Aladdin Beach Resort - Families and Couples Only

We had a nice week here overall. The beaches were clean, the food was good, rooms were cleaned well, and there was an evening program every day. Service was generally very good too. The waiters were attentive and quick, which we appreciated. The first impression was rough, though. Check-in took ages and felt tense, almost like passport control. Reception staff seemed nervous, spoke aggressively, and didn't make us feel welcome. When we asked for an update after 20 minutes, the tone was sarcastic, disappointing, and egotistical. It felt like we had to justify staying there. I've stayed at many five-star hotels in different countries and never had such a bad communication experience. Reception should welcome guests like the rest of the staff, and I hope they improve their manner and hospitality. For me, that first experience with a four-star hotel was probably my last.

The beach restaurant was our pick most days. It had fresh pizza, fries, chicken shawarma, kebab, fruit, salad, soups, and bread. The grounds were also kept in great shape, with gardeners working every day. We had a spacious deluxe family room, more modern than some, and housekeeping came daily with fresh bedding, towels, and water. The bar staff were a real credit to the place, polite and on top of orders for our group of nine. The team by the pool with the lake and boats looked after us all ten nights. The chef there was lovely, and the pizza was 10/10. The main restaurant got repetitive. It was the same mediocre choices each day, beef in gravy, fatty lamb, chicken, or grilled fish on the barbecue. They served homemade chips instead of fries, and mashed potato at breakfast. The kids' section had chips, green beans, grated carrots, cucumber, and a few desserts, but no nuggets or fish fingers. That's tough if those are the only foods your child will eat and they're missing home comforts. Check-in was a pain with tired little ones. We had to fill in a reservation card for each family and room, which took 30-45 minutes. Then we got key cards and towel cards. The lifeguards at the main pool kept moaning about water getting on the tiles, even though it's a swimming pool and people are wet. After two days my husband told them how it was, and they eased off. We moved to the quieter pool by the lake and boats, which was much better and less rowdy. Entertainment was dire. Every other day there was a man spinning in a skirt or dress to music, maybe cultural. There was a white night, but we missed it while having lunch. The nightclub was okay, but smoking is allowed inside, which I find gross. The Italian à la carte was vile. The piped mash was the only nice thing. You could help yourself to pasta, desserts, and salads. We all ordered steak, but they were just burgers with pepper sauce. Not my cup of tea, and pretty poor for an à la carte. The beach shops were soooo expensive, £15 for a plane like you'd get out of a cracker. Eating out is cheap, and I'd recommend chilis at senzo mall or grill and chill at the marina. Delish! I'd say venture out, the locals are lovely. Mac trips and Hurghada family tours are also worth recommending for excursions. We'd come back to Hurghada, just sadly not this hotel.

The buffet and restaurant staff were genuinely lovely and hardworking. They remembered our names and orders after two days, and greeted us whenever we crossed paths. The gardeners were friendly and helpful too, and kept the gardens looking beautiful. We also liked the pretty, well-located beach, and our room was clean with kind, polite room service staff. Check-in was a letdown. Reception kept saying to wait five minutes, then responded rudely when we asked for an update 20 minutes later. We waited over an hour and a half before getting a room right beside the stage, even though the hotel wasn't full. The music at night was so loud the mirrors literally vibrated, and sleeping was nearly impossible. We raised it the next morning and got moved, but again they said to come back in five minutes four times, and we waited over an hour at reception. The monkeys and dog kept in extremely small cages for entertainment were heartbreaking to see and ruined the resort atmosphere for me. I find it unacceptable and ethically troubling, and think a hotel treating animals that way should be ashamed. Many Russian guests were rude, loud, and openly hostile toward European visitors. We repeatedly ran into bullying, disrespect, and aggressive behavior, which made the resort tense and uncomfortable instead of relaxing. The animation staff also failed to step in during volleyball, when drunk Russian guests kept interrupting and acting aggressively and rudely toward Europeans. It happened right in front of the team, but they did nothing to restore order, leaving the activity unpleasant and unfair to others.

We are enjoying our stay and would happily come back. For what we paid, the resort has been excellent, so I honestly don't get some of the negative reviews. The beach has several lovely areas with plenty of room to relax, and sunrise over the water is spectacular. The pools are spacious and beautiful, and the water park is fantastic and well maintained. The Red Sea views and atmosphere make for a relaxing holiday. There are lots of restaurants, well organized and equipped, with varied, tasty food and plenty of choices each day. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available all day. Staff work hard with so many guests and remain polite, helpful, and attentive even when it's busy. Rooms, common areas, and dining spaces are kept clean and orderly, and housekeeping does a great job every day. The facilities and value for an all-inclusive stay deserve appreciation.