We have just returned from our second visit to this resort and would like to tell anyone looking for a relaxing, beach, all-inclusive, care-free holiday in a naturally beautiful, unspoilt area of The Red Sea, that The SAS Radisson, Taba, is WONDERFUL!

Every member of staff, from management, catering, housekeeping, animation to bell boy did everything possible to make our holiday outstanding.

The quality and variety of food was excellent and the accommodation was clean and spacious, in modern Egyptian style.

The pool area is spacious, with plenty of comfortable loungers and lots of welcome shade. There is also a swim-up bar providing local spirits, cocktails and delicious ice-cold Egyptian beer

We arrived at the Radisson sas, Taba, on 17/06/04. Upon arrival the foyer was impressive, check-in far from! Once taken to our room we thought we had made a good choice, we had been to Egypt twice before and had stayed on both occassions in the Hilton Coral Beach Resort in Nuweiba, the HIlton was Marvellous!! We went to dinner the first evening and were very unhappy with the small restaurant, 3" gaps between tables, no tablecloths, no candles/flowers and the food we hoped was just a bad night for the chef! Breakfast was no better, paper napkins, stale bread. Lunch the same. Its hard to go into detail but the food was chicken cooked in as many ways as possible. The second night we went to the a la carte because we thought we would rather pay. The meal was no better, we walked out making our feelings known, the head waiter said 'its just a bad night'!! we did not return. For the rest of the weeks stay we had one meal a day at the poolside restaurant where we paid for club sandwiches with chips each day, again no tables had tablecloths and were never wiped clean. We booked this holiday as a 5* hotel, this certainly did not come close, it was a 3* at best. We would not return if the holiday was free!!!

Having visited Egypt before first impressions were very good. We had a lovely room with a sea view and the first few days were fine.

Then on Thursday the Israelis arrived for the week-end and everything suffered. The peace and quiet is shattered. The restaurant cannot cope with the volume of people.
The service and standard of catering takes a nose dive. What was even more irritating is that these people were rude, steal sunbeds and refuse to move, they cough over the food, handle the food on display then replace it, their children run around the restaurant and climb over the furniture. It was bedlam for three days until they left.

Also by the Saturday the pool was filthy.

Alarmingly there was a kitchen fire while we were there. This was kept very hush-hush. The building was not cleared despite the smoke and fumes. I reported this to the Manager who was keen to point out that to do so would have alarmed the guest unnecessarily. Personally, I did not agree.

My partner was in bed for 3 days and had to see the doctor. US$145 for an injection and tablets. He was told it was traveller's tummy. The Manager said it was due to drinking very cold drinks in the heat and the "micro-climate" peculiar to Taba! So many guests suffered I tend to think it was food poisioning, backed up by the fact that I am now experiencing symptoms back in Blighty.

On the subject of food, the salad bar was fair, there was a limited selection of deserts, but the main course buffet was very poor and never hot enough. Boiled grisly meat, deep fried fish full of bones with a choice of potato or rice. There was very little choice for children. We did eat from the a la carte restaurant which was excellent, but we had to pay for this luxury, which isn't really the idea on an all-inclusive holiday!

The staff are very hard working and friendly.

The snorkelling off the beach is good too. Beware of the kids club. The girls there are a little over exuberant. My son was terrified of them.

If you've already booked I hope things are better when you get there.

The Longwoods rep called Liz is extremely helpful and welcomes feedback from the guests.

If you're thinking of going I would recommend that you pick a more established resort on the Red Sea. Hope this helps!

Stayed at hotel 13th to 20th April 2004. Weather was very hot!

This hotel was very clean and tidy and all the staff were very friendy and helpful,as was the Longwood representative. Spacious hotel, plenty of loungers and nice pool and gardens and large stretch of beach.

The rooms very very spacious and clean and well decorated.

The food was very nice and there was always a good choice, but it was very repetitive. Also, one of the restaurants was not included in the all inclusive and should have been really because it wasnt exactly a la carte.

The entertainment staff were good fun and tried hard to motivate people!

Good for a week in the sun anytime of the year, but not 2 weeks!