62 Reviews
Traveller Rating
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Excellent21
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Very Good36
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Good3
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Average1
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Poor1
Review Overview
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Cleanliness
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Entertainment
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Food
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Service
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Location
Hairdryer in the bathroom is a bit slow , your room views are great, the gardens are a joy, the food to die for, the staff are very helpful and friendly. Going back next year.
Travel operator: longwoods
Travel operator: Libra holidays
People sweeping, brushing and wiping, dusting and collecting all around you every day and evening. Not a scrap of muck anywhere to be seen!
Location is remote, don't go here it you want nightlife, because this is the ultimate relaxation place.
Staff are wonderful - every single one of them are attentive and friendly.
Entertainment needs work still but there is an improvement from the last time I was there - I was happy to sit and watch the head of entertainment though - very nice indeed!
I'm coming back for my third visit next year! Try and stop me!
Travel operator: Peltours
The food was very good, each night there would be themed nights, there was alot to choose from, next door to the restaurant was an Italian restaurant, and god the food was beautiful, we ate there most nights, the pasta sauces were cooked to your taste in front of you along with the pasta, pizza's were cooked to your order, with any topping you wanted, could not fault the food there at all.
There is a nother al a carte restaurant near the beach, which you can book, if you are all inclusive the hotel pays so much to wards your meal, but the food is very cheap anyway, Ideal if you fancy a change you will not be dissapointed.
When we landed at Taba airport, we thought what the hell have we flown to, there was nothing but desert and mountains, The hotel was quite remote which suited us fine, when we arrived there, the rep said ladies and gentleman welcome to paradise, and believe me she was not wrong.
All the staff were very attentive, they could not do enough for you, The pool attendant was a very likable chap, who made sure that if you wanted to lay by the pool, he would make sure your beds were in the right direction put towels out for you,very friendly.
Be careful of the captain who runs the restaurants as he has a wicked sense of humour, playing tricks with guests, some of his antics brought much hilarity.
The entertainment was very good, we were amazes at the local dancers, believe it or not there was one mail dancer who literally span round and round doing his act whith all kinds of capes for about 15 minutes, without stopping, and when he finished he just walked camly off the stage unbelievable to watch.
Try to avoid karaoke night, no serious singers just lots of people who just wanted to mess about.
We visited Eilat for the fun day, and went to the Oceanarium well worth a visit , and further up the road there was an area which studied dolphins, For a fee you could swim /snorkel with them, which I did and was an unforgetable experience absolutely brilliant.
The Longwood reps are very helpful and very knowledgeable.
The only down side to the holidays was that I broke a rib whilst playing waterpolo and just after we returned home The Taba Hilton and other places were bombed, But we had a fantastic holiday and may return again next year, most of the other guests had done their 5th and 6th visit, which must say something in my book.
You will love it if you want a very laid back and relaxing holiday.
Travel operator: Longwoods
I am writing this review perhaps from a different perspective. We do NOT like all inclusive hotels, so when we booked this, we went with an attitude of using the all inclusive for breakfast, beers, wines soft drinks etc, and we would pay extra for anything else we wished to have.
We are used to five star luxury holidays, and this holiday was booked very much as a
Travel operator: Longwood
The hotel was kept very clean but does need some upgrading but all the other positives made up for this. The food was excellent - fresh coffee, fresh juices and excellent breads and rolls just set you up for the day. We did enjoy having the choice of restaurants - often ate in the Italian which was included in your package - food as fresh and tasty as you could ask for. The Abu Lou Lou Restaurant was certainly worth more than one visit - excellent food and very cheap. When we did eat in the main restaurant we chose to eat at one of the outside tables as it was quite chaotic inside. The hotel staff were genuinely very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. The gardens and grounds were beautiful and kept immaculate.
The beach was excellent. Easy access for snorkelling from the beach(shoes for swimming/snorkelling makes things easier). The best place for snorkelling was about a 10-15 minute walk along the beach - well worth the effort.
We're not really into entertainment so the lack of it didn't bother us - we much prefer just having a good chat with the other holiday makers about the snorkelling etc over a glass or 2 of wine. We also spent some time each evening after our meal at the end of the pier looking at the Lion Fish and the Barracuda. It was great being able to sit outside in the evening - didn't even need a jumper or cardigan.
We didn't go outside the hotel so cannot comment about the area. The journey from the airport was made in the dark so didn't see anything but travelled back to the airport during the day and, from what we saw, one of the least scenic places we've seen. The next time we go we'll be happy just staying in the hotel - which is not usually what we like on holiday but in this case just pure relaxation. We'll probably just go for 7 days next time.
Almost forgot to mention take binoculars - I forgot mine and we saw Dolphins (only once) and Turtles a couple of times - and this was when we were just sitting on the beach.
Travel operator: Longwoods
Firstly, the hotel staff were absolutely superb. Nothing was too much trouble for them and you were always greeted with a smile and a friendly greeting at any time of the day. At this hotel, you are made to feel like part of one big family which is truly refreshing.
All inclusive food is nothing to rave about anywhere in the world but we could not fault it here. There was always something for everyone. We occasionally treated ourselves to a lunch at the pool bar which was extra. Smoked salmon and king prawns, beautifully presented, for
Travel operator: Longwoods
Arrived late but check-in was quick and efficient and a tray of food brought to our room. Allocated two interconnecting rooms, one double and one twin as requested. Plenty big enough although might be tight on space if using the third bed. In need of some redocoration, but was aware of that before I booked and was planning to spend most of my time outside anyway.
The outside space is fabulous, beautiful gardens constantly tended by an army of people sweeping, watering and mowing - had something of an Alice in Wonderland feel to it. The rooms are set well back from the pool area which increases the feeling of space. Even though the hotel was relatively full you could sit on the balcony and hardly see a soul. Beach was a little crowded on occasions, but not all that busy around the pool.
Restaurants seemed to cater for mosts tastes. Always someone to greet and seat you, quickly followed by a waiter for drinks. I loved the breakfasts and the Italian restaurant where food is cooked to order. My only minor criticism was that the buffet food was not always hot enough for me. Having never tried AI before I have nothing to compare with, but imagine it is a problem of buffet style dining. Nice to be able to order drinks whenever you want - we got through bottles and bottles of water each day. Paul thought the beer was fine and the wine was perfectly drinkable. Gin had a strange taste though.
Staff were absolutely lovely and nothing was ever too much trouble. They were particularly helpful when I lost a piece of jewellery and needed a report writing for insurance purposes.
Entertainment was nothing special but was not a particularly important part of our holiday - we tried not get to bed to late as you need to be up reasonably early to make the most of the day when the sun sets so early.
Children - as most people who have written reviews seem to be couples thought I would just put in a bit for anyone planning to visit with children. Considering it was half term I didn't think there were actually that many families there (although others might disagree). There were enough young people to make friends with, but it was never too noisy or crowded around the pool. The beech was lovely, with plenty of shade and only a small strip of shingle to negotiate before going into the sea. One of the reasons I choose this resort was so my 8 year old daughter could get into the sea with out needing a jetty, or damaging the coral. Snorkelling was brilliant and everyone happy to show you the best places to go.
Both girls enjoyed the food (particularly doughnuts for breakfast) and were more willing to try new tastes, knowing they could always get something else if they didn't like it. They often chose to eat on their own at lunchtime and enjoyed the freedom to do so. Pedaloes and canoes on the beach, table tenis, volleyball, basketball and mini golf all free of charge and there if you want it, rather than lots of organised activities. The staff were particularly friendly with the youngest daughter which she loved, (although they were prepared to serve alcohol to the 13 year old.)
All in all we had a wonderful relaxing holiday - I had expected my husband to be bored but he absolutely loved it and really did unwind. Wonderful snorkelling, lionfish underneath the jetty each night, and lying in hammocks looking at the night sky. Paul tried a taster dive and is hooked, so looks like we are going back and that will be a first.
Travel operator: Crusader Travel
The food was great, we loved the Italian.
The hotel is very clean and the staff are just fantastic!!
Travel operator: LOngwood
The all inclusive buffet restaurant offers an extensive range of soups, salads, hot dishes (beef, chicken and fish dishes with a different theme for each night), vegetables, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc and a wonderful selection of desserts and fresh fruit. The Italian restaurant is also included for all inclusive guests, with pizzas and pastas made to order, with your choice of a combination of ingredients and toppings. The service is impeccable, and you can't even open a bottle of water without waiters rushing to take it off your hands to fill your glass for you. The waiters and bar staff in each of the restaurants and bars are friendly, polite and faultlessly hospitable.
The evening entertainments programme was impressive, with a live singer and guitar player each night, followed by a different type of show/event to keep us entertained (including karaoke, Egyptian dancers, a belly dancer, and a spectacular whirling dervish display). The Shell Disco was open late for those who wanted to carry on partying/drinking after the other bars closed, and the staff there were particularly friendly and helpful.
The beach and setting are beautiful, with stunning views of Saudi Arabia across the Gulf of Aqaba. The lionfish and other types of fish and the coral reefs that are a short swim out to sea were breathtaking, and ideal for snrokelling. Watersports (pedaloes, kayaks, windsurfing etc) are available on the beach, and other trips and activities (glass-bottomed boat trips, snorkelling trips etc) can be arranged on site at a very reasonable cost.
All in all, I cannot fault this hotel and am already looking to book a return trip in the near future! I would recommend it to anyone wanting a warm, chilled out, relaxing break. The weather was amazing and the suntan I have now is unlike anything I have ever had before!
Travel operator: Longwood
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