I do agree Pete .I think it is hit and miss a bit depending on how full the hotel is when you go . We were there at Easter this year and the old part was pretty much full to capacity . There are lot's of rooms on the new side and I don't think you would have a problem there any time of year .

I know Ehab is front desk manager but I'm wondering if that is in the new or old part .Anyone know ?

Our orginal booking and upgrade to delux rooms was dealt with by the reservations manager .He was excellent , understood my email and spoke very good English but unfortunately I dont remember his name. when I emailed nearer the time of our arrival (lot's of deliberating over new or old side) I emailed Ehab to request the sea view rooms and yes all appeared to have been sorted but on arrival the delux rooms (as per original ) had been prepared . They still said no problem we can sort you out whatever you are happy with and got toured around in the buggy with sets of keys to various available rooms but it would of been a lot easier and straightforward had things been sorted properly . We knew what we wanted and that was one of the blocks nearer the beach and not the main hotel but none with a decent view were available due to it being Easter . There wasnt any problem with any of the rooms shown but I didnt class them as an upgrade.

finally somebody with more authority took charge and asked us to wait for half an hour while rooms were cleaned and prepared for us in block 1 next to the dive centre shop entrance and just behind the sunset bar . These were just what we wanted and plenty bright and airy . I would certainly prefer the room blocks close to the sea in the old part as oppossed to the main hotel but they are of course on the slope and it can be a bit of a trudge backwards and forwards if mobility isnt good.

Sutty when you email them dont forget to mention that you are a repeat quest as this will also increase your chances of a good upgrade .

There's not much of a reception on the new side. First time we were on that side there was no reception at all, but the last time I was there, there was a single guy at the desk. He wanted to charge me for a late check out. Went over to the other side reception to arrange it and didn't get charged. I admit it's all a lottery about charges..I have never (and would never)pay for anything other than a standard room - but I do get a free upgrade which gives a free late check out, daily top of mini bar and a room on the new side.

When hubby and kids were there in June, I said he would have to pay something to keep the room till 6pm - should have been something like £40 English according to others - but he wasn't charged a penny.

Lyn - Ehab is the Assistant Front Desk Manager (according to my last email) - this would be at the old side. There is another guy called Moustafa who is also very helpful.

advice please, emailed hotel and had reply from guest relations, stating that our booking is allocated garden view on the old side and to forward our HH card number so they have it on the system, she did say that there would be some complimentary extras when we arrive (not sure what they are), as hoping for an upgrade or would be happy with pool view, dont want to be stuck in the middle blocks of the garden view (i still have hotel map from when i went last time), i wasnt too struck on these rooms as thought they were just plonked there and didnt seem to have any view. i have heard that some rooms are/have been renovated can anyone advise this please.

still looking forward to the holiday though.

Hi Sutty - the extras will probably be soft drinks and a couple of cans of beer for your fridge every day, maybe a free late check out. I haven't had more than that so would be interested if you get anything else! If you don't like your room, ask to be shown another one, ask if you can have an upgrade/pool view: they always seem happy to try and get you something you are happy but they may well want paying. I have stayed at the old side and not had a pool or seaview and didn't mind -they wanted to charge £100 extra for a pool view for a week, and it wasn't THAT important to me. Rooms near the Sunset Bar have been renovated I think - in the 200 number range? Lyn may be able to confirm.

Given a choice had you decided what side you wanted to be on sutty .Email them back with your card number for sure . I guess it's a high possibility they will offer you the new side at a cost when you get there .If that is what you prefer hold out for free or a small cost by saying you would like to be on that side but as HH members you ar'nt willing to pay that . See what happens .

If you prefer the Old side I would again reply with your number and attempt to push it with a "thks for your email . here is the number and I would be very grateful if you could do everything in your power to give us a room with a pool or sea view type reply . But remember many of those pool view rooms in the main part of the hotel will have a great view of the building site next door too. Some of those blocks have really good sea views or overlook the small pool and not just the ones at the front . We stayed in one around the middle block area the first time we went . It was ground floor with doors that opened onto a terrace/path . bright , airy and had lovely sea views.
We were in block 2 immediately behind the sunset bar on our last visit . They hadnt been renovated when we were there in april but they were very bright /airy. I think it's very hit and miss and a couple we looked at felt much darker . like Pat says I would look at the room and be prepared to go back and request another if you dont like it. they are very accomodating and you should be able to go straight to the HH checkin desk where no doubt they will go that little bit extra to please you.

You could of course just leave it to fate . Sometimes too much information and choice up front gets me really stressed out for no reason . Again just go back if you dont like it .

lyn

thanks for the replies, i have emailed the hotel with my hh card and am just going to wait and see what i get offered, i dont want to tempt fate and end up with a room that isnt as nice as the one they would initially put us in. when we stayed last time i think our room was 1058 which was in the main building overlooking the big pool in old side, was nice but balcony very small. as the hotel is so nice i dont think it matters really and refuse to pay more when i can just walk across the road and use the facilities in the new side. going again on our own in january so may be cheeky then and ask for new side. will let you know re extras and see if we get anything more. 3 weeks tomorrow, i cant wait.

Yes that is the other side of the coin sutty . Dont worry before you see what you get . Have a lovely time . Hoping to book again for easter but taking a chance and waiting on Easyjet fares this time . Having patience whilst booking a holiday is not one of my strong points.

me neither, always say am going to wait until a few weeks before but never do and always go for package holiday, never tried hsb and flights separate, does it usually work out cheaper

flying from London it always works out cheaper for us if I can get it all sorted early enough . last year we paid £68 per room A./I over Easter booking direct on the hilton website. + flights of £334 each . As there are 5 of us we need 2 rooms & just a small amount of saving per person adds up fast. Total paid was around £2600 but cheapest package to hilton i could get was around £3300 for the easter week.

However I got in with those hotel prices over a year in advance before I believe their systems had recognised it was Easter week . Once it gets to exactly a year ahead the prices change to around £100 per room . I've watched it now for a few years and been successful twice . This year however I think they cottoned on but I can still do it cheaper DIY than a package .

help, going to HSB in just over a week, had a bloody letter today from thomas cook saying building work next door (which i think is the same building work that was going on 2 years ago when we went), but also stating refurbishments taking place a block at a time while we are there and shouldnt cause any problems, does anyone know which blocks are being renovated at the moment or has anyone just come back. i have emailed the hotel for any updates but just wondered if anyone knows

It will be the old side sutty and I'm fairly sure Pat ( meerkat ) mentioned in an earlier post they were starting with blocks closest to the sea. Hopefully hilton will respond and give you more info .

thanks lynn, hotel replied, stating they have renovated two blocks already but no mention of any further ones, but i cannot see that they would just do two and not the rest. you never know i may get my upgrade to the new side after all (he he). just over a week to wait, so not long now, not going to worry too much cause i know what the hotels like, love it and booked for january already. just need the sun to shine and get away from the cold weather in this country..

Just returned from our week visit to HSB, had a fantastic time, even better than our first visit. Decided not to upgrade (not sure what the charge would have been but it seemed to vary depending on who served you at reception), was allocated room 1224 (main building facing the large pool), nice room, quite small but as you only sleep in it, as long as it's clean (which it was) then I dont mind the size of the room, the view made up for it, nice pool/sea view. Yes there is still building work to the left of the hotel but there didnt seem to be anyone working on it. The hotel is being refurbished and we say some workmen on one of the blocks for a few days but nothing to disrupt the holiday.

Weather been late 30's all week, stayed mainly on the old side, did venture to the new side but didn't like the evening entertainment in the Olympic bar (very loud, chavvy and not my cup of tea), went straight back to the old side. The rooms and pools in the new side are very impressive but there is just something about the old side that i like more.

The waiters work so hard and long shifts, they certainly made the holiday, special thanks to Reda, Ali and Ghaly from the Maufouz restaurant.

Whilst there lots of people were complaining and very rude, (english people as well, was quite embarrassing at times), at the end of the day you are on holiday and who cares if you have to wait 5 minutes sat at the pool bar to get a drink just because there is one member of staff trying to serve everyone who is waiting, one chap shouted and had an argument with the pool bar staff because he wasnt served next. Chill out.

Thanks Sutty for your review which members can read here:- http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/egypt/sinai-penninsula-and-red-sea/sharm-el-sheikh/hilton-sharks-bay-resort/

Glad you enjoyed your 2nd visit sutty . Have they got the new sunbeds yet around the old pool and do you know what rooms have been renovated so far.

I have just booked our 4th trip . fights with EJ over Easter and got a great deal direct with HSB after a bit of bartering . the price on hiltons website is very high at the moment and for that you have to prepay but thought I would Email direct and they quoted me about a third less . It still wasnt quite as good as the best price I could get via hotels4u (part of TC) and quidco so I persevered Egypian style .

Top marks to Hazem Hamed (reservations manager) at HSB for his excellent customer service , english and handling of my email correspondance . He matched the price coming down by another 20 USd per night x 2 rooms + I have a little extra to play with as you take the risk with the currency conversation (price is in USD) and I dont need to pay a penny until checkout by the looks of things .
He's also upgraded us to superior poolside rooms on the new side but i have emailed him requesting blocks 1 or 2 on old side instead. More points for my HH card too . I might have enough now for a couple of nights at a hilton somewhere .

lyn

Well done Lyn! My 4th trip in 3 weeks - can't wait. Glad you ejoyed your trip Sutty - we don't tend to visit the Olympic Bar often - bit bright and brash, although I can't say I noticed it being chavvy - maybe it's different in November. Curious about the sunbeds on the old side too.

Most importantly - yes they have the new wooden sunbeds, with thick pads on the old side round the large pool, there are still some of the old yellow ones, but mainly the new beds. I can certainly recommend the new sunbeds and it was worth getting up a little bit earlier to ensure I got one as it made it so much more comfortable to lie on whilst baking in the 35+degree sunshine.

Regarding the renovated rooms, we only saw staff working on the roof of the blocks just below the quiet pool in the middle of the complex (think its block 5&6), no real activity in refurbishing rooms, but when I emailed a few days before we went away the guest relations said that the renovations wouldn't disturb our holiday so whether they have stopped for a while not sure.

Meerkat - the olympic bar was very bright and loud, was expecting similar to chill out bar but nothing like it, as soon as we walked into the bar it was as though we were complete strangers and everyone in the room turned to the door to stare at us, i thought i had grown an extra head or something.

People were complaining about the room standard on the old side but i dont think there is a problem, yeah the furniture isnt brand new but unless you are the first guest in a brand new hotel room, there will always be minor faults with a room, it can't stay perfect for ever.

Sutty- had to laugh at what happened when you walked into the bar will have to see what the reaction is when I go in! You're right -it's nothing like the chillout, and I don't actually like it. We usually just get a drink and sit on the terrace outside.

Glad to hear they have the decent beds now at the main pool - will probably spend some time there. We never have a problem getting beds in November on either side. I remember the first time we went, coming out of breakfast about 9am and there were free beds all round the pool on the old side: you could take your pick!!

Hi guys, just returned and can't say that I would ever go back. It was not up to the standard of hotels I am used to and certainly nowhere near 4 star quality. I was on the new side and can't fault the room, nor any pools or surroundings on either side but the majority of the food was diabolical; lacking in quality, taste, variety and never kept at correct temperature. I witnessed things that were a serious risk to health. These included: pool snacks left uncovered with birds perched on top pecking at bread rolls, staff in the Q bar rinsing the plastic glasses in tap water, chef's replensihing bain maries with food that was half cooked, particularly chicken.
Despite taking every precaution possible such as: washing hands after handling money, staying out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, drinking litres of bottled water, avoiding excessive alcohol or ingestion of tap and pool water, not eating salad or unpeeled fruit etc I ended up very ill. I was on a drip, had multiple injections over 3 days with two courses of antibiotics that lasted until the last day of my 2 week holiday. Many of the other guests, (I would go as far to say as 1 in every 3), were suffering with severe diarrhoea, were bed ridden for days or returned home still feeling unwell. This was definitely not the usual type of stomach trouble associated with climatic and diet change because even some of the entertainment staff were ill and refrained from eating the hotel food. One lady was hospitalised the day before we left the resort and another has just been to her GP on return to the UK and found out she has Salmonella.
I too heard many people complain and they were fully justified in doing so.
Just to make you also aware:
Il Rustico is no longer a buffet and you have to book to eat there.
Several rooms were flooded on the old side due to problems with plumbing.
Sorry this is so negative as I know some of you love the place but thought you should get an up to date piece of knowledge.