luvly jubbly,

Will you be popping up to marmite mansions during your stay ?

Hello all! Back in the grey, cold and gloom after a fortnight in paradise...

Well, to put aside all fears, the hotel is still wonderful and a brilliant time was had by Mrs Kosh and I...

To echo some comments, I think the food has actually improved on previous visits... And the plastic place mats make no difference at all at breakfast, except to make the hard-working waiters jobs a little easier to clear and re-lay...

Although the beach did seem a little more crowded than normal (the hotel had a 95% occupancy according to Russel), we managed to get a sun bed on the beach whenever we wanted one. May not have been in our favorite spot, but got one none the less. If there were none obvious, the towel guys were happy to find one on asking...

The staff are all still wonderful, both old staff who know us well and new staff who we haven't seen before. Definitely the stars and characters that make the place so special...

I also saw Tommy twice out there, which is the first time in four visits. Once was in the grass beds outside the red villa, once on the big reef out to the left past the new, part-built hotel. It was a wonderful experience... Pity I didn't have my camera either time
We also did the Longwood trip to Elait to the Oceanarium and Dolphin Reef. A wonderful day out, especially snorkeling with the dolphins... Just amazing... The border crossing was no where near as traumatic as I thought after some horror stories...

Now, onto the slight downer points...

First and foremost is the Russian guests I am afraid to say... There were lots of them, and the number grew in the second week to about 50% of the guests...

They were pretty much all rude, loud, obnoxious and put a downer on the holiday for lots of English and other European guests... They let doors close in your face when any normal person would have held them, spoiled the entertainment by insisting on dancing with the performers when not in an "audience participation" part, some were literally drinking from morning until night, with one swigging from a beer bottle in the restaurant at breakfast...

Another thing was that the beech appeared slightly dirtier than usual. This was mainly cigarette ends, and I'm afraid to say it appeared to be mainly Russian guests who didn't either get an ashtray from the bar, or take their butts to the bins provided. Towards the end of our stay, they were putting more bins on th beach, so others must have said this...

The other point again comes down to the Russians, and was their complete disregard for the environment, one of the Red Sea's most greatest assets and tourist draws... They were constantly feeding the fish off the peer despite the notices forbidding this, they were walking on corals in shallow water, and were seen breaking corals of the reef to look at them then dropping them in the sand... Pure environment vandalism...

This was no more apparent than on the day trip we took with the Watersports Center down to the national park... This was an amazing trip, but unfortunately Waleed (not sure on the spelling) had to herd not only us five English people, but 11 Russians as well...

They were running about all over the shot, ignoring instructions and treading on the reefs in shallow water... Most also couldn't swim very well, meaning they were in the water five minutes before getting out and hanging around on the beach, making those of us out on the reef conscious not to be out too long...

One ignored Waleed's instructions and ended up out beyond the designated area in strong currents and had to be retrieved by our long suffering guide... I think 16 people was a bit much for one person to keep tabs on and organized, but it would have been much easier if people did what they were asked...

Overall a great holiday, but with a dark cloud cast on paradise by the Russian guests...

PS - Planned to make a trip to Marmite Towers, but sloth got the better of us and we never made it. When I hoped off the bus on the way to the airport to give Swiss his Marmite, he did look most surprised

Always seem to hear about the Ruskies this time of year.
Emperor staff even told me they were thinking of getting a Russian speaking instructor for the winter.

Ah well, maybe give it a miss this half term after all...

PS - It's a good idea to encourage those pesky reds to pick the very pretty, orange coloured fan-shaped corals. Ou-ouuch

or introduce to the new sport of stonefish treading,....
Bless `em they obviously dont get out much

2 more sleeps and wahoooooooooo

Yes Uncle Rog you did read correctly
only my sleeps are 23 and a bit hours a day

Have a great time Mr. Lion. At least you can get away from those ruskies by popping up to Marmite Mansions. has probably got a watching post on top of "The Tree" from which he can spot Russians approaching his hotel very early!

*Edit sorry links to there disallowed Briar

thank you Mr rogycarrotmate.

Guess what folks, I cant sleep lololol

Anyway his nabobness would be able to see them board their plane in russia from the top of that thing, hehehehe

all packed, waiting for the cab now, 2hrs 15mins to go.

just time for a quick,...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Yes Kosh... very big and pleasant surprise and great to at last put a face to the Kosh name !

Many thanks !!

Hope Mr Lion is having a great time - will be there soon myself.

In the meantime a question for all you habitual Hilton guests. The first time we stayed at the Coral I applied for a Hilton Honours card and last year we had all sorts of little extras that were greatly appreciated. They have written to me however, to say it has expired because of insufficient use. Am I supposed to say I am a cardholder when booking a holiday through Longwoods/travel agent or can it only be used when booking with the Hilton chain direct? How does everyone else hang on to their gold cards? I turned down the upgrade last year because we preferred two room to one bungalow, but the tea and coffe, bath robes and extra fruit were nice to have.
Thanks everyone.

Well, Kathy, I haven't used mine for over a year now and they certainly haven't told me that it has expired! Mind you, thinking about it, I have got quite a few points on my card, have you actually got any on yours?
You can't glean any advantage when booking through anyone other than Hilton Hotels direct so it's pointless mentioning it with Longwoods. If, however, you book flight only through Longwood, or any other carrier, then book your accommodation direct with Hilton Hotels, then you will get points on your account.
When I first got my card, I spent quite a lot of money on extras at The Coral and they told me that I would get points for it. However, Hilton Honours head office disagreed and my account was not credited. I went "ape" at the Service Manager and received the points straight away.
You didn't mention the free newspaper in english, have they stopped doing that then?

Thanks Carrot - yes we got the free newspaper which was actually quite interesting and a papyrus that was less so! I'm sure I can probably ask for tea and coffee making stuff and pay for it if necessary . Had a Typhoid booster today so need the holiday now to make up for that.

Kathy, how many times have you been to the Coral now? As far as I'm aware, and it has happened every time for me, returning guests are offered an upgrade, whether they have an Honours card or not. Therefore, even if you have booked a standard room, you should be offered an upgrade to a superior room, which will give you the tea making facilities. Admittedly, management has changed since my last visit but I would imagine things are still the same, although there are some who would argue with my opinion. If its not offered, ask for it, its not exactly their busiest time of the year!
Hope your typhoid injection is not giving you too much discomfort?

P.S. ALL suites at Swisscare have tea making facilities and two televisions and two aircon units and two telephones and a free safety deposit box! Oh, and I nearly forgot, there is The Magic Tree!

This will be our fourth visit so probably worth asking for an upgrade when we get there.
We have had the guided tour of the Swisscare and the rooms are lovely. Youngest daughter extremely impressed by the telephones - if I remember correctly they look like the old bakelite ones. I am sure if I look back through all the threads I would find out, but at the risk of being shouted at by everyone, what exactly is the Magic Tree?

The arm is feeling a little stiff - not sure whether going for a swim afterwards was a good idea or not.

Boy... is the Magic Tree mad at you !

Even the Lion and Mrs Lion have come and been to pay homage to the Magic Tree. And was rewarded by almost bumping into Tommy the Turtle right at the beginning of their very first snorkel.

We've never been offered an upgrade, but always request rooms on the top floor of block three before we arrive... I did inquire about a bungalow upgrade and was offered a very competative price, so I'm not sure if that's as we would have had a superior room for free or not...

The people in the superior rooms all got English newspapers the other week...

As for quiet time of year, the hotel was heaving... The week before we got there they turfed Russle out of his room so they could put a guest in it... And it was pretty busy when we were there... It seems so long ago

Oh dear - I hang my head in abject shame and will grovel in front of the Magic Tree if required, but you will have to point me in the right direction because I still don't know what it is ....I am hoping to see Tommy though so perhaps better come bearing gifts as well.

Thanks Kosh - last year when I waved the magic piece of gold plastic I was offered a free upgrade to a bungalow, but since it was only one bungalow because they sleep four, as opposed to the two rooms we had booked, I declined. Sharing a bathroom with my daughter is not even to be considered. Like you we prefer building three - close to the sea and away from the noise and such a view from the upper floors. One year we were in Building one and they decided to replace all the palm trees outside the shops - work started very early in the morning and was very noisy! Hope it less busy by the time we go, but it does seem to be a popular time with the Russians, but I am sure we will have a great time whatever.

Right all, I have some photos up from our holiday at The Hilton. They are at: http://www.nuweiba.ruthandtim.me.uk/

They're various shots from the hotel, snorkeling off the beach, the "Eilat Fun Day" trip, and the Venus Water Sports trips to the National Park and the half day snorkeling trip...

Kathy, if you look at the avatar beside Swiss' post above, you will see "The Magic Tree". Not bad from an acorn, eh?

Kosh, some great photographs among the selection, very interesting, thanks!

Great pix, brought back some fond memories.

What equipment are you using for the underwater shots?

Cheers