El Wekala Aqua Park Resort

The setting is amazing, with mountains around and the sea, and maybe that's why there was no wind. We had a wonderful winter break at this hotel from 19-26 December with our two boys. They loved the slides, and lifeguards were always by the pool when the slides were running. Food was very good, though a few dishes were a little too salty. All-inclusive drinks were available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free buses ran regularly to the beach, and there were also buses to other hotels in Taba Heights. The room was left with two large bottles of water every day, so we didn't need to buy any. There wasn't much entertainment, perhaps because it was winter, but that was fine for us. There are two billiard tables, charged at three dollars an hour, and plenty of shops for souvenirs, clothes, shoes, and jewelry. I'd seriously consider coming back next year.

The staff were a real bright spot: friendly, fun, and great to be around. But the hotel itself disappointed me at first. Sun and time had clearly worn it down, and some of the work meant to improve its appearance looked sloppy and seemed to make things worse. The all-inclusive drinks were the biggest bother. Alcohol was often out, and the wait for more was "Egyptian 10 minutes," usually two or three hours. They served drinks in tiny cups and only filled them halfway. Some food looked delicious, but was inedible. If you're on a budget and mainly want some sun, it's a cheap place to stay. I'm pretty sure you could find somewhere better nearby.

We had a lovely family week at El Wekala, and everything felt just right. We all enjoyed the water slides and the warm pool. The food was very tasty, and everyone working there was friendly and smiling. Special thanks to the barmen at the pool bar, the lifeguards at the slides and pool, and the animation team.

We spent 11 days here and came away with mixed feelings. The views are the hotel's best feature. Our room was large, had a balcony and great views, and was cleaned very well every day. Food was good, with plenty of vegetables, fruit, meat, duck, chicken, some fish and even tuna sometimes. The chef did a good job. Buses to the beach ran almost every 30 minutes, and another bus could take you to other hotels in Taba Heights. The beach itself was lovely, but camel droppings ruined a lot of the impression for me. The poor animals sat there all day, and no one cleaned up after them. I don't mind camels, but children playing in sand with their droppings doesn't seem normal. The music on the beach was loud, which wasn't a surprise, and there were no corals there. We went to another beach by Mosaic Hotel and found an amazing live coral reef. If you're willing to walk a little, you can find quiet, beautiful spots. Even in January, when the weather kept changing, we found sunny days in places with less wind. Drinks were another frustration. We're not heavy drinkers, but having a glass or two of wine with dinner or a beer during the day is normal for us. Here, we couldn't get either without asking and begging ten times. In the end, we might get 100 grams of wine. Guests can't get drinks at the bar themselves, only a waiter can bring them, and if you're lucky, he comes once. Beer was always finished at the pool bar. At least we had the healthiest holiday ever, though I can see how this would annoy some people. I can recommend it if you're not expecting luxury or super service. It's good value for the price.