This hotel was excellent, the food was excellent as was the service, waiters and all staff very helpful and polite.

Stayed in select room, well worth upgrade though beware minibar exspensive. Drinks at foyer bar were local and bar staff not acquainted with the ingredients of limited cocktails on offer (if you drink cocktails that is).

The entertainment was very poor, this is not just my opinion but it was the concensus of the majority of guests, this information came from hotel concierge staff who surveyed some 80% of the guests over the two weeks.

However the hotel management are going to action an improvement to the evening entertainment programme, according to senior hotel staff that I spoke to. This would include more cultural entertainment.

Although this was supposedly an all inclusive hotel there were complaints from again the majority of guest who dined in the Italian restaurant at having to pay for their drinks and the wine either by the glass or bottle was greatly overpriced.

This info again came from senior managers that I spoke to.
The retail outlets that were within the curtilage of the hotel were selling many souvineers at greatly inflated prices and quite frankly the quality of such goods were poor and were manufactured outside egypt.

With regards the holiday reps on site I felt did not divulge enough information when pre booking excursions to specific attractions, especially to Saint Katherines Monastry, in that you would be on the bus for 3 hours each way, this could have been problematic for myself as I am a diabetic, as times of meals are crucial to my control of my condition.

The rep that I spoke to was made aware of me being a diabetic 5 days prior to booking this excursion, so be aware if you have any pre existing conditions when booking your excursion and always insist from the reps exact info regards duration of trips and times of meals provided.

We went for 2 weeks all inc and after reading the reports before I went I was preparing for the worst.

This is a 4 star hotel no more and no less its very clean.

The staff are friendly except the upstairs lobby bar staff who were quite rude and many people had complained about this, but who can blame the staff if you had a load of Brits being rude arguing about how many pints of Stella they wanted I'd be rude too.

The food was good with a large selection every night, and the best entertainment I had was the day the chips ran out the looks on the chip eating peoples faces was classic.

The location was out in the sticks but you can get a taxi into Nama Bay and trips are offered also, Garden Reef is excellent I would recommend it thoroughly.

The entertainment was not great but 4 people entertaining 800 was bound to be a challenge anyway, overall the good bits were it was clean with good food, good trips, clean beach, large pools, you had to pay for drinks in Italian but so what you're on holiday treat yourself.

Nama Bay is worth a visit loads of restaurants and Hard Rock Cafe has air cond and Toilets in the building (a lot don't)

Bad bits were Pink being on replay at pool for 6hours in one ear and Egyptian music in the other ear (choose you're lounger at the pool carefully)

Need sea shoes beach is quite gravely in parts and lots of small stones but can walk for miles without it getting deep.

Our room cleaner did not do the best job in the world even though we tipped him each day, and he read our comment card which gave him a 3 and told us to change it!!!

We were in 1202 and had different cleaner to our friends who got swans and pyramids made for them.

I went to Taba 2years ago and choose this hotel as I was told it was central which it was not, I would have went back to Taba if I had realised this as in all honesty the Marriott Beach club in Taba was a new hotel like this one was and we got a deal on that one too, but in all honesty it had the wow factor. Better food, more restaurants, better rooms, friendlier staff, so if I want guaranteed sun, and a gorgeous hotel with available trips and a good price I will go to Taba next year, if you are in the middle of nowhere anyway whats the difference, we only went to Nama bay twice.

This hotel is just brillant yes they do have a few opening problems but they have only been open 9 - 10 weeks everybody deserves a chance and i am SURE that when they have overcome these minor faults this hotel will be a 5* +.

We was asked over 7 times in 2 weeks from a member of the management if we had any ideas on how to make things better and we told them things that bothered us and within 2 days they where doing it fantastic!!!

The pools are clean and spacious with plenty of sun loungers even at dinner time (when we eventually got up)

Select rooms are to die for spacious and clean (thanks to shreef!!) free late check out if you are in select rooms and it is till 5pm just what you need!!

The food is a bit repetitive but there are plenty of different thing to choose from but we are fussy eaters so it is not the hotels fault but our own (go to kids menu for chips hehe)

We had a absoulutly fantastic holiday and WOULD go again and again!!
Get some snorkels and see the fish out of this world!!! and go to the beach party on wednesday's two hotels down the beach great night!!

Having just returned from the Coral Sea hotel, I thought I would share a few thoughts. When reading the description below, you should perhaps keep in mind that I got a great deal on the holiday, and so the hotels shortcomings should be viewed with that in mind.

Pros: The grounds were nice. Although not lush, because they are brand new, they were well designed, and new planting occured every day. The pool was fine, with plenty of sunbeds, although the only toilets in the hotel are located in far-flung guest rooms, and this could have contributed to the extreme cloudiness of the water. The rooms were nice:large and spacious, more than adequate air conditioning.

The beach in front of the hotel was great. The water was bath temperate and ankle deep out to an offshore coral reef, and at low tide, you can stand up to your chest in water and snorkel. The fish are amazing.

The beer was also fine - wasnt watered down like so many all-inclusive hotels. Same for the red wine. Employees seemed genuinely friendly, although the pool bartender could be a bit snippy if you got on the wrong side of him (we didnt). Problems requiring the services of 'the engineering department' were dealt with quickly.

Cons: The cleaners are all men. Ours was a very nice, nineteenish, boy. Therefore, standards were not of a five star hotel. Especially the bathroom. But having said that, it was cleaner than my own! Just not spotless. The food was our biggest gripe. Eating became a chore. The dining room was huge and industrial, and with two small children, after finding a table in the mass of used ones, we had to leave them alone while we disappeared off through the crush to wait in queues to fill a plate with food. They lived on noodles and pizza for a week. I actually lost weight because the poor quality did not justify the hassle of getting it. It was repetetive, mostly vegetarian except for nightly hot dog kabobs and the occasional roast beef that was, more often than not, tough and inedible. Anything that looked good involved lining up.

The two hour breakfast-lunch-dinner window was hard to live with and we often found ourselves rushing around frantically in the morning, to feed the children, before the waiters took away the food with amazing efficiency at the stroke of ten.

After the meals, the most annoying thing for us personally was the music, piped from speakers in the hotel grounds until 11pm every night. Made sitting on the balcony at night impossible. They played the same twenty or so mournfull songs of the Celine Dion/Robbie Williams variety, and it was loud - couldnt be tuned out. My husband said 'if I have to hear one more man crying...'

Entertainment was a joke. Around the pool, it consisted of a chirpy northern lass who turned off the music in the bar every day at around eleven, to 'entertain' sunbathers with 'did you know?' facts. One day she announced an event in 'the Irish bar in twenty minutes' the Irish bar being inside the hotel, cold and dark.

Another day it was beach volleyball in the 40 degree heat (no takers there). There were none of the usual pool games, no darts, no bingo, no nothing. After eleven a.m., not even any bar music to listen to. Nightly entertainment was just as bad. The beach bar was isolated and depressing with bee gees disco music playing to a few quiet couples.

The Irish bar (indoors) populated by mostly teenagers playing pool. There was an outdoor 'theatre' consisting of four bored dancers, with tables packed so tightly that getting up for drinks was almost out of the question. We came to the conclusion that the nightlife at the hotel had been designed to actively discourage the drinking of free beer.

If youre into nightlife, this is not the place for you!

Also, although engineering was quick to respond, housekeeping was a different story. It took 3 calls and two hours to get extra pillows delivered, and 3 calls and two days to get a plug for the bath.

If you want sun, swimming, snorkeling, relaxing the days away with beer, you won't be disappointed. If youre expecting nightlife and luxury, you will be. But, like i said at the beginning, if you want the red sea at rock bottom prices, Coral Sea is more than adequate.

If you go, take all necessities. Dont count on buying anything there, there are nothing but souveniers for sale.

We have just returned from the Coral Sea Resort. After all the problems of the hotel actually being ready when we got there we were a bit nervous but determined to enjoy our holiday, and enjoy it we did.

The entrance driveway to the hotel is still being finished which is a shame because once it is done the frontage will be lovely. The hotel reception is stunning and the view out the back across the pool and towards the beach and Red Sea is fantastic. This hotel is lovely now and will only go on to improve with time, give it a chance all you gripers - its been open 10 weeks, if you want everything well established then don't choose a hotel that is an artists impression.

We found the staff to be exceptional, very friendly, very polite and not once were we pushed to tip.

The Dine Around Restaurant actually had a tip box at the door way so in no way did we feel pressurised to tip each night, we just did it at the end of our stay. People have made comments about the chaotic dining room, we never had any problems and other people with children seemed to manage very well, I will comment that some mornings it was very difficult to get a waiter with a full coffee or tea jug! so I am sure that is something they will put right.

We were asked on several occasions what we thought could improve things and we felt very confident that these would be done - nice touch.

The reception staff were wonderful - Hossam especially. We had no problems with getting any help we wanted, we asked for extra pillows and when we returned from dinner we had five!! maybe your service has something to do with the way people ask and treat the staff, we were always polite and they were the same with us. We listened to quite a few "moaning Brits" (who really had nothing to moan about) and could have quite easily got into an argument about their pettiness.

This is a new hotel finding its feet - it is not paradise nor does it pretend to be, but we had a fantastic holiday and would definitely go again. We were treated very well.

The staff are ever smiling and helpful and work 12 - 16 hours per day for 7 days before they go home for a week, I think they do any excellent job.

The pool area is lovely and we had no problems finding a sun bed (don't know what it would be like in high summer)the weather was stunning every day with temperatures about 100 degrees.

The food was more than adequate, for anyone to complain about it they really are nit picking because even the fussiest eater would not starve. You are in Egypt for god sake not Southend!! The pizzas cooked while you waited were fabulous, there was ample pasta, more bread varieties than you could count, the desserts were not only lovely to look at but very nice to eat.

A lot has been said about the cups the Pepsi/drinks came in, we just asked for a large one and had all our drinks in a highball glass - no problems at all. Again a polite request brought dividends.

You have to remember its only Brits that come to this Hotel and quite honestly I felt like apologising on numerous occasions for the way they spoke to the staff. Visit Big Mac and his silver jewellery, we found his bracelets beautiful (not substandard as has been suggested) the shops give you a whole load of flannel but is all done in good fun and we had a good laugh. Chill out you are on holiday!!!

Ash, First Choice Rep, is brilliant. Mr Ahmed, Front of House Manager is also very approachable and interested in his guest.

Give this hotel a year or so to iron out any wrinkles and it'll be 5* and we won't be able to afford to go there!! Please though Coral Sea Resort get a Bank or an ATM as soon as possible!!

This is the truth about the CORAL SEA RESORT

We were apprehensive about this hotel when we read the comments made by others, but was really pleased when we arrived.This hotel is first class.

The rooms are spotlessly clean and we had clean bedding and towels every day. The floors were washed every day and we could not fault the standards.

The food was excellent and there was alsways something different every meal time although some people moaned. The customer service person from the hotel dealt with the complaints about breakfast by asking those who moaned " what did they normally have to eat at home". This shut them up as you could have a full range of english breakfast, fruit bred, rolls continental, hot tea and coffee, fruit juices, pancakes, ommlettes etc.

The luch and dinner was just as good. The down side to this hotel is that you might as well say that there is no entertainment.

We were there for 14 days and never had a problem getting sunbeds at any time of the day. In fact there were ALWAYS sunbeds available and dont believe the rumours about have to get the pool attendant to reserve them for you. It simply isnt true. When you get your towels from him, he will walk with you to your chosen sunbeds and place your towels upon them and the simpy walk away. All the staff are friendly and never look for a tip.

The gardens and pool area are tended avery day and I would say that the number of staff equal the guests. One day I had 3 cleaners cleaning my room and it wasnt even dirty.

Watch out for the trips with First Choice, they are rather expensive.

Very pleasantly surprised with standards at the Coral Sea resort.
Beware though, the jaccuzi is a bath with jaccuzi attachment.This was the only fault I could find with our room but the view more than made up for this.

I recommend snorkelling both on the beach and on the garden reef trip (good value).

I found all the staff to be very friendly with the exception of Emad(italian rest.),Hazeem(chef),Mr Ahmed(reception),Natasha(entertainer team ow do!)and Ash(super rep).These guys were exceptional.

We ate in Hard Rock in naama bay on one occasion which was nice but at

Was a bit dubious after reading some of the reviews of the csr but I can honestly say, I had a fantastic time!!

Rooms were clean, bright and very spacious - far larger than what I expected and I stayed in a standard room. Rooms were cleaned on a daily basis with fresh towels and toiletries provided. There were loads of staff, not only in the hotel but also working in the grounds to ensure it remained clean and tidy. There only problem seemed to be the attitudes of some of the guests. There were plenty of bins available for rubbish - all along the paths, ashtrays on the tables at the sunloungers and individual deep bins behind each table but some people still felt the need to drop their cigarette buts on the ground and amongst the plants....very sad and it can't be blamed on 'foreigners' as the hotel is exclusive to the first choice group.

Loved the food. Am on a special diet for medical reasons and i was worried that I would struggle but I had no trouble whatsoever!! Drooled over the stuff I couldn't have - cakes, pizza and pasta and got stuck into the stuff I could - freshly cooked meat and fish, lovely salads. The Dine Around restaurant was busy but there were no problems getting food as the staff checked the containers constantly and topped them up with fresh food so no-body was denied anything. The same went for the Mermaid. There were chips and not just for the little people, but i didn't go to Egypt to eat chips so I can't say if they were any good...
Was very impressed with the italian restaurant. I only stayed a week so I got one free visit, but tried to go back again and pay but sadly it was fully booked. Yes, you have to pay for drinks but it was worth it as I couldn't face the local 'Obelisk' and got a nice bottle of red for

After all the forums and debates on this hotel being a building site when we booked, we were very worried what would be in store for us. But when we arrived we were astounded with how lovely the place was.

The grounds are huge, with garden and water features, the gardeners are out there every day taking care of it all. There are lights, bins & ashtrays all along every path that blend into the surrounds, there are bins & ashtrays on every table by every sunbed, so no rubbish or ciggie buts anywhere.

The pools are lovely, with the main pool being sooo massive. They were gorgeous. The 2 pools both have pool bars, you can walk to them or swim to them, sit on stools in the water.

The staff work from 8am to 12midnight and have a smile on their face all day, they are polite, funny and will bend over backwards to make you stay enjoyable. Every one of them says hello, and they all wear a uniform linking them to the area they work, so you always know who does what.

The weather was over 100 degrees every day, the view of the sea is amazing. You can walk out on the jetty every day and spot a new fish each time.

There are many shops on site, which we found to be less expensive than the shops in Naama Bay. We came home with lots of stuff including rugs and artwork. There is a niknak shop, jewellery, pharmacy, art, carpet, spices and a handbag shop. You can barter with all of them. If you fancy snorkeling they have all the stuff you need on site in the shops.

The food was very nice. Every morning you could get a pancake, fried egg or omelet made to order. Lunch & dinner you always had fresh pizza and pasta made to order. The chefs are always willing to help. There is a huge selection of bread, desserts and pastries in the mornings. Waiters will clear your tables, get drinks for you and always have a smile. We made great friends with the chefs affectionately known as Pizza and Pasta. They were very funny and always called us by our names.

Not once did we get Delly belly, we made sure we got 2 bottles of water and lunch and again at dinner and kept them in our room. During the day we kept hydrated by going to the pool bar for fizzy or soft drinks, the Mermaid beach bar and the reception area.

The limousine into Naama Bay is very good, you don't pay the driver until you are back at the hotel which guarantees you getting back. They are very friendly and reliable.

Naama Bay is a very hot sun trap with no breeze, so go in the evening! It is about 20mins drive away. Otherwise you are in the dessert, but unless you leave the hotel you would never know, and being AI we had no need to at all. There are shops further up the beach if you simply walk along the path. But being in the middle of nowhere was nice for us.

The FC entertainment team are a bit hit and miss in the evenings, but overall were good. The day entertainment includes killer pool, water polo and water volleyball which were good fun.

There were plenty of sunbeds too.

The staff are all male as it is a Muslim country, we heard one woman complaining about a man cleaning the loos, but as you enter, they leave and are very polite about the matter. Doors lock so I don't see the problem, and they are very good at their job. Bearing in mind they get paid

Just returned from the Coral Sea yesterday, I had the best holiday of my life.

The hotel is amazing it's clean and spotless, the grounds are beautiful and the pools are lovely.

We found sunbathing very easy around the pool as there is a lovely constant breeze.

We had no problems with our room it was cleaned everyday and was a pleasure to sleep there for 2 weeks.

The hotel food was lovely and there was such variety, we visited the Italian restaurant twice and both times the service and food was the best it could be.

Location is a bit out of the way but it's very easy to get into Namm bay, by taxis, shuttlebus.

We met friends and went to the Hard Rock cafe 6 main courses, drinks and desserts