Oasi Di Kufra Hotel

The first room they moved me into as an upgrade was smaller and less comfortable than the one I'd booked, with a view of the hallway. I appreciated the staff's kind intention, but that room didn't suit me. When I went back to reception, they welcomed me and quickly offered a larger room with a sea view, so thanks to them for sorting it out. The resort itself is excellent, and the beach is just steps away. Since it was April, before the busy season, it may have felt especially relaxing. It's a great location and worth visiting. I learned that it's fine to politely turn down an upgrade if it doesn't meet your needs.

The rooms were clean, with crisp sheets and duvet, a comfortable bed, fluffy pillows, and a spacious bathroom with a great power shower. Staff were professional, friendly, and efficient. The beach was clean, with lots of chairs available, and its restaurant had plenty of snack choices. The restaurants, bar, and breakfast areas are elegant, and the food is delicious. From the restaurant you get a gorgeous sea view and can watch the sunset over dinner. The breakfast buffet had varied options, including pastries, eggs, bacon, and cereals. The resort sits right by the sea and near a couple of towns for local shops and a change of scenery. The pool, unfortunately, wasn't accessible without paying an expensive 30 euro fee, so it stayed empty and unused throughout our stay.

Right on the beach, and the room cleaning was great. The room itself was old, but had a beautiful view, a comfortable bed, and even a humidifier. I'd rate the hotel around 3-4 stars. If you only speak English, though, the hassle may not be worth it. The restaurant forgot my main course, then waited about 30 minutes after the last dish had been served before asking if I wanted dessert. I wanted to leave, so I was fine skipping it. The spa is nice, but has odd rules. The gym costs 10 a day, which seems like a lot for a standard hotel gym.

The cleaning staff were wonderful and friendly, the beach was nice, the view was beautiful, and the rooms were pleasant even if not new. But the location was supposed to be calm and quiet, and three of our six days were ruined. Without a car, you'd need a taxi to reach the property, and it was very hard to find anyone who spoke English. On the final three mornings, a tractor preparing the beach for "high season" woke us at 5am. Building maintenance was going on too, with windows being replaced throughout the hotel. Drilling could be heard everywhere, even on the beach, from 8am, right after the tractor started. This did not feel like a 4-star hotel stay. Work like that should be done when guests aren't there, or guests should be told the exact schedule during booking and check-in. We'd chosen a hotel away from big cities to rest, sleep well, and listen to the sea, not tractors and repair work. The restaurant menu didn't reflect actual prices, and we could be served a more expensive "variation" of a dish without warning. Staff didn't speak English, so our order was taken incorrectly twice. We caught the mistakes ourselves when translating the Italian paper the waiter left. Numbering dishes on the menu would be an easy way to help guests and waiters understand orders.