SHA Extra Plus Grand Villa Luxury Time

Watergate was beautiful, and the view and pool were amazing. We were a family of eight, excited to stay there, but several things made the experience harder than it needed to be. We had only one bottle of water per person each day and had to keep asking for our “water ration.” Two family members were sick on the first night and had no access to drinking water. For somewhere so hot, I expected water to be readily available. We also had to ask for basics like milk or bread. There was no mini bar to buy soft drinks, and asking for a small 5g portion of butter for one piece of toast felt like bargaining. It was very uncomfortable. Privacy was a problem throughout. Staff were often hanging around, and on the first day two people who looked like tradespeople were in the lounge, which made me feel like I was intruding. On the last day, staff took ages doing a “stock take” of the weed fridge in the kitchen while we packed and tried to relax before a long flight. That could have been done after we left, or without us there. When we left, they also accused us of taking a hairdryer, then found it very quickly. The shower water smelled like sewer water, and the smell lingered in the bedrooms. The mattresses were thin and uncomfortable. The AC in the main living space and bedrooms was repeatedly turned off by staff, leaving the rooms hot. I believe in saving energy, but this felt like penny pinching. For our transfer, they asked for an extra 800 to collect us from our first hotel instead of the airport, even though it was closer. We reluctantly paid, since “airport transfers” were technically included in the price. The accommodation itself is lovely, but the water, shower, and privacy issues really dampened the stay. At this price, I expected unlimited water and some basic food items. A mini bar would have helped. If you go knowing all this, the experience may be better. Hope this helps someone prepare x