Hello all!

Nice to see lots of new members heading to the Conrad!

To save you trawling through the forum, I've added links to some of the most useful threads, then if you have any questions relating to any of the topics you can just post in the relevant thread.

Hope you all enjoy your hols, and I look forward to reading your reviews!

Going topless (or not as the case may be!) thread here..........

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=21785

Vaccinations thread here.......

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=24246

Currency thread here.........

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23031

Underwater cameras thread here.........

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23430

Single use underwater camera thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=20474

Preventing tummy upsets thread here........

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23153

Electricity thread here.........

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=21241

Tipping thread here.......

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=14948

Trips thread here......

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=19226

What to wear thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=15197

Special shoes (for in the sea) thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7081

Snorkelling thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=190

Weather forecasts thread here......

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2231

Visas thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=189

Swimming with dolphins thread here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23584

Conrad reviews here.....

click here

Sharm reviews here.....

click here

Hope that helps!

Philippa

And a swimming with dolphins update here.....

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=28406

For me the jury is still out on the assessment of the Conrad. All previous reviews were done on it being HB or B&B
At the time of my holiday there last month all the Italian guests (which accounted for half of all guests) were catered for in there own restaurant and entertained in there oiwn half of the complex. The remaining guests of which only 25 were English were catered for in the international restaurant. This was OK then because there were loads of Russian guests and they have no money, so only board B&B and don't buy any drinks of an evening. The bar only had a capacity for 50 people and bearing in mind the dire entertainment was easily large enough.
Now the hotel is AI (whether for all guests or just English) will put pressure on the evening entertainment side of things. The hotel is currently building rooms for 200 extra guests. They also need to address the restaurant and bar facilities, we shall see how that develops.

Just goes to show that Pippy's not just a pretty face !

Sorry if I am going over the same things, but we are due to go to the Conrad in August, and I was slight concerned about one comment saying that the AI is not actually AI and that you cannot get spirits, do you mean you can only have Beer, Wine or Soft Drinks, and why are the Italians given there own restaurant?

Also has anyone stayed in the Superior Rooms? are they worth the additional cost?

Thanks in advance.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's stayed in, or seen, a superior room as we've booked two for our party of six this summer.

There wasn't much difference in price so we decided that as this is hopefully going to be the holiday of a lifetime we may as well go for the best option!

Pippa...

I think most of us booked the 'superior' room, which seemed to be a few extra goodies like a Kettle and T & C making equipment and robes etc ?? I dont know if you noticed that on the Eclipse site the added an extra 'room type' - King Size Room which was a little dearer again that our Superior room?? On the Hotel WEB there dosnt seem to be a price difference in any of the rooms except Suite's and Exec's !! Ah well, I suppose the 'expectation' is half the fun !! Im sure we will all have a lovely time

Rgs
Gordon

Thanks Gordon

I did ring Eclipse to ask what the difference was between the various room standards, but the person I spoke with seemed typically 'Eclipse style' vague!

Not to worry, as you say, I'm sure we will have a fab holiday

I'm expect you've probably already said when you're going, but can you remind me as I can't recall!

I only ask as I see you live not too far from me so wondered if we'd see you at the airport

We're going July 28th for two weeks

Philippa

Maz, I cannot comment on whether you get spirits on your AI, but I guess you will. I've never not had spirits, bad ones maybe but not none.
Regards the Italians having there own restaurant. I was there last month and wrote in a previous post

The way the accomodation appears to be let is 350 rooms in the Hotel. An Italian operator takes 150 rooms and fills them and operates a full board with it's own restaurant and animation team. I must say they had a fantastic time.
The remaining rooms are reserved say, 25 rooms English (First Choice) 15 German, 40 Russian etc. I have to say there are a lot of Russian guests there.

Now that was how it operated in March, I and all the other guests used an International restaurant, a third the size of the one the Italians used. We didn't really need a big one because a majority of people (especially the Russians) were on B&B.
Unless someone finds out who is included in the AI, I wouldn't speculate as to whether this will stay the same.

Hi Pippa,

I like you I think ? booked up In August last year !!! There are 4 of us Oldies heading out for the first 2 weeks in September - still seems an age away Still, now the sun is beginning to shine here im sure it will fly bye now

Dont want to put the 'mockers' on our hols - but our friends have just come back from Sharm - staying at the Tropicana ?? and said it was the worst run Hotel they had ever stayed in !!!! the only good part about it was they only went for 7 days The AI was a 'mare' - 30 minutes plus to get a drink and the dining facilities were appauling... They had a good tan though Keep smiling...

Rgs
Gordon

hi i have had a letter this morning from first choice saying that there will only be three bars open and that the terrace bar won't be there, is this going to be due to building work or has it never exsisted,were off in august, not realy bothered about how many bars there are ,only hope the AI proves to be ok, slightly worried about the confusion regarding spirits, been AI many times and all drinks have always been included. does anyone know what entertainment there is, at night, mind you we can always make our own entertainment, it sounds as though there will be a few of ther at the beginning of august.

I would be interested to know what the 4 bars are (that is the 3 open and the one not). When I was there we had one bar open next to reception that had the entertainment and the one that the Italians used along with there own animation / entertainment.
Regarding entertainment. Every night there was a guy who sang and played the guitar. There was also a visiting act that came at 9:30. 3 nights a week they had a belly dancer, same act different girl. She was on 30 minutes and needed audience participation and was mediocre. 2 nights a week 4 africans did a soppy dance, the same act repeated, absolutely useless. 1 night a bloke came and span round for 20 minutes with a multi-coloured curtain, pretty but boring.
Forget the entertainment, jump in a cab and go to Naama bay or join the Italians.

caveman first choice say that the three bars are-; the lobby bar, pool bar and beach bar, maybe they are opening more bars insummer?

You may be right. The pool and beach bar were not open in March. But as I have said before, we and to buy our drinks and the one and only bar barely served 20 guests all night.
Did you find out who is included in the All Inclusive, is it English only?

i have heard or read somewhere that only thoes guests with first choice/ eclipse will be on AI, not sure when AI starts i imagine it will be from may onwards from the summer brosures, cant wait for HT members to get out there and pass on all the info, i think thoes that are out earlyie may/june will be bombarded with questions fromus who are going in july/august. do you know if there is an ATM machine in the hotel, we usualy get our money out from them, save taking travelers cheques.

There is an ATM and a bank in the corridor round from reception.

Hi All

Reguarding what drinks are available on AI go to page 7 of this thread i emailed the Conrad a while ago asking this question their reply is posted there.
They did say the Grill and Beauty salon would be closed due to building work but no guests would be disrupted by this so im positive and hopeful we wont not bothered by the closure of these places but on my posting page 7 it tells you the places we can eat AI and the times their open.

Hope this puts minds at rest, i was happy with the reply.
ps Doddy it is May the AI begins but im not sure who its catered for .

Debs

It should be fun to see the wrist band colours for all the board combinations (assuming they use them for ID purposes)
They may have Orange for English AI, Green for Italian FB, Black for German HB and Red for Russian B&B.
Add to that all the coloured bands being sported at the moment for Lance Armstrongs cancer charity, Anti - Bullying, Gay Rights and the rest. The poor staff wont know if they're coming or going.

just saw hotel on the http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk web site. happy viewing i am looking for info on the crowne plaza hotel, el pasha bay sharm - recent letter received from tour operator suggests heavy machinery is in use near hotel for construction of a new hotel complex :cry:!!!!!!!! our holiday starts 14/4 - does anyone have an update re building work around crowne plaza hotel in sharm.