Exceptional Stay at Rixos: Highly Recommended
We stayed as a couple at Rixos this July and, honestly, this is undoubtedly one of the best hotels I’ve ever visited! Now for the details :)
· *TRANSFER & CHECK-IN:** The transfer from the airport brought us to the reception around 3-4 PM. Check-in was fast, and we were assigned to Building 10, conveniently located near the main pool. The property is vast, but golf carts regularly drive around to take you wherever you need.
· *ROOMS:** The rooms were clean, spacious, and bright. Ours was on the ground floor, with a terrace equipped with a folding drying rack (the upper floors have balconies). The room had everything we needed: a new, well-functioning hairdryer, clean high-quality plumbing, an electric kettle, air conditioning, and a full range of toiletries (soap, comb, shower cap, body lotion, shampoo, hair conditioner, and shower gel). Coffee, tea, sugar, and bottled water were replenished daily or upon request. Daily cleaning was thorough, and the minibar was stocked daily with cola, juices, chips, and both still and sparkling water. A perfect 10/10.
· *FOOD:** The hotel features a main restaurant, à la carte options, and small cafes offering sandwiches and ice cream. The main restaurant always had plenty of choices. Some might say the food wasn’t extremely diverse since certain breakfast staples, like rice porridge or omelets with vegetables, were repeated daily. However, there were always new additions too. The variety included eggs, bread, salads, soups, porridge, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and seafood, ensuring more than enough options for everyone. Lunch typically consisted of grilled vegetables and meats, plus a selection of soups (the creamy chicken soup was a favorite!). Desserts included a wide range of traditional Eastern sweets.
As for the à la carte restaurants, we tried Asian, Indian, Italian, Turkish, and seafood cuisines. I strongly recommend visiting the Turkish, Indian, and Italian restaurants—they’ll certainly leave a lasting impression! Unfortunately, the seafood dishes didn’t wow us, but perhaps we chose less popular items. Food deserves a solid 10/10.
· *BAR:** There are numerous bars across the property. We often visited the bar in the lobby and the one near the beach. The bartenders were amazing—friendly and fluent in Russian, just like the rest of the staff. The quality of the alcohol was surprisingly good, and the cocktails were fantastic! If you tip the bartender, they’ll bring you small snacks like peanuts or chips, which is a nice touch. The only downside was the paper cups used for takeout drinks—they start leaking quickly, so you’ll need to drink fast. Although there are designated areas for returning cups and plates around the hotel, the cups remain a minor inconvenience. Overall, 9/10 (minus one point for the paper cups).
· *SERVICE:** The staff were outstanding—young, cheerful, and always ready to help. Their excellent service deserved appreciation. Most of the staff spoke Russian and English fluently, so communication was never an issue. From cleaners and waiters to bartenders, chefs, and pool attendants, everyone contributed to a fantastic experience. Service gets a perfect 10/10.
· *ENTERTAINMENT:** We visited to relax in peace and quiet 😂, but the animation team did a good job. While they didn’t actively engage guests individually, there were daily pool exercises, games, and competitions in the main pool during the morning. Afternoon programs often included music and dances on the beach around 4-5 PM, and evening events like dancing were held in different hotel locations (even when nearby, the rooms remained soundproof). One day, there was a pink foam party at 4 PM with music and dances—it was a lot of fun.
For active guests, there were options like water polo, beach volleyball, badminton, golf, table tennis, and billiards. A gazebo with ping-pong and billiards tables was right in our courtyard, and we often hung out there in the evenings. Overall, the animation is decent, though it might not compare to more lively hotels. I’d rate it 7/10.
· *SEA:** The beach had soft sand, but it wasn’t possible to wade far into the water due to the coral reefs. There’s a long pier with access to water at a depth of 150–180 cm, where you can swim with a variety of colorful fish. However, be aware: from morning until noon, the red flag was often up due to weather conditions, permitting no swimming. Occasionally, we had red flags all day, but July is a windy season, so this wasn’t surprising. For snorkeling enthusiasts, the reefs are stunning. We even took a snorkeling tour from Dahab, which was absolutely worth it!
While swimming in the sea wasn’t always possible, the large pools made for an excellent alternative. Due to limited sea access, I’d give this aspect a 6.6-7/10.
· *OVERALL EXPERIENCE:** Rixos never disappoints, and this stay was no exception. It was a wonderful adults-only vacation with top-notch service and amenities. Would I return? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Without a doubt!