JAZ Tamerina, Almaza Bay

The beach and the color of the water are hard to describe, it felt like paradise. We also have lovely memories of the Jaz Oriental beach bar staff, who were welcoming and kind, and the snacks were excellent, especially the Italian pizza. My husband and I spent a week at Jaz Tamerina, and it was one of the best vacations of our lives. The rooms were spotless, the food delicious and varied, and everyone was friendly, smiling, and attentive to every detail. Special thanks to Zak, our waiter, who was always cheerful, helpful, and kind. We’ve traveled to many places across Europe and never experienced service at this level. We highly recommend the hotel.

The restaurant and bar staff were kind and professional, but the experience with reception and management was disappointing and amateurish. I booked an external private Cairo tour because the hotel only offers group bus trips, and I wanted a more comfortable day for my mom. At 5 a.m. on departure day, reception refused to let our driver onto the property because of internal rules. After we signed a waiver, he drove us only to the first checkpoint, then we were told to walk the remaining 1.5 km alone, two women in the dark, with no concern shown for our safety or comfort. On the return trip, after we raised the issue at the main gate, our driver was allowed to drop us much closer to the hotel. That made us question how strictly the rules were being applied. When we got back, the manager was defensive and kept citing policy, without apologizing or explaining why it changed only after I complained. It felt like we were being punished for booking a private tour outside the hotel. During our seven-day stay, I was disturbed in my room four times, which must be some kind of record. One interruption was just to ask for another review. On the last day, staff woke me two hours before my scheduled bus departure to collect luggage I hadn’t asked them to handle. I wanted to sleep as long as possible before my early flight. Guests shouldn’t be disturbed unless they’ve asked for help, but this hotel seemed to have little regard for that courtesy. I was also approached by an employee poolside who wouldn’t leave until I submitted a review, and even took my phone to select five stars himself. I might have overlooked that on its own, but with the tour incident it was unacceptable. It also makes me wonder whether glowing reviews that mention staff by name are influenced by persistent requests for reviews.

the whole hotel is very, very good. the staff are nice, helpful, and smiling. Galal is a really nice and helpful waiter. He’d bring the drinks with just a gesture, and knew who was drinking what.

The staff were the thing we’ll remember most: a fantastic group of young people, always smiling and doing their best to help. I never heard a word of disapproval from them. Our daughter had a birthday during the stay, and they made it unforgettable. While we were at the beach, they decorated the room in a way I can’t describe, so I’ll have to share a few pictures. At dinner, they surprised her with a cake and candles and sang to her. That kind of kindness toward guests is rare. Many thanks to them, and greetings from all of us. The hotel is very well maintained and has lots of facilities, including a lovely big pool and a smaller one for children. There was a wide choice of food and drinks, and everything was clean and tidy. Full praise for this hotel and its wonderful staff.