Sharm El Sheikh Sea Club

what a lovely hotel food was the best ever ,,have been to sharm 7 times before and Sea Club is the best ever.. going back in september

We had a marvellous time at the Sea Club in Sharm El Sheikh, and would definitely recommend the Sea Club to our friends. An upgrade to a sea view room is well worth it, because sunrise and sunset over Aqaba Bay is spectacular.

After the bomb went off in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Summer 2005), we have to say that we were a little apprehensive about our planned holiday, but we needn't have worried. Security was present just about everywhere and we felt very safe.

It didn't affect our holiday in the slightest, we had an awesome time, and our hotel was lovely.

So what can I tell you about the Sea Club? Well it's about 20kms away from the centre of Sharm in an area called Nabq Bay. It's a huge complex with just about everything you could want for a relaxing holiday. It also has a sister hotel called "Sea Life", and all guests of both hotels can use all the facilities at either hotel.

All Inclusive:

When we arrived, we initially found the all inclusive system confusing; not being sure what was included and what was extra. Basically all your food in the restaurants, snacks in the bars and all your local drinks, and mineral water are free up until 11pm. After that you pay. Other things you pay for are ice-creams and international drinks.

When you order anything you'll be asked to sign for it, but don't worry - your ticket should say "Do Not Pay" across the front, unless it's outside the free hours or it's not included.

Food:

Well the food's basic, but good. The food in the main restaurant is buffet style - all you can eat and it has different themes every night, although there wasn't a massive difference, except on the Egyptian food night.

For breakfast there is a 'show cooking' area where they cook crepes, omelettes and eggs. The breakfast menu is usually a choice of different cereals, sausages, rosti-style potatoes, fruit, cold meats and continental breads and croissants etc.

For lunch or evening dinner the things you can expect are soup or salad for starters chicken, fish, red meat (some of it freshly prepared at the 'show cooking' area), pasta (freshly prepared at a 'pasta bar'), vegetables, potato, rice.

There is also another main restaurant called 'Il Pescatore' for a 5 Euros supplement you can eat here in the evening, very relaxing and romantic and a nice change from the main bar. During the day they serve pizza and a mini version of the main buffet.

There are several other little eateries, a fondue place and Egyptian place, but I have a wheat intolerance and so we didn't eat there. The bars also serve snacks, including home-made burgers and hot-dogs at the beach-bar.

Drink:

The wine is ok, but not brilliant, the beer is a local 'Stella' and it's ok. They also have local versions of the usual spirits. The soft drinks they serve are mineral water 7up, Coke and like Fanta, but usually there are no diet versions. The website lists a 'Vitamin Bar' - it exists but it was never open.

Entertainment:

There's nightly entertainment outside and/or in - try it, some of it's good, some of it's 'a bit Butlins', but they try hard to cater for all the nationalities there: Russian, Italian, German, British.

Pool:

The pool is huge and has a separate children's pool, the pool was always well kept. There is no life-guard on duty though so if you're lucky enough to have children or have non-swimmers then you need to watch them yourself. There's annoying pool-events, during the day by the pool and lots of Russians in tight thongs (both male and female!), but you get used to it, and after a couple of days they make good entertainment!!!

Sight-seeing:

Egyptians are used to tourists and in gift-shops they will convert it to whatever you have - they take most currencies, but I agree with advice I read about having small notes - they have denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Egyptian pounds (abbreviated as 'LE'), there are also smaller 'coins' in note-form we only saw a 50 (2 of these = 1LE). Try to keep hold of the 5's and 1's and make sure that you're not given the small denomination 50's when you should have been given 50LE

A lot of things you buy in Egypt you will have to haggle for - including in pharmacies!! The general rule is ask them how much it is and try to get it about a half to a third cheaper than that.

When doing the most touristy places DO NOT SPEAK to the peddlers - a lot are not really interested in selling you something, but more eager to find out where your wallet/money is. They use every trick in the book to sell you something. If they ask you a question do not even acknowledge them, once you say 'no thanks' they will know your nationality and will not leave you alone ("Asda Price", "Luvly Jubly" etc etc!). Whatever they are selling you can buy just about ANYWHERE in Egypt.

During the sweltering Egyptian summer mineral water, a hat and a very high factor sunscreen are totally essential. Wear sunglasses and natural materials in light colours - cotton, linen - no man-made materials - you'll melt! The sun's at its strongest between 11am to 4pm - stay in the shade and cover up whenever you can during this time to avoid dehydration and sunstroke.

If you're planning on going in any of the temples or mosques in Egypt, ladies especially, will need to observe modesty - no tight clothes, no exposed shoulders or knees, no cleavage!!! If they deem that you are dressed inappropriately you'll be asked to wear a modesty garment - they are not great! If I go again I would rather dress according to their code than wear the garment - it doesn't look good in the photo's!!!

If you're staying in Sharm then I highly recommend the trip to Cairo or Luxor - go by plane, it's a long day - early start and late finish, but you'll never see anything quite like it anywhere else.

The boat trips are good, but in my opinion don't waste your money on a try-dive. We did a try-dive on the Great Barrier Reef which was awesome, in comparison the try-dive with Camel Dive was short, very shallow and the pre-dive instruction was appalling. Plus the places they take you are awesome for snorkelling - you'll see just as much as you would on a try-dive at your own leisure and save a packet. If you're totally fixed on having a try-dive then make sure they tell you how to clear your mask and take your own rash-vest (you can buy them cheaply over here). Take Dollars or Egyptian money for your basic buffet lunch as sometimes it's not included in the price of the day and the boat owners don't accept any cards.

While I'm talking about snorkelling and saving money I need to mention that if your hotel has its own jetty for snorkelling then you should get your own neoprene shoes and snorkel and mask before you leave - they sell them everywhere, but they're very overpriced. They might take up room in your case, but it's worth it! Go snorkelling in the morning or late afternoon or when the wind is low, the tides and waves are less rough.

Overall we had an amazing holiday in Sharm - the weather was guaranteed perfect, with no risk of tornadoes or hurricanes, the security was strict (plus they're currently building more security) and the staff friendly. The Sea Club was a beautiful hotel and our sea-view was well worth the upgrade. We'd definitely recommend it!!

If you're going then have a great time!!

Sharm El Sheikh Sea Club - This was our first stay in Sharm, so we can't compare this hotel to any other in the area. This is more of a complex than a hotel. There is the main building hosting the reception, dining room, bar, shops, disco, bank, & doctor. The rest of the complex consists of accomodation blocks, a very large pool, entertainment area and a few bars.

First impression on entering the main hotel was excellent, very spacious and clean, with a lovely staircase down to the dining area. There was a small wait for the cases and thought this was the usual Egyptian trick of gaining extra tips, but the walk down to our accomodation block was worth the £1 we gave the bellboy. The complex is very big and it was about a 400 yrd walk to our accomodation.

Again, first inpressions were excellent - nice, spacious, clean room with a very efficient air con and a lovely sea view (we had a VIP package).

There was a themed night in the dining room every night but this mainly consisted of the waiters wearing a different uniform as the food was nearly identical every night - salad bar, meat and fish dish, veg, pasta, assorted sweets, bread & soup. Every other night there were various kebabs (cooked outside in front of you).

On International night there was an Egytian, Italian & German flag but no British flag !

Evening entertainment was geared for the Italians so we spent our time at the bars (a bit on the small side for the number of guests - but not a great problem getting served). Probably about 80% of the guests are Italian.

If you love snorkelling you will love the location - there is a small sandy/rock beach, then about 100 yrds shallow bathing (be careful of the wildlife) following by a 75 meter drop off where there is a reef teeming with all sorts of wonderful fish.

So, all in all a great location, good food, good rooms & friendly staff.

A warning if you arrive on Sunday and have a sea-facing room - there is a very loud disco right outside at the beach bar, luckily this only happens once a week.

One more point, I did pick up a very nasty bug whilst there (2 days home and I am still suffering) and I know of a few more couples who also suffered. The hotel doctor put this down to the climate change and absolutely nothing to do with the hotel food!