Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay

What stayed with me most was the genuine, kind hospitality. Fahd was fantastic throughout, helping with whatever we needed. He was the first person we saw and the last, and we felt very safe there. It was safe enough that I could leave my wallet and iPad on a beach sunbed while swimming. The location is fantastic, and most rooms look out to sea. The beach has coral reefs about 1.5m deep, with beautiful fish, and it really feels like swimming in an aquarium. The water was warm, calm, and clear even in December. Bring a snorkel and mask, though they have plenty to lend if you forget yours. Breakfast was awesome, and Nancy’s smile and good mood made mornings a joy. This was my second visit, and I absolutely recommend it. The reefs alone make the area worth visiting.

The staff were lovely, friendly, and attentive, and the beach is beautiful for small children, with a sandy entry and hardly any waves. Flies were a problem when the wind dropped, though, so we couldn’t stay on the beach long. I come to the Red Sea to snorkel, and the nearest home reef is a 1.5km walk or a 3€ golf cart ride each way. It’s decent, but visibility isn’t as good as at other reefs I’ve tried nearby, and the jetty and reef get busy in the afternoon. A few dive shops rent snorkels for 3-6€ and wetsuits for a similar price. We booked a serenity package but couldn’t use any of its benefits because they never seemed available or offered. That extra cost felt like a waste. Soma Bay seems to be a huge hotel development, with mega hotels lined up beside one another and similar shops between them. You can move from hotel to hotel without leaving the resort. It felt less like Egypt and more like a mega resort in the Canaries, though I got the impression that many guests wanted just that kind of budget-friendly inclusive option. We usually stay at the Oberoi or at smaller places with fewer people and less buffet-style dining, so my expectations for the price at Kempinski may have shaped my rating. Our junior suites were quiet, had a partial ocean view, and were excellent. We were in block 2 and didn’t hear the major construction beside the hotel, luckily, but it ran 24/7 and must be very disturbing closer by. The pools were large and clean, but in February they were too cold for us to use, around 21-24 at most. My kids got straight back out. The jacuzzi was nice, but at barely 30-31 it felt more like a heated pool. I preferred the jacuzzi in the over-16, gender-separated spa. Its sauna and steam room were also clean and well tempered, but my 13-15-year-old couldn’t join me. I didn’t use the gym; it looked small for the number of rooms, which I’d estimate at around 800, and was full every time I walked by. It could be 4-5 times bigger. Breakfast and dinner are more or less buffet only, so this probably isn’t the place for you if you don’t like buffets. The food was generally okay, but the flavors blended together and many dishes had a similar stew-like consistency. There’s an Asian restaurant on site, but it was subpar and western-priced. The buffet serves the whole hotel, so it’s massive and crowded if you eat before 9-9:30pm, or before 6am for breakfast. The nearby burger, pizza, and taco places were always closed or seemed to be under construction, so we ended up back at the buffet more than once for lack of alternatives. The food overall was generally subpar, though in line with what I’ve had elsewhere in Egypt outside the very best five-star hotels.

I’ve stayed at many five-star hotels around the world, especially in the Middle East and Gulf countries, and this has been my favourite so far. The service is top notch, and the staff pay such close attention to detail and go the extra mile to help tourists have a great time. They even join in sports like ping pong, boccia, volleyball, and foosball. It’s a great resort for adults and kids alike. Doesn’t get better than this.

We had a great three-night stay at Kempinski while visiting Soma Bay. Our room was a bit old, but spacious, with a comfortable bed. The hotel has a large compound, direct beach access, and several pools. It’s right beside Soma Bay Marina, which made strolling around and souvenir shopping easier. Breakfast was included, with a huge range of food: European staples, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes, plus a big pastry section. The hotel doesn’t have its own spa, but works with one at Cascade hotel.