Thanks Pat and Lyn. I think it will be OK, as you say the food will be on a par with the holiday village, although the thing the HV had that was good was that they had three included a la carte restaurants, with waiter service, which meant that you didnt have to eat in the buffet at all. Plus a seafood restaaurant on the beach, where you paid for fish but all drinks, sides and desserts were free. This was a huge bonus to us.

I'm not expecting 5* luxury as I dont think the staff in sharm are trained very well which is understandable, dont suppose there are many catering colleges in Cairo lol, just dont want to get sick as I know how extremely ill you were at the Sonesta Lyn and I think it would have put me off going back to any hotel there.

Sutty is going there soon and had kindly said they will leave an up to date review so thats good.

Lyn's right Doe -not high class cuisine, but certanly edible! You have an Asian restaurant on site which is not part of the AI, but which I have heard good reports about, an Egyptian and Italian in addition to 2 buffet restaurants.

I did have a wobbly before our visit in November as the reports coming back in October were not good, and friends of mine were both ill there in October, which was so disappointing as I had recommended it to them. I do believe that the management took the negative reviews on board and made changes. Since you are familiar with Sharm, I'm sure you will have realistic expectations, but I do maintain it is 4 star.

Chris I know a bit about what you like & I would say the lack of a la cartes would of been the one thing about HSB you may not have liked . But there are 2 now so things are looking up and I know you wont mind spending a little outside of resort for a change too.

Have been to HSB twice, but not for a few years (although have checked the paperwork, and surprised to find out 2006 was the most recent!).

I can't for the life of me remember what kind of dishes were served in the buffets. I remember that it was good quality, as I don't remember having any complaints, but can't remember what was served. I know pork is not on the menu at all.

Any recent visitors who could fill in the gaps, your information would be much appreciated.

One other thing, what toiletries do you get in the room, and are they replenished?

Likewise, tea, coffee, milk, are these filled up each day? Do you get sachets of powdered milk? Are they small cups in the room, or mugs?

Now let me try to remember . Nice toiletries . Crabtree & evelyn that are replenished.

Fairly sure there is tee/coffee making facilities in your room . It would be sachets & powdered milk.sorry not sure if it's cup or mug but i'm swaying toward cup & saucer.

The food is fairly good for Egyptian standards (at least it was the last time we went ) .Not the most exciting and often a bit bland but a good selection and no reason to go hungry.

mostly chicken /beef and lots done in a sauce but a live cooking station for plain cuts

Thanks Lynn
I may be back to ask further questions later.

Just been checking the current prices and you can get a room over Easter for £500 with some of the bedbookers at the moment . Hotels4u.co.uk (part of TC) being one of them . For £250 per person for 7 nights A/I over peak time that's got to be good.

I can find prices cheaper than that but they arn't showing as A/I which would be taking a bit of a chance .

Such a shame the flight prices are still so high as the Egyptians seem to doing their best to offer some good deals .

I've posted this on the Egyptian banter thread but I really wanted to give HSB a thumbs up on this topic for the quick and efficent service i just received.

I'd booked direct with them a fair time ago and managed to barter the price down with Hazem the reservations manager to what the cheapest I could get it for via hotels4u . In light of the way things are out there and bookings down thought I would check the current pricing .

hilton are now advertising a rate of 25usd per night per room less than I paid when booking so I sent an email last night asking them if they would match or I would cancel and rebook if possible .

Hat's off to Hazem (hope I can give his name) I have just had a reply to say they are decreasing my rate in line with their current spring offer and that no expense will be spared in ensuring our return will be an enjoyable one .

Pat , I wonder if details were put on my booking that I had been in contact about the worrying reviews last year .

Result well done

Probaby Lyn - you will be known there! I was told to contact the hotel direct for my next booking as they would give me a good price, but given the price of flights from Scotland in November it was cheaper to book a package. However, I have only booked the standard room as Thomas Cook were asking silly prices for the new side. I will get a free upgrade when I get there anyway so no point in paying more at this end. I'll be interested to hear about the refurbished rooms near the sunset bar if you get one of them Lyn - it might tempt us to stay over on the beach side. Well done on your good deal - don't ask, don't get!!

Oh my goodness I shall die from embarrassment if I've drawn attention to myself. I'm all mouth from the safety of a keyboard


I've asked for those rooms Pat and had an email reply to say details of my request have been forwarded to Ehab . Probably a bit harder to get two rooms in the same spot but I'm not fussed as long as we get 1 .

I'm going to email him over the coming days to make sure he read it. Do you know if his email is the same as it's always been

Yes, I think it is Lyn - it was last November when I was last asking him for a free upgrade

I'm sure I found an interactive map on the Hilton website a couple of months ago, but can't find it now.

Does anyone have a link to it, or a scanned copy of the hotel map?

I'm sure I found one too somewhere mober but can I find it now

I have a vague recollection of seeing something on the hilton worldwide resorts web page rather than the standard hilton one but that website is down at the moment . Will keep looking .

Thanks

Maybe that was where I saw it then.

Hi, first timers thinking of booking this hotel for the end of June I have a price of £492 for a deluxe twin room A/I for 11 nights, is this a good price or would I be better booking direct with the hotel? also does anybody have the email address?

I'm assuming that includes flight Bluemoon and is per person . . It sounds quite good to me but then we are used to paying peak time school holiday prices.

I would have a quick check with travel republic and easyjet to see what the going flight prices are and then check here for accomodation prices http://www.hotelscombined.com/SearchedHotel.aspx?fileName=Hilton_Sharks_Bay_Resort_Sharm_el_Sheikh&checkin=2011-06-19&checkout=2011-06-30&Adults=2&Rooms=1&languageCode=EN&currencyCode=GBP&returnPath=%2fSearchResults.aspx%3ffileName%3dSharm_el_Sheikh%26checkin%3d2011-06-19%26checkout%3d2011-06-30%26currencyCode%3dGBP%26languageCode%3dEN%26Adults%3d2%26Rooms%3d1%26HotelID%3d1202116

Cheapest on there is hotels4U (part of TC) at £492 for 11 nights . That is per room so is for the 2 of you . If you click on expand it will give you many other options

If that is cheaper than the package price I would then email Hazem.Hamed@hilton.com (reservations manager) at the hilton . Let him know the price available via the cheapest bed booker and he should match it for you . It may take a couple of emails back and forth but you should then get a fully flexible booking that can be cancelled up to 48 prior to departure and nothing to pay until check out.

Lyn - as you usually go peak weeks, which airport do you find is the cheapet for flights?