WorldExplorer52
March 12, 2025
Everything was as good or better than the reviews. The hotel is beautiful, spotlessly clean, full of smiling friendly and helpful staff. It was good to meet the manager Mr Ali and see him doing regular patrols. Outside the gardens are immaculate with a wide range of flowering plants, shrubs, trees, and grasses some of which are named. We enjoyed the fact that it was not too full and could get into all the restaurants we wanted to and find chairs and cabannas on the beach. We chose our pillows and liked the fluffy gowns. It is not a hotel with lots of activities on offer but we walked along the promenade each way, played in the boule competitions on the beach and regularly swam. There was snorkelling from the beach although the sea was fresh. Otherwise we enjoyed the rest and relaxation with the attentive service on hand which is what we had gone for. Breakfast was a treat sitting in the sunshine on the terrace by the fountain listening to gentle music from the cellist or violinist. I have just a few comments to make. The Club lounge had delicious looking snacks laid out daily but I was not tempted with the savoury ones as I had no idea how long they had been sitting out especially as they were not in a cool cabinet. A waste bin would be nice - to save leaving a mess on the counter. Indoors the marble corridors and stairs were lovely and always shiny and polished. However it was always difficult seeing each step - I wear vari-focal glasses which makes it doubly difficult. A dark ***** although not attractive would make them much safer. I found others who agreed with me. The restaurants offered a good choice of options but why make them quite so dark? We struggled not just to read the menus but in the Egyptian I had to use my phone torch to see what I was eating, being careful not to upset other customers. In the Bellavista we had a light clipped to our menu which I kept for the meal. The Mikado was one of our favourites but found the bar counter quite uncomfortable without a shelf for your knees to go under. It meant either sitting some way back and leaning over to eat (not easy in white trousers) or sitting sideways beside the counter. I've eaten terriyaki around the world but never not had a shelf to eat from. Another positive point to make is that we met some delightful and friendly guests, all as happy as we were. We hope to return.