine.
The pool outside block one by our rooms was really looked after and the bar attendant was excellent.
The buffet food in the main restaurants was variable in quality. I was struck down with severe diarrhea for two days and was knackered.My wife and daughters were also ill and as I write this over a week after our return, we still are not 100%.
Every morning in the La Veranda buffet there would be some item that was in short supply, either tea spoons, glasses, cold drinks or mugs for tea or coffee.
Having to book the "A la Carte" restaurants was a pain but better than eating in the buffet. The "A la Carte" restaurants are so average. Service can be awful. Food is average. The waiters were a bit leery concerning my older daughters and seemed to delight in tormenting the youngest one who is quite shy.
We were never offered coffee after a meal and on one occassion we had to stop eating our starter because our main course was forced on us.
The house red wine was always served cold, I have never drunk so little on an all inclusive holiday.
We struggled to get a table that would seat five, and often found ourselves on the periphery of an area.
There is lot of smoking in restaurants, by pools and everywhere really, not very nice!
Entertainment was very average, working mens club type stuff.
Our Monarch flight was grounded as we sat ready for take off on the runway. We were put up in the Ghazala Gardens hotel for 36 hours by Red Sea Holidays. This hotel was much nicer than the Sharm Plaza and Red Sea Holidays really are to be praised for arranging this accomodation for us. Monarchs communication was rubbish.
Overall, we felt let down and my wife says that she will never go to Egypt again. The kids agree.
Nowhere near 4*. Maybe 2 1/2* or three on a good day. I have been in 3* hotels that would put this place to shame.