El Arosa

The room was clean and tidy, with the sea view I had booked. That was the best part of the week, apart from leaving. I've travelled solo on and off for 25 years, mostly on, and this is my honest account of the stay at Royal Star Beach Resort. The meals were repetitive and often cold. Dinner was usually chicken or beef, sometimes fish, all in different disguises, with rice or potatoes, or spaghetti bolognaise and salad. On the last night there was duck. Breakfast was continental, with omelette or fried eggs that looked much the same when served, plus a good selection of bread and pastries. One toaster and one coffee machine broke on day two and weren't replaced for four days. Cups, plates, and cutlery were often in short supply. The bar had only a limited selection of Egyptian spirits, red wine, and no way to pay extra for branded spirits. Entertainment was nearly nonexistent. The lower-paid staff were friendly and helpful; the rest were rude. The pool area is nice, but there aren't enough sunbeds for the number of guests, and the pool is 1.6 metres deep throughout, with no facilities for younger children. The private beach was disappointing, with no sand to wiggle your toes in, and broken loungers with ripped, very dirty mattresses. Locals kept coming through the complex to sell massages, waxes, pedicures, and the like. It got irritating, though they have to earn a living. The hotel has become tired and unloved, despite once being lavish and much loved. The location is noisy, and the area isn't ideal. Development has moved toward the marina, leaving derelict, rundown buildings nearby, and it didn't feel safe to walk around. The sister hotel next door has good children's amenities, lovely gardens, and a sandy beach that gets sun all afternoon. There is also a pool bar snack bar there, but it costs extra. Hurghada Marina is well worth a visit for its lively atmosphere and great choice of restaurants and bars. Agree your taxi fare before setting off.

The food was really tasty, and the staff were excellent. Special thanks to the kitchen team. We liked our stay. My main hassle was at reception: I couldn't pay by card, which caused a lot of inconvenience, and there was a problem with the change when I paid for the room.

The good parts were the pool tables, the great bar staff, and a kind cleaner and staff member who escorted us in and out of the hotel. The building itself is beautiful, which makes the smelly rooms a real shame. They did try to fix the smell. The animation woman was sweet and told us what was coming up, and one of the men at the bag shops inside the hotel was really nice. I got food poisoning from undercooked pasta sauce and crab. The room kept smelling like poop, and a week's wifi cost 20 euros. On the beach, people kept bothering us to buy things, though one man didn't come back after the first time, bless him. A staff member wanted my number, which I didn't understand at first, but once I did, I felt very uncomfortable. At the beach bar I asked for Coke Zero, and the guy asked what the difference was, then gave me regular Coke anyway. I was approached by too many scammers inside the hotel, and it got exhausting. I don't know where they got the four stars from. It definitely didn't feel like a four-star place.

The beach is small but pleasant, and it was the one calm spot in an otherwise disappointing stay at Royal Star Beach Resort. The hotel feels extremely rundown, the food selection is limited and lacking in both variety and quality, and hygiene around the property was a concern. I often felt like I was being overcharged or taken advantage of, as if staff cared more about getting extra money than providing decent service. Being charged £10 to use the room wifi was frustrating. At best, I'd call this a two-star hotel. I won't be back.