The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh

The beach is wide, with lots of loungers and wind screens. A boardwalk leads to the snorkeling area, though strong winds and high waves kept us from getting there. Walking along the beach was pleasant, with little rubbish and nice rocks and shells. The resort grounds are easy to walk around, even at night when the paths are well lit. Take an evening stroll if you can, the stars are fantastic. Golf carts are available, but we only used one for our luggage. Our room was stunning and spacious, with lovely furnishings, including a teak table and chairs outside and a teak chaise lounge. The bed was firm but very comfortable, the linens were lovely, and the big bathroom had plenty of hot water and towels, soap, shampoo, and other supplies. The staff were caring and lovely, and check-in and checkout were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the breakfast and dinner buffets, and had lunch at the pool cafe. One odd thing was that our main course often arrived before our drinks, perhaps because they were short staffed. We needed room service once because we arrived very hungry at 4pm and the restaurants didn't open until 7pm. The food was very good, arrived hot, and the waiter set up our outdoor table nicely. It's a lovely place to experience the Red Sea, though resort fees and taxes are added everywhere. Downtown Hurghada is miles away, which is nice if you want peace, quiet, and few people, but inconvenient for shopping. The on-site boutique was closed for remodeling while we were there.

The villas are beautiful and spacious, with good views, and the hotel sits right by the sea. Staff were very friendly, and diving with Mahmoud was excellent. His clear directions and guidance helped a lot. We enjoyed the food, but service was slow and disorganized. Drinks, even a bottle of water, took a long time to arrive, and lunch and dinner seemed to take forever. Wifi was very unstable. Even so, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would still recommend it.

We ate very well here. Both the breakfast buffet and the excellent dinner buffet were great, and dinner often included a barbeque. There are also a couple of restaurants. My one complaint is that smoking is allowed in the small bar, which seems unfair to the majority, especially with children around. Mr. Maher at the bar gave us a really interesting introduction to Egyptian wine. We were lucky to get a beach-front suite, with loads of space, a large bathroom, and a sunken tub. Out back, there was a secluded open area where we could sit in the sun out of the wind. The private sandy beach was guarded and kept clean, and we could order meals and drinks there. Swimming from shore wasn't great because it was rocky and only a small section seemed safe. The large pool had lovely sea views and enough room that it never felt crowded. This is a lovely Red Sea resort. We were welcomed and checked in courteously and efficiently, without anyone trying to sell us excursions or activities.

Ahmed, Maher, and Chef Pappu went out of their way to welcome us, and their hospitality was second to none. The food and warm service made our stay wonderful. The resort has a gorgeous beachfront, especially for snorkeling, and spacious rooms, but both the rooms and the property need an upgrade and investment. Without that work, I wonder whether it will remain worthy of the Oberoi brand.