I've just dug out some of my photos from the Conrad gallery in the HT photo gallery.

THIS photo just about shows rooms 3131 and 3132! Look up to the second floor balcony, the rooms are the last two on the left. The steps to the beach are just to the left of the bush. Being second floor makes for even better views!

THIS is the large balcony outside the rooms (nobody walks past on the balcony as it doesn't lead anywhere!).

VIEW from room.

Several photos of the views from the rooms HERE and a couple on the following page.

Pippy

I can visualise where it is now Ive seen the pics! Very nice too! I've just got back from Majorca, and now I'm just so desperate to go back on holiday!!, only 10 weeks or so til the Conrad!!

Pippy,Ive enjoyed looking at your photos again and the area outside your room looks identical to the room we were in above the restaurant where the Italians ate,(2386).What difference is there in the premium rooms compared to the standard rooms?.

I think the only difference is the premium rooms have a kettle, cups and saucers and bath robes are provided. That and the location. I don't know if they're bigger than standard rooms??

I wouldn't pay extra for the kettle and robes but I definitely think it's worth it if you're allocated rooms with as good a view as the ones we had!

The premium rooms may have more facilities now, not sure. Those I've mentioned above applied in 2005

We requested a pool view which we had on arrival but the trees outside our room were so dense we couldnt see the pool!.I asked to be moved and they moved us up a level above the where the Italians ate.We had a lovely pool and sea view and had an open balcony leading to a terrace that no one used as it led nowhere.The room was quite large and I would love to return this winter.

The large terraces are great, they make the room and balcony (already large) seem huge! We were the only guests who used our terrace, I don't think we saw anyone else on it during our stay.

Question for anyone recently returned

When we stayed at the Conrad in 2005 there were enormous ants on the balcony and walls I don't know if they bite but they freaked me out when I found them in my room!

We had rooms overlooking the beach and will be staying in the same rooms this year (going on Monday). Does anyone know if there are still big ants at the hotel? I'm going to bring some ant-killing powder just in case.
Also taking fly spray and mozzie plugs as I understand mozzies are rife there at the moment.

Pippy

I'm so jealous....not of the ants!! But I wish I was going monday!!....only 8 weeks though! Didn't see ants when we were there....well only a few little ones on the terrace from our room, and I have never seen/been bitten by a mozzie in egypt either!....seems like I get all the good luck! Have a lovely time!....let me know what the new bit is like!

let me know what the new bit is like!

Will do

I wasn't bitten in 2005 but my mum and daughter were, just once. I was speaking to Altoman in chat the other day (they've just returned from the Conrad) and he said there were alot of mozzies there this time.

loads of them but the plug in did the trick.
there were a lot of ants around as well but they were less of a problem.
Best of luck on Monday.

Thank you! I'm going armed with a mozzie plug, fly spray and ant killer, all packed!

Enjoying our stay at the Conrad!

As promised we've been given rooms 3131 and 3132. Hotel is very busy but this hasn't been a problem so far. Have had our sunbeds on the beach reserved for us by the towel guys each morning!

Watched the sun rising early from the end of the jetty early this morning, stunning.

Bubblegirl, the new part is up and running, all rooms look to be occupied and the pool in use.

Food is fine, not a huge amount to choose from but I think this is pretty much to be expected on AI. Water and other drinks in plentiful supply and we've found the waiters (indeed all the hotel staff) to be very friendly.

This is my second visit and my Mum's third and we'd both definitely stay here again.

Pippy

Now I'm really jealous Pippy!!! Have a fabulous time!

Thanks, we are indeed having a fabulous time, again!

Shortly after posting last night I was speaking to a man who's staying in one of the jacuzzi rooms, he said the rooms are very nice. The jacuzzis aren't as big as you'd imagine but nice all the same
Pool for the new part looks good too.

Pippy

Another thing! There are most definitely mozzies about in abundance. Three of our party of four have been bitten..........I haven't! I think it may be because someone (Mother!) left the patio door open and invited the mozzies in for a drink and a bite to eat

I've taken Altoman's advice and have sprayed my room with fly spray (took some with me) each time I leave it and turned the aircon off to ensure any mozzies which may have slipped in will soon expire!

Big ants still on the balconies. We took ant powder and haven't seen any ants in either of the rooms.

Pippy

I've noticed work is being carried out in some of the rooms, looks as though they're being renovated which is good because although the rooms are very nice and spacious (our rooms 3131 and 3132 are anyway) they are definitely in need of a tidy-up, particularly the bathrooms.

I haven't heard any noise from the works being carried out other than when walking past so please don't anyone be alarmed!

We've just had a delicious meal in the restaurant, I think the food has improved since my last visit in 2005. I've had the fruit salad at several meal times, it's really nice! The restaurant manager is a very competent man.

When we last visited in 2005 the restaurant staff did at times try and limit how many bottles of water you were allowed to take from the restaurant. I thought this was a bad thing considering we'd paid to be All- Inclusive. We all know you should drink at least three litres of water per day in the hot Egyptian climate.

I'm pleased to say this no longer appears to be happening, we've been given as many bottles of water as we ask for each time. Quite right too!

Pippy

Sorry, keep thinking of more to post!

The choice of snacks around the pool seems to be far wider than in 2005. you can now have barbecued food for example, this wasn't available during my last visit. There was only one bar/food area then, now there are three.

I personally prefer to spend all my time on the beach but it's good they've improved the pool area catering.

Alcoholic drinks have also improved since my last visit. I don't drink much but what I've tasted so far is a vast improvement on the petrol-tasting alcohol from 2005!

Pippy

Just to expand on my post regarding the refurb of the rooms. Apparently they're being refurbished ten rooms at a time, presumably until all rooms have been done.

First Choice Reps...

When we stayed at the Conrad in 2005 we were less than impressed with the rep at the time.
We arrived a few days after the Sharm bombings and tensions were understandably high. we spoke to several people who were here when the attacks took place and they told us the rep was conspicuos by her absence.........not a great first impression for us and this was before we'd even met her

We attended the welcome meeting the following day. 'Welcome'! Ha ha! A more sullen, rude, ignorant (of the local area) person would've been hard to find! Her general demeanor was enough to turn milk sour.

What really put me off her though was her refusal to acknowledge the well-known, highly-publicised problems at Dolphinella. At that time First Choice were still selling trips to this awful place (I'm glad to say they no longer are). When I asked her why FC were supporting Dolphinella she said "Why not?"
When I explained my reason for asking she basically tried to tell me I didn't know what I was talking about and that as she was the rep she'd know if there was a problem there! She would not admit knowing several high profile conservation groups were trying to encourage tour ops to boycott Dolphinella...........needless to say I didn't believe her ignorance on the subject was genuine.

Anyway, due to the bad experience rep-wise in 2005 we weren't expecting the reps to be any better this time.

How wrong we were!

Jay and Shaz are terrific reps, they totally have the right personality for the (no doubt often thankless) job! They're very friendly, always have a smile for the guests they're looking after, have plenty of local knowledge and they appear to gel really well as a team.
It was nice to have Jay on the coach for the transfer, in 2005 we just had a local rep, nothing wrong with that but I think it's more appropriate to have a Brit

I highly recommend attending the quiz night Jay and Shaz compere, it's very funny....even if Jay does cheat during the 'Challenge Jay' quiz!

Thanks to you both, you've managed to completely alter my perception of the FC reps at the Conrad! I hope your immediate boss reads this.

Pippy

Hi, noticed that there is a floating walk way for you to use to get to the sea, at the end where you have to get in and out how do you actually get in and out Are there ladders or do you jump in?

my mum is a bit worried that she wont be able to pull herself out of the water on to the steps,she is also worried that it might tip up.

Are the steps/ladders (if there are any) fixed or are they floating as she cant see how there can be steps that wont tip up when trying to get out of the sea.

Sorry it is really hard to explain what i'm trying to ask hope any one can help, she is worried, she thinks she is too heavy for them and they will go under.

Many Thanks