You Can't Go Wrong Here (Hilton Sharks Bay (Sharm El Sheikh))

Member Name: rosehall

Product:	Hilton Sharks Bay (Sharm El Sheikh)
Date:	23/02/07 (539 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of sun,superb marine life, excellent hotel

Disadvantages: The sea is very deep so not good for kids

We have stayed at the Hilton Sharks Bay 3 times now and it's like a home from home. We usually pay about £430 each for 7 nights all-inclusive stay. We normally book via teletext and we stay in June which mean the temperature can be 40 degrees plus. The hotel guests are mainly British. (Not yobs!!!) Of all ages.
There was/ is building work going on next door but it did not spoil the holiday which has been there each time we have stayed there.

Travel Time from UK

Around 5 hours flight time from London. 30 mins transfer time in coach. You can get a taxi but the drivers rip you off and demand around £25. We got them down to £10 then they wouldn't budge down any less so we paid that. Its £6 from Hotel to airport!!! It only takes about 15 mins in a taxi as there are no drop offs /pick-ups.

Rooms

The rooms are spacious and very clean. They have a Queen / King-sized bed or singles depending on what you have booked. There is a TV (with limited stations) fridge, a spacious marbled bathroom with large shower area and the usual free toiletries and fluffy white towels. There is a large wardrobe with free in room safe and a dressing table with a few drawers. There is a bedside table each with drawers and lamp on each. There is efficient air con in all rooms. Sliding doors to balcony or terrace depending on where your room is based. The views from the room also vary, some overlooking the various pools and other rooms overlook some of the gardened areas. Some have sea view.
The rooms are cleaned to a high standard and towels/sheets replaced daily.

Food & Drink

The food is of a very high standard and is virtually available 24/7. There are two restaurants in this hotel and also a bar that serves sandwiches and crisps at lunchtime. Breakfast from 7am is self service in the buffet restaurant where there is a choice of cereals, huge selection of fresh breads, cakes, fresh juices, eggs cooked to your liking, sausage (not English sausages though), beans, tomatoes and fried potatoes and toast. The waiters serve tea and coffee and you can have as much as you like. Lunch from 12.30 is served in the self-service restaurant again. There is also a BBQ area at the bottom of this restaurant with picnic tables for you to sit at. There are jacket potatoes, burgers, chips, and salads at the BBQ area and full lunch in the self-service restaurant. You can also have sandwiches at the sunset bar located near the beach. Dinner from 7pm is usually based on a themed night e.g. Italian, Mexican etc served in the self-service restaurant or El Rustico Restaurant, which are adjoined. Here you have a choice of buffet or a set three-course menu in El Rustico. In the self-service there is always a roast every night, fish, vegetarian choice, pastas, selection of vegetables, salads, fresh breads, soups and a choice of deserts. The best night is the Oriental night where all the dinner tables are laid up around the main pool and dinner cooked and served here. This is the best food of the week (bit like Indian food) and really good entertainment too. The waiters serve Wine/Drinks or you can visit the bar yourself. There is also a small selection of sandwich and nibbles in the Chill Out bar from 11pm onwards. Drinks are all international soft drinks and local rum, whisky, gin, vodka, brandy that are all included on the all inclusive basis. You can also get tea, coffee and water from all the bars. There are four bars, The Sunset Bar is located near to the pool where you can sit on comfy chairs and watch the sunset. The Pool Bar is obviously located near to the pool. One side of the bar you can walk to and the other side you can swim to it. The Chill Our bar is located underneath reception and has full air conditioning which is very welcome at times. This is open till 2am. There are discos and also a big screen for watching football matches. The last bar is located nearest to the beach and is only open until the early evening (closes around 5-6)

Pools

There are four pools. One is the big main pool with a swim up bar and small islands in the middle along with a big wooden bridge. There are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas. This area is popular with families and can be very busy. Another pool is located near reception and tends to be a quieter pool for people to chill by. Another pool is near to the restaurants; this has small slides and again is good for families with children. The last pool is towards the beach and has a small wooden bridge. This is a quiet pool and tends to attract people wishing to read and sunbathe all day. There are plenty of sun beds and as you choose your lounger, a member of staff will bring you out a soft mattress for your bed. There are also towel stations where you can hand a ticket in and collect a clean towel each day. There are free ice creams at the main pool and the bar nearest the beach you can help yourself to during the day.

Beach area
There are plenty of sandy sun terraces with loungers and umbrellas located from the sunset bar to the beach. The beach is reached by walking down a few steps one side or a path the other. The beach is a bit rocky (No long stretch of sandy beach) The sea is ok for a paddle if you want to swim you can walk on the blue plastic pontoon which stretches out over the coral where you can jump into the sea or climb down the little steps into very deep but fantastically clear blue warm sea which is simply alive with marine life. If you are nervous about being out of your depth you can hire floatation jackets for kids & adults alike from the dive school. This is why you come to the Red Sea to see the marine life. You must snorkel or dive.

Dive School

Sinai Dive Club located at this hotel is a very well run dive school with friendly instructors and well-maintained equipment. They are not the cheapest but very handy as located at the hotel. I can certainly recommend them.

Staff

Staffs here look after you so well and are polite. I have seen lots of staff that are here year after year and always remember you by name. They sure earn their low wages.

Other Info

Health club with sauna, steam room and hot tub. Free. Separate areas for men and woman. Little used but lovely after a day on the beach.
Air-conditioned Gym & Squash courts again free.
Shuttle bus to Namma Bay for about £1.50 per person that you need to pre book
There are some excursions you can book although we have never done any, as we are divers and spend our time in the sea..

Summary: An excellent hotel.