looking forward to reading your review derwentrocker....we hope to go back next november.

Hi Michelle

I am glad you enjoyed your stay in SBR this time as I know you love the hotel and you were a bit disappointed with your last visit.

Take care
Graham

My trip report - sonesta beach resort in sharm el sheikh.
24th November - 1st December 2008.

Sometimes i do not always do a report as mostly the hotel hasnt changed, or i feel that i go on about my baby so much that i bore you all senseless so needless to say i am going to bore you again
We had a very good flight from east midlands, everything was on time and baggage not over weight this time. I do not normally sit in ecomony if i can help it being so tall, but had no choice because this holiday was only booked 5 weeks ago and apart from buying exit seats coming back, i had to rough it with the cattle as no exit seats left. Journey was good and watched mamma mia for the 4th time, still fab though.

When we arrived at the airport in sharm, we didnt require visas, so had our passports stamped sinai only. Others that require visas had their plane tickets of the journey taken off them and returned when they got on the coach to enter the resort. When we went in june i had to pay for visa stamps in british sterling, not dollars. This time it had a board up saying dollars only! My theory is, they look what is worth more to them and decide day to day.

Eventually arrived along the peace road to the Sonesta beach resort and casino in sharm, not as written on trip advisor as sonesta beach in Taba. Are they thick? Surely they know Taba is a different place, HT is so much more clued up

Anyway the Manager met us and welcomed us back, we got the porter to bring the luggage, he knew we knew where to go to our room as we have the same room number all the time 1105. When we arrived they instructed the TV man to tune out tv into english ones, we never asked him to, buy hey a nice touch. We also had slippers and matching dressing gowns hung up behind the door in the bathroom. We chucked everything in the wardrobe, out of sight out of mind and went to dinner. On my last report i was upset the food was rubbish, i lived on pasta for 2 weeks. But i wrote a contructive letter via the thomson rep to the manager explaining that the food wasnt good enough. Well for those of you going and never been well there has been a massive improvement, we now have a british night, and no its not fish and chips etc but nice veg, chicken, beef roasts, yorkshires etc, stews etc, really nice. We stuffed our faces all week, tried everything and anything, it was really nice. Gone are the spices, in comes the gravy, veg, roast potatoes etc. I actually went to the manager and thanked him for listening to peoples comments.
Before we never got bottled water either, only at breakfast, dinner and tea, but now if you ask, they give you it on the beach and around the pools. If you want alcoholic drinks, the pool nearest reception never measures anything, so if you want vodka, it is nearly full to the top of the glass.

It was unfortunate that on the beach the ice cream you had to pay for. We never went thirsty or hungry in all the time we were there.

There are 6-7 pools on the complex, 2 of which were heated, one was near reception behind the 100 block. I must confess not many people were in them, they must have been freezing, the beach on the other hand was cram packed. We latched onto a lad who saved us a sun bed every day for a small tip. He never asked for money, but we gave him a quid each day. Plenty of water sports, never ventured on them as we had done them before in previous visits.

In June i didnt see too many persons on the beach, but the winter months, everyone is on them. The sea is warm, we went into the sea around 3 times a day. It was a bit ughhhhhh when we first went in, but actually it was nice and refreshing just for a 5 mins swim, longer if you were snorkling.

I will state that you have to get up early to get the full benefit of the sun, we were up by 7am each morning, and on the beach after 8am, and in the sea by 8.45am.

The temperatures in the day were 86f, water temps around 72f.
Night time temps were a lot cooler and chilly some nights, namely 17c (62f). Men mostly wore long trousers and a shirt, ladies wore pedal pushers/long dresses/skirts/trousers and a light cardigen.

We didnt go to the welcome briefing as been to plenty, but we did buy a new trip, and i say with all my heart go on this trip if you are able, its the best trip any of us have ever been on. If you like quad biking, this is the one for you.

Firstly i will say the old quad bike trip that goes to an oasis, then a bar b q and off on quads again has finished 2 weeks ago. In comes the new trip.

You drive to a brand new centre that has just opened last week. All the quads are virtually new. They have seat benches in a beduoin style setting, and a bar and loo. You have a safety briefing, then get videoed, then off you go on the quads complete with scraves and helmets.

You ride for approx 40 mins, have a break and drink.
Leave after 10 mins.
Off on bikes again to the centre where its all going to happen. Leave quads, jump on a camel for 20 mins if you want to, its all included in the price, or you can stay on quads if you wish.

After we venture around the bedouin tents with a stage in the middle, they have proper toilets, well one worked lol.

We were given tea and awaited the show to start, it was fantastic. Because some of you may go, i am not going to spoil what happens. If you do want to know, i will gladly tell you via pm. Suffice to say it is not amateurish, but they may grab you to go on stage as i was. Absolutely hilarious. We ate after the entertainment, and had a fabulous bar-b-q, the men wore plastic gloves so impressed there.

After everything had ended, it was back on the quad for the 20 mins journey back to the coach IN THE DARK ! So much fun. It was well worth the £50 each person. Only thing is, this trip is for over 16s.
We bought the dvd of the show, quads and camels, they delivered it to our hotel the next day for £15. It was great. Will defo go on this again.

We didnt go on any other trips as done them.
We spent most of our holiday in the evening in the Oonas dive bar, had a drink downstairs in the restaurant with Latoya, Mr Cairo (our nickname - real name Agassi) all the Mohomads, Josphef and Karim who does a mean shisha on the roof top bar.

When we went on the quad bike desert experience we met some people whom we become friends with, typical at the end of the holiday, but nevertheless, better late than never. They were Geordies from Newcastle and were very funny, we had drinks with them on the roof top bar and on the sonesta complex. Hopefully they will come back next year. I know they enjoyed the sonesta and the Oonas.

I had to visit the hotel Doctor whilst in resort as i found out i am allergic to carrot oil in sun oil. I didnt want to be ripped off in the pharmacy, so, i had a jab in my arm, some calamine lotion and antihistimine cream to stop the itching. It was a severe allergy. I also decided to have my ear shringed as i couldnt hear out of it, and they don't shringe in my surgery any more. He did as i asked and it is the first time i have heard in 4 years. The total was 80 euros. When i got home i telephoned my insurers and straight away they are sending the full amount back within a couple of day. This is the second time i have claimed, no probs. I will say though, when you get insurance, take the extra out to wave the excess, its about £7 more. That way when you claim, you get it all back not just a bit.

Tummy bugs etc...............

Wasnt any, no cramps, bowel loseness etc. Never take vitamins or any mumbo jumbo rubbish. So it confirms that in the height of summer from the end of April until the middle of Novmeber you are most likely to experience these problems through the AC and the heat. Its not worth the agony, i'll tell you i shall never go back to suffer again the summer months. Unless you have a cast iron stomach, you will be prone to it, whatever anyone says. If you do go in the summer, get the doctors advise, yes you pay out itinally, but if you are smart, you will get it back with a good insurer and wave the excess.

I noticed there was building work going on near the casino, i didnt make out if it was part of the sonesta or not, so will need confirmation as to what it will be. Seems to be another part of the hotel built on, or another hotel, i am not sure.
The sonesta itself was being tidied up whilst we were there, attention to detail was being carried out and improvements.

We didnt go to Narma bay as only went in June, we just came to chill out and we did just that. We will visit again the Sonesta Beach Resort for the 7th time next November, it is such a great hotel with everything around you, but not in your face. Now the food has improved 100 percent, i feel a lot of people will come back. The hotel is 20 mins walk from the centre of the nightlife, going to pachas night club will set you back £20 pp with a free drink. Cabs from the hotel to Narma if you dont want to walk will be £3. Sonesta club is across the peace road, this is the sister hotel but what i could gather, the rep in resort said people didnt like it there, so changed to our hotel.

Great temps, great hotel and great people.
Michelle x
Sonesta beach resort queen

Fab report Michelle . So pleased for you , and me and anyone else booked who was getting a tad switchy after your last visit

To be fair lyn, it was the first time i had gone with extended family, i am used to doing our own thing. Because of the Pharaohs revenge etc which always happens in the summer all our party got it at different intervals. So, trying to arrange trips around this was becoming unbearable, then of course it was the 60 degree heat in Luxor and my poor mum being ill. It was the first year the hotel had gone all A1, it wasnt brilliant and catered for the Italians. So i was glad to report i didnt not eat anything. I actually liked the food and told the manager.

An added plus, they were more English in November as supposed to spring/summer when its run by our Italian friends.

Noooo Michelle . Dont say that .Im going in the spring . easter to be exact.

Depends when you go, the Italians enjoy the heat and mainly they come in the school holidays. To be fair they never bothered us, when you go to different destinations abroad you expect to see different nationalities. I never expected to see all British, i wouldnt want to, in a fair contrast there were more Russians in the winter months because their climate is cold as well as ours.

We have been in the middle of May in 2005 and it hit 100 degrees, if i went in the spring i would opt for the end of April to the first week in May, thats my choice now. January and February quite chilly. I do hope you enjoy it at the hotel, i love the ambiance and the style of the buildings, did you upgrade your room?

Michelle x
sonesta beach resort queen

We havnt upgraded yet michelle . for the dates/flight day we are going Thomson didnt have the upgraded room available on their system .we are going on good Friday 10th april.

so nearer the time im going to email the hotel to ask if they have them available and the price.to be honest im not bothered . we have family rooms anyway and we only spend about an hour each day in our room. TBH we had to do this week within a budget . Having a family of 5 in 2 rooms is already expensive enough . Ive never bothered with updraded rooms unless they were given free and we have always been pleased with standard rooms elsewhere.

looking forward to it

Hi Lyn
You are going at a very good time heat wise. It will be similar temps to what we experienced in November 80+ in the day and a little cooler at night, so you may need longer trousers or a cardigan etc. Hopefully tummy upsets wont occur for you all as its not blistering heat.
I try and get the upgraded rooms for the space, family rooms have just as good space, but having gone in the summer months for so long, the AC doesn't cool them down brilliantly unless you have it on constant. Half the problems of pharaohs revenge is because of the AC and the heat. So for that reason i wont have it on, so prefer the big rooms as they keep cool. Thats the only reason really. I dont know whether it was privacy you wanted 2 rooms for, but the double family rooms fit 5 in them?

I am envious you are going in April

Hi michelle

weve been to Egypt for the last 3 Easters so we know heat wise its an excellent time to go .None of us have been affected badly when stomach upsets in previous years. We all get a little but nothing that lasts long or isnt dealt with imodium . I am blessed with a cast iron stomach

Interesting what you say about the sonesta double family rooms sleeping 5 . Just checked on the portland site in case I missed something at the time of booking and both the family rooms and the double family rooms are only bookable for 2-4 people . thats a shame because it would of probably worked out cheaper for us to have one room . my older boys being 18 and 16 when we go obviously like to do their own thing now so wouldnt of been too pleased sharing with us and their little brother but I wouldnt of thought twice had it worked out cheaper for us.

lyn

Excellent report Michelle..it sounds so much better than when you went in the Summer and thankfully this time there were no major problems with illness like there was last time when your mum got sun stroke. Normally we are in Egypt this time of year..in fact this will be the first time in 3 years we haven't been to any of the resorts..we take it in turns from Taba/Hurghada and Sharm for the driving. Can't afford it this time round as we are going Maldiving
(ooh dear that was bad).

I do agree with your comment about depending on what time of year you go..I am not blessed with a cast iron constitution so going in the summer ( I had never gone in the summer before) really took its toll on me. I did say I would never go back to Sonesta..not because it was a bad place..but probably because I did not enjoy my experiences in Sharm in July. After reading your latest review it has changed my mind again and I would say we would probably use it again if we go back diving in Sharm. ( although not until the end of next year..it is Taba's turn next!)

Hi Lyn

What you read on the portland/thomson family and double family rooms is correct, it is 2-4 people.
But, when you email the hotel, they will gladly put a single bed in the lounge of the largest rooms. The little bedroom has bunk beds in it. So that makes 5 persons. It isnt a squash because all the rooms are separate. Of course this irrelevant now, i am just jealous you're going I think the travel consultants can email hotel to request this, but they wont like doing it, less commision

Justval

My Mum collapsed due to lack of food and the extreme heat, she is fine now . Mum also said she would go back to the SBR and wanted to go in March/April. All my holidays are used up with going away 4 times this year and the fact we are touring around the USA in June. So if we have the money, we shall go back November again. Some guests didnt have slippers and dressing gowns, so i am not sure if in fact it was given to use as an added extra, with being repeat guests? Somone will possibly let me know when they go. I loved it this time of year, and my stomach remained intacted

Brilliant report Michelle, loved reading it.

Looking good for you now Lyn. Think you're going to love it.

I hope so Chris
TBH I will still go with an open mind . We booked it at a good price . Well it wasnt cheap but a lot less than anywhere else we wanted to go so as long as its clean, the food is reasonable , the boys are happy , the weather good and my sunbed comfortable I will be happy . We are fairly easily pleased for a week .

im going on the 15th april to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary and after reading your review Michelle im looking forward to it even moore , cheers

I agree with Lyn, if you go to any hotel with an open mind that is the best thing. Everyone is different on how they want to have the perfect holiday. I do not normally moan when away, to much negative energy spoils it. If you go to the sonesta beach and expect it to look like our standard of hotels then i will tell you it isnt. SBR i choose years ago because of the colonial style buildings and the fact it wasnt to posh I love the staff, the grounds are superb and i cannot complain about the rooms. If you are looking for hotels the same stature the same as the Hiltons/Marriotts then it isnt. Mainly because a lot of hotels in Sharm are just that, hotels, which look the same anywhere in the world.

We also choose the SBR because it was near to the beach, had several pools outside of our room, had a doctor on campus, and was within walking distance of Naama Bay/or a couple of quid for cab. We didnt want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere where a lot of hotels were and had to rely on cabs to get us anywhere. So for us it is ideal.

Please go next door for diving/or as we do go for drinks at the Oonas Bar and roof top bar. If it your first time, the views on top are the best in the bay, and you can video the sunset and sunrise. In the warmer months, the roof top stays open until dawn. If you do decide to dive, the Oonas has English speaking guides not egyptian that speak english, and prices are very good. I have had good reports on the Sonestas Dive club as well, but never used it.

I do hope you both and anyone else enjoys their holiday, if not i am doomed to the HT junk bin

Hi

is it worth emailing Sonesta Beach Resort to see if they can arrange taxi to collect us at the airport. After the flight I can never be bothered to haggle with the taxi drivers ar the airport. Has anyone done this and do they charge a reasonable price

Daisy

Hi Daisy

Yes they will do this for you, in your email ask them what the price will be.

Sonesta beach resort hotel always has cabs in their car park, usually it is a couple of quid to get into Naama bay as well.

If anyone wants to do this fror the Sonesta club, i am sure they would also.

Michelle x
sonesta beach resort queen
email reservations ........
reservations@sonestasharm.com

Hi,

On countdown to our trip to the Sonesta Beach Resort - less than 10 week to go! Need to pay the balance but I want to book a late check out room and wondered if it was cheaper to do this direct with the hotel rather than with Portland.... have tried emailing but no reply (it's been a week since I sent it). Can anybody help (Michelle, possibly )

Thank you!

Callie